Posted on 07/18/2009 5:17:56 AM PDT by Glenn
BEAVER — Beaver County Judge Harry Knafelc left no doubt Friday as to what he thought about John Noble taking a gun to a presidential campaign rally in Beaver on Aug. 29.
“It was inappropriate, and it was foolish,” Knafelc said, “but not every foolish or stupid act is a crime.”
So moments after a jury said Noble, 51, of Industry, was not guilty of a misdemeanor charge of disrupting a meeting, Knafelc said Noble was not guilty of a summary count of disorderly conduct.
Noble’s wife, Janet, said moments after a celebration began outside Knafelc’s courtroom, “Being a Pennsylvanian or an American is never foolish.”
The night of the Obama-Biden rally, Noble was seen with a loaded pistol on his hip, walking along McIntosh Square, next to Irvine Park in Beaver, where then-Sens. Obama and Biden were speaking.
State police said Noble never tried to get into the secured Irvine Park, never threatened anyone with the holstered gun and didn’t resist when he was taken into custody. But police said they believed Noble intended to disrupt the rally, pointing to comments he posted to two Web sites on the morning of the rally, in which he urged people to bring guns and Bibles to Beaver.
Noble said he went there simply to engage in a “quiet protest,” and to pass out gun-rights fliers.
Defense attorney Stephen Colafella said he hoped Noble’s court journey raised awareness about the state’s open-carry law, under which a person does not need a permit to openly carry a gun in a public place.
Beaver County Assistant District Attorney Frank Martocci said, “I respect the jury’s decision, as it was a case that needed the people of Beaver County to make a decision on.”
He also praised law enforcement’s role in the Noble case, including the actions of several officers the night Noble was taken into custody.
“They do a thankless job, and they deserve our praise, including what they did in this situation. I don’t want them to think they did anything wrong,” Martocci said.
For more on the story, see Sunday’s Times.
Because he wanted to protest Obammie the Commie?
Because he suggested handing out Bibles?
Because he defends the 2nd Amendment?
If it was against the law to carry a weapon, fine, arrest him.
But according to the judge, he did nothing wrong.
SO WHY WAS HE ARRESTED?
AND WHO THE HELL IS THE JUDGE TO SCOLD SOMEONE FOR EXERCISING THEIR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO EXPRESS THEIR OPINION??
I hope this guy sues for false arrest and violation of his civil liberties. If this situation had been reversed and it was leftists in Seattle peacefully protesting Bush and they had been arrested, the city of Seattle would already be writing a check for a few hundred grand.
They should all be in Jail for Felony Kidnapping. Life in Prison without Parole. Where are our Grand Juries in a time of Crisis such as this.
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