Hoplophobia in grand form

jimpeel · November 3, 2010, 05:11 PM

It seems that the people who run the polls don't know the regulations concerning the bearing of arms at polling places.

This sworn, uniformed officer was denied the right to vote because he refused to do what no officer would ever do -- surrender his firearm.

There is a poll at the article which asks if those bearing arms should be allowed to vote. This could have the same effect on any one of us if we were to encounter some misinformed, overzealous hoplophobe at our precinct voting station.

SOURCE

You will have to go to the article and read it because one paragraph would be nonsensical.

Chris_B · November 3, 2010, 05:35 PM

thanks for posting about this

silvercorvette · November 3, 2010, 05:42 PM

HERE IS A FOLLOW UP

The warden was asked to stay home

jimpeel · November 3, 2010, 09:24 PM

This part of the story ...

Quote:

Dunlap said Monday that state law allows a warden broad latitude of authority over polling places. However, no state or federal law exists that prohibits police officers — or anyone else, for that matter — from bringing guns to a polling place.

posits an interesting question.

What if the polling place is at a school as mine is? The door to where we vote is open and the rest of the doors are locked. The area where voting occurs is taped off from the school proper. So as long as one does not violate the restraint, is one in a polling place which is in a school; or is one in a school which happens to contain a polling place?

While it may be violative of the law to be in a school with a firearm, which is codified law, would it be a violation to be in a polling place which is a constitutionally protected right?

The above is purely speculative and rhetorical as I know of no one, including myself, who would be willing to expend the amount of time and treasure to find out the answers.

silvercorvette · November 3, 2010, 09:41 PM

In NY schools are closed, and now that I live in CS I noticed schools are also closed. I assumed it was the same in all states.

PS it really should not matter with the case in question because a LEO is allowed to carry in a school

hogdogs · November 3, 2010, 10:13 PM

I am betting that "school grounds" are not different if it is for use as a voting precinct location... but that is just my take on it...

IMHO, the square footage used as a voting location isn't "de-commissioned" as a schooling spot just for the voting day.

Brent

jimpeel · November 4, 2010, 12:18 AM

Like I said, it would cost a fortune to challenge and the odds would be stacked against the challenger from the get go.

**Mike Irwin** · November 4, 2010, 09:03 AM

How the heck long are the polls open in Maine? It sounds like they're open for several days.

HoraceHogsnort · November 4, 2010, 09:16 AM

Its just flat out idiocy to tell an LEO he can't vote if he's pack'n heat. Stupidity had reached a new height (or is it a new low?).

**Aguila Blanca** · November 4, 2010, 10:43 AM

School "grounds" are school grounds, whether school is in session or not. If I were on school property with a firearm at 3:00 a.m., or during the midst of Christmas break with no students, faculty or staff in the building and the doors locked, I would still be charged with having a firearm on school grounds. I don't think that changes if the gymnasium or cafeteria is used for a polling place.

HoraceHogsnort · November 6, 2010, 03:18 AM

Yeah, but the man is a LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER fer crissake!!

dnr1128 · November 6, 2010, 04:15 AM

I heard about this on Drudge a short while after it hit the wires. IMO it was a warden who was overzealous and let his head get a little too big

Spartan23 · November 6, 2010, 02:21 PM

Personally, i believe that it must be school security and students and teachers not to be allowed to carry arms, at least not concealed. There are many reasons i can think of that and for me it makes sense...

But in a voting day? And he was a Police Chief? Going to vote as he had to do as a Citizen? That's ridiculous. Police Officers must keep their guns at all times. Specially when they enter a school to vote. Who they threaten anyway?

Even here the police officers are able to enter the school for voting with their guns and uniforms. Schools are voting centers for these days, so there is no asylum to keep the officers out.

But as i said before, is a good idea that students won't be allowed to carry guns in school as they can't bring mobile phones or marijuana, or everything else a student must not bring in school. But for parents and police officers in the days the school is open, or voters on voting days, there is no reason not to allow them to vote while carrying their guns. What is the reason for that anyway?

Maybe they will not find toilet paper and start shooting...?

