OCTC President and Wife Arrested

[Keith B]

Kory Watkins, President of Open Carry Tarrant County and his wife were arrested on interference charges while participating in Cop Watchers videotaping of vehicle stops in Arlington. Looking at the video, I couldn't tell what Watkins was saying, but he could possibly be facing obstruction or retaliation charges, whcih is a felony, if he threatened the officers for arresting his wife. Either way, interference is a Class B misdemeanor so bye bye CHL. What a maroon.

[video][/video]

[The Annoyed Man]

This just goes to show that the agenda for a lot of these unstable firebrands is larger than just OC....... and unstable is exactly what they are.

[Texsquatch]

Oops, they must have forgotten to show the video where they were standing quietly. Talk about hot-heads, who screams at a police car as it's driving to a scene? Didn't look like his wife was about to get run over. Maybe if they weren't on scene they wouldn't have to worry about this kind of treatment.

[n5wd]

When the cops take away the video from the watchers, only the cops will have video.

[G.A. Heath]

I am reserving judgement until I know more, however let me make the following observations:

1. Cory Watkins is President of OCTC which did sue Arlington in federal court, and won. Some might claim this is retaliation for that.
2. Cory Watkins is a firebrand who's group broke away from OCT because OCTC was too radical.
3. The "Cop Watchers" have more video than they are posting, I would like to see more of the incident and the situation that led up to it.
4. Arlington Police Department has more video than they released, I would like to see more of it.
5. Something simply isn't adding up here, there is a lot more information available to both sides that neither is going public with. Maybe they are just being smart and are saving it for court or maybe there is something that one or both doesn't want to get out.

[drjoker]

Kory Watkins, President of Open Carry Tarrant County and his wife were arrested on interference charges while participating in Cop Watchers videotaping of vehicle stops in Arlington. Looking at the video, I couldn't tell what Watkins was saying, but he could possibly be facing obstruction or retaliation charges, whcih is a felony, if he threatened the officers for arresting his wife. Either way, interference is a Class B misdemeanor so bye bye CHL. What a maroon.

The "maroon" 's attorney did say that they were just minding their own business (Watkins) on a public sidewalk, complying with an officer's requests. Yes, the guy might be stupid, but that doesn't mean he couldn't contribute something meaningful to society. Cops are people just like me and you. Some are bad and some are good. If cops are watching you on traffic cams, DART cams, etc, to make sure you follow the law, who is watching the cops? There are wolves watching the sheep, but who watches the wolves?

During the 60's, my uncle was peacefully protesting for civil rights when a bad cop decided that it would be fun to bash his head in. He now drools and has to be spoon fed. This cop was still patrolling the streets until some years ago when he retired.

What if Kory Watkins had video of the Erik Scott incident showing cold blooded murder? what if he uploaded it to Youtube? Costco "lost" the video of the Erik Scott affair but what if that video was leaked to Pirate bay and thousands of netizens downloaded it on to their hard drive? Then, it would be impossible to cover it up. There would be a reckoning.

I would never be brave enough to do what Watkins did, but that's why we really need guys like him. He is a mouse who is willing to stand up to a wolf. You may call it stupid or "maroon" but you might be surprised to find yourself calling it brave.

EDIT: I did not notice the first time I watched the video that he was open carrying. I thought that he was just making videos. Never mind, that's really stupid. Officer @ traffic stop can't see what this joker is doing with a loaded weapon behind his back so additional officers had to be called in. Waste of taxpayer's resources!

[Keith B]

Kory Watkins, President of Open Carry Tarrant County and his wife were arrested on interference charges while participating in Cop Watchers videotaping of vehicle stops in Arlington. Looking at the video, I couldn't tell what Watkins was saying, but he could possibly be facing obstruction or retaliation charges, whcih is a felony, if he threatened the officers for arresting his wife. Either way, interference is a Class B misdemeanor so bye bye CHL. What a maroon.

The "maroon" 's attorney did say that they were just minding their own business (Watkins) on a public sidewalk, complying with an officer's requests. Yes, the guy might be stupid, but that doesn't mean he couldn't contribute something meaningful to society. Cops are people just like me and you. Some are bad and some are good. If cops are watching you on traffic cams, DART cams, etc, to make sure you follow the law, who is watching the cops? There are wolves watching the sheep, but who watches the wolves?

During the 60's, my uncle was peacefully protesting for civil rights when a bad cop decided that it would be fun to bash his head in. He now drools and has to be spoon fed. This cop was still patrolling the streets until some years ago when he retired.

What if Kory Watkins had video of the Erik Scott incident showing cold blooded murder? what if he uploaded it to Youtube? Costco "lost" the video of the Erik Scott affair but what if that video was leaked to Pirate bay and thousands of netizens downloaded it on to their hard drive? Then, it would be impossible to cover it up. There would be a reckoning.

I would never be brave enough to do what Watkins did, but that's why we really need guys like him. He is a mouse who is willing to stand up to a wolf. You may call it stupid or "maroon" but you might be surprised to find yourself calling it brave.

