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Old April 21, 2013, 01:41 PM   #126
JimDandy
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One was passing by, and stopped me. He was friendly, and asked me to put the weapon in the back seat of his car while things were checked out. I did so. He did a pat down search, then asked me what I was doing
And this is where people are starting to object. I think you had a Terry Stop in pretty much the reverse order. You were stopped and frisked, and THEN questioned.

It's supposed to be Stop Question and Frisk.

There would also be some objection to reasonably suspecting criminal activity is likely when seeing an individual with a hunting arm in such close proximity to known hunting grounds.

If I go to prison the gigantic substandard neighbor, ironically nick-named Tiny, attempting to make me his girlfriend can be as nice as can be- that doesn't mean I'm going to enjoy the process, OR find it particularly lawful.
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Old April 21, 2013, 01:43 PM   #127
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Right, so we are back to the aspect that the police do in fact have the legal ability to disarm you. We don't know what happened before the video started rolling other than Grisham's account and that is only one side of the story. Regardless of who Grisham is, we have all seen people in high positions, positions of authority, positions of respect, cops, military, politicians, CEOs, parents, etc. tell lies. That isn't to say that he is lying, only that credentials aren't proof of what he is claiming.

The cops are claiming he would not comply. To a certain extent, Grisham clearly backed up their claim and Grisham, like Ersland, may have been exceptionally stupid in speaking to the media.

On Genn Beck, Grisham states plainly he would not be disarmed,
Quote:
"What the hell do you think you are doing. ... You are not going to disarm me."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gy3Sw8APRQo

At that point, there is a definite problem as Grisham is on record as stating he would not allow himself to be disarmed. What is then in question is what happened before that point. It isn't on video. Nobody here knows what happened. No doubt, it will come out in court. If the officers' actions can be shown to be legal, Grisham loses. If not legal, then no doubt the cops will lose and Grisham will likely end up with a nice settlement. However, Grisham would have been very smart to exercise his right to remain silent and not speak with the media.

However, arguing over what is going on in the video is pretty silly since the video isn't the critical part of the situation.

I did have to laugh at the indignation Grisham showed, however, that the cops should have known he a combat veteran because he had a boonie cap with his rank on it. My boonie cap says I am a Sgt. as well. It was the only used boonie cap that fit me at the Army/Navy store. I wear it when I mow the lawn.
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Old April 21, 2013, 02:19 PM   #128
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Jim it is acceptable for an officer to frisk before questioning for officer safety. He did ask if I had any other weapons on my person. I told him I had a pocket knife, and a pair of siscors in my pocket for breasting dove. He did ask before frisking me. I did consent. He was being friendly, and never at any point did I sense any hostility from him at any point in time.

Truth be told if you were a cop, and you were responding to the same type of call, and the person had a chip on the shoulder attitude towards you, and was visably armed, and refusing to cooperate it is hard to say that one would not have done similar to what happened. I am not justifying what the officer did. I can not hear what is being said, and can not find a captioned version. To me it seams all were wrong in many ways.
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Old April 21, 2013, 03:06 PM   #129
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The interesting thing is, in the limited interactions I have had with LEOs while carrying, once I have let them know I have a permit and exercise it, they have been content to say, "Ok, just leave it holstered."

I do not believe there is any requirement for a LEO to disarm an armed citizen; I do believe they should have some reason aside from general officer safety precautions to do so.
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Old April 21, 2013, 03:56 PM   #130
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Right, no requirement to disarm, but they can do it.
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Old April 22, 2013, 12:32 AM   #131
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Wow. Six pages of comments. Not one quote of Texas law.

I am going to guess that many people commenting are basing what they are writing on their OWN states law.

Do a Google search. You might be surprised what you find.

I am serious. See if I am mistaken. Go to everything from the state's own website to the NRA website, to everything in between. Prove me wrong.

Try this for starters. It is in a more user friendly format, easily found using a Google search, taken from the Free Republic, dated on Saturday, April 16, 2011:

"Texas is a traditionally rough-and-tumble state that has some of the most permissive guns laws in the country. But you may be surprised to learn that it is illegal to carry a gun openly there.

"Texas is one of just seven states -- the others are Arkansas, Florida, Illinois, New York, Oklahoma and South Carolina, plus Washington, D.C. -- that does not have an open-carry law.

"Gun advocates are trying to get the state legislature to pass an open-carry law, but so far it has been unable to do so.

"It's shocking that Texas, with its history of rugged individualism that the state symbolizes, doesn't allow open carry," John Pierce, a co-founder of OpenCarry.org told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

"Texans have been able to get licenses to carry concealed handguns in most places since 1995. However, carrying them openly remains illegal.

