Posted on 03/04/2012 6:38:52 AM PST by marktwain
GRAND RAPIDS — Nicholas Looman said he was not surprised the Kent County Prosecutor’s Office found he complied with state law while carrying a gun into an elementary school voting precinct this week.
He’s disheartened with what he sees as a lack of understanding with open-carry gun laws and has hired an attorney to “explore the possibility” of a lawsuit against local law enforcement authorities.
Looman questions whether being “detained” in an office at Aberdeen Elementary School on voting day violated his personal rights. He is upset with how the whole situation was handled.
"The prosecutor went out of his way to say I was being disingenuous or naive to be frustrated with police," Looman said of a statement released Friday afternoon. “The law is already on my side, all we have now is to make the public more aware of the laws."
In his written opinion, Prosecutor William Forsyth said Looman legally carried his pistol when he went to vote with the gun holstered in plain view at his waist. But he used “extremely poor judgement” in bringing the gun days after a school shooting in Ohio, Forsyth said.
“Did he really believe that by carrying a gun into an elementary school that no one would notice and that no one would react?”
Through a series of conflicting state laws and exceptions to laws, a person who is licensed to carry a concealed pistol can legally carry that weapon into a school, as long as it is visible.
Nicholas Looman Nicholas Looman Nicholas Looman comments about legally carrying a pistol. Watch video
The state’s “weapons-free school zone” law does not apply to a concealed weapons permit holder, but at the same time, a person with a permit may not carry a hidden weapon into a school, Forsyth said.
School officials are required by a state School Safety Response Guide to contact local law enforcement whenever a person with a gun enters a school building.
Grand Rapids Public Schools Spokesman John Helmholdt said he believes elementary staff acted correctly when contacting the Grand Rapids Police Department out of concern for students' safety. Forsyth said officers kept Looman in a school office only long enough to determine that he carried a valid concealed pistol license.
For Looman, this week has been an interesting one as he’s received feedback from near and far. He said several state lawmakers have contacted him to acknowledge their support and to say they were aware of the situation.
As Looman walked into a Grand Rapids hardware store this week, he says he heard a “Hey aren’t you that guy…?” as a man recognized him from news reports.
But he also lost a job he was to start soon at a West Michigan engineering firm. Looman signed an offer letter for the position before he went to vote Tuesday. The company reportedly retracted the offer Wednesday after hearing of the open-carry situation.
“Bad PR,” Looman said he was told.
Helmholdt said school leaders want the state Legislature to look at changing the state’s open-carry law, for both student safety and to clear up what appear to be inconsistencies in goals about guns in schools.
“We’re saying that right now, there is a lot of confusion across the state,” he said. “We want to respect the second amendment, but if we want anyplace to be weapons-free, it’s a school.”
What possible reasons is there for that opinion, except to make sure that children are indoctrinated in the belief that carrying weapons is not socially acceptable?
The law banning weapons from schools are relatively recent.
it must have just “ felt good “ arresting him dispite his RIGHT
I live in Grand Rapids, and I APPLAUD this man. I also work in an engineering firm here, and would love to know which one did such a cowardly thing.
Another thing...I think we have seen how well those “gun-free schools” policy work.
This goes to show the inherent bias that is being “Rahmed” down the throat of Americans.
It’s clear that the authorities knew that he was within the law as they waited until he had voted before accosting him. Had they prevented him from voting the 1983 civil rights action would have been delicious.
This is just more libtard window dressing that they are using to fire up their base. Watch for a ballot referendum that is aimed at “ending the voting loophole”.
That is the problem, not "poor judgement".
There's a textbook, open and shut case. Of course, police immunity from incompetence re "conflicting laws" leaves him out of luck.
What an unusual name!
It will have great educational value for everyone involved and it is the only way that people are going to learn -- quit messing with gun owners!!!!!
The ability to KEEP and BEAR arms is a God-given right, protected by the US Constitution. Any law that infringes upon that right is ILLEGITIMATE!!!!!!!
Getting so sick of a) these namby-pamby people who are "afraid of guns..." and b) gun owners being bullied by people in power (police) who ought to know better!!!!
“School officials are required by a state School Safety Response Guide to contact local law enforcement whenever a person with a gun enters a school building. “
He needs to sue the State School Safety board as well.
If it’s not illegal to open carry in a school, why would school officials be REQUIRED to report someone with a gun?
I should have added:
This is ‘back door’ gun control.
And should be deemed illegal.
Why is there “intent” in nearly every facet of the law except with regards to guns. This has got to change.
According to the article, he was not arrested, he was detained. Big difference.
In most circumstances it is illegal to carry in a school. How is the school to know if a guy who shows up is legally carrying or not?
“...if we want anyplace to be weapons-free, it’s a school.”
“What possible reasons is there for that opinion, except to make sure that children are indoctrinated in the belief that carrying weapons is not socially acceptable?”
So the criminals have the best chance at shooting as many students and teaching faculty as possible before the cops can make it there. Why else?
Yes - and apparently only to determine if he was legally carrying or not. As far as the job offer, are people here saying that a company cannot hire whoever they want?
What an unusual name!
Just a little more unusual than Mary Hartman Mary Hartman.
Maybe he'll get his own tv show.
Hello....
The school didn't just suddenly appear overnight, transported from some town in some other state. The school, like any other business, needs to make itself aware of any laws that affect it.
That doesn’t answer my question...
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.