TexasCHLforum.com

OK! Today I got a response to the email I sent this morning. It is from the APD Public Information Office. The sent me a copy of their press release. Essentially they are saying that because of a series of crimes in the past at a single location, they are using the Public Nuisance statutes to take action. What they do not go into is that this is a new business not associated with past shows. In any case this is their official position.

They prepared a press release dated today. The wording is below but if you want you can open the PDF file I have attached to view the document with APD letterhead.


Public Information Office: (512) 974-5017 715 E. 8th St. Austin, Texas 78701
http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/police" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 19, 2010
Contact: Public Information Office, 974-5017
Gun Shows at 10601 North Lamar Boulevard
Federal Immigration, Customs, and Enforcement (ICE) agents worked
cooperatively with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives
(ATF) agents last year in a long-term operation targeting illegal gun trafficking that
was stemming from local gun shows. Austin Police Department Firearm Review
Unit detectives assisted in the Austin portion of the operation. They observed and
participated in multiple arrests of prohibited persons (primarily convicted felons
and illegal immigrants) that obtained firearms illegally at a local gun show.
Federal convictions were obtained in a majority of the cases.
Virtually all of these sales to prohibited persons were made by unlicensed dealers
or private citizens, both inside the gun show and in the parking lot of the gun
show. While the sale of firearms between private citizens is not illegal, the
anonymity of these sales in or around the event created an easy avenue for illegal
immigrants or convicted felons to acquire firearms. Because of this recurring
activity at a single location, the Firearm Review Unit referred the case over to the
APD Nuisance Abatement Unit.
Due to the history of criminal activity at the gun show, the Nuisance Abatement
Unit scheduled a meeting between the property lessee (HEB Grocery), the
building sub-lessee (Andrew Perkel a.k.a Austin Market Place), the event
promoter (Darwin Boedecker-Texas Gun Shows) and ATF. During this meeting,
APD along with ATF offered to all parties, recommendations to curb the illegal
activity that had been documented in the past. At the conclusion of the meeting
the lessee agreed that the recommendations should be followed and instructed
their sub-lessee to follow the recommendations. The sub-lessee then informed
the event promoter to implement the recommendations at the next show. The
recommendations that the lessee directed the sub-lessee and the event promoter
to follow were:
1. Only licensed gun dealers are allowed to sell firearms at the gun shows
2. The promoter will provide on-site security to prevent parking lot gun sales
Public Information Office: (512) 974-5017 715 E. 8th St. Austin, Texas 78701
http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/police" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
3. The promoter will define a process for people other than licensed dealers that
show up with a gun that they want to sell
There was an understanding that the January 16-17, 2010 gun show would follow
these recommendations.
Media Advisory: APD personnel will be available for an interview at 3:00 pm today
at the headquarters building. Please call PIO if you plan to attend.
###

After reading the accompaning topic regarding the coercive activity of APD and ATF regarding the Texas Gun Show this last weekend and listening to the youtup videos posted of the intervies with Darwin Boedeker, the owner of the show, I have written the following email to the APD internal affairs regarding this issue. I atached a photo of the leaflet, which has been removed from the gunshow website.

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As a law abiding citizen who believes in the Second Amendment to the U. S. Constitution and also the Texas Constitution, I ask " What is the legal justification for this?"

This last weekend at the Texas Gun Show at the North Austin Events Center (Formerly Crockett Center) the public was met with the sign which was posted at the show entrance which I have attached to this email.

In hearing from the owner of the Texas Gun Show, Mr. Darwin Boedeker, this sign and the new restriction were coerced onto the show by officers of the Austin Police Department and by a representative of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, in a meeting which took place on Thursday, 1-14-2010. This was only one day before the vendors at the show were to set up for business which was to begin on Saturday 1-17-2010.

The officers from APD were:
Sgt. Fleming
Det. Long
Det. Russell
Det. Vineyard (sp)

The representative from ATF was:
Daniel Jones

There is no Federal or State law which prevents the purchase of a firearm by a law abiding citizen from another law abiding citizen. If I am incorrect please point out the statute. The coercion of this legal private business owner is outrageous.

I am fully supportive of laws to keep firearms from the hands of felons and other illegal persons, but there is no justification for restricting law abiding citizens. If there is a case of illegal activity, I encourage APD to make the case in court as provided by law.

It is not in the power of APD or ATF to just make up the law as they go.

Please investigate the source of the directive that these APD officers contact and intimidate this private citizen in the operation of a legal business. This matter has the potential to cast a strong negative light on the Austin Police Department. I strongly urge you to take corrective action to prevent any abuse of authority.

Respectfully submitted,

Cwood
Austin, TX
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I strongly urge each of you to contact APD, your Austin city council members, your state legislature, the governor, any new media persons who might be receptive to this issue. LET'S GET INVOLVED IN THIS MATTER AND SUPPORT MR. BODEDKER AND OURSELVES IN THIS ATTEMPT TO USURP OUR LIBERTIES.