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Tea Partier Carries AK-47 at Capitol in Austin
Posted: Thu Apr 15, 2010 4:52 pm
by Aggie_engr
I can't believe nobody found this yet. Where were the mountain of cops ready to pounce on this guy and haul him in?
I am guessing that the article implies this guy was at a tea party at the Capital? If so, right on brother!
There was plenty of flag waving and shouts opposing the federal government and health care at a lunchtime rally Thursday on the south steps of the Capitol in Austin. One woman held an anti-tax sign that said, "Even my God only asks for 10 percent." Others held flags showing a picture of a cannon and the slogan "Come and Take It."
Before any speakers addressed the rally, a man who identified himself as a former Baptist minister gave a fiery prayer that said the nation is under siege "by enemies abroad and domestic." Republican state representatives Leo Berman of Tyler and Wayne Christian of Center were also in the crowd.
One man at the rally, Jim Dillon, walked through the crowd carrying an AK-47 on his shoulder that he said was unloaded and legal. A state trooper stopped the man, examined the weapon and let him continue walking.
"Our rights are hanging by a thread already as it is," Dillon said, referencing the constitutional right to bear arms. "If we don't exercise our rights frequently, we'll lose them."
Linky:
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/hot ... 60788.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Re: Tea Partier Carries AK-47 at Event
Posted: Thu Apr 15, 2010 4:55 pm
by MadMonkey
I wonder why he was stopped... even if it was loaded, it would be legal
EDIT: Unless it's a city ordinance?
Re: Tea Partier Carries AK-47 at Event
Posted: Thu Apr 15, 2010 5:49 pm
by denwego
All I can say is that I wish he had carried a gun made in Texas, or at least in the US
Re: Tea Partier Carries AK-47 at Capitol in Austin
Posted: Thu Apr 15, 2010 6:27 pm
by rm9792
Can a city regulate loaded status? I know they can regulate discharge.
Re: Tea Partier Carries AK-47 at Capitol in Austin
Posted: Thu Apr 15, 2010 8:41 pm
by denwego
Pursuant to Local Government Code, ยง229.001, a municipality normally could not regulate the carrying of firearms to proclude them being loaded versus unloaded, etc.; legal under state law means legal everywhere. However! Subsection (b6) grants municipalities the ability to regulate or prohibit the carrying of firearms, other than concealed handguns carried under the authority of a CHL, at a very small list of places... and a "political rally" is one of those places. No doubt that was intended to keep the KKK and similar organizations from being armed as they met in public, but the Tea Party would certainly qualify nonetheless.
It doesn't prohibit it outright, just grants municipalities the power to regulate it if they so choose. Austin might have enacted a temporary order to prevent the carrying of loaded long arms just for this rally, but there's no permanent ordinance on the books for Austin in general. Citations for the win:
Code: Select all
229.001. Firearms; Explosives.
(a) A municipality may not adopt regulations relating to the transfer, private ownership, keep- ing, transportation, licensing, or registration of firearms, ammunition, or firearm supplies.
(b) Subsection (a) does not affect the author- ity a municipality has under another law to:
(1) require residents or public employees to be armed for personal or national defense, law enforcement, or another lawful purpose;
(2) regulate the discharge of firearms within the limits of the municipality;
(3) regulate the use of property, the location of a business, or uses at a business under the municipality's fire code, zoning ordinance, or land-use regulations as long as the code, ordi- nance, or regulations are not used to circumvent
the intent of Subsection (a) or Subdivision (5) of this subsection;
(4) regulate the use of firearms in the case of an insurrection, riot, or natural disaster if the municipality finds the regulations necessary to protect public health and safety;
(5) regulate the storage or transportation of explosives to protect public health and safety, except that 25 pounds or less of black powder for each private residence and 50 pounds or less of black powder for each retail dealer are not subject to regulation; or
(6) regulate the carrying of a firearm by a per- son other than a person licensed to carry a con- cealed handgun under Subchapter H, Chapter 411, Government Code, at a:
(A) public park;
(B) public meeting of a municipality, county, or other governmental body;
(C) political rally, parade, or official political meeting; or
(D) nonfirearms-related school, college, or professional athletic event.
(c) The exception provided by Subsection (b) (6) does not apply if the firearm is in or is carried to or from an area designated for use in a lawful hunting, fishing, or other sporting event and the firearm is of the type commonly used in the activity.
