Labgrade is Gone (One of the Original TRT Founders)

self | 4/30/04 | Tom Buchanan

[fivetoes]

Hi, my name is Tom Buchanan and I regret to inform the readers of Free Republic that labgrade, Alan Albertus died yesterday afternoon in a tragic house fire.

His wife, Crystal asked me if I would inform the readers of this forum.

Alan was a good friend and true supporter of the Second Amendment, but I don't have to tell any of you on this forum. Many of you know him through the typewritten word. I have the honor of spending countless hours with Alan talking about Freedom.

Alan was the person who made the original phone calls to get a few freedom loving folks together to discuss how to keep our freedoms That group took on the name Tyranny Response Team. The rest as they say, is history.

He will be sadly missed.

Here is an email from Rocky Mountain Gun Owners

=====================

Below is a news release from Congresswoman Marilyn Musgrave's office announcing the creation of a Second Amendment Caucus in the U.S. House.

This caucus was born out of talks with RMGO, GOA and Musgrave staff to find new and innovative ways to protect -- and regain -- our right to keep and bear arms.

Rest assured that RMGO will continue to work on this project.

------------------------------------- This morning our office learned that Alan Albertus, a long-time gun rights activist from northern Colorado, died in a fire at his home last night.

Alan (known online as "labgrade") was the creator of the Tyranny Response Team in 2000. Since that time he (and his wife, Crystal) put their efforts into building Rocky Mountain Gun Owners and the Second Amendment Sisters. He was a very active RMGO member, sometimes calling our office on a daily basis.

Alan will be greatly missed, not just by the movement but by myself personally. He was a close personal friend.

I urge all of you who pray to commit yourself to it this weekend for Alan's family.

Dudley Brown Executive Director ---------------------------

[TigersEye]

Campanella said it was believed that Albertus kept ammunition and gunpowder in the home.

Strange thing for the Sherriff's dept. to say. They of all people should know that ammunition and smokeless powder doesn't create a danger when burned. That shouldn't be news to the fire dept. either.

[cibco]

Thank you fivetoes and for your efforts with Allen's family. This is a shock. I briefly met Allen and his wife at a protest in Denver against the MMM's.

Prayers up!

(tinfoil) Was the fire an accident?

So sad... another believer in Freedom! has left us.

The only consolation is... His spirit will help guide the rest of us...

[mabelkitty]

We lost another great Patriot.
Prayers for Crystal and the family and friends.

[fivetoes]

Here are a few pictures of Labgrade from our Independence Day Picnic 2002. We brought out the dart guns and had a ball. The kids (all ages ) were running around shooting each other with the rubber darts. The liberals in the park were aghast at the sight of children having so much fun with guns.

[fivetoes]

I went up to his house to talk to his neighbors to see if I could get Crystal's cell phone number and had good talk with them.

It seems that the fire was extinguished and the fire department left around 9:00 pm. At 11:15 they were awaken to the sound of a small explosion and what sounded like popcorn. Apparently the fire had not gotten to his reloading room the first time and it flared back up after everyone was gone except a lone sheriff's deputy.

The neighbors said that was just like Al. He wasn't going out without a bang.

From what they said the second fire was more intense than the first one.

I talked with Crystal this morning and she is holding up as well as can be expected. Her Mom and sister are with her.

The Fife and Drum Corps have contacted me and they will be playing at his memorial service.

[cibco]

2nd Amend bump!

[cibco]

BTTT

[gatex]

"....I do indeed have ammunition that could put them in severe danger."

Info from SAAMI--

"Sporting Ammunition and the Firefighter, a video produced by the Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers' Institute, analyzes the characteristics associated with small arms ammunition when it is subjected to severe impact and fire.

"When a primer ignites, it causes the propellant to burn, which creates gases which, when under pressure in a firearm, send the bullet down the barrel. Pressure created by the propellant being burned is what discharges a bullet.

" As such, loose ammunition in a fire does not result in bullets being discharged because the propellant is not burning under pressure.

' The video, which has been widely circulated to fire departments, concludes that while ammunition produces a popping sound when it burns, there is no mass detonation of the ammunition, any projectiles are of low velocity, and there is no threat to firefighters in their standard turn-out gear. "

link to --- www.saami.org click on "enviornment" and scroll down.

[cibco]

bttt

[ancient_geezer]

When I speak of ammunition, I include my reloading supplies, and blackpowder enclosed in tins, not a cool thing to run into unexpectedly during a fire.

[Robert Teesdale]

Thanks for the update. You and the missus have my e-mail addresses; please keep me informed and let Crystal know she's in my thoughts.

That bottom picture from the 2002 picnic - it looks like my son with Alan. Hard to tell by the angle.

[Robert Teesdale]

Thanks to you and Dorie for being there for Crystal. I can't imagine the horrific shock she's in. I'm glad to hear she has her family with her.

May he walk with God.

[fivetoes]

Robert, that is actually my son with him. My kids are all very saddened by this tragedy. Al was always really good to them.

[CardCarryingMember.VastRightWC]

Dang!! It's awful to read of this tragedy. My prayers go for his wife Crystal (the newspaper called her Theresa??)

And in reading all these tributes, I realize how awful it is that I've lived in the same county with such a fine conservative activist like this for so many years, but have never met him! I've got to get away from the computer more and meet these kinds of people before more of them are gone.

[snopercod]

Chilling story. I wonder if Denver uses concealed carry lists to identify "militia types".

[snopercod]

At 11:15 they were awaken to the sound of a small explosion and what sounded like popcorn.

Same way that CHIEF_Negotiator (Herb Meadows) died. From CHIEF negotiator dies in east Houston house fire Thread II:

[His wife]...was watching television in the home's living room when she heard a loud pop and her husband shouting from the back of the home.

Here's another "accidental" fire in Houston: Lobbyist found shot to death in burned home spoke of fear [per CHIEF negotiator arson murder]

[Atlas Sneezed]

I suppose that the common element could be unsafe storage of reloading/cleaning supplies, but I sure want to learn more before making that judgement.

[Robert Teesdale]

Alan was always really good around the kids. A very special man.

From the rear, your son (is that Sam?) looks a lot like Chris at that time!

[fivetoes]

I don't think unsafe storage of reloading equiptment enters into this equation. Al was meticulous when it came to his firearms and his reloading. Safety was always the first priority.

[kitchen]

This is terrible news. Colorado and RKBA everywhere have lost a good friend.