Hassled at the polls for OCing

[Zef_66]

Great job! Thank you for standing up for everyone's rights!

I wanted to give you some rep points, but I need to spread the love first....

[Agent Smith]

Fantastic job!

[Coop650]

Good job. I just received my LTCF and don't have any plans to OC but I can appreciate the desire to exercise your right and applaud you for holding your ground.

[WhiteFeather]

Originally Posted by gnbrotz

Well, after 5 months I had my first 'run in' with authority because of OCing.

When I went to my polling place tonight I was asked by the Constable there if "that was a weapon". I replied that it was. He said I would have to leave because weapons were not allowed in the polling place. I asked him what law this was based on. He said it was in the Voting Regulations, to which I replied "That applies to police officers". He said that was correct. He got the regulation book and asked if I would step outside to discuss the matter. I agreed. He turned to the page that had the regulation regarding the police and read it off to me. I told him that I agreed completely, BUT, I was not a police officer, just a private citizen. This seemed to surprise him a bit.

He then made a call to someone who would "Know for sure". The result of that call was that whoever he called was also unable to come up with anything specific preventing me from voting while carrying. When the call was done, the Constable asked me to please secure my weapon in my vehicle before voting, because it would make him "more comfortable". I asked him if I would be refused entry to vote if I did not, he said no, that I would be permitted to vote either way. As we went back up the steps and prepared to enter, he stated that he "Just couldn't understand why someone would need to bring a gun here, especially in this day and age." I told him that this wasn't something that I did just because I was coming to vote. I carry my weapon every day, wherever I go around town. I also told him that I was not attempting to convince him of my viewpoint, but since I was withing my legal right to do so, I was going to proceed on my own terms. I entered the polls and cast my vote.

When I was done voting, he was on the phone again, so I waited to speak with him some more. He was speaking with the County Commissioners office, who I could also hear "had never dealt with this situation before". The Constable suggested to them that this be researched further and if there wasn't already a resolution regarding this, that one be passed immediately so this didn't occur in the future. He mentioned to them that "The judges did the same thing so you can't bring guns into the courthouses". When he hung up, I told him that the courthouse ban was covered in the Uniform Firearms Act, which was state law, not something the judges had done on their own. I then asked again for his name so I could write it down. He refused to give it to me, because he said he already did at the beginning of our conversation. I then specifically asked him, "So you are refusing to give me your name again?". He said, "Yes". What he couldn't have known, is that I didn't really need it as I had heard him identify himself to the County Commissioner's office while speaking with them. I offered to be in touch with him so that if I was indeed incorrect on the law, I could educate myself. He told me, "Don't worry, I've got your name."

He seemed upset enough about the whole thing that I expect him to personally follow up on getting something passed to prohibit this in the future. I didn't think it was worth my time to go into the whole preemption thing with him, since my vote was cast, and I clearly wasn't going to convert him. Hopefully if and when the County Commissioners look into this "incident", they will discover that preemption prevents them from doing so.

Since this is my first real opposition, I'd appreciate any assistance or suggestions in drafting letters to the appropriate parties to help educate those who need it.

EXCELLENT and PROFESSIONALLY HANDLED the situation
+1 for following up with your Rep as well.
thanks to empty mag for signature link to this post (might have missed it)

[Emptymag]

Originally Posted by WhiteFeather

EXCELLENT and PROFESSIONALLY HANDLED the situation
+1 for following up with your Rep as well.
thanks to empty mag for signature link to this post (might have missed it)

I think his actions are noteworthy, and since my friggin' name pops up everywhere you look on this forum, I figured I could put my sig line to use, in support of a fellow PAFOA member!

Whether you OC or not, support it or despise it, vote or sit on your ass... gnbrotz did something that few of us would have the balls to do.

He exercised his right as a F-ing FREE AMERICAN, to carry his means of protection on his hip, in full view of all, while he exercised his right to VOTE.

We ALL share these same rights.
Your views, my views, the Constable's views... they don't mean SQUAT.

It's called the Bill of RIGHTS for a reason.
Go ahead... look it up! It doesn't say Bill of OPINIONS!

My wife summed it up quite nicely after reading his post.
"GOOD for him!" she said. "Good for him."

[DaveM55]

Originally Posted by Emptymag

since my friggin' name pops up everywhere you look on this forum

Is there a thread you haven't participated in???

[Zef_66]

Originally Posted by DaveM55

Is there a thread you haven't participated in???

Such a thread has yet to be invented.

[Chevmeister]

Originally Posted by Mtbkski

Hmmm, wonder if you should address this with the School District. Apparently it isn't doing a very good job of keeping guns out of school.

I hope your being sarcastic. If they did a good job of keeping guns outta schools i would never get to see any of my sons school activities.

[gnbrotz]

Originally Posted by JayBell

one thing to note...was he wearing a uniform, or did he have a contables badge?

theres a big differnce between "Constable of Elections" and "PA Constable"

Constable of elections is merely pseudo LE at the polls, making sure folks keep the peace, dont intimidate voters, dont harass or block voters, and to keep unauthorized people and election ad materials outside the polling place.

the REAL constable is in charge of the "Constable for Elections".

find out if hes "Constable for Elections", if so, have a talk with the actual Constable for your area about his behavior.

He was not in uniform, but did have a Constable's badge and ID. The magic of the interweb has allowed me to confirm that he is definitely a "real" Constable.

Originally Posted by mikepro8

Call your county Court Administrator as well. They oversee the District Justices, with whom the constables are usually (sub)contracted with.

Added to my list.

[Chevmeister]

is this him?
http://www.therecordherald.com/artic...ews/news07.txt