(Language alert in some of the cited works)
Mark Wahlberg, star of the current hit movie Lone Survivor, has a checkered past.
In fact, as a 16-year-old, Walberg pled guilty in 1988 to two counts of criminal contempt after beating a Vietnamese man badly enough that the victim of the attack lost an eye and was sentenced to two years in prison. The original charge was attempted murder.
(Model Minority) – At approximately 9:00 p.m. on April 8, 1988 Thanh Lam, a Vietnamese adult male who resides in Dorchester, traveled by car to 998 Dorchester Avenue, Dorchester, Massachusetts. At 998 Dorchester Avenue, Thanh Lam left his car carrying two cases of beer. As he crossed the sidewalk, Mark Wahlberg attacked Thanh Lam. Wahlberg was carrying a large wooden stick, approximately five feet long and two to three inches in diameter. Wahlberg approached Thanh Lam calling him a “Vietnam fucking shit,” then hit him over the head with the stick. Thanh Lam was knocked to the ground unconscious. Th[e] stick broke in two and was later recovered from the scene. Thanh Lam was treated overnight at Boston City Hospital.
After police arrested Wahlberg later on the night of April 8, 1988, Wahlberg was informed of his rights and returned to the scene of 998 Dorchester Avenue. In the presence of two police officers, he stated: “You don’t have to let him identify me, I’ll tell you now that’s the mother-fucker who’s head I split open,” or words to that effect.
As a police officer arrived at the scene of 998 Dorchester Avenue, Wahlberg and two other youths who were with him fled up Dorchester Avenue toward Pearl Street.
Shortly after 9:00 p.m. on April 8, 1988, Hoa Trinh, an adult Vietnamese male who resides in Dorchester, was standing several blocks away from 998 Dorchester Avenue, near the corner of Dorchester Avenue and Pearl Street. Hoa Trinh was not aware of the altercation outside of 998 Dorchester Avenue.
Wahlberg ran up to Hoa Trinh, put his arm around Hoa Trinh’s shoulder, and said: “Police coming, police coming, let me hide.” After a police cruiser passed, Wahlberg punched Trinh in the eye, causing him to fall to the ground.
Police arrived and Hoa Trinh identified Wahlberg as the person who punched him. Wahlberg was placed under arrest and read his rights. Thereafter he made numerous unsolicited racial statements about “gooks” and “slant-eyed gooks.” After being returned to 998 Dorchester Avenue, Wahlberg identified Thanh Lam as the person he hit over the head with a stick.
Trinh lost one of his “slanted” eyes due to the attack. Wahlberg plead guilty to two counts of criminal contempt, was sentenced to two years imprisonment, and was released after 45 days. Although Wahlberg describes his incarceration as a “turning point” in his life, to this day he continues to deny that race played a role in either attack.
That conviction should have placed Mark Wahlberg squarely on the “prohibited person” list as felons (convictions for crime with a sentence of over one year incarceration) are prohibited from owning, possessing or even touching firearms or ammunition.
Yet despite this prohibition, he’s starred in a number of action movies prominently featuring guns.
While Hollywood’s prop guns are often non-firing facsimiles of guns, or solely blank-firing guns that aren’t firearms under most definitions, Wahlberg’s own promotional people have touted his “training” for his roles. Training that included shooting real guns.
For instance, this piece from Visual Hollywood gushes over Wahlberg’s supposed fast-learned shooting skills:
WAHLBERG GOES TO SNIPER SCHOOL: ABOUT TRAINING AS A SHOOTER
Key to the suspense of “Shooter” is the most true-to-life, painstakingly accurate portrayal of a military sniper yet seen on film. To achieve this, Mark Wahlberg had to commit himself to an intensive “boot camp,” learning and carefully cultivating some of the extraordinary skills that set the very best shooters, like Bob Lee Swagger, apart, including a Zen-like ability to control one’s emotions, fears and nerves while dialing in a laser-like focus that allows for near-impossible shots to hit their marks dead-on. Wahlberg came to the production with the advantage of already being a highly trained athlete with exceptional physical strength, endurance and coordination. But to hone him into a seasoned shootist – the kind who could hit a target 1,000 meters away with dead aim – the production recruited one of the nation’s true elite in the field: U.S. Marine scout sniper Patrick Garrity, who has served both in vital deployments overseas and as a specialized trainer for snipers.
