Need HELP with Anti-Gun/Anti-CCW Sheriff!

[andy28277]

Please check the below URL to review my situation and click on the FILES link on the left of the page to see where I stand in my lawsuit.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/anti_durante

I need everybody’s help in emailing, writing and phoning Sheriff John P. Durante of Montgomery County, PA. He has denied me a CCW because, so says Sheriff Durante, I am likely to act in a manner dangerous to public safety.

Well, I have sued Sheriff Durante in the Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas to overturn his decision. Sheriff Durante turned me down five months ago, I filed a lawsuit against him four months ago, and I first served him with discovery three and a half months ago, asking him in interrogatories to explain why I am likely to be a danger to public safety.

Well, after numerous discovery requests, Sheriff Durante has yet to tell me why I am a danger to the public. I believe that he is dragging this out, hoping I will give up. That is NOT going to happen. I have a hearing on a motion to compel discovery on Friday the 13th and I want answers.

Please contact Sheriff Durante on June 9,10,11,12 and 13. Ask Sheriff Durante why he would deny someone a permit and then not tell that person why he is a danger to the public after numerous discovery requests over numerous months. Please email, phone or write Sheriff Durante and tell him to stop wasting taxpayer money and delaying justice – tell Sheriff Durante to obey the law by answering discovery, telling Andrew Meyers why he is a danger to the public.

I’m not asking you to tell Sheriff Durante to give me a permit, as you do not know me. I am asking for your help in telling Sheriff Durante that he has a responsibility to his constituents to treat them fairly and in accordance with the law – that he should not deny them a firearm permit and then refuse to say why – after numerous discovery requests in a lawsuit.

You might also want to remind Sheriff Durante that he is up for election in November, and that the man he is running against had almost as many votes as he did in the primary.

As for Sheriff Durante getting upset about receiving a lot of emails – tough. He has denied me my rights and he can’t do anything to me that he has not already done, as we have reached the point of a lawsuit where Sheriff Durante is avoiding answering questions he has a duty to answer. Please keep your correspondence with Sheriff Durante polite, but firm and to the point. Sheriff Durante’s behavior is absolutely unacceptable, and this elected public official needs to hear from the public.

Thanks for your help! – Andrew Meyers

Sheriff Durante contact info:

Email: [email protected]

John P. Durante, Sheriff
Montgomery County Sheriff's Office
Court House, 1st Floor
P.O. Box 311 Norristown, PA 19404-0268
(610) 278-3331
Link to where I stand in my lawsuit

 

[Darrin]

That is pretty odd considering PA is a 'shall-issue' state.

 

[kingcomm]

My email to Sheriff Durante

My email:

Sheriff Durante:

It has come to my attention that you have denied Andrew C. Meyers a license to carry a firearm. I have the utmost respect for the responsibility that you have to make sure that a dangerous person does not carry a firearm.

However, having reviewed the requests for discovery that you have ignored, I can’t help but be concerned. Why would you deny Mr. Meyers a license to carry a firearm because you allege that he is a danger to the public, and then not explain to Mr. Meyers why he is a danger to the public after Mr. Meyers has made numerous discovery requests to find out?

This has me very concerned, and I would hope that your actions have been above board; otherwise it would appear that you might well be guilty of official oppression and conspiracy to deny rights with the Lower Merion Police. Please do the honest and ethical thing: answer Mr. Meyers’ discovery and tell him exactly why he is a danger to the public.

I thank you for your kind consideration to this email as I look towards the November election.

Sincerely,

 

[Kharn]

Ouch, that really sucks. Do you know anyone who has managed to get a permit from this sheriff? Making waves with the department that conducts your background check is never conductive towards getting a CCW. Exactly how did you make the Lower Merion Police look bad?
I hope you get your permit, cops on a power-trip are never fun to deal with.

Kharn

 

[andy28277]

Kharn.....

Hey Kharn,

Well, I didn't want to get to the point of making waves, but after a lawsuit in which Sheriff Durante has ignored numerous discovery requests over a four month period, I figured I'd rattle him a little if I can get people to email him. He is up for election in November. Nothing to lose at this point.

