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Come & Take It open carry march success in Temple, TX .

joanie

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Mar 27, 2013
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Perhaps it would be better to start at the beginning for those who don't know the incident.

Open Carry Arrest- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ah3a7dQqyZI

"On March 16, 2013, my son and I were hiking along country roads among pastures and fields with my 15-year old son to help him earn his hiking merit badge. I always enjoy these father/son hikes because it gives me time alone with my son. As I always do when we go on these hikes and walks, I took my trusty rifle with me as there are coyotes, wild hogs, and cougars in our area. In Texas, it is legal to openly carry a rifle or shotgun as long as you do so in a manner that isn't calculated to cause alarm. In other words, you can't walk around waving your rifle at people. I always carry my rifle slung across my chest dangling, not holding it in my hands.

At about the 5 mile mark of our hike, a voice behind us asked us to stop and the officer motioned for us to approach him. He got out of his car and met us a few feet later. He asked us what we were doing and I explained that we were hiking for my son's merit badge. He then asked me what I'm doing with the rifle, to which I responded in a calm manner, "Does it matter, officer? Am I breaking the law?"

At that point, the officer grabbed my rifle without warning or indication. He didn't ask for my rifle and he didn't suggest he would take it from me. He simply grabbed it. This startled me and I instantly pulled back - the rifle was attached to me - and I asked what he thought he was doing because he's not taking my rifle. He then pulled his service pistol on me and told me to take my hands off the weapon and move to his car, which I complied with. He then slammed me into the hood of his car and I remembered I had a camera on me (one of the requirements of the hiking merit badge is to document your hikes). This video is the rest of that encounter. Up to this point, I am not told why I am being stopped, why he tried to disarm me, or even that I'm under arrest.

We did not set out that Saturday morning to "make a point" or cause problems. Our goal was to complete a 10-mile hike and return home without incident. My son chose a route that away from populated areas but near our home.

The arresting officer is Officer Steve Ermis and the supervisor is Sergeant Minnicks of the Temple Police Department.


Hundreds of Gunowners Show up in Temple, TX with Loaded Guns At the "Come and Take it" March

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GFzmcJUB5sI

06/01 march- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WGEq4YMZsjI

A rally in support for Army Master Sgt. C.J. Grisham who is being charged by Temple PD with "rudely displaying" his rifle when he and his son were on a hike to earn a boy scout merit

http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=Xbbi4I2bbfM&feature=endscreen
 
Last edited:

FreeInAZ

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Oct 15, 2012
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Secret Bunker
Well my question of the Temple DA (who is said to be very anti) would be this: how come he is not charging all those armed marchers with "rude display"???
 

Freedom First

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Dec 8, 2010
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Kennewick, Wa.
Well my question of the Temple DA (who is said to be very anti) would be this: how come he is not charging all those armed marchers with "rude display"???

I'm guessing the pucker factor would be too high. He'd suck the seat of his pants right up his tailpipe...

Glad Mike Vanderboegh was able to make it. Check out his speech and his site, Sipsey Street Irregulars
 

joanie

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Mar 27, 2013
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Well I hope this Grisham, can at least use this to his advantage in court. Also, I would like to see people calling for Officer Steve Ermis and the supervisor is Sergeant Minnicks of the Temple Police Department to become unemployed. It will never happen, but it would be nice if that PD got a flood of calls from all over the US calling for it.
 
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