We hope to be able to bring him home some time in July.
Posted on 03/29/2004 7:22:52 PM PST by mvpel
i really love your article im also a nh. ccw licence holder and i think its a bunch of bull that the police in manchester and portsmouth can harrass us like that good luck with your case keep us informed
I really want to thank you for the way you handled the situation and the response you made afterward. We need more people like you who are willing to stand up for their rights. Ideally, we would have teams of volunteers (some with guns, some with video cameras), making citizen "sting" operations with the object of stopping this type of violent abuse by sworn police officers.
Those officers violated their oath of office, and should be fired, IMHO. At the minimum, you should get legal fees and some valuta to teach them a valuable lesson.
Thanks again for the good work, don't dwell on the mildly negative aspects, you have every right to be both offended by the police conduct, and proud of your own.
The latest news is that I spoke with the Governor of New Hampshire, Craig Benson, on Thursday May 27, and his reaction to my tale of woe was "they're still doing that?!?" and having his aide jot down a note for the attorney general.
I also spoke with a reporter for the Nashua Telegraph while I was there, but haven't heard anything back from him yet.
Hopefully this will help brighten the spotlight on this situation and get the PD to respond.
A gunowners group is protesting the seizure of a legally armed citizen in a bookstore by two police officers who responded to an anonymous caller alarmed by the weapon.
Michael Pelletier was browsing a Manchester, N.H., Barnes & Noble with his wife March 27 when a police officer, assisted by a colleague, suddenly grabbed him by the right shoulder and his holster and pushed him toward the corner of a bookcase, says Gunowners of America.
The Manchester Police Department officers, Chris Byron and David DuPont, ordered Pelletier to place his hands on his head, which he did at once, the group said.
Pelletier was carrying a pistol openly at the small of his back, which became apparent after he took off his jacket.
The officers then disarmed Pelletier and escorted him out of the store. Background checks revealed no record, but officers and detectives issued a barrage of questions about why he carries a gun and what kind of training he had, the gun group said.
Pelletier received back his firearm then reloaded it and put it on his belt, under his shirt. He then went back to the store to complete his purchases.
The group said the police were responding to an anonymous complaint from someone "alarmed by the sight of a private citizen possessing a gun."
Pelletier's attorney has been prohibited from learning the caller's identity, citing emergency services regulations.
The gun group said: "The cops assaulted Pelletier based on this flawed complaint in spite of what their own eyes revealed to them -- a family man wearing his gun openly and legally, peaceably browsing in a store."
The police, however, claimed it was reasonable for someone to feel alarmed and threatened.
But the gun group said "the reckless behavior of the cops resulted in a violation of Pelletier's Fourth Amendment rights and defamed his character, making a spectacle out of him in public."
The police department has offered no explanation for the actions of the officers, Gunowners of America said.
An internal investigation is underway, but police have not disclosed to the public any details.
"We believe the reason for Mr. Pelletier's complaint being classified as an internal investigation is to allow the police to keep the 911 call and other pertinent information secret from Mr. Pelletier's attorney," the group says.
It notes that "as long as the investigation is categorized as 'internal,' the RSA 91-A Right to Know law is said not to apply.
"To challenge that determination and interpretation of the law would require Mr. Pelletier to file an expensive and time-consuming lawsuit," the gunowners say.
With a handgun. Long guns are not included in the prohibitions.
I don't know for sure how the law evolved, probably an anti "Negro" and "Mexican" measure, not intended to be applied to the white populace. As recently as the 1970s, the police would usually use their discretion and not arrest you for having a handgun, especially in your vehicle. Even "illegal" carry of a handgun is only a misdemeanor, under normal conditions In some areas they still will. Also there is defense to prosecution if you are "traveling", although the term is not defined in the law(by court interpretation it does not include traveling to and from work for example) It also wasn't unusual to see a rifle, either a 30-30 or a bolt action, in the rack of a pick-em up truck, even in the Dallas suburb of Plano where I lived at the time. I'm not completely clear on the law involved, but in many cities carrying a rifle about would be you arrested for "brandishing".
It seems to me that the whole point of carrying a concealed weapon is that it remain concealed. I know that if I'm carrying a weapon the last thing I want to see is people glancing at me with alarm and concern.
Have you heard the one about the old Texas Ranger and the young Texas Ranger?
The old Ranger was came up to the young Ranger carrying his 45 in his accustomed manner, cocked and locked and stuffed down the front of his pants.
The young Ranger, glancing at the pistol, was very uneasy and finally said, "That looks dangerous!"
The old Ranger replied, "Well, why do you think I carry the danged heavy old thing?"
The mob "protects" businesses. Bulls "serve" cows.
Anything happen on this lately?
Any further progress on this?
Next month, a letter from the Salem Police Chief apologizing to someone who was hassled for open carry, and stating that open carry is a recognized individual right, will be published in the GO-NH Firearms & Freedom newsletter, and we'll be making sure that this letter winds up in the hands of every police chief and sheriff in the state.
Same in Montana
We hope to be able to bring him home some time in July.
Dallas, I'm glad someone called her on that.
Congratulations!
July is looking good for you.
I live in NH and I’ve got my permit to conceal. I didn’t get that permit to open carry. That’s in invitation to for some above the law cop or uneducated/paranoid masshole to take away your rights. Sadly our constitutional rights aren’t what they should be. It’s only going to get worse with our new president. I carry everyday legally and I open carry often but not large public view.
Wow, way to revive an old thread there!
Do you have a marriage “permit” too?
If people are uneducated and paranoid, will hiding the fact that you’re not outsourcing the carrying of a defensive arm to the police somehow change that state of ignorance an paranoia?
We’ve been hiding our guns for decades, and look where that got us! How is continuing to hide going to defend or restore our constitutional rights?
And then, you get to sue him and his department, and if they're smart, they'll cut you a check for $10,000 like they did for a fellow down in Virginia, or in Louisiana, to settle the case.
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