As for the Lower Merion Police, I appeared before the local District Justice for a speeding ticket a little ways back. I was told to wait outside and after 15 mintues of waiting, I was told I could enter, and there, sitting alone behind closed doors in the small courtroon, where the cop who gave me the ticket and the judge.

I told the judge, who was JUST appointed, that I was a life long resident of Lower Merion with no points on my record. I said I was not there to challenge the ticket but to see if I could get a reduction in points.

Now, when I was pulled over I asked the cop for leniency and he told me it was up to the judge. In court the judge told me it was up to the cop! They passed the buck and gave me no leniency.

Well, sitting alone behind closed doors before the hearing and passing th buck like they did is TOTALLY improper. I complained to the Presdient Judge in the County seat and the Judicial Review Board of the Pennylvania Supreme Court about the judge and to the township commissioners about the police.

It seems the Lwer Merion Police have always had this cosy, yet improper, relationship with the local judge.

I believe I was denied a CCW because the township commissioners put an end to the Lower Merion Police's unethical relationship with the judge. I think there may well have been tongue lashings and the police chief got egg on his face.

Well, what I know so far is That Sheriff Durante denied me a CCW because the Lower Merion Police told him I am a danger to the public - which is crap. Now, after a lawsuit and numerous discovery requests to find out why I am a danger to the public, the Sheriff STILL will not tell me why I am a danger to the public.

I’m not asking anyone to tell Sheriff Durante to give me a permit, as you do not know me. I am asking for your help in telling Sheriff Durante that he has a responsibility to his constituents to treat them fairly and in accordance with the law – that he should not deny them a firearm permit and then refuse to say why – after numerous discovery requests in a lawsuit.

You might also want to remind Sheriff Durante that he is up for election in November, and that the man he is running against had almost as many votes as he did in the primary.

As for Sheriff Durante getting upset about receiving a lot of emails – tough. He has denied me my rights and he can’t do anything to me that he has not already done, as we have reached the point of a lawsuit where Sheriff Durante is avoiding answering questions he has a duty to answer. Please keep your correspondence with Sheriff Durante polite, but firm and to the point. Sheriff Durante’s behavior is absolutely unacceptable, and this elected public official needs to hear from the public.

Thanks for your help! – Andrew Meyers

Sheriff Durante contact info:

Email: [email protected]

John P. Durante, Sheriff
Montgomery County Sheriff's Office
Court House, 1st Floor
P.O. Box 311 Norristown, PA 19404-0268
(610) 278-3331

 

[bethann]

Mine

Well, I called the Sheriff’s office and left a message for the Sheriff asking why he would deny a permit and then not explain why. I also sent this email:

Sheriff Durante,

I have been made aware of the fact that you have denied Andrew Meyers a CCW permit and that you will not explain why after several legal request in a lawsuit. I certainly hope you do not feel that you are above the law. Please tell Andrew Meyers exactly why you denied him. It certainly appears to me that you are taking advantage of this situation. Please prove me wrong and explain to Andrew Meyers why he is a danger to the public.

 

[buzz_knox]

Assuming PA law allows and the discovery period isn't over, send some requests for admissions, including a request that he admit the abused his discretion; that you are not a safety hazard nor is there information tending to indicate that you are; etc. If he ignores those, you've got the makings for a good motion for summary judgment.

Has he not done anything at all? Not even objected to your discovery requests?

 

[bethann]

Buzz...

The Sheriff's lawyer gave some basic objections to general questions and I granted them. However, the Sheriff did not answer my questions that asked how he determined I am a danger to the public.

I do know I passed the NICS background check. Under the law, the Sheriff can then only deny me if my community - community opinion - says I am a danger to the public. I already have ten members of my community who will tesify that I am of very good character. So far the Sheriff has not said he interviewed a single member of my community, and if he did, that does not worry me in the least.

I do have a discovery hearing Friday the 13th on a motion to compel. After that hearing I will let the Sheriff know he has ten days to fully answer or I will file a Praecipe for Default Judgment. If I don't get a default judgment I will go straight to trial. The trial can be heard in a week or so, but with a motion for summary judgment the judge has 3 months to respond.

For now, I just want answers. Sheriff Durante has yanked my crank long enough and I want answers.

