Eastern Pa. Spring Picnic (Hazle Township - Community Park)

[Pa. Patriot]

Originally Posted by Danneskjold Inc.

I just heard some negative talk on the radio about this... something about a Red Cross fundraiser that's going to cancel or something. He definitely said a "group from PAFOA." Anyone know anything?

Why would Red Cross cancel because we are having a family picnic in a pavilion?

[Pa. Patriot]

Originally Posted by schr8er2000

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Posted in todays Hazleton Standard Speaker.......
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Gun group hopes to draw crowd


BY MIA LIGHT
STAFF WRITER
Published: Saturday, April 18, 2009 4:15 AM EDT

The gun rights group that held a picnic in Hazle Township Community Park last year in a public demonstration of their right to openly carry firearms is planning a spring picnic at the park.

This time, they’ve selected a date that they believe will guarantee a large public crowd.

Members and supporters of the Pennsylvania Firearm Owners Association have scheduled their picnic for May 16 – the same date as the local American Red Cross’ Celebration of Life Walk, which is held annually at the township park on American Armed Forces Day.

The double date is not a coincidence, the gun owners say.

“It seems (the Red Cross) holds an annual run/walk at the park every Armed Forces day. This is one of the reasons I decided to go ahead and (rent a park pavilion) as it will give us some great exposure to the many people who will no doubt be there for the other activities going on,” event organizer Greg Rotz of Chambersburg wrote on a forum on the Pennsylvania Firearm Owners Association Web site. There, members routinely discuss gun rights, picnic plans and other issues regarding Hazle Township Community Park.

Attempts to reach Rotz for further comment Friday were unsuccessful.

While locked in a debate with the Hazle Township supervisors last year over a community park rule that prohibits firearms in the park, the group organized an October picnic at the park at which members were invited to challenge the rule by openly carrying handguns.

The supervisors eventually dropped out of the debate and offered no resistance to the group’s picnic plans. They ceded to the Pennsylvania Constitution, which permits citizens age 18 and older who are not prohibited by law from owning firearms to openly carry a handgun in plain sight with no license. Exceptions are in vehicles and cities of the first class, and where prohibited specifically by statute.

But when the day of the gun rights group’s October picnic dawned cold and rainy, nobody showed up at the park except the gun owners. And so, a spring picnic was planned.

Most of the activists planning to attend the picnic are members of the Pennsylvania Firearm Owners Association, but Rotz stressed that the picnic is not an association-sponsored event.

“This event is not connected to, sponsored, endorsed or funded by the PAFOA organization in any way,” Rotz wrote in an open invitation posted on the group’s Web site. “Posting details on the PAFOA forums is simply a tool to help get the word out to persons who may be potentially interested in attending.”

As of this week, there are between 50 and 75 gun rights supporters planning to attend.

Joyce Bradbury, executive director of the Hazleton Chapter of the American Red Cross, said the Celebration of Life Walk is held every year on Armed Forces Day to honor service members, veterans and blood donors.

“We always choose that day for a very specific reason – it’s Armed Forces Day – and we always dedicate the walk to the men and women of America’s armed forces and our veterans. There is no way that is ever going to change,” Bradbury said.

After learning that members of the gun owners association intentionally selected that same date for its picnic, Bradbury expressed a hope that the members would observe the purpose of the 10th annual Red Cross event and join in honoring veterans and service members.

“There is not a thing we can do about it. They are as welcome at public places as anyone else. Hopefully they will be there to support and honor our veterans,” Bradbury said.

“I just hope the public knows there is no reason to panic,” Bradbury added.

On the group’s Web site, Rotz says picnickers are not required to openly carry handguns, but he strongly encourages them to do so.

“There is no requirement that you carry, or to carry in any particular manner if you do. However, because of the holiday and the Red Cross walk/run in the park, we believe this will be an excellent opportunity to portray gun owners and carriers in a positive light to the general public. Because of this great opportunity, we are encouraging folks to open carry if they are comfortable doing so, but again, you are absolutely welcome regardless of your decision on if/how you carry,” Rotz wrote.

Association member Paul Schroeder of Hazleton, who attended several township supervisors meetings last year during the park rule debate, wrote a post on the site recommending news coverage of the event.

“Glad to hear that the picnic is a ‘go.’ Should make sure that we get some ‘news’ people involved also,” Schroeder wrote.