(d) The exception provided by subsection (b)(4) does not authorize the seizure or confiscation of any firearm or ammunition from an individual who is lawfully carrying or possessing the firearm or ammunition.
Re: Tea Partier Carries AK-47 at Event
Posted: Thu Apr 15, 2010 8:49 pm
by puma guy
Re: Tea Partier Carries AK-47 at Capitol in Austin
Posted: Thu Apr 15, 2010 9:33 pm
by Oldgringo
Alright! That's the image we want the world to see. We really want the media to report that some dude showed up with an "assault weapon". Right?
Folk, we're trying to win the "hearts and minds" of the populace, not convince them that the liberal anti-2A media is right about misdirected and illiterate gunowners.
Is it just me?
Re: Tea Partier Carries AK-47 at Capitol in Austin
Posted: Thu Apr 15, 2010 9:46 pm
by cougartex
Oldgringo wrote:Alright! That's the image we want the world to see. We really want the media to report that some dude showed up with an "assault weapon". Right?
Folk, we're trying to win the "hearts and minds" of the populace, not convince them that the liberal anti-2A media is right about misdirected and illiterate gunowners.
Is it just me?
100%
Re: Tea Partier Carries AK-47 at Capitol in Austin
Posted: Thu Apr 15, 2010 9:52 pm
by flb_78
Oldgringo wrote:Alright! That's the image we want the world to see. We really want the media to report that some dude showed up with an "assault weapon". Right?
Folk, we're trying to win the "hearts and minds" of the populace, not convince them that the liberal anti-2A media is right about misdirected and illiterate gunowners.
Is it just me?
The Tea Party is turning into a circus anyways and has lost it's original following I believe.
Re: Tea Partier Carries AK-47 at Capitol in Austin
Posted: Thu Apr 15, 2010 10:53 pm
by boomerang
Oldgringo wrote:Alright! That's the image we want the world to see. We really want the media to report that some dude showed up with an "assault weapon". Right?
You mean there was an "assault weapon" in a crowd and nobody died? Nobody even got hurt?
According to the hoplophobes that's impossible!
Re: Tea Partier Carries AK-47 at Capitol in Austin
Posted: Thu Apr 15, 2010 11:14 pm
by Bennies
flb_78 wrote:Oldgringo wrote:Alright! That's the image we want the world to see. We really want the media to report that some dude showed up with an "assault weapon". Right?
Folk, we're trying to win the "hearts and minds" of the populace, not convince them that the liberal anti-2A media is right about misdirected and illiterate gunowners.
Is it just me?
The Tea Party is turning into a circus anyways and has lost it's original following I believe.
After going to the one in Houston tonight i agree. It just didn't seem like the same type of grass roots event of the one last year i went to. I can't explain it but it was not the same.
Re: Tea Partier Carries AK-47 at Capitol in Austin
Posted: Fri Apr 16, 2010 6:25 am
by frazzled
Idiot. They should have tazed him for carrying while stupid.
Re: Tea Partier Carries AK-47 at Capitol in Austin
Posted: Fri Apr 16, 2010 6:37 am
by flb_78
frazzled wrote:Idiot. They should have tazed him for carrying while stupid.
He's an idiot and should be tazed for legally carrying a gun?
No wonder we keep losing our gun rights.
Re: Tea Partier Carries AK-47 at Capitol in Austin
Posted: Fri Apr 16, 2010 6:59 am
by Fire1141
While I agree that if we don't exercise our rights we could lose them. Aren't you exercising your rights while carrying concealed? With the added benefit of the pm news not showing a "bunch of gun lovers with ak's on their shoulders". I think if we were to have a get together while the majority is carrying concealed and no one gets shot " by the crazy gun people" that would go miles for our cause. Just my 2 cents
Re: Tea Partier Carries AK-47 at Capitol in Austin
Posted: Fri Apr 16, 2010 7:21 am
by mymojo
flb_78 wrote:frazzled wrote:Idiot. They should have tazed him for carrying while stupid.
He's an idiot and should be tazed for legally carrying a gun?
No wonder we keep losing our gun rights.
Yep, plenty of gun owners only care about *their* rights. Its that whole "hunting rifles and shotguns are OK, but handguns should be outlawed" thinking.
