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| Texas Militia Man on steps of the State Capital |
Despite
numerous published reports that insurance carriers have precluded
open carry of long guns at Belton's 164th
annual Fourth of July parade, Second Amendment activists say they
plan to mingle with the crowds – locked and loaded.
Members
of Open CarryTemple and Don't Comply.com, activist chapters who advocate openly
carrying rifles and shotguns in spite of a general police objection
to the practice due to the possibility that the public may become
alarmed as a result, plan to appear with their assault rifles and
shotguns loaded.
Said
Murdoch Pizgatti of Don't Comply, the chief organizer of the June 1st
open carry march at Temple in which hundreds of people circled the
Temple Police Department carrying their weapons, “We have reached
out to the re-enactors and the color guard and offered space for them
and their guns. I don't think they will bring guns, but we did offer.
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| Murdoch Pizgatti |
“We
will walk with our loaded guns around the area, as well as have some
tables set up at the police station.”
Chamber
of Commerce officials had at first approved a float with armed
members of Open Carry riding in the parade, followed by members under
arms marching.
But
when they got their annual insurance policy, they learned that the
insurance carrier had refused to insure the event if members of the
public plan to carry firearms openly. The Belton Chamber of Commerce
took back their approval for open carry, even by the color guard and
Civil War re-enactors.
Members
of the movement that supports open carry have made it their habit to
gather in the evenings and stroll through numerous towns in the
region since the June 1st
event at Temple. They have begun to make daily strolls through
Temple, Belton, Dallas, and Little Elm.
Though
there is no law against open carry of long guns, the Penal Code sets
forth a penalty under the disorderly conduct statute for doing so in
a rude or offensive manner.
Sgt.
Grisham's court case has been continued. At the open carry event on
June 1, he told a crowd that courtrooms are not the place to fight
for your rights. He said he advocates such activism at the side of
the road, in public.
While I am all for a persons right to their weapons, they made it clear it was done in response to the insurance, so people shouldn't be trying to make a scene... also, this parade is to honor on the 4th, not for someone to try to prove their political points....
ReplyDeleteAnonymous, the theme of this year's 4th of July parade is "Symbols of Freedom." Please name me ONE symbol of freedom more important than the firearm from a historical perspective. We wouldn't have the 4th of July without access to firearms.
ReplyDeleteOne more thing: we are NOT "the unorganized militia." We are a group of patriots and Texans dedicated to educating and increasing awareness of our Second Amendment rights in the State of Texas. We are waiting on our non-profit status.
ReplyDeleteArmed patriots are often referred to as the unorganized militia, as opposed to members of the National Guard, which is subject to mobilization by the federal government under Presidential orders, and State Defense Forces, which are organized under the auspices of the Governors, but are not subject to federal mobilization. That leaves those who keep and bear arms as members of an unorganized militia, and that is why I referred to your group in that way.
ReplyDeleteGot no more crawfish in me, hoss. G'day! - The Legendary