Come attend Dickson City Council meeting Tuesday, 13 May, 7PM!

[normanvin]

Originally Posted by PennsyPlinker

I think the thing I said that got everyones' attention and quieted them down was when I said:

"Friday night an armed group of people entered the Old Country Buffet.

They were aggressive.

They were intimidating.

They knowingly broke numerous laws.

And, they were the police."

I have to say. You soke very well. Rep coming.

[headcase]

Originally Posted by lildobe

Mike of OpenCarry.org asked me to post a summation of the city counsel meeting for you all...

In all we had approximately 25 gun owners show up in support of PA Patriot, and several of them stood up before the city counsel and voiced their condemnation of the Dickson City Police Department's actions, and expressed their support of our right to carry. Also in attendance was media from several local TV stations and newspapers.

Amid the cat-calls from hecklers in the audience, Mike, Pensey Plinker, Gary in PA, Gnbrotz, Myself and several others who's names escape me at the moment did our best to educate the counsel members and ask for their cooperation in righting the wrongs that were done.

Mike called for the release of the 911 tapes to the public as a good-faith gesture of, as well as calling for more oversight of the police department in Dickson City.

I read a statement prepared by our member Headcase, condemning the illegal actions of the Dickson City Police, and Pensey Plinker talked about the generally unacceptable behavior exhibited by the officers involved. His opening line had the entire audience's attention - I'll let him post that though, as I can't remember it off the top of my head.

Gary in PA and Gnbrotz both corrected some of the misconceptions held by both the public and the City Solicitor.

We also had several local residents speak out against us.

While the counsel and audience didn't seem to "get it" we did find some unexpected support from members of the community who were in attendance for other reasons, including one local resident who joined us for dinner afterward. (You will probably also see him on the forum soon)

In all, it was a fairly successful evening - pending the outcome of the ongoing legal matters.

We topped off the evening with a visit to Charlie Brown's Steak House in neighboring Scranton where we were well received by management, to the point of being given free cake at the end of the evening A special thank you to Tony Fenn, the general manager, who invited us to return any time.

As Rich said "I eat dinner in Dickson City and I get arrested - I have dinner in Scranton and I get Free Cake."

And now, I have a 5-and-a-half hour drive back to Pittsburgh. Thanks to everyone who showed their support here on the forum even though they could not attend, and thank you to everyone who was able to make it.

Thank you for reading the statement I prepared. I hope it lent something positive to the proceedings. I had a family commitment and was unable to attend in person. Thank you to all who attended and voiced our concerns, you guys make me proud.

[normanvin]

Originally Posted by headcase

Thank you for reading the statement I prepared. I hope it lent something positive to the proceedings. I had a family commitment and was unable to attend in person. Thank you to all who attended and voiced our concerns, you guys make me proud.

sorry you were not there. I was hoping to meet you.

[CCinPA]

Originally Posted by normanvin

I have to say. You spoke very well. Rep coming.

Yes when Pensy first started with his intro line I was beginning to think "what the hell, did he flip his cork, did he turn on us?" then he finished his sentence.

Actually everyone who stood up and spoke on behalf of Rich and gun owners rights did a very, very respectful job with a great deal of articulation. I was there but I didn't publicly speak inside the borough meeting.

I also want to state it is refreshing to see everyone come together to stand up of each other as this is sending a message that gun owners are organized and gun owners will not tolerate unjust treatment. This is a message that will be seen by other PD's across the state.

On another note Please everyone I encourage you to all call the OCB corporate office today to express your opinions about their newly added sign to the front door 651-994-8608

See attached photo.

[Damage control]

Posted under fair use!

Gun owners protest police action
BY CHARLES SCHILLINGER
STAFF WRITER
05/14/2008
Email to a friendPost a CommentPrinter-friendly
DICKSON CITY — A Friday evening police incident spilled over into a Borough Council meeting Tuesday, with gun-rights advocates alleging harassment by two police officers.





The regular monthly meeting erupted into a full-blown debate on the Second Amendment, with more than 20 Pennsylvania Firearm Owners Association members — many of whom were openly armed — arguing their right to carry a weapon in public.

