Campus Police Detain and Draw Weapons on Student Activist for Wearing Empty Holster

Buckeye Firerams Association ^ | 9 April, 2012 | cbaus

[marktwain]

Columbus, Ohio – Ohio State University Police detained and drew their weapons on student-activist Mike Newbern for demonstrating his support for gun rights by wearing an empty holster to a candlelight vigil for Trayvon Martin on Wednesday.

Newbern, the president of Buckeyes for Concealed Carry, was taken forcibly into police custody just after 8:30 p.m., while he was standing at the front of the crowd wearing an empty holster, which was clearly visible on his belt, and with his hands crossed in front of his chest.

A police report released on Thursday indicates two officers drew their firearms before approaching Newbern and removing him from the vigil. They searched and questioned Newbern and confiscated his personal belongings, including his empty holster and camera case, before placing him handcuffed in the back of a cruiser for 30 minutes. Newbern was released at 9:07 p.m. but was informed by police that the field investigation would be forwarded to the university’s Committee of Academic Misconduct where he could be charged with disorderly conduct.

Newbern, who is a certified firearms safety instructor, said on Thursday he decided to attend the vigil to exercise his First Amendment right to demonstrate in favor of Ohio’s concealed carry laws. He said he suspects’ campus police and students harassed him because he is the leader of Buckeyes for Concealed Carry, a group Ohio State University President Gordon Gee has publically described as "vigilante."

On Tuesday, for example, President Gee expressed his continued opposition to the right for students to conceal carry on the Ohio State University Campus.

"You and I can debate that all day long and you have clear arguments," Gee said, addressing his remarks to Newbern. "But, I am in charge and we are not going to do it."

"We are very vocal in our struggle and I have become the face of our cause," Newbern said. "By invoking the most violent and most vivid imagery possible, they attempt to paint our progress towards self-defense as anything other than the natural rights that they are. And in this instance, the administration's toxic dialogue ran to its natural conclusion, which could have been prevented through more civil discourse."

EDITOR'S NOTE: Buckeye Firearms Foundation is looking into the situation. We are concerned for officer safety, but also for the civil rights of citizens. Campus security is a concern for many students, and having those who exercise their First Amendment rights on the topic hauled off at gun point will not solve any problems.

[muir_redwoods]

In effect, he was arrested for not having a gun.

[Jack Hydrazine]

Just think of what would have happened to him if he had held up a poster with a gun on it!

[Manic_Episode]

This is about the same speed as a little kid getting suspended at school for drawing a picture of a gun.

Our nation is just so screwed....

[Binstence]

Then my post does not apply to them. I support all officers of the law. I curse all soldiers of a totalitarian state.

[Respond Code Three]

I have defended the actions of officers on FR when the officers acted lawfully, and I have criticized the officers who acted outside of the law. I have known administrators and rank and file on both sides of the issue regarding open and concealed carry.

[muir_redwoods]

"if you put a cell phone in a holster and pull it out in front of a cop, you deserve whatever happens next,"

Oh, I agree; it's way too much to expect the police to act like professionals, observe, think and understand a situation before they just react randomly. It's not like they're trained or anything.

[Renegade]

I deserve to make a phone call. Other than that the officer should be thrown off the force. He sure as hell is not protecting me . OH I forgot. The Supreme Court said the police don’t have a right to protect the public.

[Respond Code Three]

"I support all officers of the law. I curse all soldiers of a totalitarian state."

On that, we are in agreement.

[Durus]

I’m not sure you know what the word “deserve” means.

[Binstence]

Our nation is so screwed up NOT because of strong neo-Marxists but because of weak and passive freedom fighters.

“The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.”— Attributed to Edmund Burke

[GladesGuru]

“Wear a holster? Where is the gun? There lies the problem as a policeman sees it.”

PITY!

When I want an policeman’s idea on anything, I’ll give it to him. Allowing officers to get away with abuses such as this case only encourages future bad behavior. Sue the bachelor’s children!

[Binstence]

In the context of my post deserve means totalitarian police deserve to be overthrown by any means necessary. Get it???? I didn’t think so.

[Vendome]

The guy could have been thinking of going to Starbucks and using the holster as a cup holder.

WTH is wrong with these officers? They didn’t perceive any real danger but drew down on the guy anyway?

What if...wait for it...What if one of them accidentally discharged their firearm, striking one or more persons with severe injuries or killing them?

Actions have consequences.

Bozo’s...no wait... Ass Clowns!

[Respond Code Three]

"And how many is that exactly? "

More than one. That is why I wrote "officers," not "officer."

[Niteranger68]

Apparently, they didn't arrest (molest) any other empty holster protesters, so how can they charge only one person with disorderly conduct? Tell you what...LEO’s better sit down with their families and have a long serious talk about what's more important...coming home every night or violating citizens rights. At some point, they can't have both.

[Durus]

I did not respond to a post of yours so the context of your post is immaterial. Get it???? I hope so.

[Tenacious 1]

But the FR jackboot lickers are always saying that the police are "on our side" whatever that means. They're also always saying that it's only that police chiefs and bureaucrats who are anti-gun not the rank and file. I guess Newbern was falsely arrested by some of the police chiefs.

Confused here. Pepper Spray activists? Treyvon Martin? Rodney King? OJ Simpson? NY Prosecutors? Fast & Furious?.....

The generalizations get confusing. Like many issues case by case objective judgments on the behavior/character of citizens, police, politicians, prostitutes, priests, etc. is more congenial for debate and discussion.

For those that presume all LEO are misdirected government minions hellbent on infringing on our rights, discussion and debate is pointless. Same can be said for those that are "FR jackboot lickers" as you say.

The cops in this case, presumably working under the premise of an activist with a gun, should have detained, investigated, apologized and immediately released the student. Then they should have investigated whatever report they received that called for their action. If they truly went any further than that, then the citizen's rights were violated. If the university takes any action that defames or otherwise affects the student negatively, they should be subject to a civil lawsuit.

Is that your opinion too?

[School of Rational Thought]

SUE, SUE, SUE!!!

[ctdonath2]

The leader in localized security standards is TSA, which gets apoplectic at the mere image of a gun or supporting accessories.

[from occupied ga]

Respond Code Three,"None of the officers I worked with who were killed or wounded by gunfire in the line of duty..."

FOG ,"And how many is that exactly?"

Respond Code Three," I have defended the actions of officers on FR when the officers acted lawfully, and I have criticized the officers who acted outside of the law..."

So in other words, none.