Armed Protest Scheduled for Glendale, Az

"You can always claim you were merely looking for information about the subject and not really asking to check your gun in."

Or something different. Instead of carrying a gun, you can carry a sheathed fix-blade knife (say 5" or larger for theatrical effect) and tell the library dude you wish to check your weapon. He will say "We request that you leave it in your vehicle." You say, I would rather not have it stolen; I rode my bike; I rode my motorcycle; I took the bus.

I suggest carrying openly so that he does not have the right to demand you present your ID (CCW) as per ARS 13-3112. Your choice.

The cop comes and asks you what you wanna do. You ask him what the term of the checking policy are such as, "How far away will it be taken?" (all the way to downtown Glendale, 3 to 10 miles). "Will it be returned to me?" (No, you have to come to pick it up at the police property room). "Will the property room be open after my library visit?" (It will be open 24 hrs thanks to our pressure, a small victory). "Will the numbers be run?" (No. But a quadruplicate form will be filled out with your contract info and serial number...who really knows what they will do with it? They are aware of BATF tracking databases being used for defacto registration).

If you feel that you can afford to go through the checking procedure you can have him fill out the forms and take your knife or gun. I s'pose you could put it in a small, lockable pistol case. It could be already locked up when he gets there. It would be interesting to see if he wanted it opened up. Say "no" and see what happens. Throw them curves. It's the only way to see what the true policy parameters are.

Even if you decide not to have the gun checked and to leave the library, you could take the time it takes for him, or you to get back to your vehicle to evangelize him against the wastefulness of the policy.

I intend to do this until I speak to each of the 300+ officers (not all patrol, of course) on Glendale's force. I am up to eight officers so far, including the Chief and his Lt. and Sgt. I consider it my new hobby. I should be done in about a year. ;)

Ain't activism fun?

Rick
 
Here is my last post in this thread, and it is a doozy... A letter from a friend sent to all the Glendale officials and a whole slew of media. Ouch, this could leave a mark.

---------
Dear Ladies and Gentlemen of the Glendale City Government;

On Sunday, October 15, 2000, I was not merely inconvenienced, but insulted and embarrassed by city personnel, possibly at
your behest. If this sort of thing is of any concern to you, please read on.

While I was in Glendale primarily to visit local merchants, I also decided to stop by the local library. I'm a big reader. Some of
my favorite authors are hard to find, so I spend a lot of time in used book stores and libraries.

I am also a concealed-carry permit holder. Like Karl Maulden and his AmEx card, I "don't leave home without it." In today's
environment, that seems to me to be only common sense. And, thankfully, I live in a state that supports citizen's rights.

I was aware that I would need to check my sidearm. Okay, I'm aware that some people view THAT as reasonable and was
willing to comply.

When I got to the library door, there was a sign stating that I could not so much as enter the building with my arm. It said
that I should call the police department to summon an officer. I looked around. There is no phone there. There is no phone
anywhere close by. Except, of course, inside the library, which the sign said I could not enter. Catch-22?

I pondered whether the City of Glendale intended that I should stand in the open doorway and shout my request at the
librarian ("Hey! Call the police! I need to check my gun!"), but I felt this would be a terribly inelegant solution. Fortunately, I
was saved by a library employee, who happened to be returning from somewhere (lunch?) and had on his library badge.

I explained my dilemma to him, and he agreed to call for me when he went inside. Instead, a few minutes later, a more senior
librarian emerged, to see if I was really there, I guess, and really wanted to check a firearm, and if so, to give me a printout of
the Glendale policy, which suggested I "secure" my arm in my vehicle.

Since a locked vehicle is the only place I've ever, in 30-odd years of shooting, had a firearm stolen from, and since that is a
common way that firearms fall into criminal hands, I found the suggestion, frankly, inane. The arm is not "secure" there.
Given those facts, it might even be irresponsible on the part of people supposedly concerned with public safety to make
such a suggestion.

