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Trial Over Gun at Obama Rally to Begin
July 14, 2009 -- By Bill Vidonic, Beaver County Times, Pa.
Jul. 14--BEAVER -- A trial over an issue that attracted national attention last year -- the right to bear arms -- is scheduled to begin this morning.
John A. Noble, 51, of Industry will stand trial before Beaver County Judge Harry Knafelc on counts of disorderly conduct and disrupting a public meeting. Jurors will be selected for the trial beginning this morning.
State police arrested Noble on Aug. 29 after he was seen wearing a gun near Beaver's Irvine Park, just before a presidential campaign rally there for then-Sens. Barack Obama and Joe Biden.
State police said Noble did not threaten anyone with the gun, a semiautomatic 9mm handgun, and it remained in his holster until it was confiscated as Noble stood at McIntosh Square, next to the rally at Irvine.
Noble also was carrying the gun legally, state police said; it was properly registered and did not violate the state's open-carry law, under which someone does not need a permit to carry a weapon in plain sight.
However, in charging Noble, state police said they believed he intended to cause a disruption at the rally, posting on a Web site several days earlier that he was taking his gun to the rally to "test what would happen."
The sight of him carrying a weapon "created a public alarm," according to a criminal complaint filed against Noble by state police trooper Shawn L. Schexnaildre.
Federal authorities said they would not charge Noble because he did not try to pass through metal detectors erected in Irvine Park to screen people attending the rally.
TRIGGERING DEBATE
Noble's arrest sparked a debate, with gun advocates saying that prosecutors were trampling on his right to bear arms, while others said he should not have taken the gun to the rally.
Noble said last year that he never intended to disrupt the rally, but that Obama's constitutional rights didn't trump his own.
Defense attorney Stephen Colafella would not comment on the case Monday afternoon. Testimony is expected to last about a day.
Bill Vidonic can be reached online at bvidonic@timesonline.com.
COURTHOUSE SECURITY
Beaver County Sheriff George David said there will be additional security on hand for the trial of John Noble, who is charged with disorderly conduct and disrupting a public meeting. Noble, of Industry, is accused of bringing a gun to an Aug. 29 presidential campaign rally in Beaver for then-Sens. Barack Obama and Joe Biden.
David said two deputies, along with a ranking officer, will be posted at the two entrances to the county courthouse.
Firearms are banned from the courthouse, David said. Anyone who has a weapon will be required to leave it in a gun locker at the entrances. Any visitors will also be required to pass through a metal detector. Both security measures have been in effect for several years.
Extra security will also be on hand inside Beaver County Judge Harry Knafelc's courtroom, David said.
http://www.industrial-lasers.com/display_news/132942376/39/pennwellils2/Trial_Over_Gun_at_Obama_Rally_to_Begin
Trial Over Gun at Obama Rally to Begin
July 14, 2009 -- By Bill Vidonic, Beaver County Times, Pa.
Jul. 14--BEAVER -- A trial over an issue that attracted national attention last year -- the right to bear arms -- is scheduled to begin this morning.
John A. Noble, 51, of Industry will stand trial before Beaver County Judge Harry Knafelc on counts of disorderly conduct and disrupting a public meeting. Jurors will be selected for the trial beginning this morning.
State police arrested Noble on Aug. 29 after he was seen wearing a gun near Beaver's Irvine Park, just before a presidential campaign rally there for then-Sens. Barack Obama and Joe Biden.
State police said Noble did not threaten anyone with the gun, a semiautomatic 9mm handgun, and it remained in his holster until it was confiscated as Noble stood at McIntosh Square, next to the rally at Irvine.
Noble also was carrying the gun legally, state police said; it was properly registered and did not violate the state's open-carry law, under which someone does not need a permit to carry a weapon in plain sight.
However, in charging Noble, state police said they believed he intended to cause a disruption at the rally, posting on a Web site several days earlier that he was taking his gun to the rally to "test what would happen."
The sight of him carrying a weapon "created a public alarm," according to a criminal complaint filed against Noble by state police trooper Shawn L. Schexnaildre.
Federal authorities said they would not charge Noble because he did not try to pass through metal detectors erected in Irvine Park to screen people attending the rally.
TRIGGERING DEBATE
Noble's arrest sparked a debate, with gun advocates saying that prosecutors were trampling on his right to bear arms, while others said he should not have taken the gun to the rally.
Noble said last year that he never intended to disrupt the rally, but that Obama's constitutional rights didn't trump his own.
Defense attorney Stephen Colafella would not comment on the case Monday afternoon. Testimony is expected to last about a day.
Bill Vidonic can be reached online at bvidonic@timesonline.com.
COURTHOUSE SECURITY
Beaver County Sheriff George David said there will be additional security on hand for the trial of John Noble, who is charged with disorderly conduct and disrupting a public meeting. Noble, of Industry, is accused of bringing a gun to an Aug. 29 presidential campaign rally in Beaver for then-Sens. Barack Obama and Joe Biden.
David said two deputies, along with a ranking officer, will be posted at the two entrances to the county courthouse.
Firearms are banned from the courthouse, David said. Anyone who has a weapon will be required to leave it in a gun locker at the entrances. Any visitors will also be required to pass through a metal detector. Both security measures have been in effect for several years.
Extra security will also be on hand inside Beaver County Judge Harry Knafelc's courtroom, David said.