Temple
– The news hit Facebook like a thunderbolt. Gary Hays, an Army veteran who prays the next mass shooting will be at the Westboro
Baptist Church, said he was going, alone, on an armed hike through
downtown Temple, just he and his AR-15.
He
gave his route, from behind Temple Mall, across the overpass, thence
down city streets to circle the “courthouse,” the railroad
museum, the old police station, up the block past the new Martian
colony, the Library, and the Visitors Center, where he would wait for
his wife.
I'm
just letting y'all know that this afternoon I will be starting my
daily rolls through the streets of Temple with my AR15 solo. I have
my route planned out for my roll from my home behind Temple mall, to
the downtown area and make a few laps and return. I will be making
these daily rolls at different times of the day, taking different
routes to different parts of the city. These rolls will be
spontaneous exercises of my 2nd amendment to bear arms, and the Texas
open carry laws. I am hoping to do this unmolested as a free citizen
of Texas.
We
all waited with baited breath. Master Sergeant C.J. Grisham, whose case for an arrest during a similar jaunt in March is pending in CountyCourt-At-Law, advised Mr. Hays to carry the number of an on-calllegal aid service, just in case. (click here for a previous report)
Then
came word of the return to home base of the successful patrol, and an entire
community of gun rights activists heaved a sigh of relief.
I
made it there right around 6pm, had a lot of folks eyeballin' me when
I went past Temple mall and across the overpass of 36. I got downtown
with no problems, a few K9 units passed by slow looking at me but did
not stop. I rolled around the courthouse, veterans memorial, visitors
center and even the library. Then hot lapped the courthouse for about
45 min, went to the railroad museum by the old police station. A lot
of cops drive down that street to get to the new police station I
guess. A few drove by, but drove on. Went back and hot lapped the
courthouse again, did circle 8s in the visitors center parking lot
waiting for my wife to come get me. It was still pretty hot, I could
have stayed longer, but there are really not that many folks downtown
during that time I guess. I will be doing this again maybe tomorrow
morning, hopefully it will be a little cooler. I hope to find the
best times to go downtown where there will be more people walking
around. Probably during the week when the courthouse and businesses
are open. Anyway, it was a start. And I returned "unmolested"
The Temple Police were very professional in their work.
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| Click on the image for a larger view |
It's
all part of an open carry armed strategy proposed and promoted by
like-minded individuals – Don't Comply - Come and Take It America. Their motto: "The front line is everywhere." Apparently, there are no friendlies after dark and the need is now more than ever that those in positions of authority understand that constitutional rights to self defense are God-given, self evident, immutable and carved in stone.
The
loose-knit organization plans monthly open carry walks through cities
throughout the nation, events just like the dark-thirty stroll
through Belton on June 13, 2013, in which Mr. Hays and others carried
their AR-15 assault rifles through the streets – unmolested.
Click here to listen to an audio interview of Mr. Hays about why he thinks open carry is important:
https://soundcloud.com/jim-parks-2/armed-carry-by-wheelchair
Click here to listen to an audio interview of Mr. Hays about why he thinks open carry is important:
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