[Statkowski]

How many OC activists (and I say that with respect) have contacted MPOETC?

That is the organization responsible for certifying the training of municipal police officers throughout the commonwealth.

This avenue would be a lot less risky for all parties and a much more efficient and effective way of training police about OC.

http://www.mpoetc.state.pa.us/mpotrs/site/default.asp

I did, on Friday, July 4, 2008. Here's my letter:

Friday, July 4, 2008

Colonel Jeffrey B. Miller, Commissioner
PennsylvaniaState Police
1800 Elmerton AvenueHarrisburg, PA17110


Dear Colonel Miller:


Today, on the anniversary of our Declaration of Independence from an oppressive regime, a Pennsylvanian was once again hassled by local police due to a lack of training and knowledge, this time in RobinsonTownship (AlleghenyCounty).

The individual concerned was lawfully openly carrying a firearm, as was his right, and, according to the report, a RobinsonTownship police officer said, “This isn’t the Wild West, you can’t just carry it openly like that”

The Borough of Dickson City (LackawannaCounty) presently has two federal civil rights lawsuits filed against it because its officers either were not properly trained, or chose to ignore that training.

The City of Wilkes-Barre (Luzerne County), due to the actions of some police officers, will have firearms owners descend on its next City Council meeting (July 10th) to ask that they get the word out to their officers – the open carry of firearms in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is not prohibited by law, and has two Pennsylvania Supreme Court decisions to back that up.

As more people become educated, there has been an increase in the Commonwealth of citizens exercising their right to carry a firearm openly (within the confines of the controlling statutes, of course). I have discussed the topic with local people as well as people residing in other parts of the Commonwealth, including several law enforcement officers. I was disappointed to find that a number of the officers engaged by myself and others had incorrect knowledge of Pennsylvania’s Uniform Firearms Act and its resultant legality of and restrictions to “open carry”. Apparently the subject is not mentioned at all in the annual MPOETC training curriculum. How can law enforcement officers enforce the law if they don’t know the law? Pennsylvanians do not want opinion enforcement officers, they want law enforcement officers.

Enclosed please find a copy of a training bulletin entitled “Open Carry of a Firearm in Pennsylvania”. The document was created by “Pa. Patriot,” a member of the Pennsylvania Firearms Owner’s Association.

I submit the enclosed document in hopes that it might be useful, if, as, and where appropriate as a basis for any training memos or sessions in the event you deem them necessary for your department’s officers, and police officers statewide.

Please do not hesitate to contact me if any other information is needed or if I can be of any other assistance in this matter.

Respectfully,


Henry J. Statkowski
MSgt, US Army (Ret.)

And there was just another incident in Catasqua, Pa. just the other day!

Write those letters! I'd offer to send you a postage stamp if you really need one, but it'd cost me a postage stamp just to send you a postage stamp.