"Texas Gov. Rick Perry doesn't shy away from his love of guns -- he admitted he takes his gun along with him on jogs, last year shooting a coyote that threatened his dog. The governor said he would consider an open-carry bill if it landed on his desk".

And yes, I have read those things about, "long guns".
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Old April 22, 2013, 01:03 AM   #132
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^ lol, if you're going to harp on not posting the law...perhaps you should actually post the law and not random excerpts of articles, which don't address the issue at hand.

Long gun open carry is generally(I don't know if there's preemption and/or grandfathered laws from counties/cities that prohibit it) legal in Texas.

Quote:
Sec. 46.02. UNLAWFUL CARRYING WEAPONS. (a) A person commits an offense if the person intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly carries on or about his or her person a handgun, illegal knife, or club if the person is not:
(1) on the person's own premises or premises under the person's control; or
(2) inside of or directly en route to a motor vehicle or watercraft that is owned by the person or under the person's control.
(a-1) A person commits an offense if the person intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly carries on or about his or her person a handgun in a motor vehicle or watercraft that is owned by the person or under the person's control at any time in which:
(1) the handgun is in plain view; or
Source

Notice how it only addresses handguns?
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Old April 22, 2013, 10:00 AM   #133
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San Antonio has a local ordinance against long gun carry. The SAPD says they would enforce it. It was written to bust gang members who in the days of cheap SKS rifles would drive around with them.

Is it 'constitutional' given state law - hasn't been tested to my knowledge?
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Old April 22, 2013, 10:08 AM   #134
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angel1495, the article you cited was handgun specific, and probably old, too - since California was not on their list, and CA recently banned OC.
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Old April 22, 2013, 11:19 AM   #135
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This is interesting. So, is his case room temperature now?

http://www.texasgunlaws.org/

Q: Can I carry a firearm on my person?

A: Yes, with proper licensing (Concealed Handgun License) you may carry a pistol or revolver on your person so long as it remains concealed. Long guns (rifles / shotguns) do not have to be concealed, but must be carried in a manner not calculated to cause alarm, and do not require a license.

Q: Can I strap a gun on my hip in Texas?

A: No, with some exceptions. Open carry is not legal in Texas, but you may open carry on your own property, in the commission of a sporting activity (competition, shooting ranges, etc.), and while engaged in hunting.
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Old April 22, 2013, 11:26 AM   #136
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I'vebeenduped, I'd say that bit you highlighted would be subjective.

Since the charges were all reduced to a count of interfering with the performance of a LEO, and not a weapons charge, I don't think the prosecutor felt a single point sling was calculated to cause alarm.
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Old April 22, 2013, 11:32 AM   #137
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If it was, a guy wearing boxers, or going "commando" would have the same problems in mixed company. Muzzle sweeping people while hiking might cause alarm. Having your rifle with you, swinging on the end of a single point sling- not even in your hands, should not be considered alarming for reasonable people in rural areas that may reasonably contain predatory animals.
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Old April 22, 2013, 11:32 AM   #138
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MLeake,
I agree with what you are saying. However, I think that angel1495 made a good point about posting the laws of Texas before the debate. I believe that I did err in making a case for the MSG before knowing the Texas law. That was pretty stupid. I try to do better than that. I am still trying to find something more definitive to post since the link that I posted stated that it was not really authoritative.

David
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Old April 22, 2013, 11:35 AM   #139
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http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.u.../htm/PE.42.htm
(8) displays a firearm or other deadly weapon in a public place in a manner calculated to alarm;

This pretty much reaffirms it.
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Old April 22, 2013, 11:47 AM   #140
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JimDandy,
"should not be considered alarming for reasonable people in rural areas that may reasonably contain predatory animals."

I am in the choir here! I feel the same way that you do. The problem is; who's decision is it to determine this? I think that it is up to the officer in this case. Think about this; there was an individual who was "alarmed" enough to call the police for the way the MSG was carrying his weapon. Is this a ridiculous law? I think so. Was the MSG right? If he was in AZ probably yes. In TX?...
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Old April 22, 2013, 12:21 PM   #141
JimDandy
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who's decision is it to determine this?
Ultimately, it will have to be determined by the courts. The implication, however, is that since openly carrying a rifle is legal, the cause for alarm must be inherently more than openly carrying a rifle- through actions and demeanor.

If the guy is muzzle sweeping,and running around like he's in a 3 gun competition- ok. But it would be difficult to suggest a guy walking at a lesiurely pace with it appropriately slung was trying to cause alarm.
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Old April 22, 2013, 01:53 PM   #142
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I'vebeenduped, while Angel1495 had a good point about posting appropriate statutes, his specific citation did not support his argument. It was specific to handguns.