November 3, 2010, 05:11 PM	#1
jimpeel Senior Member Join Date: October 11, 1999 Location: Longmont, CO, USA Posts: 4,530	Hoplophobia in grand form It seems that the people who run the polls don't know the regulations concerning the bearing of arms at polling places. This sworn, uniformed officer was denied the right to vote because he refused to do what no officer would ever do -- surrender his firearm. There is a poll at the article which asks if those bearing arms should be allowed to vote. This could have the same effect on any one of us if we were to encounter some misinformed, overzealous hoplophobe at our precinct voting station. SOURCE You will have to go to the article and read it because one paragraph would be nonsensical. __________________ Gun Control: The premise that a woman found in an alley, raped and strangled with her own pantyhose, is morally superior to allowing that same woman to defend her life with a firearm. "Science is built up with facts, as a house is with stones. But a collection of facts is no more a science than a heap of stones is a house." - Jules Henri Poincare "Three thousand people died on Sept. 11 because eight pilots were killed" -- former Northwest Airlines pilot Stephen Luckey

November 3, 2010, 05:42 PM	#3
silvercorvette Senior Member Join Date: October 26, 2010 Location: Anderson SC Posts: 466	HERE IS A FOLLOW UP The warden was asked to stay home __________________ I am broke, I spent my money on fast cars, guns, reloading equipment and ammo, the rest my money was wasted on nonessential stuff

November 3, 2010, 09:41 PM	#5
silvercorvette Senior Member Join Date: October 26, 2010 Location: Anderson SC Posts: 466	In NY schools are closed, and now that I live in CS I noticed schools are also closed. I assumed it was the same in all states. PS it really should not matter with the case in question because a LEO is allowed to carry in a school __________________ I am broke, I spent my money on fast cars, guns, reloading equipment and ammo, the rest my money was wasted on nonessential stuff

November 4, 2010, 12:18 AM	#7
jimpeel Senior Member Join Date: October 11, 1999 Location: Longmont, CO, USA Posts: 4,530	Like I said, it would cost a fortune to challenge and the odds would be stacked against the challenger from the get go. __________________ Gun Control: The premise that a woman found in an alley, raped and strangled with her own pantyhose, is morally superior to allowing that same woman to defend her life with a firearm. "Science is built up with facts, as a house is with stones. But a collection of facts is no more a science than a heap of stones is a house." - Jules Henri Poincare "Three thousand people died on Sept. 11 because eight pilots were killed" -- former Northwest Airlines pilot Stephen Luckey

November 4, 2010, 09:03 AM	#8
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,379	How the heck long are the polls open in Maine? It sounds like they're open for several days. __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.

November 3, 2010, 05:35 PM	#2
Chris_B Senior Member Join Date: February 9, 2007 Posts: 3,101	thanks for posting about this

November 3, 2010, 10:13 PM	#6
hogdogs Staff In Memoriam Join Date: October 31, 2007 Location: Western Florida panhandle Posts: 11,069	I am betting that "school grounds" are not different if it is for use as a voting precinct location... but that is just my take on it... IMHO, the square footage used as a voting location isn't "de-commissioned" as a schooling spot just for the voting day. Brent

November 4, 2010, 09:16 AM	#9
HoraceHogsnort Senior Member Join Date: February 28, 2008 Location: Stanislaus Co., Mexifornia Posts: 615	Its just flat out idiocy to tell an LEO he can't vote if he's pack'n heat. Stupidity had reached a new height (or is it a new low?).

November 4, 2010, 10:43 AM	#10
Aguila Blanca Staff Join Date: September 25, 2008 Location: CONUS Posts: 18,457	School "grounds" are school grounds, whether school is in session or not. If I were on school property with a firearm at 3:00 a.m., or during the midst of Christmas break with no students, faculty or staff in the building and the doors locked, I would still be charged with having a firearm on school grounds. I don't think that changes if the gymnasium or cafeteria is used for a polling place.

November 6, 2010, 03:18 AM	#11
HoraceHogsnort Senior Member Join Date: February 28, 2008 Location: Stanislaus Co., Mexifornia Posts: 615	Yeah, but the man is a LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER fer crissake!!

November 6, 2010, 04:15 AM	#12
dnr1128 Senior Member Join Date: May 29, 2010 Posts: 166	I heard about this on Drudge a short while after it hit the wires. IMO it was a warden who was overzealous and let his head get a little too big

November 6, 2010, 02:21 PM	#13
Spartan23 Member Join Date: November 23, 2009 Location: Athens, Hellas Posts: 75	Personally, i believe that it must be school security and students and teachers not to be allowed to carry arms, at least not concealed. There are many reasons i can think of that and for me it makes sense... But in a voting day? And he was a Police Chief? Going to vote as he had to do as a Citizen? That's ridiculous. Police Officers must keep their guns at all times. Specially when they enter a school to vote. Who they threaten anyway? Even here the police officers are able to enter the school for voting with their guns and uniforms. Schools are voting centers for these days, so there is no asylum to keep the officers out. But as i said before, is a good idea that students won't be allowed to carry guns in school as they can't bring mobile phones or marijuana, or everything else a student must not bring in school. But for parents and police officers in the days the school is open, or voters on voting days, there is no reason not to allow them to vote while carrying their guns. What is the reason for that anyway? Maybe they will not find toilet paper and start shooting...?

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