The Western Oregon Journal headline was alarming enough:
Mid-morning arrest startles students...Individual brings weapons on campus in violation of state law
My goodness. Did authorities just stop a proto-Cho before he could unleash psychotic mayhem?
Well, uh, no.
It turns out student and United States Marine Corps veteran Jeffrey Maxwell, who fit the description of someone committing the heinous crime of loitering on campus, was sitting at a study table, and:
although Maxwell did have a loaded firearm on his person, he did not use it in a threatening way and was cooperative with the police.
Maxwell had a valid permit for possessing concealed weapons...
Oh, but that doesn't matter, maintained campus police:
"Even if you have a concealed weapons permit, you can't have a weapon concealed on your person if you're going to be in any buildings on campus."
...Western firearm and munition policies are administrative and correspond to Oregon University System policies, which are not necessarily the same as state regulations.
"We go one step further and say, look, no weapons are allowed on campus, period"...
Oh, a "gun free zone." Where haven't we seen that work out for the best?
Still, the thing is, hysterical student newspaper headlines notwithstanding, violating administrative policy is not a crime.
Furthermore, Oregon Firearms Federation tells us, Maxwell "is statutorily exempt." As the facts of the case bear out:
The WOU student who was falsely arrested and charged with possession of a firearm in a public building, had all his criminal charges dropped by the Polk County DA tonight.
End of story, right?
Well, uh, no. The gunhaters must have their pound of flesh. A college tribunal, consisting of "four unnamed students and one staff member of WOU" bent to the will of "prosecutor" Patrick Moser, Acting Coordinator of Campus Judicial Affairs.
Maxwell's request for a public "trial" was denied. The students sitting in judgment couldn't specify a charge. The fact that they lacked legal authority was deemed "not relevant."
The tribunal that tried Marine veteran Jeffery Maxwell laughed after suspending him from Western Oregon University and sentencing him to:
a "psychological evaluation stating he is not a threat to himself of others" and
a mandatory "ten page paper" " with references, "citing, but not limited to:
1) the importance of following the law, even through civil disobedience.
2) the importance of accepting responsibility for one's actions
3) and recognizing the impact possession of weapons on college campuses has on others."
Children sitting in judgment of a man. Their sentence: Prove you're sane for the crime of having the means to defend yourself. Prepare and sign a forced confession.
There's the type of society I want to live in.
Still, I could have fun with that paper. We all can.
How would you address the three required points?
Maybe I'll compile that into a 10-page paper, and send it in to Prosecutor Moser and his little Jugendgericht.
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Anti-gun land bill
From Gun Owners of America:
Lost in all the news of the massive bailout bill that just passed the Senate is another enormous bill, one that increases federal control of public and private land.
Of particular concern to gun owners is that the bill, S. 22, will greatly expand the amount of land controlled by the National Park Service. NPS land is currently subject to a gun ban.
While President Bush took steps in the waning days of his presidency to reverse the ban, the new regulations apply to persons who carry a concealed firearm with a permit. Non-permit holders and open carry are not explicitly addressed.
Click here to learn more, and to take action to oppose this bill.
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Dangerous ID
That's what Gun Owners of Nevada is calling "Real ID."
Click here to find out why, and what you can do about it.
Check out the latest from other Gun Rights Examiners: Austin: Children safest population group around guns (Part 2) Charlotte: Phony gun groups, Part 2: ‘Americans for Gun Safety’ Cleveland: Ohioans For Concealed Carry presents 2009 goals
DC: DC taxpayers will pay for City Council’s gun ban redux Denver: Blind justice Los Angeles: Virginia Tech again: when will they learn? Milwaukee: Time to change our attitude about guns Minneapolis: The folly across the river St. Louis: You, too, can be a 'terrorist'
Comments
Here's as rough outline for that ten page paper:
1) the importance of following the law, even through civil disobedience.
Natural Law
The Natural Law of Self Defense
Enumeration of Some Natural Rights in the Bill of Rights
WOU's infringement of the Natural Law of Self Defense
2) the importance of accepting responsibility for one's actions
Acceptable and Unacceptable Actions
The Eye is in the Beholder?
Self Evident Truths
WOU's Tribunal and its Actions
3) and recognizing the impact possession of weapons on college campuses has
on others."
