imported post
southmedic wrote:
OH GOD!!!!!
The more important thing is the "Opinion" artical on that same page.. I copied and pasted it below... are you kidding me he actaully called it a piece...
GO Greg GO! I hope he wins his appeal....
My response to the editorial that cnan be read in the comments (You may have to refresh several times to get the "comments" link to appear):
Lots of people do things that make lots of other people uncomfortable. So according to your logic, becasue people of Middle Eastern decent make people nervous these days (however unwarranted that reaction) they should be prevented from having the RIGHT to assemble and the RIGHT to travel?
Because the sight of a young American dressed in ripped up clothing with piercings and tattoos and a wild hairstyle makes people nervous, they should be denied the RIGHT to express themselves?
Because the sight of two men holding hands in public makes someone uncomfortable, homosexual people shoudl be denied the RIGHT to pursue happiness through a relationship of their choice?
And last, but not least, becasue I am offended by your opinion, should you be denied the RIGHT to express it?
It is Mr. Rotz's RIGHT to keep and BEAR arms. In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, it is NOT ILLEGAL to carry a firearm openly. In our own constitution, in Section 21 it states simply "The right of the citizens to bear arms in defense of themselves and the State shall not be questioned."
Like myself and many other people, Mr. Rots chooses to carry a firearm for Self Defense.
It has been said before that "common sense" should tell you where you should and should not carry... One of the places mentioned was Churches. But that is easily proven wrong by recent events at the New Life Church in Colorado Springs, CO. Indeed Schools are also mentioned, but what you don't hear about is the incident at the Appalachian School of Law in 2002 where two armed students subdued a recently flunked student who decided to exact revenge on the school by coming onto campus and shooting.
I carry my firearm, like Mr. Rotz, for Self Defense. I carry it Openly most of the time not becasue I want to make a statement, but becasue concealing it is physically uncomfortable for me. I carry it wherever I am allowed to by State Law. This includes Malls, Grocery Stored, Barber Shops, Drug Stores, Banks, Polling Places, Restaurants... Only once have I ever been confronted by Law Enforcement about my firearm, and that was due to a lack of understanding of the carry laws of the officers involved - very much like Mr. Rotz's encounter, except that I did not have my License to Carry Firearms revoked.
And the most ironic thing of all - by revoking Mr. Rotz's License to Carry Firearms (LTCF), the Sheriff Wollyang has FORCED Mr. Rots to carry openly - for according to State Law AND Case Law: Com. V. Ortz 1996: "...in all other counties of Pennsylvania, weapons may be carried openly without a license, 18 Pa.C.S. section 6106."
The only time a License to Carry is required is when the firearm is Concealed on or about your person, when the firearm is in a vehicle in a LOADED condition, OR when carrying openly "in a City of the First Class" of which the state has only one, Philadelphia.
Not only has Sheriff Wollyang violated Pennsylvania State Law by revoking Mr. Rotz's LTCF, he has violated Mr. Rotz's Civil Rights both as defined by the State Constitution and the United States Constitution. Sheriff Wollyang should be the one going to court here, Not Mr. Rotz. To quote one of my firends "[Officials] should not editorialize against [lawful] open carry by private citizens in any way shape or form, or in any way suggest that a person should conceal their firearm. Suggestions and editorializing against lawful open carry may be interpreted as “commands” by civilians who are lawfully open carrying and may subject officers to complaints filed against them, as well as possible legal action against themselves and the department. The significance of this is borne in PA Code Title 18 §5301."
Pa.C., T18, § 5301 reads: A person acting or purporting to act in an official capacity or taking advantage of such actual or purported capacity commits a misdemeanor of the second degree if, knowing that his conduct is illegal, he: subjects another to arrest, detention, search, seizure, mistreatment, dispossession, assessment, lien or other infringement of personal or property rights; or denies or impedes another in the exercise or enjoyment of any right, privilege, power or immunity.
Now you tell me who was right or wrong.