Reuben King, a Lancaster County dairy farmer, was convicted by a federal jury in May for selling firearms without a license, despite there being no clear legal requirement that he needed a license to do so.
King, whose main business is dairy farming, collects and sells various long guns on the side. Federal law does not require sellers to acquire a license if they only “occasionally” sell firearms and their “principal motive” is not to make a profit.
The vagueness of the law was used by federal agents and prosecutors to indict and convict King, who could face up to five years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both. Sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 6.
The jury also said that King must forfeit nearly all of the 625 firearms seized by the government.
An undercover police officer bought five firearms from King between Oct. 24, 2019, and March 16, 2020, in three separate transactions. According to court documents, the undercover officer saw, and filmed, an estimated 150 long arms marked with price tags and arrayed on tables in King’s barn for sale.
None of the firearms were illegal to sell without a license.
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