The Impact of Possession of Weapons on Criminals
The Impact of Possession of Weapons on School Administrations
The Impact of Possession of Weapons on Kangaroo Courts
The Impact of Possession of Weapons on Potential Crime Victims
The Impact of Possession of Weapons on Unarmed Crime Victims in Need of Assistance
This story reminds me of a story I read in the book "Citizen Soldiers" By Stephen Ambrose. The story takes place right after WWII ended at the oriention of a incoming class of "freshman" at some University. Most of the students were soldiers who fought in the war and had just gotten back home from theater and were using the GI Bill to go to school. Up on stage was a nerdy Junior who was explaining to the veterans that since they were freshman, they would have to wear a special brightly colored bini hat. In the middle of his instructions, a former Marine Sergeant stands up and yells "I'll be godd***ed if I'm gonna wear that." And that was the end of that.
Wow! Tell me that Jeffrey Maxwell is not going to comply with that monkey court discipline? I'd love to hear more about this.
I wonder if there is a case for slander. Against the students and the school. Let these little monkeys try and get any kind of credit and or jobs with a pending lawsuit on their credit rating. This is the avenue that needs to be addressed. Hows that for a pound of flesh from them?
Like a previous poster, please tell me Mr. Maxwell is going to tell them where to shove their little "sentence."
Alternatively, I have no doubt that in ten pages, Mr. Maxwell, or many of us, could effectively and thoroughly dismantle the gunhater's positions.
He was, of course, not in violation of any law. That makes point No. 1 moot.
Secondly, I have no doubt that he accepted full responsibility for his actions; in fact, his actions harmed no one and, in the unfortunate event that the sh** might indeed hit the fan, could well save himself or others. That is the very definition of taking responsibility for oneself; indeed, that is what carrying a pistol for defense is all about.
And that pretty much ends No. 3 as well. Carrying a weapon on campus has no impact on other students, except potentially saving their sorry a**es in the event the defication strikes the oscillator.
Perhaps the local star chamber should be careful what they wish for . . .
"Children sitting in judgment of a man" ... how true.
The Oregon Firearms Federation has posted an alert to their members including the e:mail of the 'prosecutor'.
oregonfirearms.org/alertspage/02.10.09%20alert.html
Let's see how I do here.
1) the importance of following the law, even through civil disobedience.
Hey, following legitimate law is a good idea. Governments of all kinds should consider trying it out for a change. (Change we can believe in, canna getta AY-men?)
Also, we all understand that civil disobedience is a symptom, not a problem, right? Government pretends to respect individual rights, and people pretend to respect illegitimate law.
2) the importance of accepting responsibility for one's actions
Okay, then, what to do for the act of treason (attempting to suspend a specifically protected liberty of a US citizen)? I always thought the short-sword was a pretty honorable answer to that.
3) and recognizing the impact possession of weapons on college campuses has
on others."
It's part of life. Has been since the first human picked up a rock to defend himself against a larger attacker. WHERE is of no consequence. Attempts to prevent the practice are pointless; their only effect is to serve up the weak to the strong. (See point on treason, above.)
I suppose that it does cause a certain degree of reactionary PSH for some people, but hey, they're not my pants.
That clear enough?
Now Kevin, that wouldn't begin to fill 10 pages, even double spaced. :)
Why don't we all take a crack at writing something meaningful on this? My only problem would be keeping it to 10 pages!
ML, I am honored. Mostly because I am rarely accused of brevity. :-)
I would love to write the ten page paper--citing Brandeis about what happens when the government breaks the law; citing the role firearms have in accepting personal responsibility, given the Courts have ruled the police have no duty to protect one, and citing how one shot could have stopped Chou in the section on the impact of firearms on others. All with appropriate citations from scholarly works and Supreme Court rulings. Heh. Heh.
Of course, the psychologist would love me too, as I videotaped the interview--the tape to be sent to the licensing board for psychologists.
I believe the exchange had I been there would have gone something like this.
Vernon: You're not fooling anyone, Bender. The next screw that falls out is going to be you.
Bender: Eat my shorts.
Vernon: What was that?
Bender: Eat. My. Shorts.
Vernon: You just bought yourself another Saturday.
Bender: Ugh, I'm crushed.
Vernon: You just bought one more right there.
Bender: Well, I'm free the Saturday after that. Beyond that, I'm gonna have to check my calendar.
Vernon: Good. Because its going to be filled. We'll keep going. Want another one? Say the word. Just say the word. Instead of going to prison you'll come here. Are you through?
Bender: No.
Vernon: I'm doing society a favor.
Bender: So?
Vernon: Thats another one right now. I've got you the rest of your natural born life if you don't watch your step! You want another one?
Bender: Yes.
Vernon: You got it! Right there, thats another one pal.
Claire: Cut it out!
Vernon: You through?
Bender: Not even close, BUD.
Vernon: Good. You got one more, right there.
Bender: You really think I give a $hit?
Vernon: Another. You through?
