Open Carry Radio

Forums can be found here. Be patient, as I have to approve each new account.

Open Carry Radio Forums

Photo by David Julian

I thought “Brad Lawrence” (who introduced himself to me as “Kevin”) looked out of place hiding behind some bushes and recycling bins, so I approached to check him out. As I mentioned in a previous post I thought he was sent from the Brady Campaign to get Photos and Video they could use. The first thing he claimed was that he had a fear of guns and didn’t want me to approach him. I began to explain that his fears were irrational and that he could be a Hoplophobe. Based on his demeanor and questions he had about me (I have training to detect liars). I begin to suspect he was not who he said he was and rolled video of half of our conversation.

This man was later outed by the San Francisco Chronicle as an undercover officer.

A U.S. Park Police officer is facing disciplinary action after lying to The Chronicle and the New York Times by identifying himself as a former officer and in an unseemly manner, according to the San Francisco field office commander for the U.S. Park Police.

The officer, Ken Rawles, was assigned to work undercover to take photographs and video of officers and their interactions with gun activists during a Baker Beach event at which activists sought to carry visible, unloaded handguns on the beach, said Major Jason Wu.

But, dressed in plain clothes, Rawles told reporters covering the event that he was Brad Lawrence. Lawrence is the name of a former U.S. Park Police officer who now works for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security in Georgia. Rawles told reporters he was at the beach to video people sunbathing in the nude, but finding none began to photograph and video the gun activists.

His statements appeared in a Chronicle story Sunday and in a New York Times blog about the event. Colleagues of Lawrence contacted the Chronicle upset at the portrayal.

“What Officer Rawles did is not something that we would do,” said Wu. “Certainly, I am not too pleased about that myself.”

Here is that video of our interaction. Undercover.m4v

Now because he lied to the Press and gave negative statements to the press about law abiding citizen protecting themselves, which could sway public opinion, I believe we could have our first documented “agent provocateur“.  Were Ken’s next missions going to be “befriend the group, let them think you’ve had a change of heart on the issue and want to join them” ?

Things to think about.

The Canadian Broadcast Company ran an interview about Unloaded Open Carry on a show called “As It Happens” (NPR styled news show in Canada)

http://www.cbc.ca/radioshows/AS_IT_HAPPENS/20100303.shtml

The interview is in the second hour.

Here’s a snippet of the show.

Yes it was said when I first started carrying in the Bay Area “Oh sure, in Sunnyvale but don’t even think of taking that to San Francisco!” Well with the help of a new law permitting firearms back in National Parks, the very first large gathering of open carriers took place in San Francisco at the Presidio today. Aside from one hoplophobe (by his own admission) that I believe was an interested Brady Campaigner taking lots of video and photos of us, the trash pick up outing went off without a hitch. Park Rangers (not sure if that’s their title) stopped by to invoke PC12031(e) and check the loaded condition of the firearms onsite. There is still debate about the legality of a Federal Officer acting as state “peace officer”. It’s my understanding after reading the law that these officers are not “peace officers” as defined in California Penal Code 830 through 831.7.  None of us were willing to go to jail to prove our point today so ‘e’ checks were done professionally and cordially without lecture from the officers. A few bloggers and newspapers braved the threat of tsunami to cover this event, here’s to hoping the coverage is balanced.

More photos after the break.

Read More >>

Joseph Schneider is minding his business in a Sussex restaurant, had already ordered and was eating peaceably when a State Trooper noticed his sidearm (after reviewing the video I think a bus boy pointed Joseph out to the trooper). The Trooper takes it upon himself to sternly ask the manager to answer his “simple question”. The trooper asks the manager “Do you guys allow guns in here?”. The Managers answers “Yes” (probably thinking the trooper is referring to his carrying of a gun). The Trooper realizing he’s received the ‘wrong’ answer follows up with “Not private citizens?” “Do you or Don’t?”. The manager realizing she’s not giving the answer the Trooper wants, follows the social queues and changes the answer to “No.” Later in the video the manager answers the same question “Oh I don’t know”, but at that point I think Joseph’s decided to choose his battles and walks out.

Watch his video.

The Contra Costa Times ran this editorial yesterday “Message to Open Carry members: It’s time to put the guns away“, all time referring to “we”. Wouldn’t an editorial be written by an author e.g. “I”? After all it is an opinion piece, if you’re going to use “we” you should state who “we” is. Here’s an excerpt from that article.

IT APPEARS some Bay Area residents feel that simply having a right to bear arms is not enough. They also feel they must exercise that right in a public display that conjures visions of a modern-day Wild West.

The term is known as open carry or open display, which is allowed by a provision of the California Penal Code. Open carry is a shorthand term for openly carrying a firearm in public view as opposed to concealing it, which is illegal in California in most circumstances.

Recently a group called Open Carry orchestrated a number of displays during which gun owners showed up at suburban coffee shops and a restaurant toting their unloaded handguns in belt holsters. Ammunition for the weapons also was conveniently situated on the belts.

More than anything else, we surmise, this display is meant as a not-so-subtle political statement. But we hope those carrying the weapons are more judicious with their firearms than they are with fashioning political statements. This one misses the target. Instead of some grand public lesson, this action is seen by many Bay Area residents as childish machismo.

Needless to say, many customers of the coffee shops and restaurant — who had chosen not to exercise their right to bear arms — were taken aback by such displays. Some patrons left immediately, while others summoned police officers.

