[Facebook] Just received this invitation for "Gun Violence Goes on Trial!!"

[uniballin]

Gun violence goes on trial!
Be there


On Tuesday, May 26
twelve people of faith will face trial
for an act of conscience witnessing against the plague of violence
in our streets and our communities
fueled by the availability of illegal weapons.
________________________________________
In January 2009, 12 people were arrested while participating in nonviolent direct action to pressure Colosimo’s Gun Center to sign a Code of Conduct for Responsible Gun Dealers. Following several weeks of discussion between the gun shop owner and a delegation of local religious leaders, these 12 individuals went to the store to once again ask the owner to sign the code. They remained there waiting for his agreement, and were arrested.

They were charged with a variety of crimes, including misdemeanor trespass, misdemeanor disorderly conduct, blocking a sidewalk and criminal conspiracy. They spent between 12 and 27 hours in jail before being released. The defendants include community advocates from Camden and Philadelphia, ordained Christian clergy from 3 denominations and a Jewish rabbi.
________________________________________

Please stand with us to send a dramatic signal on behalf of the young people that suffer most from this epidemic of violence. They’ve lost friends and siblings, they’ve lost hope. We need to show that we are willing to risk, to sacrifice, to struggle for ourselves, for them and with them.

“With this faith we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair, a stone of hope.” Martin Luther King, Jr.


8:00 AM Vigil of support, remembrance and prayer for the defendants and for the children and all whose lives are threatened and hearts are numbed in the face of the killing in our communities
(Arch Street United Methodist Church, 55 N. Broad St)
9:00 AM Court opens, please come when you can for as long as you can
(Room 1003 in the Criminal Justice Center at 13th & Filbert)
12:30 PM Rally – Inspiring HOPE, Raising VOICES, Taking ACTION!
(Dilworth Plaza, 15th & Market Sts. West side of City Hall)
Afternoon Trial reconvenes


For more information, please contact
info@HeedingGodsCall.org
267-519-5302
www.HeedingGodsCall.org

REPONSIBLE FIREARMS RETAILER PARTNERSHIP:
A 10-POINT VOLUNTARY CODE

The 10 points of the Responsible Firearms Retailer Partnership are:

1. Videotaping the Point of Sale for All Firearms Transactions. Participating retailers will videotape the point-of-sale of all firearms transactions and maintain videos for 6 months to deter illegal purchases and monitor employees.

2. Computerized Crime Gun Trace Log and Alert System. Mayors Against Illegal Guns will develop a computerized system that participating retailers will implement over time to log crime gun traces relating to the retailer. Once the program is in place, if a customer who has a prior trace at that retailer attempts to purchase a firearm, the sale will be electronically flagged. The retailer would have discretion to proceed with the sale or stop the sale.

3. Purchaser Declaration. For sales flagged by the trace alert system, participating retailers will ask purchasers to fill out a declaration indicating that they meet the legal requirement to purchase the firearm.

4. Deterring Fake IDs. Participating retailers will only accept valid federal- or state-issued picture IDs as primary identification. Retailers will utilize additional ID checking mechanisms.

5. Consistent Visible Signage. Participating retailers will post signage created by the Responsible Firearms Retailer Partnership to alert customers of their legal responsibilities at the point-of-sale.

6. Employee Background Checks. Participating retailers will conduct criminal background checks for all employees selling or handling firearms.

7. Employee Responsibility Training. Participating retailers will participate in an employee responsibility training program focused on deterring illegal purchasers. The Responsible Firearms Retailer Partnership will create an online training system based on Wal-Mart’s training program.

8. Inventory Checking. Participating retailers will conduct daily and quarterly audits. Guidelines will be based on Wal-Mart’s existing audit procedures.

9. No Sales Without Background Check Results. Participating retailers would prohibit sales based on “default proceeds,” which are permitted by law when background check has not returned a result within 3 days.

10. Securing Firearms. Participating retailers will maintain firearms kept in customer accessible areas in locked cases or locked racks.

Participating retailers will phase in the provisions of
Responsible Firearms Retailer Partnership over time.


Note: Although I personally do not associate with any church or religion I believe it is important to note that this event is brought about by people who are able to look past their own personal beliefs to rally for one, communal cause.

They were having peaceful negotiations with the business owner when OUT OF NO WHERE, they were all arrested? I bet they were told to leave the property the first time they were they several weeks before the arrest, but they came back again, making a scene in the poor man's area of business.

Anyone else know more about this story?

[LorDiego01]

They remained there waiting for his agreement, and were arrested.

This is the key part on this whole article.

They didn't want to discuss the matter, they wanted to FORCE it upon the store and it's owner. And they weren't planning on leaving until he agreed.

Looks like he asked them to leave the premises, and they didn't do it.

Good for those crazies to get arrested.

[Willie D]

I thought they were protesting Colissomo's high prices?


I saw them out there a few times out on the sidewalk/street out front (which is legal) not making much of an impact. It's not like there are that many pedestrian in that area to preach to. Maybe they got bored, went inside and got arrested for trespassing?


Forget that "poor man" bit though. Colissomo's prices are INSANELY high (add $100-200 to the highest price you can find elsewhere), their service is lousy, and somehow more of their guns end up as instruments of crime than any other dealer in the city. Is that because of the location or are they less diligent than other shops? I don't know, but they somehow made it to top ten of the ATF's worst shops list.

[nextgenjewelz]

Colissomo agreeded to all the terms besides #2. He refuses to comply with a demand to use a computerized system that could flag return customers if a gun that they purchased at the store were used in a crime. Also the FOP is against this.

If a gun is stolen and used in a crime they dont want that person to be able to own another gun. I dont think thats right.

Yes they were outside most of the time but they also set up inside his shop and refused to leave. They were actually asked to leave by the capt. of the police district but they refused which ended up in arrest.

[xxflyboixx]

Thread on the arrest of the protesters