When I had convinced the librarian ( a nice guy, who thanked me for my demeanor - don't know what he was expecting
instead...) he went in and called the police for me. Seven or eight minutes later, about a quarter after 2p.m., an officer arrived.

Almost first thing, he told me that before we could talk, he was going to relieve of my sidearm, for his own safety. So that I
wouldn't "pull it out and shoot him." Yes, that is a direct quote. He assured me that he wasn't taking it anywhere. He assured
me that I was not under arrest. Under arrest? I should think not, as I had not broken any law.

Then I was ordered to "turn around. Put your hands on top of your head" while the uniformed officer approached me from
the rear and went through my pockets to retrieve my sidearm.

Did I mention that this was taking place just a few yards directly in front of the large, glass, double-doors of the Velma
Teague Branch of the Glendale Public Library?, in the heart of downtown Glendale?, in broad daylight?, "right out in front of
God and everybody?" Any passers-by on the street, anyone entering or leaving the library, anyone in the library who
happened to look out the doors, must have thought they were witnessing a "bust" in progress, and wondered what you'd
"got" me for.

In other words, even though I was merely exercising my rights and prerogatives under Arizona law and the Arizona
constitution, and doing so in a most peaceful and polite manner; even though I made a full and faithful effort to comply not
only with every nuance of the Arizona Revised Statutes, but with the City of Glendale's rather Clintonesque, "depends what
the meaning of 'is' is," interpretation of those statutes; even though I possess a weapons carry permit issued by the Arizona
Department of Public Safety after approved training and a background check conducted by the Federal Bureau of
Investigation, I was treated as, and made, publicly, to look like, a possible (probable?) criminal or lunatic.

So I could go to the library.

I did eventually, get in. I didn't find much by my favorite authors, but I did find a couple of smoking deals in the 'book sale'
section. And I found a transient in the restroom, standing at the sink with his pants and underwear down around his ankles,
mumbling to himself, and taking a bath. At least I hope that's what he was doing. I felt so secure, knowing that you had
disarmed him, too. Hadn't you? I wonder which library your kids go to.

So. I was asked a lot of questions before I got into the library. At one point I had three city employees (I wondered what that
was costing the city!). - two police officers and one librarian - standing around me filling out paper work: contact reports,
property receipt, and even a library incident report.

Now I'd like to ask you all a few questions, in return. First, is there anyone among you so jaded that you would be willing to
look me in the eye and tell me - with a straight face - that you honestly believe, down in your heart-of-hearts, that the City of
Glendale is complying with the letter, the spirit, and the intent of the Arizona Revised Statutes and the Arizona state
constitution? Heck, I might even pay to see that.

Second, is it really the position of the City of Glendale, as represented by you all, that citizens and visitors to your city must
be treated as criminal or crazy until proven otherwise? Do you support the notion that lawfully armed citizens are such a
imminent danger that they must be treated like a dangerous snake - defanged by seizure of their self-defense 'teeth' before
you can even talk to them?

And lastly, (do I hear a collective sigh of relief?) is it the City of Glendale's intent to harass, inconvenience, and embarrass
law-abiding gun owners to the point that they are intimidated out of exercising their legal rights as citizens of the state of
Arizona?

Enquiring minds want to know. Please respond.

Thank you for your time, and your prompt responses.

Sincerely,

Jeff XXXX
 
RickD,

It sounds to me like you are just being a total pain in the @$$ to the local police. You aren't going to do anything but make them mad and they're all going to complain to their bosses. Their bosses will complain to the Glendale City Government and... and... Oh... :)

Nice Job! :D Keep on being a PITA!
 
Rick,

You are doing a good thing. If I still lived down there, you can bet your sweet patootie that I'd be down at the library as often as I could until this was resolved.

Keep up the good work.

pax

"I believe there are more instances of the abridgement of the freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments of those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations." -- James Madison
 
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