Sorry, I just don't agree with these commando tactics. They are the ones that have all of the anti's up in arms (pun intended) about open carry and have hurt our ability to get supporters from the legislature to support any open carry legislation this coming session. Credibility is vital when you are trying to fight and establish your rights, and this incident along with the photos of him and his wife open carrying an AK-47 and an SKS in Kroger does nothing but thrash that with those that are not gun people.

Bottom line, these stupid tactics are detrimental to him and his alleged cause and any credibility he may have in most peoples eyes. Just because something is legal doesn't mean it's the smart thing to do.

[jmra]

Bottom line, these stupid tactics are detrimental to him and his alleged cause and any credibility he may have in most peoples eyes. Just because something is legal doesn't mean it's the smart thing to do.

[Beiruty]

Regardless of bad tactics, is the arrest lawful?

[Keith B]

Regardless of bad tactics, is the arrest lawful?

That's to be found out if the prosecutor decides to continue on with the case. I am relatively sure the city attorney and prosecutor for Arlington will want to push it to court. He has been in battle with them on the literature handout (one that I do believe needed fought). It could be a case where they poked the bear one to many times and it decided to bite. They may have been well within their rights, but this arrest will be interesting to see how it plays out.

[gljjt]

Regardless of bad tactics, is the arrest lawful?

Based Kory's tactics, I'd say yes. If they would limit themselves to a couple of recorders, stay back a few feet and keep their mouths shut they would be OK. A large hostile group, surrounding the officers involved in a routine traffic stop, shouting comments and questions is interference.

I have no sympathy for this idiot.

[jmra]

I have no sympathy for this idiot.

[G.A. Heath]

In the end it really doesn't matter if the arrest was lawful or not, the antis have their anti-gun news piece to attack Open Carry specifically and gun rights in general. If you are going to be an advocate for something and your in a leadership position relating to it then you have to focus strictly on that subject. Allowing yourself to get sidetracked or try to combine it with something else has a great chance of damaging your efforts.

Lets look at OC leadership in Texas and see what is happening:

CJ Grisham (OCT): Convicted, and appealing his case relating to the arrest relating to the open carry of an AR15 (charge was relating to the interference with a police officers duties). OCed in Oklahoma in apparent violation of Oklahoma law, claims he may or may not have a license, the gun may or may not have been real.

Cory Watkins (OCTC): As noted above he was recently arrested for interfering with a traffic stop, he was open carrying a replica black powder revolver when arrested.

Murdoch Pizgatti (CATI): Not his legal name, operates under this alias for reasons known to himself and friends. Not much is known outside of the fact he is also a founder of DontComply.com and is in a leadership role there as well. Come And Take it as well as DontComply.com are closely linked. He has been arrested on weapons related charges, the validity and status/disposition of which is unknown at this time.

Pastor Terry Holcom (Texas Carry): Aside from a strong dislike (hate may be more like it) of the NRA and TSRA he appears to be the most reasonable choice for someone in a leadership role in the Open Carry movement. He was arrested at the capital in Austin, the charges were later dropped.

If you will notice there is a pattern regarding people in leadership positions within the OC movement, there are a few people I have not mentioned but you get the point. Leaders need to be above the arrests, they need to quit doing things that could get them arrested, and most importantly they need to lead from somewhere outside of a jail cell or court room.

[gljjt]

In the end it really doesn't matter if the arrest was lawful or not, the antis have their anti-gun news piece to attack Open Carry specifically and gun rights in general. If you are going to be an advocate for something and your in a leadership position relating to it then you have to focus strictly on that subject. Allowing yourself to get sidetracked or try to combine it with something else has a great chance of damaging your efforts.

Lets look at OC leadership in Texas and see what is happening:

CJ Grisham (OCT): Convicted, and appealing his case relating to the arrest relating to the open carry of an AR15 (charge was relating to the interference with a police officers duties). OCed in Oklahoma in apparent violation of Oklahoma law, claims he may or may not have a license, the gun may or may not have been real.

Cory Watkins (OCTC): As noted above he was recently arrested for interfering with a traffic stop, he was open carrying a replica black powder revolver when arrested.

Murdoch Pizgatti (CATI): Not his legal name, operates under this alias for reasons known to himself and friends. Not much is known outside of the fact he is also a founder of DontComply.com and is in a leadership role there as well. Come And Take it as well as DontComply.com are closely linked. He has been arrested on weapons related charges, the validity and status/disposition of which is unknown at this time.

Pastor Terry Holcom (Texas Carry): Aside from a strong dislike (hate may be more like it) of the NRA and TSRA he appears to be the most reasonable choice for someone in a leadership role in the Open Carry movement. He was arrested at the capital in Austin, the charges were later dropped.

If you will notice there is a pattern regarding people in leadership positions within the OC movement, there are a few people I have not mentioned but you get the point. Leaders need to be above the arrests, they need to quit doing things that could get them arrested, and most importantly they need to lead from somewhere outside of a jail cell or court room.

Or they need to get arrested/convicted of a felony and their ability to hurt the RKBA is extinguished. I think this is more about their narcissistic personality than their belief in the cause.

[Keith B]

Very well said Mr. Heath.