If you’ve been following that bizarre story about the guy who was brewing up the deadly toxin ricin a little too close to home for my comfort, here’s the latest:

A former Utahn suspected of making ricin pleaded guilty Monday in a Las Vegas federal court to possession of the deadly toxin and possession of unregistered firearms.

 

As part of his plea, 57-year-old Roger Von Bergendorff agreed to forfeit a pistol and two silencers. He faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine on each count when sentenced Nov. 3 by U.S. District Judge Robert C. Jones. Prosecutors are recommending 37 months behind bars.

Now, I’m not really a reactionary throw-away-the-key kind of guy, but doesn’t “37 months” and “agreeing to forfeit” a gun sound a little light for making a poison so potent that a drop the size of a pinhead can kill a person? And why does he have to “agree” to give up the pistol and two silencers? Aren’t silencers illegal, and given everything else we know about this guy, shouldn’t the weapon simply be confiscated as a matter of course?

One other thing that struck me: the court records reportedly say Bergendorff knowingly possessed the biological agent for an “unjustified purpose.” Isn’t that a cute little piece of jargon… “unjustified purpose.” What would be a justified purpose for owning this stuff?