Meanwhile, while the law could be interpreted to say that Grisham was carrying in a manner that might cause panic, and while you have reaffirmed that the law could be construed to mean that, unless things have changed the local prosecutor has not charged him with unlawful carry. That tells me that prosecutor does not want to make that argument.

If any charges have been added, since they reduced the original ones to interfering with a LEO in performance of his duties, anybody is free to update the current charges.

But it seems to me that prosecutors only reduce charges like that when they suspect the court case isn't so good, and they hope the defendant will accept the lesser misdemeanor in a plea.
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Old April 22, 2013, 03:43 PM   #143
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MLeake,
I understand about the prosecutor reducing the charges and the possible reasons for that. I think that my initial rxn would have been different had I armed myself with the Texas statutes. Please don't misunderstand me. I am ALL for people standing up for their civil rights and liberties! YEARS ago, I took a social movements class. It seems like, the only way to induce change is to offend some people in some manner or another. I thought the officers reason, per the recording, at any rate, for arresting the MSG was ridiculous. I think now that, as ridiculous as it is AND sounds, it seems as if it may have at least some legal merit in the state of Texas. I am merely conceding that point.

I also agree with you in that although Angel1495 did make a good point about citing the law, his arguments were flawed as they only pertained to handguns. I didn't care so much as to point it out. I only wanted to stick with what I found to be constructive as arguments here can, at times, get inflamed easily.

I appreciate your responses. I think that your points are always well thought out. I especially liked your insight in the use of drones argument. You dominated that thread in my opinion!

David
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Old April 22, 2013, 05:25 PM   #144
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"...not to cause alarm..."

Vague law is vague. Any half way decent lawyer can argue his way out of that one. Seriously.

How do you determine if someone will be/was/is alarmed? Is there a definition for "alarmed." If I were an LEO, could I say that carrying a long gun on your back, muzzle in the air could be alarming? If there were ever a law that needs legal precedent, this is it...
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Old April 22, 2013, 05:29 PM   #145
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The standard will be a "reasonable person". WA state has had similar stuff happen. One published, one unpublished. Precedent is needed, because one "Reasonable" person isn't as good as another, but it's better than anybody's guess.
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Old April 22, 2013, 05:30 PM   #146
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Playing devil's advocate here, but does anyone think that the Aurora and Newtown shootings, involving AR-15's with 30 rd mags (100rd drum in the case of Aurora) had anything to do with the cops detaining Grisham?

Maybe not a good idea to walk around with such a weapon, legal or not, in light of some terrible mass shootings involving similar guns.

I dont think any cop wants to be the one who lets a guy walk around with an AR-15, legal or not, and then finds out later said guy just shot up a public place.
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Old April 22, 2013, 05:47 PM   #147
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I do not think the shooting had anything to do with his arrest at all. I live in the town of Temple. Where he was is not very rural, and there is a ton of traffic on the road in that area. A passer by called 911. That is a causing alarm when someone calls police about it. I wrote in on of my precious post about my experice with TPD when being stopped, and visably armed. The SGT refused to turn over his weapons while the police were sorting things out. It is very legal for an officer to have the person turn over the weapon for the duration of a stop for officer safety.

The SGT had a chip on the shoulder I know better than you attitude with police, and refused to comply while visably armed with the weapon in front of him. If he is luck he will pay a fine, and get probation for the misdemenor.
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Old April 22, 2013, 06:22 PM   #148
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I understand the arguements on both sides.I think they all did poorly.

The application of courtesy would have gone a long way,I think.

I can be approached by an LEO,and I think"This guy wants to see his family again"

That does not mean I lay down and wet myself,it means I defer to his security,as a courtesy.How I move,what I do with my hands,when I say"I have that in the console,OK to open it?

I do what I can to let him/her just do their job.Checking out a man with an AR,might be his job.

I know I will never,ever win a power struggle with an LEO.They just cannot be effective by backing down.

If there is problem,it reasonable to state it."Am I detained?Am I free to go?"

You might find a bad LEO,one just pulled a gun because McDonalds was moving too slow.

File a complaint,use the system,sue,fine.

But,IMO,in the moment,in the field,a cockroach who argues with a chicken is always wrong.
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Old April 22, 2013, 08:05 PM   #149
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But it seems to me that prosecutors only reduce charges like that when they suspect the court case isn't so good, and they hope the defendant will accept the lesser misdemeanor in a plea.
If he is convicted of a felony they will throw him out of the Army. With a misdemeanor he can still lose his clearance depending upon the circumstances, his level and the adjudicator. So they might be trying to go easy on him.
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Old April 22, 2013, 08:21 PM   #150
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