Another post on the site from a Scranton-area subscriber whose identity was not revealed said, “Red Cross Walk/Run ... yep ... they walk through the entire park, but when they pass by the middle pavilion, they run.”

The “middle pavilion” has been reserved by the gun rights group.

mlight@standardspeaker.com
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This reporter is the one that gave us good support during the meetings with Hazle Township... and hopefully she will join us at the outing, along with others... Get the word out to other news media and we can and WILL have good response and exposure to our cause...

I was forwarded some Q's from Mia on Friday before the article... Unfortunately I was unable to respond before the article the following morning...
I would liked to have pointed out that our family oriented picnic will in no way interfere with the other park patrons.......... unless THEY make an issue of it.

I mean, come on, its not like we are going there to lay down in the road and block traffic or some kookiness. We are having a group get together, like how many other PAFOA get togethers.

The part that bothers me the most is the quote from Joyce Bradbury.

"After learning that members of the gun owners association intentionally selected that same date for its picnic, Bradbury expressed a hope that the members would observe the purpose of the 10th annual Red Cross event and join in honoring veterans and service members."

Her response makes me wonder how this info was presented to this woman.
Why would she think we were going there to disturb the Red Cross event or the Armed FOrces Day observance? Does she realize that we are simply a group of folks having a picnic? Or was this event sold to her as some sort of protest? Does she realize that probably a higher percentage of us are veterans than the general population?
Or is she purposely trying to cast us in a light that we are suspect to some sort of mal intent?

I have to say, that this is a good example of people not thinking rationally when the word GUN is used. What a shame. I guess Ms. Bradbury will be pleasantly surprised on the 16th.

[PennsyPlinker]

Originally Posted by Pa. Patriot

I was forwarded some Q's from Mia on Friday before the article... Unfortunately I was unable to respond before the article the following morning...
I would liked to have pointed out that our family oriented picnic will in no way interfere with the other park patrons.......... unless THEY make an issue of it.

I mean, come on, its not like we are going there to lay down in the road and block traffic or some kookiness. We are having a group get together, like how many other PAFOA get togethers.

The part that bothers me the most is the quote from Joyce Bradbury.

"After learning that members of the gun owners association intentionally selected that same date for its picnic, Bradbury expressed a hope that the members would observe the purpose of the 10th annual Red Cross event and join in honoring veterans and service members."

Her response makes me wonder how this info was presented to this woman.
Why would she think we were going there to disturb the Red Cross event or the Armed FOrces Day observance? Does she realize that we are simply a group of folks having a picnic? Or was this event sold to her as some sort of protest? Does she realize that probably a higher percentage of us are veterans than the general population?
Or is she purposely trying to cast us in a light that we are suspect to some sort of mal intent?

I have to say, that this is a good example of people not thinking rationally when the word GUN is used. What a shame. I guess Ms. Bradbury will be pleasantly surprised on the 16th.

We could really blow their minds and all donate $10.00 to their cause. Wouldn't that give someone fits?

[schr8er2000]

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Here is the article from todays Hazleton Standard Speaker
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Red Cross may cancel walk


BY MIA LIGHT

STAFF WRITER

Published: Wednesday, April 22, 2009 4:15 AM EDT

The prospect of a gun rights group demonstrating their right to openly carry firearms in Hazle Township Community Park on the same day as the annual “Celebration of Life Walk” sponsored by the Hazleton Chapter of the American Red Cross is threatening cancellation of the 10th annual Red Cross fundraiser.

Joyce Bradbury, executive director of the Hazleton Chapter of the American Red Cross said a significant number of walk participants called the Red Cross headquarters to cancel their participation in the event in light of the gun group’s plans.

Most of the cancellations came from school student groups, Bradbury said.

“We have many groups that have dropped out. I don’t know what is going to happen to the walk,” Bradbury said.

Members and supporters of the Pennsylvania Firearm Owners Association (PAFOA) have reserved a pavilion at the township park for May 16, which is the same date as the Red Cross event.

According to Greg Rotz, organizer of the gun group event, selection of the same date as the Red Cross event was deliberate.

“This is one of the reasons I decided to go ahead and (rent a park pavilion) as it will give us some great exposure to the many people who will no doubt be there for the other activities going on,” Rotz said in announcing the plans on the PAFOA membership Web site.

