Soccer parents wince at prospect of guns at games

[Morel42]

Originally Posted by Philbert

I agree that trouble can happen anywhere, but I think the question of "why carry to a soccer game" frames the issue as though a soccer game is special, or that SFN only carries there.

I don't think it's right to get into a debate about why a soccer game in particular necessitates carry. There's no special reason to carry at a soccer game, or at the grocery store, or anywhere. If you only carried when you were expecting a gun fight, you'd never carry, because who would choose to go to a gun fight?

I think the best response is: "I chose to prepare to protect myself and those in my care. I am armed here only because I'm armed everywhere I go." The point is that SFN carries, she has made a choice (and we're pro choice, right liberals?) to be prepared to defend herself. That choice is always in effect. Soccer games just happen to be on her daily "to do" list sometime.

You're totally right...

However sometimes people lack the insight and pure ability to think about something.. So I always use something that I have yet to hear a good response too..

"Criminals don't obey gun laws"

[mjfletcher]

Well I decided to toss in my .02 there.

To those who've said shes just showing off, or trying to get attention, here's a challenge for you. Place a plastic water pistol inside your waistband and drop your shirt over it. Then pick up a large sack of potatoes and hold it on the hip opposite the gun as you would a child. Now try to draw the gun to defend yourself from a mugger without dropping the gun or the potatoes fast enough to actually defend yourself and the potatoes/child. Not as easy as you thought it would be, is it?

To those who ask why at a soccer game, a better question is why do you think criminals wouldn't target someone at a soccer game? Check out the PA State Police Megans law website and you'll find there are over a dozen child sexual predators living within walking distance of that park. Do you honestly think they aren't walking to the park when they know there will be 20+ four and five year olds there? Then check the violent crime rate for the housing project that borders the park and compare it to the rest of Lebanon, its more than triple that of the rest of the city. Do you really think those violent criminals will obey the laws in the park when they don't obey them in front of their own home?

To those who've said she'll be the first target, have you even considered the possibility that the sight of one person openly carrying would cause a criminal to wonder how many other people are carrying concealed? You also need to keep in mind that the overwhelming majority of criminals are cowards, they look for the easy target, and someone who's armed doesn't fit that description. The last thing a criminal wants is resistance in any form. They want to lift their shirt to show you the weapon they're carrying and have you just hand over your cash and valuables, and someone who is armed is someone who that is obviously not going to work on.

[Mocha Java]

Maybe someone ought to report the conspiracy and threats made in the newspaper to the State Police.

Gregg-Bolognese said some clubs have approached her about hiring security guards. Some fathers have threatened to take a gun away from anyone who arrives at a game with one, an idea she tries to squelch. Referees have asked if they should carry guns.

[CQB]

I posted this because I am taken aback by everything that is going on with the OCers losing their LTCFs. I am also taken aback at how the press is slanting what is being said.

Greg,

If you say they misquoted you than so be it.

My comment stands...

Be very careful on how you choose your words and what words you choose when talking to the press. I've been interviewed more times than I like to admit when it comes to them "Doing their job."

Many of you should know that I support all gunowner's choice on how they want to carry. So long as it's legal.

Reading press releases like this puts a sour taste in my mouth.

[Kimba]

Originally Posted by HiredGoon

Might it be a good idea to really push the fact with these people, that when a person is OCing a gun... that it is most likely in a retention holster making it very difficult for fathers(!) or anyone else except the gun owner, to "grab" the gun?

Or wouldn't they understand this?

Seems that if they realize the gun is not just there for the taking by anyone that it may calm them a little???


Probably not, though.

Kinda like a show &tell that the kids do in elementary school? I don't know that these people have the intelligence or attention spam for something like that. Maybe if you go over it several times...

All in all, not a bad idea but I still don't think it would make a difference. You would need a pry bar to get them to open their minds.

[mjfletcher]

Originally Posted by Kimba

Kinda like a show &tell that the kids do in elementary school? I don't know that these people have the intelligence or attention spam for something like that. Maybe if you go over it several times...

All in all, not a bad idea but I still don't think it would make a difference. You would need a pry bar to get them to open their minds.

I doubt a pry bar would do it, jaws of life and a welding torch maybe.

[XD40coyote]

Wow, talk about a bunch of immature people that suffer from personality disorders and possibly some OCD! Maybe a load of bipolars who won't try meds are in there too, or could be the ones who use their meds but are assholes who do nothing but negatively press people's buttons just to see the reactions. Again, personality disorders, and possibly a lil bit of sociopathy ( care only about their own desires and f the rest of you, esp those who might shoot you if one's sociopathy had an overly selfish stupid episode).

Makes me think that the parents most upset and saying the worst stupidest things are actually closet criminals, and criminals fear armed responsible citizens more than anything.

I just don't "get" such people at all. Maybe because I am not selfish, not a sociopath, not someone who likes to jerk negative reactions from people for my sick giggles, and I have self control, and most of all... a brain that I actually use!

