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

[GlockJock]

Article from the ScrantonTimes.com. There is also a video on the website of Bill being interviewed and part of the Dickson City council meeting ( Link at bottom )

Gun owners protest police action with video
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




©The Times-Tribune 2008

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

[PennsyPlinker]

That's me in the beginning of the video on the Scranton times Tribune page! They nabbed us in the parking lot at OCB before Gary came along to tell us the dinner had been moved. I was quoted in the paper as well, mainly to say what I was carrying and that I had my daughter along.

[Damage control]

Guys/girls you can comment at the bottom of the news paper article!!

[Emptymag]

Originally Posted by Damage control

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

OK, everyone... move along.

Nothing to see here.

The police chief sez the case is closed.

[JohnKos]

“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.

Funny, i figured thought those calls would have started out with "Someone is shooting..." not some customers are complaining.

[Emptymag]

Since I can't give PennsyPlinker any rep at this time, I updated my sig line to share his well-written words with everyone.

That was great.

Anyone who knows me, knows I'm far from a "cop basher", but the truth is the truth.
Even if it makes people uncomfortable.

[JDePietro]

I cannot believe that all this happened smack in the middle of my third shift tour. And what is more surprising was how quickly everything happened. I wish I could have been at the dinner, and more so at the meeting but it always seems these things happen on one of my two weekends that I work.

Thank you all for showing up and speaking. That did not look easy and yet everyone spoke with grace and dignity from what I saw on the video.

I have so much I would like to comment on but I have more questions that keep nagging me. I wish I had the benifit of living close to Pa Patriot or Mike I would love to pick their brians for the answers I am seeking.

[Mike]

Links:

http://pahomepage.com/content/fulltext/?cid=25398 - video link embedded with me on the air yesterday.

SNIP

"Organizations such as opencarry.org say these law abiding citizens were pulled from their dinner, asked for their "papers" and that personal property was confiscated."

NOTE: on the video, the police chief is very confused - like almost states, there is no gun registration and so seizing gun owners to run ID checks and gun serial number checks made no practical, and even less legal sense - I got in a cite to Arizona v. Hicks.

See also:

http://www.wnep.com/Global/story.asp?S=8320639

http://www.thetimes-tribune.com/site...d=590572&rfi=8 w/video

http://pahomepage.com/media_player.php?media_id=15731 w/ 911 call played and ID refusal/arrest/gun seizure discussed

[headcase]

Originally Posted by GlockJock

Article from the ScrantonTimes.com. There is also a video on the website of Bill being interviewed and part of the Dickson City council meeting ( Link at bottom )

Gun owners protest police action with video
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




©The Times-Tribune 2008

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

How cool is that, they quoted me

[Koli01]

Is it possible to merge the two or lock one of the threads covering this same topic? There seems to be much double posting and they are becoming increasinglly difficult to keep up with.
thanks