If you read the story as reported, I think the search warrant stated the rifle was seized as an item of evidence relating to charges pending.
Now don't start hollering at me, it's B.S. from the get go, but if I read it correctly...that was the pretense for seizing the rifle. The pistol was later surrendered to support the defense' claim that it was 'inoperable'. If the item displayed to discourage the trespassers was a hockey stick, it may have been seized as well. I am not defending the political operative/ prosecutor, just saying that this needs to play out...hard to imagine a successful prosecution with no crime by the property owners being committed. Brandishing a deadly weapon...ON PRIVATE PROPERTY?
