Posted on 04/11/2012 9:53:16 AM PDT by marktwain
Columbus, Ohio Ohio State University Police detained and drew their weapons on student-activist Mike Newbern for demonstrating his support for gun rights by wearing an empty holster to a candlelight vigil for Trayvon Martin on Wednesday.
Newbern, the president of Buckeyes for Concealed Carry, was taken forcibly into police custody just after 8:30 p.m., while he was standing at the front of the crowd wearing an empty holster, which was clearly visible on his belt, and with his hands crossed in front of his chest.
A police report released on Thursday indicates two officers drew their firearms before approaching Newbern and removing him from the vigil. They searched and questioned Newbern and confiscated his personal belongings, including his empty holster and camera case, before placing him handcuffed in the back of a cruiser for 30 minutes. Newbern was released at 9:07 p.m. but was informed by police that the field investigation would be forwarded to the universitys Committee of Academic Misconduct where he could be charged with disorderly conduct.
Newbern, who is a certified firearms safety instructor, said on Thursday he decided to attend the vigil to exercise his First Amendment right to demonstrate in favor of Ohios concealed carry laws. He said he suspects campus police and students harassed him because he is the leader of Buckeyes for Concealed Carry, a group Ohio State University President Gordon Gee has publically described as "vigilante."
On Tuesday, for example, President Gee expressed his continued opposition to the right for students to conceal carry on the Ohio State University Campus.
"You and I can debate that all day long and you have clear arguments," Gee said, addressing his remarks to Newbern. "But, I am in charge and we are not going to do it."
"We are very vocal in our struggle and I have become the face of our cause," Newbern said. "By invoking the most violent and most vivid imagery possible, they attempt to paint our progress towards self-defense as anything other than the natural rights that they are. And in this instance, the administration's toxic dialogue ran to its natural conclusion, which could have been prevented through more civil discourse."
EDITOR'S NOTE: Buckeye Firearms Foundation is looking into the situation. We are concerned for officer safety, but also for the civil rights of citizens. Campus security is a concern for many students, and having those who exercise their First Amendment rights on the topic hauled off at gun point will not solve any problems.
They better shoot to kill or I will get them.If I don’t I have backup that will.
LOL. You must have one of those new Apple iPhone ammo apps.
Droid
Guns don’t kill people, Holsters do.
You sound like some of these war heros that show up at FR every now and then and attempt to give more credence to their position by somehow wowing us with fabricated past service.
You have been asked by a longtime FReeper, "How many" were killed or wounded.
Answer the question. How many?
http://www.omaha.com/article/20120411/NEWS01/120419922#omaha-officer-shoots-self
Omaha, NE Today... officer shoots self
These petit gestapo need to be held personally financially liable for their misconduct.
What is a “holster”? An empty pouch. Someone being arrested, detained, and charged for an empty pouch, in this country at least for the near future, should have recourse to unlawful arrest.
That veil of protection needs to be pierced for law enforcement at all levels. Anyone who is authorized by the state to use deadly force against the citizens of this country bear an extra burden of conduct.
Require them to have personal liability/malpractice insurance.
The insurance companies will stop providing coverage for anyone that misuses their position of power and causes a huge loss.
Not "IF", it "IS" the case.
I had read about their plans to wear empty holsters here on FR. It has been known for at least a week. The MOVEMENT "Students for Concealed Carry on Campus" has been around for FIVE YEARS.
Students don empty holsters to protest USC rules - April 4, 2012
Students have been wearing empty holsters on campus this week and not because they misplaced their guns.
Rather, they are taking part in the Empty Holster Protest, a nationwide movement that encourages schools to allow students the right to carry concealed weapons on campus.
The protest was brought to USC by fourth-year criminal justice student Joshua Cohen and third-year criminal justice student Cody Armstrong and has gained most of its support through Facebook and word of mouth.
Students Strap On Empty Holsters to Protest Gun Restrictions on Campus - October 24, 2007
"People who would otherwise be able to defend themselves are left defenseless when on campus," said Ethan Bratt, a graduate student wearing an empty holster this week on the campus of Seattle Pacific University.
A group of 12 students chose to wear empty holsters to class this week at the University of Idaho as part of the nationwide protest.
That is exactly right. The police are not your friend.
drawin a gun on unarmed people who aren’t threatening anyone in a public place for a thoughtcrime... dan. They should sue, they should sue HARD
The end of freedom will be met with thunderous applause
Had they hauled off someone in a ‘hoodie’ instead of detaining them for wearing a ‘holster’, I imagine the reaction would be outrage by a different crowd...
Or maybe my representative (ok, not mine, but a decent one) will wear a holster to the floor of the house and speak about the injustice.
This just in: Zimmerman will be charged with violating the city noise ordinance by discharging a firearm within city limits!
If he had shot himself in the foot would the headline have read, “ cop shoots a dog? He needs more NRA school, starting with Eddie Eagle.
:^}
Thanks for the link!
42 USC § 1983 - Civil action for deprivation of rights
http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/42/1983
Then, concurrently, make the police felons:
18 USC § 241 - Conspiracy against rights
http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/241
18 USC § 242 - Deprivation of rights under color of law
http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/242
The police could have handled this better. I would not use the term “Gestapo” though. It doesn’t fit.
It is regrettable that I sound like those people. I haven't fabricated anything I have posted.
"Answer the question. How many?"
I will alter my answer slightly then. I have worked with more than one officer who was injured by gunfire in the line of duty. And I have worked with more than one officer who was killed by gunfire in the line of duty.
Simple math will show that I have worked with at least 4 officers who were killed or injured by gunfire in the line of duty.
Regarding the attack on 9/11/2001: "23 officers of the NYPD and 37 Port Authority officers fell in the line of duty."
These officers, who weren't "your friend," died trying to rescue people they didn't know.
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_many_police_officers_died_in_the_World_Trade_Center_on_9-11
Also, there have been police officers who have been recalled to active duty who have been killed in Iraq. But they don't count I guess. They weren't anyone's friends either.
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