Jumping into the task with a typical gung ho spirit, Garrity constructed a not-so-basic training in field skills for Wahlberg that put even the famously tough actor through his paces. The idea was to not only teach Walhberg to shoot well but to give him a sense of the kind of mental and physical commitment, not to mention heart, the extremely dangerous missions of a sniper scout require. His boot camp began at Front Sight Firearms Training Institute near Las Vegas, Nevada, where Wahlberg followed a nerve-testing training protocol that included jumping off the largest zip line tower in America. For Wahlberg, the training was revelatory.
“Front Sight is basically the most elaborate weapons training facility that I’ve ever seen,” says Wahlberg. “At one point, I had on 130 pounds of equipment, was carrying this huge sniper rifle and had to walk out on this little thin beam a couple of hundred feet in the air. A few years ago, these are things that I would have loved to have done, but now I’m a parent and have a lot more to live for!”
He adds: “The training definitely opened my eyes to the importance of being safe and smart as opposed to being reckless like I once was.”
… “He has so much natural ability. At first, there was some concern because Mark is a left-hander and, since most weapons aren’t made for a left-handed shooter, he had to learn how to shoot right-handed for the movie – which is tough – and also switch between right-handed shooting and left-handing shooting. But Mark was amazing. He hit a few bull’s-eyes right away the first day.”
Knowing that Wahlberg could handle it, Garrity designed training as intensive as anything undertaken before by an actor preparing for such a role. He started by giving Wahlberg a basic history lesson about Marine scout snipers – who have made a difference in many American battles by providing precision fire on selected targets. Garrity then quickly moved into the nitty-gritty, teaching Wahlberg the use of different shooting positions, how to manipulate the prismatic scope for extreme long-range shooting, how to judge the effects of the wind on a shot and all the many vital factors that go into producing keen marksmanship.
Garrity further worked on extreme distance shooting with Wahlberg, which is one of Bob Lee Swagger’s specialized skills. “I took him to an unknown distance range in the middle of the desert – we call it Sniper’s Point – and started him at close targets. Finally, we walked out to 900 yards. I think he missed the first one and after the first miss, made contact on the next one. Same thing at 1,100 yards, which is about ten football fields. I was pretty excited that I could get somebody, in two days, to be able to hit an 1,100-yard man-sized target. Mark got on the phone and started calling all of his friends,” laughs Garrity, “to tell them, ‘You won’t believe what I just did. I shot something a thousand yards away!’”
Federal law calls for five years imprisonment for a felon in possession of a firearm and most, if not all states, have state-level prohibitions – complete with prison sentences – for felons possessing guns or ammunition.
Why weren’t charges leveled against Wahlberg? Was it because he received some sort of clemency for his racial hate crime – which, of course, he denies the attack on the “slant-eyed gook” (as Wahlberg referred to the man) was race related? Or is it because he’s a member of the elite class, like David Gregory, who can violate gun laws without fear of legal repercussion?
In the case of Gregory, he used an AR-15 magazine as a prop in an anti-gun news story in the District of Columbia.
(Washington Times) – The attorney general for the District of Columbia, Irvin Nathan, announced Friday that he will not press charges against NBC News’ David Gregory nor any employee of the broadcast network for violating the city’s gun laws. Violation of the city’s firearms laws carry a maximum $1,000 fine and one year in jail.
In the case of Mark Walhberg?
We’re still waiting to hear why he hasn’t been arrested and incarcerated for handling firearms unlawfully.
Walhberg is hardly a friend to gun owners. In 2000, at the MTV Movie Awards, Wahlberg suggested the “Best Villain” award should go to Charlton Heston of the NRA. “I believe Charlton Heston is America’s best villain because he loves guns so much. Maybe he should get the award for being president of the National Rifle Association,” Wahlberg said.
In a 2007 story in the Australian Herald-Sun, Wahlberg contradicted his earlier interview in Visual Hollywood. In the Herald-Sun, Wahlberg was quoted as saying, “Well, I would love it if they could take all the guns away… Certainly, I haven’t used a gun anywhere other than on a movie set and I’d like to see if we could take them all away. It would be a beautiful thing.”
Let’s go back to the Visual Hollywood interview we cited:
“Front Sight is basically the most elaborate weapons training facility that I’ve ever seen,” says Wahlberg. “At one point, I had on 130 pounds of equipment, was carrying this huge sniper rifle and had to walk out on this little thin beam a couple of hundred feet in the air. A few years ago, these are things that I would have loved to have done, but now I’m a parent and have a lot more to live for!”
He adds: “The training definitely opened my eyes to the importance of being safe and smart as opposed to being reckless like I once was.”
So, Marky-Mark, which is it? Have you only violated federal law on movie sets or have you violated federal law on movie sets and at Front Sight in Nevada?
