CCW holder packing prevented from voting

[motoman]

I carried to vote in MN

I had my Glock concealed by my George W. Bush sweatshirt! The election worker tried to tell me to take the sweatshirt off, I told him that it wasn't going to happen. (boy, would he have been suprised if I did!) and I was in a Middle School to boot!!

 

[R.H. Lee]

Ala Dan, no problem with the guy carrying concealed; the poll worker wouldn't have known he was armed. Apparently the guy has a history of flaunting open carry wanting to make an issue out of it. Kind of an "in your face" thing. I don't think that helps anybody.

 

[Ala Dan]

From that standpoint, RileyMc my friend you are correct.

Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member

 

[gaston_45]

If it is not specifically spelled out in the statutes then it would seem it is legal. Why is doing what is legal a bad thing to do? I really don't get it I guess. Would you stop someone with blue and purple hair from voting until they died their hair a different color? How about stopping someone from bringing their luck carrot Buford with them to knock those pesky hanging chad loose? Why is it different when the object is a gun?

Those of you saying he gives gun owners a black eye are dead wrong, he gives us a good image, he is saying I am a gun owner and I am not going to be stopped from doing a legal thing becuase of someone's silly fear. Fear is not the basis of law, nor is it the basis of morality, neither of which he bent, broke, or mangled in this case.

 

[Mr. Mysterious]

I posted the article, but failed to state my opinion on the matter.

Last year it was crazy when poll workers were preventing LEOs from voting was absurd, this year with this guy it's sad. I support the right for a CCW, but will never support someone that carries where it's illegal. That means that I can't carry on my campus, but I have on occasion checked my weapon(s) in to lockers in the campus police department if I shoot after class. This guy, even though he was making a statement, to the best of my knowledge is breaking no laws, and the only infringement of the law was his violation in his right to have a concealed weapon in Indiana. It's the equivalent to a teacher stopping a first grader from going to school on Tuesday because he/she feels like it.

Len was the modest one in this situation, not the person that asked him to disarm. He could have made a scene, but instead did something that could have caused trouble for him. If he secured his weapon in his car and that car was broken into while he was voting, and that weapon was used in a crime he would have been guilty. This would not have been the case though if the legislature had passed the law not making you responsible if a gun you own is stolen and used in a crime. Incidentally, the republicans now have control of the executive, senate, and the house in Indiana.

 

[Ryan in the House]

Maybe they thought he would threaten other voters into voting for a specific person. Who knows?

I am a CHL holder, a LEO and a member of the NRA and I felt NO REASON to carry a weapon into a polling place.

Am I alone?

Maybe the guy was afraid terrorists would take over? We had security guards in our polling places. If there are police present to prevent any hostile activies, then I'd see no reason at all to carry my weapon into a polling area (and I dont have either a conceal permit or a weapon... but my stance won't change), unless I was someone who wanted to make a statement, cause a scene, and then get up in someone's face and flaunt my historical knowledge of the 2nd Amendment.

 

[Phil Ca]

In California many of the polling places are schools and you may not carry in a school unless you are a police officer. I did not feel the need to carry at the polls so I left 'Roscoe' at home.

If I had chosen to carry there would have been no one the wiser because the CCW means "concealed" and not "flaunt".

As for carrying in church, I have never seen a sign in a church that prohibited it. If I saw one I would have a meeting with the pastor and find out what the reason is. If he did not give me a satisfactory answer I would attend the next church business meeting and bring the subject to the church board. If they kept the prohibition I would let them know that I would only attend a church where I was wanted and vote with my feet.

I have carried in church before and will continue to do so when I decide to do it. There have been robberies and hold ups at churches in this country before. I would not start a shoot out in a crowded church in any case.

I have carried a firearm on duty since I was 17 in the army and through 10 years of service. I carried a firearm for nearly 27 of the years of my federal career. During that time I also carried a firearm as a reserve officer for 22 years. Having a firearm around is second nature to me and I have had a CCW for probably 24 or 25 years. I would encourage anyone that can pass muster to apply for a CCW and carry to protect their life and that of their family. We all know that an armed society is a polite society. We all know that the police cannot be there to protect everyone when something goes bump in the night or at the ATM of when you enter your car in a rainy parking lot late at night.

In todays society we find that a person that carries a firearm is quite often looked down on and can even be ostracized in his own family group or group of friends. I look at that as a silly response from people that should know better. If you obtain a CCW be prepared for some problems from certain people that you meet on a regular basis. Don't let them get you down or deter you, just do what is best for you and yours.

 

[Ivy Mike]

I voted at a local mall and I was carrying.

I was asked to remove my anti-Bush t-shirt before voting. I did not comply and asked what law required me to remove it. I advised them that the 1st amendment afforded me the freedom to wear it.

They let me in... t-shirt, gun and slurpee.

I voted for Badnarik...in case you care.

 

[esheato]

Phil Ca,

I beg to differ. CCW permit holders are allowed by law to carry into schools.

If you were carrying legally (which I'm assuming you were), you would have been totally within the law to carry your gun onto the school grounds.

