Controversial gun enthusiats speak in MUB

The New Hampshire ^ | 12/5/06 | Mike Anderson

[neverdem]

Guns should be allowed in schools. Owning a firearm and carrying a concealed weapon on campus would be a good idea for personal safety. These views and more were expressed last Tuesday in the MUB when the Young American's for Freedom (YAF) hosted an open discussion on the right to bear arms.

Featured speakers at the event included the president of the Gun Owners of New Hampshire (GONH), Mitch Kopaz, and the GONH attorney, Penny Dean. MUB Theater II was filled with students, faculty, and community members who were welcomed with a table of gun magazines as they walked through the door.

"It isn't just the actual guns or the thoughts of guns that are under attack, it is the photos of guns and everything to do with them," explained Dean. "And if you don't know your rights on owning firearms, then you don't have any rights."

Bill Hunt, a leader of the YAF, opened the event by discussing the importance of the right to bear arms and what the following speakers had to say. Hunt is well-known around the UNH campus for his ardent opposition to the 9/11 teachings of psychology professor William Woodward.

According to Dean, the word "gun" has been turned into a dirty word, when it really defines an excellent source of self-defense. She went through information on the laws surrounding carrying a concealed weapon and the benefits of doing so. New Hampshire law requires firearms to be licensed, but is a fairly open state when it comes to gun ownership.

At UNH, there is a gun ban, but Dean urged students to take a stand against this. She also mentioned the presence of guns in a high school setting. "It used to be that kids could bring guns to school," said Dean. "There were shooting clubs, and it wasn't uncommon to see someone propping their gun up in the back of the bus."

"It is important to remember that as a gun owner or carrier, you have a spotlight on you," Dean said. "When the guy at the bar knocks into you rudely, just move and sit a seat over. It's not good to seem like you are looking for a fight when carrying a gun."

Much of Dean's speech included criticism of police training. According to Dean, many police don't have the proper information about their firearms and holsters. Sitting in the audience was a student whose father, a police officer, had stopped Dean while she was walking near her home late at night. She revealed that she was simply taking a walk and that she was carrying a concealed Glock 23 in her fanny pack. He questioned her as to why she was out that night taking a walk with a gun.

Dean explained that she had every right to be doing so and that she was breaking no laws. The student left abruptly, directing vulgar language at her.

President of the College Democrats, Nick Christiansen, asked whether there should be a limit on the types of guns that can be legally owned. Dean responded that there should be no limit.

After the event, Christiansen shared his feelings about the speakers. "It was a lot of insanity," said Christiansen. "To not draw the line between handguns and machine guns is just crazy. But there was a lot of good stuff too. People certainly have a right to protect themselves, but it seemed like they didn't talk much about how more people with guns would mean that chances would be higher for bad things to happen with guns."

When Kopaz, the president of the Gun Owners of New Hampshire finally spoke, it was brief. He concluded the meeting by inviting those in attendance to join his organization and make a difference in gun ownership. He explained that the organization works hard at the state and local level to maintain the Second Amendment right to bear arms.

"Coming out to the statehouse and making our representatives understand our rights is the most important part of what we do, and everyone can be a part of it," said Kopaz.

[Skywalk]

"Sitting in the audience was a student whose father, a police officer, had stopped Dean while she was walking near her home late at night. She revealed that she was simply taking a walk and that she was carrying a concealed Glock 23 in her fanny pack. He questioned her as to why she was out that night taking a walk with a gun.

Dean explained that she had every right to be doing so and that she was breaking no laws. The student left abruptly, directing vulgar language at her. "

WTF is this moron student doing hurling profanity at someone for stating a belief? I guess the authoritarians have been quite successful in breeding future Statists. What the hell business was it of the cop why someone had a gun in their purse. IT was at night and she wanted protection. Are these people this stupid and/or evil?

[Pontiac]

Actually this event sounds like an unprecedented success.

Conservative speakers espousing the preservation of Constitutional rights (especially the Second Amendment), and there were no protestors blocking aisles, shouting down the speaker with obscenities or throwing pies.

[wodinoneeye]

"
"Sitting in the audience was a student whose father, a police officer, had stopped Dean while she was walking near her home late at night. She revealed that she was simply taking a walk and that she was carrying a concealed Glock 23 in her fanny pack. He questioned her as to why she was out that night taking a walk with a gun.

