California ‘Mad Max’ Jack Lee Ernest arrested with shotgun, brass knuckles, knives
A man proudly boasted that he was “Mad Max” as he was arrested Thursday night after authorities found illegal weapons including a sawed-off shotgun, a couple of knives and brass knuckles in his possession.
Jack Lee Ernest, 39, was witnessed by Deputy Kenneth Bubier riding a four-wheeler in the area around 11 p.m. and the deputy tried to pull the rider over. Ernest tried to get away, but he was eventually pulled over and detained after “behaving suspiciously, according to officials.
Ernest claimed he was Mad Max, a character from the George Miller fantasy science-fiction film about a post-apocalyptic world in which gangs of heavily armed scavengers engage in car to car battles. Ernest was arrested on suspicion of illegal weapons and was booked into the Barstow Jail.
Ernest was booked at the Barstow Jail with bail set at $30,000.
In California, it is illegal to possess “sawed-off shotgun” under the definition provided in section 12020. It is “a rifle having a barrel … of less than 16 inches in length” and “has an overall length of less than 26 inches.”
“Brass knuckles” are also illegal, even if they’re not made of metal. “Brass knuckles” (truly called “metal knuckles” in California law – see the new Penal Code section 12020 21810) are illegal. It’s a potential felony to possess metal knuckles.
California is known to have the tightest gun laws. Here’s remarks from coverage of the 2013 Brady campaign report:
“The state known for the strictest gun laws is California…In California, all firearms sales, transfers, including private transactions and sales at gun shows, must go through a California licensed firearms dealer. California also has no provision in its state constitution that explicitly guarantees an individual the right to keep and bear arms.”
