(TN) Tyranny Response Team vs the Knoxville Police Department

O

Oatka

New member
I think this is the "One Man Tyranny Response Team" from an earlier post. The address below takes you directly to the appropriate page.

"On May 20 the Knoxville, TN police department stopped my distribution of flyers protesting their gun "buy back". My attorney and I will appear, uninvited and unwelcome, at the Police Advisory Review Committee board meeting tomorrow evening. Much has happened in the interim.

On May 20th the KPD held a gun "buy-back event" in the parking lot of the Public Safety Building (KPD HQs) in Knoxville. I attempted to protest this event, and educate citizens preparing to give up their weapons, by passing out flyers. As you read the narrative of the events that followed you should keep in mind that I am 64 years old, overweight by thirty pounds and was alone at the "buy-back". That is correct - alone. The Tyranny Response Team was a team of one on that day. When you have finished reading, ask yourself just one question - why was the KPD so afraid of the actions of one solitary old fat man? Could it have been that they feared the truth?"

(You will find 4 links to the whole story - justice at it's finest - Oatka)

1. The flyer I attempted to distribute

2. My complaint to the Police Advisory Review Committee

3. The KPD response to my complaint

4. My attorney's letter to KPD and the Police Advisory Review Committee (This one contains some great arguments against city officials - Oatka)

http://www.regnav.com/ResistBuyBacksPage.htm

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The New World Order has a Third Reich odor.

[This message has been edited by Oatka (edited July 06, 2000).]
 
Good luck and keep fighting. I just graduated from UT and can attest to the fact that the KPD are not the most citizen concerned force. My run ins with them left me in complete awe. They have also been under extreme scrutiny from the public. A good guy that you should send copies of your complaint to is city councilman Danny Mayfield, he is the one responcible for the police review board. It is a sad day when buybacks hit Knoxville.
 
To the list:

"Looks as if Ed & Co could use a bit of a hand & if nothing else, I'm certain that the Knoxville PD would appreciate any & all input that you may have.
http://www.regnav.com/ResistBuyBacksPage.htm#complaint for some further info on Ed Williamson, Knoxville, Tennessee TRT member who attempted to pass out literature at a May 20, 2000 gun buy-back program. He was not allowed. See the link for further information & the continuing saga.

Contact information:

Police Advisory and Review Committee
City of Knoxville, Tennessee
attn: Carol Scott, Director
cscott@ci.knoxville.tn.us

AA/labgrade
Tyranny Response Team"
 
Right now Ed needs our moral support. I contacted him to make a donation for his legal fund but for now he said he did not need it.

He requested that we support him by applying pressure to the KPD and the review board.

Ed is a hero.

CMOS

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NRA? Good. Now join the GOA!

The NRA is our shield, the GOA will be our sword.
 
Thanks, gentlemen, for fleshing this out.

If nothing else, read #4 to see how the police abused their power. One infuriating point was that they kept expanding the so-called "safety-zone" to where Williamson was, THEN claimed he was violating that zone!

Granted this is just his side (which I do not doubt), but how about some input from the LEOs on this. What is your take on "some guy showing up and passing out flyers" at a police-run function? At what point does this citizen become become a safety hazard?

Here's the earlier post.
http://www.thefiringline.com:8080/forums/showthread.php?threadid=27090



[This message has been edited by Oatka (edited July 06, 2000).]
 
Say Ed, why did you even have to "abide by their instructions"? Is it the law of Knoxville that the PD can order around civilians? As your attorney stated the "chilling effect" is clearly at work. Keep up the good work. Your flier is excellent. Those gentlemen need to be more careful about the boundries of their powers.
 
Outstanding work! I would not change a thing you did, nor would would I suggest any changes but the following: If you can find help (Buzz has offered) see if you can get someone to videotape what goes on, especially with the authorities. It will disprove the bullpoop that's likely to be flung by our "civil servants". It may also discourage the local PD from actually taking such counter-Constitutional actions.

Upon reflection, it might be best if you could get TWO videographers, one to be by your side recording any encounters with the local constabulary, and one, not so obvious and at some distance to record what might happen to you and your close associate. This remote cameraman could record any confrontation that resulted in the confiscation or destruction of the "nearby" video tape, and bolt and escape after the appropriate footage is taped.