Again, back to Marky-Mark: “Well, I would love it if they could take all the guns away. …I’d like to see if we could take them all away. It would be a beautiful thing.”
Frankly, we’d be okay if they just took guns away from you, sir, before taking you away on charges of a felon in possession of a firearm.
Could it be because juvenile records are sealed? So he actually DOESN’T have a record?
Carlos did you not read what he was charged with criminal contempt the original charge was attempted murder. And he served 2 years in PRISON not juvenile hall. So there is no basis to seal his records , besides if they were sealed there never would have ever been any mention of the event anyway. Wahlberg should be in jail.
He only served 45 days, therefore without full time served yes they could be sealed as a juvenile.
Oh, John, John, John…
Have you forgotten the #1 rule of the American liberal?
“One law for me, another law for thee.”
He was 16 and tried as a juvenile. He has no felony record.
Your entire article is moot and pointless.
If you want to comment on why he should have been tried as an adult, fine he probably should have been.
Mark Waughlberg is a little BITCH, he likes to play the action hero, be the bad ass and even get training from the countries best snippers. But he thinks guns should be banned. I would like to tell him personally. That he is a Pussy Ass BITCH. Its ok for him to make tons on money off of things he don’t support.
I don’t have a problem with people not liking guns and not wanting them in there life. But we as Americans have that right and the freedom to our opinions. I will not watch any movie that has waughlberg or weinsteins name connected to it, they are both pieses of SHIT. Just my thoughts.
mike… a lot of actors are against drugs, alcohol, guns and so on but they all make tons of money being around them in movies and handling them so get over it
Why must someone “get over” what they are opposed to? If someone opposes hypocrisy then so be it. If Walberg is truly anti-gun (I don’t know personally, just for the sake of argument) and profits from depicting them used to save others lives then he qualifies as a hypocrite. Same goes for drugs and alcohol, hypocrites come in all flavors.
as someone who got tried as a juvenile i can assure you that even with your records “sealed” you still show up on background checks and the record still exists, the only way to get your second amendment rights back is to have your rights reinstated after your record gets sealed. just cause your record is sealed doesn’t always mean your rights are reinstated. at least in arizona. you should check the laws in your state.
It didn’t say anywhere in that article if he was tried as a juvenille.
He was born in ’71, the arrest was in ’88. He would have been a minor.
Just because he was a minor doesn’t mean he was charged as a minor. Often violent offenders who are 16-17 are charged as adults and do time in adult jails and have adult records. The article doesn’t state either way but I wouldn’t be surprised if he was charged as an adult.
There is nearly a two-year span between January of 1971 and December of 1988, and without knowing the specific months involved, you cannot know whether he was a minor or not.
Should have been “18-year span,” but the point doesn’t change, one bit.
Love the satire, to bad it is full of shit.
I like how you cut up this comment so it sounds much worse than it does to fit your agenda. We get enough of that bullish*t from liberals, lets not stoop to their level and do it too.
“Well, I would love it if they could take all the guns away. …I’d like to see if we could take them all away. It would be a beautiful thing.”
is actually
“Well, I would love it if they could take all the guns away. Unfortunately, you can’t do that so you hope that good people in the world have them to protect the people who can’t protect themselves,” “Certainly, I haven’t used a gun anywhere other than on a movie set and I’d like to see if we could take them all away. It would be a beautiful thing.”
Now, I’m not saying I agree with what he said, but, sounds quite a bit different when you use the whole quote rather than just part of it.
Wow, someones gelous of marky mark, and all his money…. Grow up guys..
Just a little investigative reporting on the part of the writer or editor would have found out he is NOT a felon.
In MA, if one does not receive a sentence of 24 months or more, in a prison not a jail; no matter the crime, one is not necessarily counted as a felon.
Let’s also remember that the 2nd Amendment all of us gun nuts covet so much says “all free men” have the right to have the 2nd Amendment. We’ve let ourselves be convinced by anti gun people we should allow restrictions on the right to protect ourselves. This is complete crap. If you’re too dangerous to use your basic constitutional rights, then you shouldn’t be in our society.
Actually, nowhere in the second amendment does it say anything about “all free men.”
Also, the following put a person on the prohibited list:
•Those who have been convicted of violent or firearms-related misdemeanors;2
•Those with a history of abusing alcohol or drugs3;
•Those convicted of juvenile offenses;4 and
•Those hospitalized under emergency circumstances for mental illness.
