Major Opsec Failure May Land Man in Prison for 25 Years

Herschel Smith, at the Captain's Journal, discusses the arrest of a man in New York state for illegal possession of "assault weapons," "ghost guns," and unregistered NFA items. Authorities are trying to milk this for all its worth, hinting that the owner might have been more than a collector and aficionado:

“It is astonishing to think in one residence, these guns and this ammunition was being hoarded,” Nassau County Executive Laura Curran said. “Can you imagine the dangerous things that could have happened with this? It’s just unbelievable.”

Smith discusses this aspect in more depth, and I recommend that you read his article.

     I want, instead, to focus on some other information in the news report about the arrest. Specifically:

     Authorities said Dejana purchased parts online, often used the weapons at firing ranges and showed off the guns on multiple posts online. 

      “While there are many responsible and licensed gun owners in our county, we allege John Dejana was not one of them,” Singas said. “When he wasn’t allegedly building guns in his home, just two blocks from an elementary school, he was flaunting them in hundreds of posts on Facebook.”

(Underlines added). The article also indicates that police found quantities of controlled substances in his possession.

    This guy, Dejana, probably did not pose a threat to anyone. But he showed an extreme lack of judgment, particularly in the area of operational security. You don't take weapons that are illegal in your jurisdiction or illegal to own to public ranges and shoot them; and you certainly don't show them off or brag about it on social media. And you certainly don't engage in other behaviors (buying or selling illegal drugs) that will attract attention. Someone with a grudge, or some goody-two-shoes, will rat you out; social media is monitored.