Please, email Sheriff Durante and ask him why he won't answer Andrew Meyers' discovery and tell him why he was denied a CCW.

Sheriff Durante's email: [email protected]

 

[andy28277]

By the way...

Beth ann is my girlfriend. We are both busy fielding a ton of emails about this as we have posted about this on other boards and I responded by mistake with her login, while I also try and get some work done today for my real job.

The response has been great so far and I hope everyone emails Sheriff Durante. Again, I'm not asking to to tell Sheriff Durante to give me a permit, just to obey the law and be honest and ethical by answering my discovery and teeling me why I am a danger to the public.

Thanks! Andrew Meyers

 

[rperry03]

GEEZ!
Even I got a non-resident permit from PA. I went through Centre County through the mail. I knew to stay away from any departments close to Philly. I would continue to fight, but I think I would also apply for a NH for the time being, because I think it is good in PA also.

 

[andy28277]

rperry....

I already have a reciprical state CCW so I can carry legally in my home state, even though the Sheriff has denied me in my home state.

I'm doing this on principle. You are right. In the 3 PA county Philly area, the Sheriff's will decline you for the slightest reason so they can say to the soccer mom's come election time that they are declining all they can.

Still, that is no excuse to decline me and then not explain why in discovery requests.

 

[Mike Irwin]

Pennyslvania is a shall-issue state.

Unless you have something in your criminal history background, he's breaking the law.

Contact the NRA's Firearms Civil Rights Legal Defense Fund.

Also, take your story over to www.packing.org

I THINK they maintain a list of attorneys who will work on issues such as these.

 

[rperry03]

I'm doing this on principle. You are right. In the 3 PA county Philly area, the Sheriff's will decline you for the slightest reason so they can say to the soccer mom's come election time that they are declining all they can.

That is exactly why I would fight also. I may even apply for a NJ (the republic I used to live in) permit. I still have relatives up there and see what comes out of it and go from there.

 

[andy28277]

Keep those emails coming!

Hey everyone,

Thanks for your support. More than a few people have directly emailed me stating they are appalled at the heriff's behavior and that they have or they will be emailing Sheriff Durante.

Keep those emails coming on June 9,10,11,12 and 13. My hearing is the 13th and I want Sheriff Durante to hear from the people that it is not acceptable to deny sone a permit and not tell them exactly why they were denied - especially after numerous discovery requests in a lawsuit.

Sheriff Durante is just trying to drag this out - disregarding the Pennsylvania rules of civil procedure

Thanks! Andrew Meyers

Sheriff Durante's email: [email protected]

 

[Ian Sean]

Being a "shall issue" State, I would also notify the Attorney Generals Office and check on what procedure to follow as far as filing a formal complaint.

 

[gunsmith]

keep up the good work

I will call too!!!
let us know how it goes

 

[twoblink]

I have a very very stupid question..

Which part of "Shall Issue" is in question? The "Shall" or the "Issue"??

Get to word out, vote the jerk out of office.

Hey, care to run for Sheriff next Nov??

 

[Pendragon]

You should look into laws regarding equal protection, whistle blowing, corruption, conspiracy, official misconduct, etc.

If you can make a case that this is happening to you because you brought unethical conduct to light, you could make some pretty big waves.

The Sheriff does not have a case, he does not have witnesses, he does not have jack. He is just trying to obstruct abd delay you.

Look around, talk to some mean assault lawyers and see what you can come up with.

The problem you have is that in your fight right now, the good Sheriff has nothing to lose so he has no incentive to give in or play fair or do anything. The very best you can hope for is to walk away with what you should already have - even then, he has won be cause he has inflicted this ordeal on you.

You need to find away to put him at risk. Sue him for money, something where he stands to lose something - even if its just a little credibility in the public eye.

Find a sympathetic reporter to write a story on how you blew the whistle on the traffic cop situation and how now the law is trying to get back at you for being nothing worse than a regular Joe who saw something wrong and tried to fix it.

Stop playing on his terms.

 

[andy28277]

Thanks everybody!

Thanks for the support. I'm going to stop posting as I think the Sheriff has gotten the point in this round. No need to take an extreme measure too extremely! I will post down the road with lawsuit updates.