Source:
http://smartgunlaws.org/prohibited-purchasers-generally-policy-summary/
Form 4473: Have you ever been convicted in any court of a felony, or any other crime, for which the judge could have imprisoned you for more than one year, even if you received a shorter sentence including probation?
That says “any court” not “any court as an adult”.
Federal law defines felony as a year or more incarceration.
John
He was tried on a state level not federal if he wasn’t charged federally federal law don’t matter
You could try and post the full quote. Sounds pro self defense to me…
“Well, I would love it if they could take all the guns away. Unfortunately, you can’t do that so you hope that good people in the world have them to protect the people who can’t protect themselves”
I was wondering this very question when I saw Markity Mark in yet another movie handling and using firearms knowing what I know of his past. Doing some research I found an article from 2007 that seemed to explain it:
“Now, here’s the thing: He’s not a felon, because of a strange quirk of Massachusetts law (coincidentally the same one which allows Ted Kennedy to serve in congress).
In MA, if one does not receive a sentence of 24 months or more, in a prison not a jail; no matter the crime, one is not necessarily counted as a felon.
Mark Wahlberg only received an 18 month sentence which was suspended, plus 45 days confinement in a county jail (correction, it was two years and 90 days – but he only served 45 – HT to David Codrea), for assault, attempted murder, and two counts of contempt of court; because he was only 16 and 17 when the crimes occurred.
He would be disqualified from a CCW in most states, but he is not officially a felon according to the FBI or ATF.”
The complete article can be seen at:
http://anarchangel.blogspot.com/2007/04/shooters-not-felon-sorta-kinda
.
That motherfucker is a racist and I don’t like racists. This shot goes out to every other racists out there. Grow up and get an education. He’s lucky he’s living the glamorous life he’s living today after what he’s done.
So you condemn the man because of his statement that he wishes guns didn’t have to exist? What human being doesn’t wish for world peace where guns and weapons as a whole are no longer necessary? Listen, Marky Mark has done a lot to support veterans and bring to light many of the hardships we endure. I’m not about to throw him under the bus because you took his statement out of context and made a false claim against him. Was he a racist asshole as a teen? Sure. Many teens are racist assholes, regardless of skin color, because they’re pissed off and don’t know why. The man’s in his 40s now and dedicated a lot of time and effort to others, which doesn’t completely make up for his actions as a kid, but its a good effort. Hell, even Jesus killed someone as a kid if you believe the Gospel of Thomas.
just a movie u dumb fucks….
What you all fail to realize is after so much time I believe its 7 years a felon who has remained out of trouble can apply for his rights back. So make all the assumptions you want and complain all you want. Until you know the full story leave the man alone everyone including yourself has made mistakes does that mean you should pay for them for the rest of yours or his life? Your looking for the bad why don’t you take the time to realize he went above and beyond to be as accurate as possible, to portray the real actions and training of or modern solders who defend your right to complain. I see it as he did a true honor to the real men and women who serve and in this situation died.
The second sentance in the story puts him at 16. So observant. Whatever the courts did he was 16 and you know no more about him then that. For all you know he came to his violence and oppinion from incedences. Im not defending. Neither am i condeming. I dont know enough. I know i have been railroaded and ive heen an ass. How bout you?
First off, you dumb F###s, in America, does anyone who has been convicted of a Felony cease to be an American Citizen? Does the state law that one was convicted under contain language that states, “Upon conviction, you will lose your right to bear arms?” If the state doesn’t say it, then, let’s turn to the stupid-ass FED. Simple, Congress shall make NO law abridging the Constitution. Anything from the FED is unconstitutional if it diminishes your rights. The following is for the stupid people…I’m not talking about during the time you are incarcerated. BEFORE one can lose a RIGHT afforded by the Constitution, one would have to, first be charged with a crime, found guilty, and serve the punishment for that crime. And, here’s a clue, again, for the stupid people, as far as CRIME & PUNISHMENT goes, FOREVER is EXCESSIVE PUNISHMENT! The FED attempts to bypass all that and simply SAY that a “convicted felon” may not possess a firearm, effectively causing Double Jeopardy (being PUNISHED TWICE for the SAME CRIME). KISS MY A## Bit#h.
I dunno if anyone mentioned this yet, but a felony is a felony. Adult or juvenile doesn’t matter.
Speaking of experience. I was convicted of a felony at the age of 15. Served my time, and the records are now sealed. Joined the Army, and now I have a small collection of weapons. From what the recruiter told me, the only way to get access to my records is to contact the courts in which my records reside. Applying for a federal job, they have the power to do this. Purchasing a firearm the background checks do not, nor do I believe they care, because I was a minor and they understand that people change since they were children.