Police have yet to release a report of the incident in which a group of customers at Old Country Buffet were questioned about openly carrying handguns in public. At least one of those customers, Rich Banks, of Luzerne County, was detained for refusing to cooperate with police in regard to his concealed .38-caliber handgun, Police Chief William Stadnitski said. Mr. Banks’ weapon remains confiscated, but the chief said he can pick it up at any time.

Pennsylvanians are required to carry a permit for a concealed weapon; however, there are exemptions, such as in the case of Mr. Banks, who Dickson City police later found out had a federal gun-dealer license.

“We don’t feel there was any misconduct. We did what we had to for the safety of the customers,” Chief Stadnitski said of his part-time officers, Karen Gallagher and Anthony Mariano, who responded to the restaurant after 911 received complaints. The chief said no charges will be filed.

But some, like Andrew Koch, disagreed. Mr. Koch drove more than five hours from Pittsburgh to speak out for Mr. Banks and the other gun owners who were “embarrassed, oppressed, harassed and violated” by the police.

“These officers need to be disciplined, and criminal charges need to be brought against them,” Mr. Koch said.

Firearm association members turned out from all over the state at Tuesday’s meeting after postings on Internet sites, such as www.opencarry.org. The co-founder of that site, Lancaster resident Mike Stollenwerk, drove from Washington, D.C., to protest the police conduct.

“Normally when hiccups like this happen, they don’t go as far as gun seizure. ... Usually it gets cleared up much quicker,” he said.

Bill Grumbine, of Kutztown, carrying a Springfield XD-45 handgun, said he brought his 15-year-old daughter, Emily, for a “real-life civics lesson.”

“The last thing we want to do is use our guns, just like the last thing you want to do is use the air bag in your car,” he said. “But we believe in being prepared, and we believe in exercising our rights.”

Several council members and Mayor Anthony Zaleski defended the police officers.

“Our officers did not know what to expect. They could be walking into situations similar to shootings at school campuses and other public events,” said council President Barbara Mecca.

Contacted by The Times-Tribune, Lackawanna County District Attorney Andy Jarbola declined to comment on this specific case, but said people have a right to openly carry a weapon without having to show identification or a permit.
“Police can ask, but if they don’t want to give it, they don’t have to,” he said. “It’s going to be surprising to the public, but that’s the current state of law.”

Contact the writer: cschillinger@timesshamrock.com

http://www.thetimes-tribune.com/site...d=415898&rfi=6

[Damage control]

News video here http://pahomepage.com/media_player.php?media_id=15731

[pex]

Police have yet to release a report of the incident in which a group of customers at Old Country Buffet were questioned about openly carrying handguns in public.

At least one of those customers, Rich Banks, of Luzerne County, was detained for refusing to cooperate with police in regard to his concealed .38-caliber handgun, Police Chief William Stadnitski said. Mr. Banks’ weapon remains confiscated, but the chief said he can pick it up at any time.

Pennsylvanians are required to carry a permit for a concealed weapon; however, there are exemptions, such as in the case of Mr. Banks, who Dickson City police later found out had a federal gun-dealer license.

Uh, what?

“Our officers did not know what to expect. They could be walking into situations similar to shootings at school campuses and other public events,” said council President Barbara Mecca.

This similar event was made very apparent and real as officers walked in on a group of patrons enjoying a meal after a 911 call whose initiator presented no specific crimes in action, right?

[pex]

Originally Posted by Damage control

News video here http://pahomepage.com/media_player.php?media_id=15731

WOW, did you guys hear the portion of the call to police?

Start at around 1 minute:

Joe Holden: On Friday, several guys from OpenCarry.org grabbed dinner at the Old Country Buffet. They were openly armed. Other people having dinner were frightened. This is the police call from the restaurant's manager:
"... I have a couple customers that have weapons on them and some other customers are complaining."

[Damage control]

Originally Posted by pex

WOW, did you guys hear the portion of the call to police?

Start at around 1 minute:

I must stress the manager was FEMALE the supposed 911 call was a male. Huh sounds fishy to me .

DC

[RocketFoot]

Originally Posted by CCinPA

On another note Please everyone I encourage you to all call the OCB corporate office today to express your opinions about their newly added sign to the front door 651-994-8608

See attached photo.

I frequent OCB in Greensburg, so I will call and complain about the policy. I am fully prepared to boycott them also!