Michigan Police Become Educated on Open Carry

Gun Watch ^ | 12 August, 2013 | Dean Weingarten

[marktwain]

 Open carriers in Arizona protesting politicization of the IRS


On August 2nd, 2008, five years ago, Christopher Fetters was illegally arrested for exercising his Constitutional rights during the Coast Guard festival in New Haven, Michigan.  Parts of the original article are still available on  The High Road.  Fetters was legally carrying his holstered Glock when he was disarmed, arrested, and had his pistol confiscated.

When the city attorney read the law, he realized that the City had made a mistake.  The charges were dropped and the pistol returned.    Mr. Fetters filed a Federal lawsuit against New Haven for civil rights violations.  The lawsuit resulted in a cash settlement for Mr. Fetters in 2010, along with an agreement to educate their officers about the legality of open carry, and that open carry is not probable cause for a stop.

In 2009, a similar situation occurred to Mr. Haman, in Warren, Michigan.  Another lawsuit resulted in  a $5,000 settlement for Mr. Haman, and training for Warren police officers.

In 2012, an 18 year old man exercised his constitutional rights by open carrying his birthday present, a rifle, slung over his shoulder in Birmingham, MI.  He was arrested and his rifle confiscated.  He was found not guilty in a jury trial.   He and fellow open carriers then exercised their rights in Birmingham, MI, with Mr. Combs triumphantly carrying his rifle.  

A civil suit has been filed against Birmingham.  Mr. Combs defense cost several thousand dollars, and the city refuses to admit to any wrongdoing.

In New Haven, in 2013, the police now cooperate with people exercising their Constitutional rights.   While the police requested that an open carry demonstration remain at city hall, they no longer have any doubt that open carry is legal.

Respect for Second Amendment rights has grown in Michigan, as noted by DrTodd at opencarry.org :

Yes, things have changed for the better and I can honestly say in my 8 or so years of OCing in West Michigan, real problems have become almost non-existent. Like I said earlier, I've OC'd in Grand Haven for many years, usually 6-8x a year, and have had no problems. However, just a few months ago I did have an Ottawa County Deputy get a little agitated regarding me OCing in a gas station convenience store in Hudsonville... that though is another issue.

 It may be years before we hear the result to Sean Combs civil rights lawsuit against the City of Birmingham, but it is clear that  the number of people exercising their right to keep and bear arms in Michigan is growing, and that police attitudes are changing as they are being educated.

 ©2013 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice is included.

Link to Gun Watch

[marktwain]

Michigan is a clear success story for those struggling to restore the Second Amendment.

[cripplecreek]

Open carry, its educational.



Michigan legislative action thread

[JRandomFreeper]

They should find a less confrontational way of exersizing their rights... like not exersizing them... /s

/johnny

[cripplecreek]

We should also be thankful for guys like Rick Ector who is leading the open carry fight in the heart of the Detroit beast and doing it largely on his own.(Legally armed in Detroit)

[marktwain]

People exercising their rights have found that it is very handy to have a recorder/camera running when they are exercising.

Some find those cameras or recorders to be “provocative”. My observation is that cameras and recorders seem to make everyone more polite, kind of like an armed society.

[marktwain]

Rick is a patriot.

[Darteaus94025]

"...police attitudes are changing as they are being educated."

And that education results in a valuable thing: RESPECT.

[cripplecreek]

I absolutely love the fact that we can open carry in the state capitol.

[JRandomFreeper]

Some folks find EVERYTHING provocative. That's why I make fun of them. ;)

/johnny

[JRandomFreeper]

We're working on that in Texas. It bites that we don't have legal open carry.

/johnny

[marktwain]

You are a fun guy.

[cripplecreek]

Ector confronts a Detroit Sharpton wannabe and two hostile hosts with all of them attempting to shout him down.

http://www.myfoxdetroit.com/story/22835675/let-it-rip-weekend-zimmerman-verdict-and-stand-your-ground-laws

[shove_it]

There’s a new Detroit Cop TV series premiering on AMC @ 10pm tonight called “Low Winter Sun”. Maybe open carry will be addressed but it’s doubtful.

[cripplecreek]

It should be interesting to see how Hollywood treats Detroit.

Ever notice in Robocop, pretty much everybody is white?

[ComputerGuy]

At the heart of the Zimmerman trial is Florida's stand your ground law...

Sorry, folks. SYG was not an issue in the Zimmerman trial.

[marktwain]

“Sorry, folks. SYG was not an issue in the Zimmerman trial.”

I think Rick Ector tries to make that point in the video clip, but he is just shouted down by everyone else. It is bizzare how the agitator next to him simply lies through his teeth about the entire case, and the “host” simply supports him.

Deranged.

[shove_it]

Here’s a teaser vid of Low Winter Sun. It’s another of those mumbling, whispering of the lines, that require constant adjusting of the volume type shows that aggravates the snot out of me ...

http://www.amctv.com/low-winter-sun/videos/sneak-peek-low-winter-sun

[cripplecreek]

Definitely checking it out. Lennie James is a great actor and very likely a real shock to any locals who encounter him. (He’s British)

[cripplecreek]

Looks like we won’t be seeing Morgan on the Walking dead for a while. Lennie James is playing a Detroit cop in Low Winter Sun premiering tonight on AMC.

[CatherineofAragon]

Shoot....I was hoping he might turn up in the next season.

Maybe at some point the LWS character will be killed off, LOL. But no, I can’t wish unemployment on the dude if he has a regular role.