Portland, Oregon City Attorney calls concealed-carrying citizens "insane," "evil." [Audio file]

Newsradio 750 KXL (Portland, OR) ^ | 12-19-02 | Lars Larson

[Atlas Sneezed]

Portland slams pistol permit holders!

The Portland City Attorney declares people with pistol carry permits who want to go to the downtown New Year's Eve celebration "nutty" and "insane or evil".

Audio link here: http://66.178.131.4//JockPics/J4/archives/NEWYEARS.WAV

[Atlas Sneezed]

For background, the Oregon Firearms Educational Foundation (OFEF) sued the City of Portland for a policy of excluding concealed carry permit holders from bringing their firearms to New Years party in the public square. This violates state law that prohibits municipalities from regulating firearms with respect to concealed carry. The City won a lower court decision by an amateur judge who ruled that the City wasn't a "city."

City officials must have known that it would be overturned on appeal, and caved in. The audio file is the voicemail left for the attorney for OFEF by the attorney for the City of Portland, in which he "caves in" on the concealed carry issue, but makes his sentiments known. (For those with audio difficulties, here is a transcript):

"Kristian, this is Harry Auerbach, returning your call about the New Years Eve Party. Although we believe that a person would have to be either insane or evil to actually bring a gun to a crowded party at Pioneer Courthouse Square on New Years Eve, this year, while we will be searching for weapons and other contraband, people who have Concealed Handgun Permits, and who are nutty enough to want to bring them onto the Square, will be allowed to do so. So call me if that's not clear. Otherwise, I think you know where we stand. 503-823-4047. Bye."

The speaker can be reached at: hauerbach@ci.portland.or.us His boss, Jeff Rogers, the City Attorney, can be reached at: jrogers@ci.portland.or.us

[Atlas Sneezed]

Bang

[Atlas Sneezed]

It should also be noted that a few years ago, the City was unable to keep their "family" party from turning into a riot. People were injured, and shops were looted. A law-abiding citizen would have to be "insane" to attend when UNARMED!

[Psalm 73]

A law-abiding citizen would have to be "insane" to attend when UNARMED!

Amen to that - as I was heading out to the Mall yesterday AM, I strapped my holster on (fanny-pack w/ .357 Magnum), and my wife asked why would I carry a gun to go Christmas shopping!
I would have to be nuts NOT to - lots of parking lot muggings and car-jackings - not mine, though!!!

[wildbill]

Frankly, I'm against "concealed carry" laws. I want everyone with a gun to have to carry it in the open where I can see it. I don't want to get into a fist-fight in a bar with a guy with a sneaky "hide-out" as they used to be called in the Old West.

[CollegeRepublican]

Having the people with guns wearing the guns on the outside of their clothing defeats the purpose of conceal carry and does little to prevent crime.

If a criminal does not know if you are carrying or not, they will be cautious. But if everyone HAS to wear their gun in plain view, criminals can prey on the unarmed.

[Chemist_Geek]

Frankly, I'm against "concealed carry" laws. I want everyone with a gun to have to carry it in the open where I can see it. I don't want to get into a fist-fight in a bar with a guy with a sneaky "hide-out" as they used to be called in the Old West.

Err, why get into a fist fight in the first place?

That's a much different situation than defending oneself from criminal attack...

[Shooter 2.5]

I don't want to carry my gun out in the open where it could be grabbed by someone in a crowed area. In Texas, I can't carry in a bar anyway and I have no intention of getting into fistfights.

[BenLurkin]

.357 Magnum. How far will that round go before it is no longer lethal?

[Nephi]

I'm not sure what the laws are everywhere, but here in Colorado, as a paperboy, I saw a trucker in Denny's with a revolver on his hip. It was the first time I ever saw anyone with a gun besides a cop.

[paul51]

I don't want to get into a fist-fight in a bar with a guy with a sneaky "hide-out" as they used to be called in the Old West

I don't think you have to worry about this unless you deserve a punch in the nose

[Pintobean]

"Frankly, I'm against "concealed carry" laws. I want everyone with a gun to have to carry it in the open where I can see it. I don't want to get into a fist-fight in a bar with a guy with a sneaky "hide-out" as they used to be called in the Old West."

I agree with the person who said that criminals will prey on the unarmed if people were forced to wear their firearm in plain view.

Do you go LOOKING for fights in bars? I guess everyone needs a hobby lol

[Pintobean]

"It should also be noted that a few years ago, the City was unable to keep their "family" party from turning into a riot. People were injured, and shops were looted. A law-abiding citizen would have to be "insane" to attend when UNARMED!"

All of Oregon is a dangerous place to be, IMO.
We rarely go to Oregon unarmed. Even in small towns the criminals are incredibly bold.

[Shooter 2.5]

Within a mall, a .22 could be just as dangerous.

Since you're in California, being in a mall with a Licensed CCW holder would be out of the question. Unless, of course, you shop with political leaders and Hollywood celebrities.

[Atlas Sneezed]

".357 Magnum. How far will that round go before it is no longer lethal?"

All the way to your attacker.

[BenLurkin]

And beyond.

[BenLurkin]

Both rounds will carry about a mile. IIRC the .357 retains more foot punds of energy for longer distance.

I just hope that our CCW folks (who hopefully are neither evil nor insane) will at least yell "FORE" or something like that before they start blazing away in the parking lot of WalMart so the rest of us could get a chance to duck.

[chuknospam]

bump

[Aric2000]

I guess that I am insane or evil, I have an Oregon Concealed Carry Permit.

Oh, well, I have been called worse, MUCH worse.

Molon Labe