There was a time I was afraid of guns, was weird about touching them, was even weird after going to 2 range sessions. My reason was that at the time I was a bit f-ed up and knew better than to push my own buttons. Thats' some real self control right there. I won't say what I was really like back then, it might be fascinating to some, but it would make me look quite unfavorable to many. But it is old history, I haven't been like that for a long long time, and my living situation is not the constant stress I had back then. But I will say this, no matter how bad I felt at the time, I stayed away from guns during those times, but I NEVER EVER thought other people shouldn't own them! I always maintained my thoughts that the good people should be allowed to own guns and to carry to repel criminals. I never thought " omg everyone else is just like me and shouldn't be around guns right now". Everyone is an individual, how it that so hard to grasp?

BTW I am totally stable now, but I was never in any unlawful trouble or made to go to a hospital back then. That was some extra good self control and extra good ol common sense I had/still have. Today I carry -and not once do I feel like suddenly going nuts and shooting people over some stupid thing or whatever. Sure I get PMS, and get mad at people driving stupidly, but I just want to be left alone and not stir trouble. I have never felt so laid back in my life as when I started carrying. I hardly get mad at anything anymore, even when the one dumb dog killed a chicken the other day. There was a time many years ago I would have shot that dog, had I been carrying a gun on me and found she did that. Oh yeah she has gotten loose and done this before, the dog is a Houdini. She is now old and I just hope she dies naturally soon enough...

[-JD-]

Sorry, I'm late to the party I see.

Originally Posted by Mocha Java

Maybe someone ought to report the conspiracy and threats made in the newspaper to the State Police.

I was sitting here reading through this and thinking much the same thing even before Mocha Java's post .

Meleanie please do consider reporting the threats against you to the authorities, local and state, immediately. While you have threatened no one and have acted within the law, you now have specific reports of threats against you. Time to have the "system" used correctly. Demand that the reports are not just logged but investigated by the police. Get them to find out who made them and seek restraining orders. - (FOLKS HELP ME OUT IF YOU KNOW - I understand the protection of sources issue with journalists, but are they not required to divulge the sources if specific threats are made, similar to the abrogation of doctor/patient confidentiality with specific threats?)

If some one is harassing you call the police!

Originally Posted by crakkajakka15

MEL ....this just came to my mind. If i were you I would start carry some sort of OC spray, incase one of these rouge fathers tries to disarm you by force. Knowing their intentions are to only take your firearm shooting them might not be justified if they are in the act of trying to disarm you. Although it would be hard not to draw on a person trying to take your firearm. I would think a few good blasts of OC would discourage them incase anything would happen. And like i said above if that did happen and you sprayed them and someone called the police which im sure would happen, they would have to explain how they got sprayed, and how they tried to disarm you is the reason they were sprayed.

+1 on crakkajakka15's suggestion of pepper spray. For crakkajakka15's reasons plus if someone is attempting to remove your gun then your right hand will likely be occupied fending off and retaining control. Keep the spray accessible to your left.


I am concerned that in this case any unusual OC presence will be counter-productive in many ways. (I obviously believe that this is a very different situation than attending the hearing.)

What I think we all really want to happen is for OC to be basically ignored. SFN was not carrying as a demonstration or for attention. She was just going about her day, minding her own business. A crew of OCers all of a sudden would be unusual and may inflame the situation not defuse it.

In the bigger picture, we as community, need to be respectful and courteous whenever possible. We we need to show the judge, and the world, where he was wrong in his commentary analysis - that OC is not a valid reason for fear. - I do not mean that SFN should not OC at the games - she should continue about her business as before. Even though the intent is support and protection of SFN it will very likely be interpreted negatively. We don't necessarily need to be OC to support SFN we literally need to just stand beside her quietly.

BigBear, Philbert and several others have put forward a lot of this before, but ...

As for protection, lets look at this as a tactical situation. I think that ideally we need at least 2 people. One or more, at SFN's side, (possiblly unarmed to prevent any issues in a grappling match) who can immediately assist if someone should attempt to interfere with her. One or more slightly distant and apparently seperate "backups", CC, w/ video camera and cellphone to get the police, get the truth on tape and provide cover.

ETA - Of course only if Meleanie wants us around

[Mocha Java]

Originally Posted by -JD-

Sorry, I'm late to the party I see.



I was sitting here reading through this and thinking much the same thing even before Mocha Java's post .

Meleanie please do consider reporting the threats against you to the authorities, local and state, immediately. While you have threatened no one and have acted within the law, you now have specific reports of threats against you. Time to have the "system" used correctly. Demand that the reports are not just logged but investigated by the police. Get them to find out who made them and seek restraining orders. - (FOLKS HELP ME OUT IF YOU KNOW - I understand the protection of sources issue with journalists, but are they not required to divulge the sources if specific threats are made, similar to the abrogation of doctor/patient confidentiality with specific threats?)

If some one is harassing you call the police!

Actually, Sharon Gregg-Bolognese is not protected by any shield law. The District Attorney should be questioning her, even hauling her in front of a Grand Jury in order to find out who the conspiritors are.

Sharon Gregg-Bolognese, the president of the Central Pennsylvania Youth Soccer League, has been getting an earful from parents and coaches who are worried that people will start packing pistols to their children's soccer games.

[reverserboy]

Some fathers have threatened to take a gun away from anyone who arrives at a game with one, an idea she tries to squelch.

Taking something by force or threat of force is called what?? ROBBERY.

I'm thinking simple & agg assault may also apply depending on the extent of injuries to the victim.

One of these dumb asses will find himself in a emergency room having his rights read to him....or perhaps worse.