Again, you have my profound admiration. If 1% of the pro-RKBA'rs (including myself) had your courage and will to act peacefully, our cause could not fail.
 
Here's my letter:I am shocked to read that your police department has prevented a citizen from expressing his opinion peacefully by handing out a flyer at your gun buyback recently. You are exceeding your authority and your mandate, and it is a disgrace to your city and your uniforms. I shall expect you to come in for lots of scrutiny and possibly legal action if you consider this course. I will forward this incident to the Southeaster Legal Foundation, NRA's Office of General Cousel, ACLU's legal dept in Washington and Judicial Watch. Shame on you! Regretfully, (Sim Jr), Indianapolis, IN
 
The East Tennessee Element of the Tyranny Response Team has gone from one member to eight and we have prevailed! I'll have the details on my website sometime today. Your moral support has been important! Thank you!
 
patriot1.jpeg
 
fivetoes, Bob.

& BTW, at most all of the TRT events, there has been that "please move along" bit. At the Mom-Fest, there was set aside the "Designated First Amendment Area." The irony of such was lost on many. (& we stole the sign :cool: )

& although TRT started re local CO issues, it maybe that it's hardest stance & most successful will be re 1st & 4th issues ...

film at 11

[This message has been edited by labgrade (edited July 08, 2000).]
 
Cal Smith, co-founder of the Colorado Tyranny Response Team and host of the "TRT show" on the American Freedom Network will interview me live at noon today, Monday, about my confrontation with the Knoxville, Tennessee Police Department and their violation of my Constitutional rights.  As you may recall, I was distributing  flyers protesting the KPD's gun "buy back" on May 20th when I was ordered from the area under threat of arrest.

Mr. Smith's show can be heard on the 'net at: www.americanewsnet.com real audio.
 
I guess I can assume that the ACLU is up in arms (pun intended) about this obvious abuse of the first ammendment.

Oakta,
My take as an LEO is if someone shows up at a "police run function" and passes out fliers is okay. My question is why were they so worked up about it? Most states have a law such as "obstructing a peace officer in the performance of their duties". If this wasn't happening or he wasn't causing a danger (blocking traffic, etc.), I don't know what their reasoning was for stopping him.
 
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by mrat:
My take as an LEO is if someone shows up at a "police run function" and passes out fliers is okay. My question is why were they so worked up about it? Most states have a law such as "obstructing a peace officer in the performance of their duties". If this wasn't happening or he wasn't causing a danger (blocking traffic, etc.), I don't know what their reasoning was for stopping him.[/quote]

Mrat --

My take on this is that most people don't like to be shown that they are wrong, or doing something stupid. When this happens, people tend to react in very strange (and sometimes hostile) ways. As an LEO, i'm sure you understand this.

Seems to me that the KPD (for unknown reasons) didn't want to have someone there telling the people to keep their guns; it seems that the KPD took this as a 'personal assault' on them. As stated by Regnav, they didn't have a plan and as such their actions were small, somewhat stressed and 'ugly'.

Pretty predictable behaviour by the KPD (in hindsight) i'd say.



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~USP

"[Even if there would be] few tears shed if and when the Second Amendment is held to guarantee nothing more than the state National Guard, this would simply show that the Founders were right when they feared that some future generation might wish to abandon liberties that they considered essential, and so sought to protect those liberties in a Bill of Rights. We may tolerate the abridgement of property rights and the elimination of a right to bear arms; but we should not pretend that these are not reductions of rights." -- Justice Scalia 1998
 
USP45,
You are probably right. How I am viewing it was KPD was the one that was wrong for conducting this "buyback".
 
I was the "perp" (grin) in this instance and agree the police have the right to shield legitimate police operations from inteference. You gotta ask yourself, though, if Mike Hollaway, a gun show promoter who hires numbers of off-duty officers, and a crew from a local TV station could wonder freely through the area taking pictures and interviewing people, why I was a problem and they were not. The more I think on it and more I hear what other people say the more inclined I am so sue in federal court.
 
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