One commenter simply substituted “Open Carry” with “Gay Public Displays of Affection” in the editorial and came up with this.

IT APPEARS some Bay Area residents feel that simply having a right to same-sex relationships is not enough. They also feel they must exercise that right in a public display that conjures visions of a modern-day Greek orgy.

The term is known as public display of affection (PDA), which is allowed by a provision of the California Penal Code. PDA is a shorthand term for openly flaunting your sexuality in public view as opposed to concealing it, which is illegal in California in most circumstances.

Recently a group called GLBSF orchestrated a number of displays during which gays showed up at suburban coffee shops and a restaurant toting their same-sex partners in drag. Paraphernalia for the costumes also was conveniently situated on the belts.

More than anything else, we surmise, this display is meant as a not-so-subtle political statement. But we hope those flaunting the homosexuality are more judicious with their privates than they are with fashioning political statements. This one misses the target. Instead of some grand public lesson, this action is seen by many Bay Area residents as disgusting perversion.

Needless to say, many customers of the coffee shops and restaurant — who had chosen not to exercise their right to same-sex relationships — were taken aback by such displays. Some patrons left immediately, while others summoned police officers…

Wow! I know this happens but crimes that don’t occur aren’t documented so it’s difficult to point them out to Anti-Gun people like the Brady Campaign.

What we have here is a well documented case of Open Carry actually deterring crime.

From Ed Stones article in the Examiner:

Matt Brannan and J.P. Mitchell were dining in the Wafflehouse on Barrett Parkway at I-575 in Kennesaw at 4:45 in the morning recently when a scout for an armed robbery crew entered the restaurant to case it.  At the time, Matt and J.P. thought he looked a little suspicious, as he was wandering around the small restaurant like he was looking for someone.  Unknown to Matt and J.P., two cars full of armed robbers were parked behind the restaurant waiting for the scout’s report.

The scout saw that two of the customers were wearing holstered 1911 Springfield Mil-Spec .45 pistols, and he immediately turned and left the store.

Meanwhile, conscientious Cobb County Police Officer D. Lowe had noticed suspicious cars sitting behind the restaurant in the dark and decided to investigate.  He caught men with masks and rifles who had been preparing to rob the Wafflehouse.  The criminals informed the police that they had changed their mind upon discovering armed customers and were waiting for Matt and J.P. to leave.  Ironically, the police car was pulling in to the parking lot just as Matt and J.P. were driving away.  In other words, had Matt and J.P. not been armed, the robbery probably would have occurred before the police intervened.

Captain Jerry Quan, the Commander for Precinct One, where the Wafflehouse is located, confirmed Matt Brannan’s story as one in which the open display of a pistol deterred a well armed robbery crew.

I can’t believe it! What luck that we get a documented case.

[Source]

Source: BradyCampaign.org

In this installment of Open Carry Radio I discuss the growing Open Carry participation in California.

The Brady Campaigns pathetic attempts to stifle open carry by attacking Starbucks.

I trust that after the internet urban legend ”Starbucks Doesn’t Support the Troops“, they won’t touch this issue with a 10 foot pole.

Episode #013 of Open Carry Radio available Here. Runtime: 25:04

As you all know I don’t usually talk to cops. After reading all the interdepartmental emails and memo’s and finding that these Chiefs of Police and Sheriff’s have been feeding their subordinates mis-information, I decided to talk to these officers. There were 3, 2 from Santa Clara Sheriff’s Dept. and one from San Jose PD (pay close attention San Jose PD). Based on the first officer’s demeanor, calm, friendly, no gun drawn, I chose to talk to him. Also it was raining, which demonstrates their dedication to the job and mine to carrying every day no-mater-what.

Transcript of crappy audio: <—— Click here for audio.

Deputy: You know why we’re here.

Me: Yeah I know why you’re here.

Deputy: Just wanna check to see you’re in compliance.

Me: Sure. Sure. Do you really wanna do that standing on the road?

Deputy: Yeah sure that’s fine.

Me: You want to be handling the weapon? You don’t mind. Alright. Just to put it on record I don’t consent to any searches of my person or my property.

Deputy: Oh that’s fine, that’s fine. (Steps behind me and draws my gun from its holster.)

Me: Including the serial number of that weapon.

Deputy: Alright, I don’t plan on doing that I’m just want to make sure you’re in compliance.

Me: (Looking at the San Jose PD, maybe Sunnyvale, I don’t remember. I’ll discuss my mistakes at the end) How you doin?

Officer1: Doing good.

Deputy: <inaudible> (Maybe “golden”? At this point he’s returned my sidearm to its holster and steps back)

Me: Great.

Deputy: You are free to go.

Me: Did you guys get called out here?

Deputy: Yeah we had a couple calls.

Me: A couple?! (I UOC everyday in my neighborhood, and walk this path at least once a week so I wash shocked) Interesting.

Deputy: <inaudible> (something to the effect “you think you’d expect that” if memory serves)

Deputy: Like I said you’re free to go but I got a couple questions for you?

### Click HERE for the rest of this conversation ####

Read More >>

Contra Costa Times (part of the Bay Area Newsgroup) posted a very well balanced news piece on the open carrying that has been going on in the East Bay.

They got the local DA and a Brady Campaign representative to look like idiots. Check out the video above.

[Source]