Ed

Link to Explanation

FIREARMS ON SCHOOL GROUNDS

It is unlawful for any person to possess or bring a firearm upon the grounds of, into, or within a distance of 1,000 feet from the grounds of a school providing instruction in kindergarten or grades 1 to 12, inclusive, or a campus of the University of California, California State University, or California community colleges. (Penal Code 626.9)

EXCEPTIONS

1. A person who has the written permission of the school district superintendent, designee, or equivalent school authority.
2. Within a place of residence or place of business or on private property, if the place of residence, place of business, or private property is not part of the school grounds and the posession of the firearm is otherwise lawful.
3. If the firearm is an unloaded handgun in a locked container or within the locked trunk of a motor vehicle, of if the firearm is a long gun, or the otherwise lawful transportation of an unloaded long gun.
4. The possession or transportation of firearms by a person who is engaged in the business of manufacturing, importing, wholesaling, repairing, or dealing in firearms and who is licensed to engage in that business or the authorized representative or authorized agent of that person while engaged in the alwful course of business.
5. Guards or messengers of common carriers, banks, and other financial institutions while actually employed in and about the shipment, transportation, or delivery of money, treasure, etc....
6. Transportation of unloaded firearms by a person operating a licensed common carrier or an authorized agent or employee thereof when transported in conformance with applicable federal law.
7. The carrying of unloaded handguns by duly authorized mililtary or civil organizations while parading or the members thereof when going to and from the places of meeting of their respective organizations.
8. Any peace officer pursuant to Penal Code sections 830 who is carrying out official duties.
9. Any person summoned by such peace officer to assist in making an arrest of preserving the peace while actually so engaged.
10. Members of federal or state military forces while engaged in performance of duty.
11. Any person authorized to carry a concealed firearm pursuant to Penal Code section 12050.
12. An armored vehicle guard while engaged in performance of duty pursuant to Penal Code section 12030.
13. An existing shooting range at a public or private school or university or college campus.
14. An hororably retired peace officer authorized to carry a concealed or loaded firearm.

By the way, Penal Code 12050 is your basic law allowing shall issue CCW permits.

 

[Zebulon]

"Botkin said Grummell stirs controversy every election. “This is not a new issue with him. Every year he wants to carry his gun and every year there is a conflict.â€

In my OPINION, guys like this do harm to the rest of us by NOT choosing his battles more wisely. Not all issues weigh the same, really, and by insisting on this particular battle, he fulfills the image of the stereotypical gun owner that our opponents love to hold forth as a bad example. Zebulon

 

[Sam Adams]

In Texas it is illegal to carry a gun into a polling place (unless you're a cop, of course), so I left mine home. I don't need to get busted for doing that and have the CHL taken away, and to possibly lose the ability to legally purchase guns.

OTOH, this guy was apparently targeted because of his views, not because what he did was illegal. This should be straightened out by the next election. Perhaps the guy should get a letter from the state police on their letterhead, letting any reader know what their interpretation of the state law is.

 

[Firethorn]

Sam,

You don't need a letter from the state police, you need a letter from the state prosecuter, who is the one to actually prosecute for crimes.

 

[Stevie-Ray]

Am I the only one that finds it odd that firefighters carry firearms?

In case they have to shoot their way into a burning building?

 

[Insectguy]

quote:
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Am I the only one that finds it odd that firefighters carry firearms?
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We just had a thread about this-- I was amazed at how many firefighters carry. Nowdays, firefighters don't just put the wet stuff on the hot stuff, they are looked to for numerous responsibilities. Many think because they are in uniform, they represent authority, and therefore are targets.

As for carrying to the polling place, here in south Georgia it wouldn't have raised an eyebrow.

And I voted in my firehouse.

 

[SMLE]

I voted early at a polling place set up in a store-front in a strip mall. I saw no signs that said carrying was not allowed. I had my CCW under my shirt. One reason I voted early was that my normal polling place is in a middle school and under NM law that's still a no-no.

 

[SUE ROVR]

"I used my CCW as my ID tonight at the polls.

I thought the little old lady at the table for my part of the ward was going to pass out when she realized what it was."

I do this all the time now. ID=CCW

Everything goes 100 times smoother from then on.

 

[Gray Peterson]

Btw, Indiana's permit is a License to Carry. You are required to get an LTC in order to carry openly OR concealed. It's just like Minnesota.

 

[Double Naught Spy]

Well, hopefully the gunshop owner got plenty of press and now he can feel like a big cock of the walk for standing up to the system and martyring himself.

What a moron. Sure enough, if it was legal to carry in the polls, then he should have been allowed. Then again, if he wanted to vote, he should have removed his gun and then gone in to vote. You have to wonder why the heck he felt it necessary to display his gun. You have to wonder why he insists on doing this act repeatedly and causeing troubles.

He may take the issue to court and that is fine. My guess is that the polling officials have the right to turn away disruptive folks or folks they feel are acting in a potentially threatening manner.

The shop owner's wife was allowed to vote while carrying a gun, undoubtedly, as she didn't make a point of letting people know that she was carrying it.

All of this could have been avoided had he carried concealed and not let people know he was carrying. Based on the story, it was his intent to cause conflict.

 

[tyme]

Maybe the guy was afraid terrorists would take over? We had security guards in our polling places. If there are police present to prevent any hostile activies, then I'd see no reason at all to carry my weapon into a polling area...

Several people have said something like this.

Since when do Americans need a reason to do something? If a person routinely carries openly or concealed and carry is forbidden in some location, the person has to find somewhere to put the gun. Maybe it'll get stolen while it's alone in a car. The voter could get mugged on the way into or out of the polling place. Maybe the person parked half a mile away.

If it's not electioneering and it's not threatening, there's no good reason to make laws restricting carry at polling places. If open carry is legal in a state, open carry itself cannot be considered threatening, so forbidding carry in polling places is absurd.

 

[CAPTAIN MIKE]

Carrying While Voting

Where I live, we are one of the sensible states that have adopted "Early Voting", and it's pretty easy.

Me - I just went into one of the area malls while carrying concealed as I do every day, and I exercised my right to vote on one of those very cool touch-screen voting machines.

No one made an issue out of my qualifications to vote. I happened to notice the man next to me had an imprint of his sidearm under his outside-the-waist polo shirt. He recognized me from one of the local matches, and we nodded in recognition of each other as two law-abiding armed citizens voted side by side in right here in the heartbeat of Capitalism.

Ain't it Great???