Man Who Threatened Pres. Obama's Life Can Get Guns Back

John Brek was overheard saying it would be easy to shoot the president.

A New Jersey appeals court has decided that even if you threaten to shoot the president, you can still keep your gun collection.

John Brek, who was working at Newark Liberty International Airport in 2009, was overheard saying that it would be easy to shoot Obama who was scheduled to arrive the next day. He also allegedly made racist comments about the president.

Brek was charged with making terroristic threats but pleaded guilty to harassment and served 30 days in jail. However, a judge denied him the return of more than 70 weapons that had been seized from his house during the investigation although he obtained them legally.

[ALSO READ: GOP Readies Racist Obama Attacks]

At the time, judge Joseph Cassini III said that post-9/11 concerns took precedence in a case like this one.

"We live in a very different time and a very different world," Cassini said. "We don't engage in certain conduct involving words or acts that can be interpreted as threats to our elected officials, threats to our citizens, threats to the health, safety and welfare of everyone."

In a ruling published Tuesday, the three-judge appeals panel ordered the state to return the guns. It cited reports by two mental health professionals that found Brek was not a threat.

[SUBSCRIBE TO LOOP 21 RSS FEED]