Activism

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Activism - a policy of taking direct and militant action to achieve a political or social goal.

So last night I walked into my office to catch up on e-mail adn the days events when my wife came in and saw a particular thread on one of the monitors that caught her eye - in particular the 14 month old Stark County Sheriff strip search of a woman (http://forum.pafoa.org/national-11/7...son-video.html). I recalled watching it right after it happened, but hadn't shown it to her as I knew it would be upsetting to her - so being a bit more curious about what all the "gun folk" chat about, she asked to see it.

Afterwards she was quite upset that the popo would act in this manner and was generally outraged. (on a side note Stark County is about 10 minutes from my parents house, which we visit a few times a year) "What would happen / what would you do if they did that to me" is where the conversation went. What ensued was a rather lively "what if" exchange - me starting with "Am I being Detained? Am I free to leave", my wife not fully grasping that you dont have to say anything to the police. I asked her if she remembered what part of the video that the Sheriff claims led them to strip search her? (the "suicide question and her reply "now or sometime earlier?") While Im just an armchair quarterback in this scenario, I suggested that she might have remained completely silent. At that point she hasn't consented to anything (implied or otherwise).

We chatted about Open carry as well - of course this conversation started with a PAFOA thread and she asked if I was trying to "flaunt my rights" to an extent by OC. While I hadn't thought of it that way, I said that I OC to exercise (not flaunt) my remaining rights that are being further eroded daily by the government. The Mountain Jack, SheFearsNothing, Dixon City, gnbrotz, trucrimson, and other incidents came to mind as examples of police grossly overstepping their bounds and detaining (or worse) everyday law abiding folks. The light bulb went on at over a million watts at that point - with "ah - if we don't use whats left, they will be taken away...." EXACTLY!

SO, "if you get arrested (and get a phone call), who do you want me to call?" I suggested our attorney (who would get the appropriate lawyer engaged)) and at that point she suggested that I might want to "get out that refrigerator magnet I told her about several months ago (shameless plug for GunLawywer's legal seminars - which by the way are excellent)... and wouldn't you know it, I just happened to pull Phil's card off my desk and hand it to her! So the big question comes - who pays the lawyer?... well, that would be me (us) should that happen.

We chatted for quite some time longer - later acknowledging our rights to carry however we see fit, but really understanding that as citizens that its all our responsibility to hold accountable those that we grant powers to govern and protect (in theory anyway) the population. My wife has met a few OC'rs now and really has a better picture of what were all about (at least why I carry both CC and OC)... just ordinary folks with a desire to live freely and unmolested by an overzealous government. (ill speak for myself here.... In case anyone disagrees). She later made a comment that "I guess that if this were to happen, getting arrested, that you would have a pretty good case against the police or someone, right?" You bet, to which I kissed her goodnight.... and asked her to remember to call Phil, his number is on the refrigerator.

[kevindsingleton]

Well done. A great read. Thanks.