Dean explained that she had every right to be doing so and that she was breaking no laws. The student left abruptly, directing vulgar language at her. "

WTF is this moron student doing hurling profanity at someone for stating a belief? I guess the authoritarians have been quite successful in breeding future Statists. What the hell business was it of the cop why someone had a gun in their purse. IT was at night and she wanted protection. Are these people this stupid and/or evil?
"


Just another serf expecting others to protect him...

[tiger-one]

Unless Atty Dean has had more than one of these "out walking late at night" stories, which was at 0200, I am familiar with her story and I know the SP Officer who stopped her and have worked with him at various times. I do not know Atty Dean.

Dean's complaint went all the way to the NH DPS for investigation. She wrote several articles about this incident one or more published in the NHGO (New Hampshire Gun Owners)publication a NRA affiliated organization. Dean's written account of what happened sounded confrontational, and anything but cooperative, by moving quickly to, I have a right(s). In my LE contact with the SP Officer, I have always found him to be, calm, low key and reasonable for the other person to deal with. One factor which may have lead to Dean being stopped was, the area she was walking in, is close to a state mental hospital and the "guests" have been known to walk away.

I am not defending either party, just illustrating there is two sides to every story.

[Condor51]

..said Christiansen. "To not draw the line between handguns and machine guns is just crazy..."

Oh really? Why?

(and I wonder what Christiansen considers a "machine gun"?)

[teeman8r]

ever more the reason to carry concealed... however i would recommend that women never carry in the purse and that concealed should always be on the body.

teeman

[absolootezer0]

ever more the reason to carry concealed... however i would recommend that women never carry in the purse and that concealed should always be on the body.

if you're gonna carry one in your purse, make sure its a full size, all steel gun. Since you won't be able to get to it quick enough, make sure its heavy enough to use as a bludgeon.

[tiger-one]

Here is the link to her formal complaint http://www.thepriceofliberty.org/05/08/19/guest_penny.htm

[beltfed308]

Thanks for posting the link. I am suspicious of the circumstances but it sounds like the officer was genuinely concerned for the woman's safety more than anything else. Let no good deed go unpunished so to speak.

[Hazcat]

I am suspicious of the circumstances but it sounds like the officer was genuinely concerned for the woman's safety more than anything else.

I disagree. Yes, she was a bit brusque at first but did comply with the ID request. At this point the officer was done and should have moved on but he decided he wanted more. Why? Does he not like legally armed citizens? Why the repeated demand for ID when a carry permit had been supplied? I my thinking the carry permit far outweighs the drivers license as ID.

[beltfed308]

At this point the officer was done and should have moved on but he decided he wanted more.

That was what my comment on it being suspicious was based on too. I think in some states you need your DL also along with your permit. Either way I still think it was a clash of ego's.

[Hazcat]

I think in some states you need your DL also along with your permit

[Hazcat]

I think in some states you need your DL also along with your permit.

You are correct on that. Here in FL it says you must carry your license and 'valid identification' and present them on demand. It does not say (that I can find) what constitutes 'valid ID'.

[Liberty Valance]

MMMMMMMMM- MUBYAFGOHNASAPDMZPDQWTF

[Hazcat]

What you just posted does not jive with you tag line. At least for me.

[beltfed308]

I'm in Florida also. I had a permit when the law first went in effect. When it came time to renew I had second thoughts on why should I have to pay for a right. Now that there is more reciprocity I am reconsidering.

[Aarchaeus]

"It isn't just the actual guns or the thoughts of guns that are under attack, it is the photos of guns and everything to do with them"

Not quite right. What is under attack is the Constitutional rights of citizens.

[Hazcat]

The cost is now $117.00 for 5 years and the renewal is $65.00 for 5 years so it really isn't that bad.

[tiger-one]

CCW in NH, you are not required to carry your permit on your person. There is no requirement you carry your DL when you CC. There is no requirement to announce you are CC. The Res CCW permit is non photo, issued by the city /town you reside in. The CCW permit is a piece of paper, not laminated. It has, your DOB, name, address, WT, HT, eye and hair color. The NH DL has the same ID info and photo as any DL. There is no data base cross ref between your DL & CCW permit. It is not a state issued permit. The point..easy to forge a CCW permit, which makes less than valid as an ID. In NH you can legally carry in the open,except in a vehicle and court house, no permit required, as long as you are not a convicted felon

Side note: I have stopped people who announce, I'm carry a gun, do you want to see it? Do you have a valid NH CCW permit...Yes. I do not want to see the gun, just your DL and permit..
Point.. When you say yes show me the gun, you the cop, are at a disadvantage.