Update on the event posted in http://www.thefiringline.com:8080/forums/showthread.php?threadid=26068
http://www.bouldernews.com/news/local/09lgun.html
Anti-gun activist sued in scuffle
By Pam Regensberg, Camera Staff Writer
Shariar Ghalam and Robert B. Howell stand on opposite sides of the gun debate.
Ghalam, 36, of Longmont packs a concealed 9mm semiautomatic pistol.
Howell, 55, of Superior is vice president of the Boulder County chapter of the Bell Campaign, a gun control group made up primarily of gun violence victims.
The two men were issued summonses March 21 after fists flew at a gathering of pro-gun and anti-gun forces at the University of Colorado's Macky Auditorium. The mostly peaceful groups had gathered for a visit by National Rifle Association President Charlton Heston.
CU police ordered Ghalam and Howell, bloodied and bruised, to leave campus after the tussle.
The two men will square off again, but this time in court.
Ghalam filed a lawsuit Wednesday seeking damages from Howell, who Ghalam claims called him a "dirty Arab" and slugged him in the face. The lawsuit seeks an unspecified amount of money for assault, battery and outrageous conduct.
Ghalam's attorney, Tom W. Lamm of Louisville, said he is mounting a vigorous defense, "exposing Mr. Howell's hypocrisy."
"He claims to be peace-loving, etc. etc.," Lamm said. "My client is enormously angered that he got hooked in the nose for exercising his freedom of speech."
According to a CU police report, Howell said Ghalam pushed a bullhorn near his face while chanting pro-gun rhetoric.
Howell told police that when he pushed the bullhorn away, Ghalam hit him.
Ghalam, who was carrying a loaded 9mm handgun at the time, said a man went up to him and told him to go elsewhere to protest. Ghalam refused and said he was exercising his rights. Howell then put his face close to the bullhorn and pushed it into Ghalam's face, Ghalam reportedly told police.
Lamm said there is some television news footage that will back up Ghalam's claims.
"It's emotionally charged, but people should not go punching people in the nose," Lamm said.
Howell could not be reached for comment. But a friend of Howell's says Ghalam's charges are outrageous.
"Mr. Howell is a gentle soul....This is totally not within his nature," said Sam Cole, president of the local Bell Campaign.
Cole, who also was protesting, said Howell was demonstrating peacefully while Ghalam was "intimidating and provoking people by going up to them with a bullhorn screaming things. He was aggressive. Frankly, he scared me."
Cole said the situation is unfortunate, considering the nonprofit group's intentions.
"This is not what the organization is all about," he said. "We're working to make our communities safer from guns. Guns turns things violent."
Contact Pam Regensberg at (303) 473-1329 or regensbergp@thedailycamera.com.
June 9, 2000
Copyright 2000 The Daily Camera.
http://www.bouldernews.com/news/local/09lgun.html
Anti-gun activist sued in scuffle
By Pam Regensberg, Camera Staff Writer
Shariar Ghalam and Robert B. Howell stand on opposite sides of the gun debate.
Ghalam, 36, of Longmont packs a concealed 9mm semiautomatic pistol.
Howell, 55, of Superior is vice president of the Boulder County chapter of the Bell Campaign, a gun control group made up primarily of gun violence victims.
The two men were issued summonses March 21 after fists flew at a gathering of pro-gun and anti-gun forces at the University of Colorado's Macky Auditorium. The mostly peaceful groups had gathered for a visit by National Rifle Association President Charlton Heston.
CU police ordered Ghalam and Howell, bloodied and bruised, to leave campus after the tussle.
The two men will square off again, but this time in court.
Ghalam filed a lawsuit Wednesday seeking damages from Howell, who Ghalam claims called him a "dirty Arab" and slugged him in the face. The lawsuit seeks an unspecified amount of money for assault, battery and outrageous conduct.
Ghalam's attorney, Tom W. Lamm of Louisville, said he is mounting a vigorous defense, "exposing Mr. Howell's hypocrisy."
"He claims to be peace-loving, etc. etc.," Lamm said. "My client is enormously angered that he got hooked in the nose for exercising his freedom of speech."
According to a CU police report, Howell said Ghalam pushed a bullhorn near his face while chanting pro-gun rhetoric.
Howell told police that when he pushed the bullhorn away, Ghalam hit him.
Ghalam, who was carrying a loaded 9mm handgun at the time, said a man went up to him and told him to go elsewhere to protest. Ghalam refused and said he was exercising his rights. Howell then put his face close to the bullhorn and pushed it into Ghalam's face, Ghalam reportedly told police.
Lamm said there is some television news footage that will back up Ghalam's claims.
"It's emotionally charged, but people should not go punching people in the nose," Lamm said.
Howell could not be reached for comment. But a friend of Howell's says Ghalam's charges are outrageous.
"Mr. Howell is a gentle soul....This is totally not within his nature," said Sam Cole, president of the local Bell Campaign.
Cole, who also was protesting, said Howell was demonstrating peacefully while Ghalam was "intimidating and provoking people by going up to them with a bullhorn screaming things. He was aggressive. Frankly, he scared me."
Cole said the situation is unfortunate, considering the nonprofit group's intentions.
"This is not what the organization is all about," he said. "We're working to make our communities safer from guns. Guns turns things violent."
Contact Pam Regensberg at (303) 473-1329 or regensbergp@thedailycamera.com.
June 9, 2000
Copyright 2000 The Daily Camera.