Attempts to reach Rotz for further comment were unsuccessful.

Red Cross holds the annual event at the park on Armed Forces Day for a very specific reason.

“The event pays homage to American service personnel, veterans and blood donors,” Bradbury said.

Armed Forces Day falls on May 16 this year.

Bradbury said the annual walk has many goals, the three most important of which are honoring veterans and service personnel, honoring blood donors, and raising funds for local Red Cross services.

“We had 34 local people left homeless the week of Easter from several house fires. With this event, we try to raise a simple amount like $10,000 to help local veterans and local victims of disasters. I don’t know what we are going to do now,” Bradbury said.

Changing the date of the Red Cross event from its traditional Armed Forces Day is a possibility.

“We don’t want to move it from Armed Forces Day but we are trying to see what we can salvage,” she said.

William Gallagher, chairman of the township board of supervisors, said a change of location may be the solution.

The supervisors are working with the Red Cross to find a possible different location for the walk.

Gallagher said he telephoned Rotz and left voice messages in an attempt at dialogue that might help resolve the Red Cross plight, but the calls went unreturned.

The Red Cross board of directors is considering a change of venue that would move the walk to the Babe Ruth baseball field in Hazle Township, which is adjacent to the park on the opposite side of Lake Irena.

“The offer is there. We will do whatever we can to help them,” Gallagher said.

Bradbury said she is not opposed to the rights of gun owners, but she is also cognizant of the public apprehension.

“I have nothing against these groups, please understand,” Bradbury said. “But the people who are responsible for others, they have to take the well-being of others into consideration.”

The Red Cross Board of Directors meets today to discuss changing the date or the location of the annual walk.

mlight@standardspeaker.com

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Apparently the word GUN DOES invoke some fear from some people.... oh well...

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[cadence2arms]

I was at work today and my jaw almost hit the floor when I read the article. Talk about making a mountain out of a mole hill. They make it seem as if PAFOA is scaring children away and keeping the red cross from getting any money by having to cancel their walk. What a load of crap!

[cgbudde]

Mia needs to sit down with some of us and with members of the red cross and get this issue put to rest, show them they have nothing to fear and we are there to support their cause.

[mikey]

Maybe someone could call the paper and the Red Cross, to tell them that Greg is unavailable. Those comments are making it look like we are ignoring their attempts to reach out, intentionally.

A call could easily put to rest their fears that we are a bunch of "nut job" looking to disrupt their event. Nothing could be further from the truth.

I'm not sure that it was such a great idea to advertise that we "deliberately" picked the same date as the Red Cross event, just as we don't normally call ahead when we are going to visit a restaurant with a large group, while OC'ing. For all I know, the paper could have twisted Greg's words around , to make it look worse than it actually is. My only hope is that both events can go on as scheduled, in their original locations.

I, for one, would like to donate to the Red Cross, as well as the veterans groups that they will be benefiting.

[gnbrotz]

We did not "deliberately" or "intentionally" choose the date to coincide with the walk. When I submitted the date, I didn't even realize it was also Armed Forces Day (shame on me).

I was contacted because the pavilion I requested had already been reserved by the Red Cross, so I was offered the options of renting the one that was still available or choosing a different date to get the one originally requested. As I had realized the Armed Forces Day connection in the mean time, I thought it appropriate to keep the original date.

I in no way expected this pre-event hype and know there won't be anything other than a group of families having a picnic and socializing on the 16th.

It's a shame the irrational fears of some will prevent them from supporting the very veterans who served, and were wounded or killed to protect ALL of the freedoms we hold dear. Personally, I'd be embarrassed to publicly admit I were so shallow.

**Edited to add:
I did contact Mr. Gallagher this afternoon. Of course, he framed everything as "our fault" for taking money away from the veterans. I found it very ironic that a leader who has previously and openly defied state law now finds himself trying to shift the blame back on us because he wishes he could impose his will, but now knows he can't, so he's left trying to make someone else look like the bad guy.

I wonder if things would have unfolded this way if they had simply acknowledged the state's controlling authority and implemented the appropriate changes when the problem was originally addressed?

[mikey]

Thanks for clearing that up. I should have known it was the damn media, making shit up again.

Sorry if it came out wrong Greg. Thankfully, I put in the part about them twisting your words around.

[normanvin]

I was wondering if these stories could be the township having the last laugh.