Bender: How many is that?
Brian: Thats seven including when you asked Mr.Vernon here if Barry Manilow knew that he raided his closet.
Vernon: Now its eight.You stay out of this.
Brian: Excuse me, sir, its seven.
Vernon: Shut up, Peewee. You're mine, Bender.For two months, I've gotcha.
Bender: What can I say? I'm THRILLED.
I had already cut/pasted part of the 10 page paper before I saw your comment.
A quick comment on #1:
1) the importance of following the law, even through civil disobedience.
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Yes, we must follow the law.
You remember that law from the 19th century about slavery being legal and slaves being only 3/5 a man. Shame on the North for not recognizing and upholding that law. And in the 20th century on another continent, Jews were not human, and had their property legally seized and then those Jews were gassed and thrown on ovens because laws allowed it.
Yes, all people everywhere must always obey man's laws, for there is no higher power than man and his law.
---
A college tribunal, consisting of "four unnamed students and one staff member..."
---
I say the majority of these 5 people will be women who feel something. I won't make my usual Vagisil comment.
Time to file charges. I'm 100% serious.
US Code Title 18 241
§ 241. Conspiracy against rights
If two or more persons conspire to injure, oppress, threaten, or intimidate any person in any State, Territory, Commonwealth, Possession, or District in the free exercise or enjoyment of any right or privilege secured to him by the Constitution or laws of the United States, or because of his having so exercised the same; or
If two or more persons go in disguise on the highway, or on the premises of another, with intent to prevent or hinder his free exercise or enjoyment of any right or privilege so secured—
They shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than ten years, or both; and if death results from the acts committed in violation of this section or if such acts include kidnapping or an attempt to kidnap, aggravated sexual abuse or an attempt to commit aggravated sexual abuse, or an attempt to kill, they shall be fined under this title or imprisoned for any term of years or for life, or both, or may be sentenced to death.
Universities have ceded from the nation, what's next.
We all know institutions of "higher learning" are rife with socialists, but this is too much. A Stalin-esque show trial. And the kicker is these weenies attempting to school a United States Marine on "the importance of following the law," "the importance of accepting responsibility for one's actions," and "recognizing the impact [of]possession of weapons." What bulls***.
Check that. Not a Stalin-esque show trial. A "star chamber." Apologies.
Michelle: Universitites have always considered themselves above the law (check the Vietnam War era), but they used to exercize this arrogted power to promote freedom. Alas, no more.
I'm with Dock. The only paper they receive should be stamped with their trial date.
To the governor of OR.
Dear Governor;
Concerning the Maxwell verses Western Oregon University gun travesty, I suggest you pardon Mr. Maxwell, immediately, of any wrong doing at the University and offer to pay him for the rest of his schooling this year.
Your State College and University system bases most if not all their gun policy on OAR 580-22-045.
This OAR clearly states that guns, including concealed carry, are allowed when lawful. Most of the State’s Colleges and Universities refer to the OAR when detailing their firearms policy. However, they misread or disregard the “contravention of law” clause. Therefore, they generate a policy to ban all guns all the time in their follow-on policy and procedures.
The news of Mr. Maxwell and WOU has already hit the national blog’s and will soon hit the national news media. Your State will look like a fool to over 80% of the population in the State and 70% of the population in the USA.
Do you want this embarressment? If not, Pardon Maxwell!
Respectfully;
Check that. Not a Stalin-esque show trial. A "star chamber." Apologies.
Mr. Maxwell should tell the student tribunal to take their silly little sentence and stuff it where the sun don't shine. I'm sure there are other universities in Oregon that would like to have his tuition money.
Those idiots who have decided he violated a law have their university policies confused with real state law. It appears Mr. Maxwell violated no law whatsoever, just a cockamamie policy of the university.
These people who have decided their silly-ass policies preempt state law just because they say so need a reality check.
Mr. Maxwell is owed an apology from the university and the poor misguided children who were coerced into sitting on his "disciplinary hearing" board need several hours of Constitutional law and Oregon state law taught by someone who actually knows what the law says and means.
What they really need is some jail time and huge fines on top of a large settlement paid to Mr. Maxwell.
These people are criminals.
"Children sitting in judgment of a man. Their sentence: Prove you're sane for the crime of having the means to defend yourself. Prepare and sign a forced confession."
What was the "Red Guard?" Thank you, Alex, I'll take "Social Disapproval" for $500.
"The answer is: It results in a martinet being sticky and fluffy at the same time."
Mister Maxwell was, in fact, falsely arrested and charged. Even though the charges were dropped, he has the right and responsibility to teach the university a lesson - by suing them for millions!
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