Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Openly Carrying Gun Owners Being Harassed

This is an old (to the blogosphere) story, but it is one that I feel the need to comment on.

In Pennsylvania it is legal to openly carry a firearm in most places. The fact that few take advantage of this right does not negate the right. Open carry is legal. A permit is required for concealed carry and to transport your firearms in your vehicle, but no permit is required for open carry.

Last week a Soccer Mom lost her Concealed Weapons Permit because the Sheriff didn't like the fact that she open carried at a soccer game.

From pennlive.com:


LEBANON -- Officials in Pennsylvania have revoked a woman's concealed-weapons permit because other parents complained that she was carrying her loaded handgun at her daughter's soccer games...

...Sheriff Michael DeLeo says openly carrying a weapon to a youth soccer match shows a lack of judgment.

Meleanie Hain and Her Glock 26

Meleanie Hain wears her loaded Glock 26 on her hip when she attends her 5-year-old daughter s soccer practices and games at Optimist Park. It s not that she s expecting trouble, Hain explains; she carries the weapon everywhere. (Jim Zengerle / Lebanon Daily News)

It bothers me, and it should bother all freedom loving folk, that this Sheriff would attempt to revoke her concealed weapons permit based on what he thinks is a lack of judgement. This woman did nothing illegal. She was not playing with her firearm, drinking alcohol, or threatening anyone. She breaks no laws and gets her permit pulled. It could have been worse.

From Cleveland, another open carry state, we get this news:


Greg Llewellyn, his girlfriend and four friends were sipping hot tea outside a West Side coffee shop on a recent August night when a pair of Cleveland police officers approached with guns drawn.

Get on the ground, an officer ordered, forcing the surprised group to set aside their drinks and hit the sidewalk belly-down. An officer began searching one of Llewellyn's friends before abruptly ending the suspense and demanding to know who had the gun.

"I am the one who has the weapon," the 26-year-old Llewellyn answered. The butt of a black, holstered and loaded CZ-52 pistol -- a Czech-made gun -- was visible tucked behind him in his belt.

The officers arrested him...
These are not isolated incidents. Law abiding citizens are being harassed, humiliated and arrested for doing no more than exercising their natural right to carry the means to defend themselves. This is happening in states where it is perfectly legal to open carry a firearm. These folks are not breaking any laws, yet some LEO's still harass them.

David Codrea has A Plan to Stop Cops from Harassing Openly Carrying Gun Owners in Ohio. Go over and give it a read. This plan, with just minor modifications, can be used in any state or local where the police are just outright harassing citizens who exercise their right to keep and bear arms.

6 comments:

TexasFred said...

There is something that really bugs me about that woman and her having a gun on her hip...

Why in the heck isn't she carrying a GOOD pistol?? Like a Springfield or something??

Just sayin'...

Frances Clements said...

This kind of thing makes me so mad. Are there really so few criminals in these states that cops have nothing better to do than harrass citizens?!

Anonymous said...

So much for protecting herself. Too bad there are so many more people that think like this woman did.

Gray Radiations said...

Did you notice she and her husband just died in a murder suicide? Don't know who shot whom, but at least the kids are safe.

Anonymous said...

God bless america. This is the only country that allows you to defend your self and feel safe. i think that open carry should be a national right to any United states citizen. i understand the poor cops that they want to protect the public., but at the same time look at Mexico all the civilian population intimidated and bullied by thugs and terrorist because they lack laws to own a fire arm or a rifle. America is the Land of the free due to the right to own a FIRE ARM.

Anonymous said...

Jesus, your followers have embraced violence. Truly the Devil hath the power to assume a gun-toting (and obese) shape.