Pa. Patriot ARRESTED at the OC dinner @ The Old Country Buffet in Dickson City 5/9

[GlockJock]

From WBRE news 28

Second Amendment Squabble
Reported by: Joe Holden
Tuesday, May 13, 2008 @11:00pm EST


DICKSON CITY, LACKAWANNA COUNTY- The right to bear arms comes to a head at a Dickson City Borough Council meeting Tuesday night.

Packed in like sardines, men openly carrying guns voiced their displeasure to leaders over an incident that happened Friday. Police were called to the Old County Buffet for reports of a number of men in the restaurant openly carrying firearms. When police responded, the chief says his officers asked the men to verify their licenses. While most cooperated, one did not, according to officials. He was arrested. His weapon was seized. The members of the online community "opencarry.org" claim they were harassed by police. They say their second amendment and Pa. constitution rights were violated when police asked for proof the guns were registered.

People from the town fired back, saying they thought the idea was outrageous.

Close to 20 men formed a line around council chambers, each displaying a holster with a weapon inside. Some in the audience told leaders they were uncomfortable and that while it may be their right to openly carry firearms, it did not meet a community standard.

Members of opencarry.org have threatened legal action. The chief says if his officers did make a mistake, it was in the name of public safety. He said the case was now closed and that the two officers responding to the restaurant would face no disciplinary action.


Got to be kidding me? Pa Pat give them a first class education.

[matt33]

I was there last night, I missed the part when 20 open carriers formed a line around the city council chambers. I missed it because it didn't happen.

[Mrs. Pa Patriot]

Originally Posted by BullfrogKen

Yes, he was, wasn't he?


Mrs. Patriot, I like your style.

Thank you.

[Pyrotek85]

We support the freedoms granted every U.S. citizen under the United States Constitution, including the freedoms described in the second amendment. As a company, we work constantly to maintain the reputation that we have earned over the years – for fabulous food, great variety, and value. Our guest represent a cross-section of this great country, with families being some of our most loyal fans. To assure that those with small children are as comfortable as possible we prohibit firearms from our restaurants.

*cough*hypocrites*cough*

[Mrs. Pa Patriot]

Originally Posted by Cougar8045

Hope you did not mistaken him as Topdog.

Nope, not at all.

[Emptymag]

I'd like to take a second to thank the people from all over the country who are watching this unfold here, and especially those who have signed up to simply post a few words of support.

Whether you OC or CC, doesn't matter... what transpired was an abuse of power. (Whether you own a firearm or not shouldn't matter either)

On the surface, it may not appear to be on par with law enforcement officers beating a suspect into submission, but people were "asked" to do things that they did not need to do, per the law.

Personal opinions of individual officers, the public, or the chief of police must not enter the equation, when rights are involved.

[matt33]

Originally Posted by Emptymag

It doesn't say "around the city council members"... it says "...around council chambers..."

There is a difference, to be sure.

Typo on my part to be sure, I quickly caught this error and editted my post to "chambers". I did not see 20 OC'ers form any line. I only saw a handful of people open carrying, and I was there the whole time.

[JLStorm]

Now, things may have changed from a number of years ago, but I could have SWORN that in PA signs hold no weight and that a staff member or authorized person in an establishment had to actually ask you to leave before you were violating the law by carrying there.

Is this the law, has something changed, or am I mistaken?

[Emptymag]

Originally Posted by JLStorm

Now, things may have changed from a number of years ago, but I could have SWORN that in PA signs hold no weight and that a staff member or authorized person in an establishment had to actually ask you to leave before you were violating the law by carrying there.

Is this the law, has something changed, or am I mistaken?

Yes, that's the law. (But it's not the point. Know what I mean?)

[GunLawyer001]

Just a thought experiment for you all:

If you had a gun and planned to rob a diner, would you prefer to rob one that was filled with armed patrons, or one that had a prominent "NO FIREARMS" sign on the door?

But at least the patrons with children would feel more comfortable, right up until they were herded into the freezer and told to kneel...