Dear Sheriff McCabe,
As a former reserve deputy and chaplain in Albemarle County I am horrified and ashamed to read that your deputies are not only habitually violating the Second Amendment rights of citizens within your bailiwick but are doing so in a sadistic, brutal, and unprofessional way.
The detention on June 10, 2007 of Mr. Szymecki was a flagrant and disgraceful abuse of the authority of your office. It is evident from other incidents that some of your deputies either do not know the laws of this Commonwealth or consider it part of their job to harass citizens who exercise their rights under those laws.
I do what I can to encourage citizens to support Law Enforcement Officers. I know there are many wonderful, brave, and honest men and women serving their communities in this often thankless work.
When deputies and other Law Enforcement Officers take the law into their own hands, the consequences are very bad indeed. People lose respect for you and for other sheriffs. Time and money are spent in the court system and the Commonwealth Attorney’s Office nolle pross-ing cases which never should have been brought in the first place. And finally citizens, such as myself, of the Commonwealth have to dig into their pockets to support the lawsuit against Norfolk and your office which will almost certainly follow this dreadful abuse of authority.
I was very proud to be a reserve deputy and to work with Sheriff Ed Robb. I am also very proud to be a life member of the NRA and the GOA and also a member of the VCDL. I will be happy to give sacrificially to support any suit against Norfolk which addresses the habitual abuse of citizens by your deputies.
Very truly yours,
Mad Dawg [okay, I didn't use my handle]
For all of us non-residents of Norfolk, can you tell us what VCDL is please?
Well, there won’t be any Trolley Square or Virginia Tech at the Sail Virginia 2007! Obviously good LEO presence and armed private citizens. I would guess it is a low crime event!
Not once is the VCDL identified-—good writing...good writing.
If you have a concealed-carry permit, then keep your weapon CONCEALED. Duh!
MOLON LABE
As if a police officer is a paragon of virtue or some law abiding superhero who never does ill.
Now....wasn't it a police officer who was shagging a woman not his wife, knocking her up and finally killing her and his unborn?
"Law officers", and their apologist sycophant lackeys on FR, really ought to stay off of their high horses.
I do hope this citizen makes Norfolk pay dearly. And, while he's at it, it would be nice if his lawsuit ruined the lives of those LEO's who violated his God-given rights.
The rest of the story - from the Virginian-Pilot
(http://content.hamptonroads.com/story.cfm?story=128887&ran=175683)
Szymecki was charged with violating a local ordinance that the City Council had passed in May, which set up rules to govern Harborfest. Among them was a provision banning handguns and other weapons.
There's just one problem: A few years ago, the General Assembly barred localities from enforcing laws governing the carrying of firearms. That meant state law prevailed. And in Virginia, "open carry" is legal.
Localities today generally do not have the authority to restrict guns, said Mark Flynn, director of legal services for the Virginia Municipal League. A state law last amended in 2004 says localities cannot adopt or enforce laws regarding the purchase, carrying, possession, storage, or sale of firearms.
Szymecki was given a summons and released. When he showed up for court June 22, the case was withdrawn at the request of an assistant city attorney
Please don’t anyone argue that “the police will protect you”.
The sole function of the police is to document a crime, collect evidence, and apprehend suspects, all after the crime has been committed (after the fact). It is the responsibility of the citizens to protect themselves. Even if the police could respond in 30 seconds, it would be too late for the victim.
Mad Dawg,
Please inform me by PM. I live in Virginia Beach.
More info at above URL.
Sic’em Dawg. Sounds like at least a $500,000 judgment against the City to me...hopefully more. There’s nothing like a good financial kick in the crotch to get the bureaucrat’s attention.