Dom
Regular Member
imported post
Ah the first Tuesday in November, a great day to honor our cherished rights. I received a mail in ballot a couple of weeks ago but since my son is 16 and will vote in the next election I decided to take him along.
I also decided to OC.
My polling place is a church, St Paul Presbyterian at 18901 E. Hampden. It all started normally, nodding to people outside, smiling, a happy occasion for everyone. I entered the building and started filling out the required voting form, when the election judge asked if I had identification. From his tone, I knew what was coming. I handed him my driver's license and he asked if I was a police officer. I responded, "No". I could see he immediately went into panic mode. He asked me the traditional, "Why are you wearing a gun?". I responded, "It's my right under the 2nd Ammendment, it's not illegal". He immediately got on the cell He said, "You need to step outside, you can't bring a gun into a federal polling place, you can be arrested."
I politely complied with his request. He repeated that I could be arrested, to which I repeated it's not illegal. He said I would have to lock the gun up in my car or take it home and come back. I said ok, but it's not illegal, and I wanted his name when I came back. I immediately went to the car and locked up the Beretta.
In the parking lot a poll watcher came up to me and asked if I was allowed to vote. I said, "No, but they're going to let me back in if I lock up my sidearm. In order to exercise my voting rights I have to surrender my 2nd Ammendment rights." She wasn't very interested as long as they were letting me vote.
Mr. Election Judge was off to the side talking on the phone, and another official asked me to wait. My son and I stood there for 15 minutes waiting while he was on the phone. I took the time to peruse the posted "Election Offenses" posters, asked my son (loudly) to see if he saw anything about firearms on the poster. Finally they let me vote, and Mr. Election Judge avoided eye contact with me. I filled out my ballot (provisional since I had a mail-in ballot).
I then asked Mr. Election Judge for his name. He said no, then asked why I wanted it. I said I'm going to file a complaint, give me your name. He refused, and said I could just report the precinct.
As my son and I exited, I saw at least 5 Aurora police officers. Two were standing off to the side, there was a motorcycle cop, and at least 2 more cruisers. The 2 standing off to the side called me over and I complied. They asked if I was armed, which I responded no, my firearm is locked in my vehicle. They played good cop bad cop, and the bad cop asked me why I was wearing a firearm. I responded that is my right. He said, "I didn't ask if it was your right, it's not too smart". I said it's not illegal. He repeated that it wasn't too smart and why don't I get a concealed permit. I said I have a permit, but there is nothing illegal about open carry. He asked if I always carry concealed (obviously not), or always openly, or open and concealed sometimes. I said I carry open and concealed depending on what I feel like.
Good cop then asked me what car I was driving, and I pointed it out. He was cordial, seemed amused as I was, and said they need to watch me leave, because Mr. Election Judge is afraid I'll come back in and shoot somebody (I don't think I held in a chuckle). I said ok and since it sounded like a dismissal I wished them a good evening. I briefly talked to the poll watcher who made sure I actually did vote, and left the scene.
So, my next step is a formal complaint to the Arapahoe County Elections Department. What a great day in exercising our rights!
Ah the first Tuesday in November, a great day to honor our cherished rights. I received a mail in ballot a couple of weeks ago but since my son is 16 and will vote in the next election I decided to take him along.
I also decided to OC.
My polling place is a church, St Paul Presbyterian at 18901 E. Hampden. It all started normally, nodding to people outside, smiling, a happy occasion for everyone. I entered the building and started filling out the required voting form, when the election judge asked if I had identification. From his tone, I knew what was coming. I handed him my driver's license and he asked if I was a police officer. I responded, "No". I could see he immediately went into panic mode. He asked me the traditional, "Why are you wearing a gun?". I responded, "It's my right under the 2nd Ammendment, it's not illegal". He immediately got on the cell He said, "You need to step outside, you can't bring a gun into a federal polling place, you can be arrested."
I politely complied with his request. He repeated that I could be arrested, to which I repeated it's not illegal. He said I would have to lock the gun up in my car or take it home and come back. I said ok, but it's not illegal, and I wanted his name when I came back. I immediately went to the car and locked up the Beretta.
In the parking lot a poll watcher came up to me and asked if I was allowed to vote. I said, "No, but they're going to let me back in if I lock up my sidearm. In order to exercise my voting rights I have to surrender my 2nd Ammendment rights." She wasn't very interested as long as they were letting me vote.
Mr. Election Judge was off to the side talking on the phone, and another official asked me to wait. My son and I stood there for 15 minutes waiting while he was on the phone. I took the time to peruse the posted "Election Offenses" posters, asked my son (loudly) to see if he saw anything about firearms on the poster. Finally they let me vote, and Mr. Election Judge avoided eye contact with me. I filled out my ballot (provisional since I had a mail-in ballot).
I then asked Mr. Election Judge for his name. He said no, then asked why I wanted it. I said I'm going to file a complaint, give me your name. He refused, and said I could just report the precinct.
As my son and I exited, I saw at least 5 Aurora police officers. Two were standing off to the side, there was a motorcycle cop, and at least 2 more cruisers. The 2 standing off to the side called me over and I complied. They asked if I was armed, which I responded no, my firearm is locked in my vehicle. They played good cop bad cop, and the bad cop asked me why I was wearing a firearm. I responded that is my right. He said, "I didn't ask if it was your right, it's not too smart". I said it's not illegal. He repeated that it wasn't too smart and why don't I get a concealed permit. I said I have a permit, but there is nothing illegal about open carry. He asked if I always carry concealed (obviously not), or always openly, or open and concealed sometimes. I said I carry open and concealed depending on what I feel like.
Good cop then asked me what car I was driving, and I pointed it out. He was cordial, seemed amused as I was, and said they need to watch me leave, because Mr. Election Judge is afraid I'll come back in and shoot somebody (I don't think I held in a chuckle). I said ok and since it sounded like a dismissal I wished them a good evening. I briefly talked to the poll watcher who made sure I actually did vote, and left the scene.
So, my next step is a formal complaint to the Arapahoe County Elections Department. What a great day in exercising our rights!
