Children of men

February 11, 7:55 AMGun Rights ExaminerDavid Codrea

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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.