Meadville man loses LTCF appeal

**steveforopen** · February 27th, 2009, 03:37 PM

http://www.meadvilletribune.com/loca...057224758.html
MEADVILLE TRIBUNE

A Guys Mills man has lost his appeal of a 2008 court ruling which upheld a decision by Crawford County’s sheriff to revoke his permit to carry a concealed weapon.

Gary A. Young filed an appeal in June 2008 to the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania, asking it to reverse the decision of Erie County Senior Judge Fred Anthony, who heard the case in Crawford County after the three local judges recused themselves from the case.

Crawford County Sheriff Nick Hoke had revoked Young’s permit earlier that year after receiving reports of statements made by Young. Hoke said he considered Young’s conduct to be threatening and potentially dangerous.

Young, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran and a retired public school teacher, turned in his permit without incident but then appealed Hoke’s decision to the Crawford County Court of Common Pleas, arguing the decision was made without proper grounds or due process of law.

He argued that the law required Hoke to have evidence that Young’s character and reputation is such that he would be likely to act in a manner dangerous to the public. Young said Hoke didn’t specify his reason for revoking the permit in his letter.

It was the first time in the county’s history that a gun permit had been revoked for something other than a person committing a crime or inappropriately displaying the gun in public.

Young hadn’t displayed his gun at any time.

On one occasion, Young had gone to Meadville Medical Center to see his son who was a patient there. Although police were notified of a potential problem, he had left the gun locked in the trunk of his car. Testimony at the hearing was that Young had also made some comments considered disturbing to people, and those concerns were voiced to Hoke.

After hearing two days of testimony, Anthony ruled Hoke’s action had been proper.

The recent Commonwealth Court decision affirms that ruling.

Young declined to make any statements on the decision Thursday, and his lawyer couldn’t be reached for comment.