Centurion
Regular Member
Saw this on MOC's website and thought it should be posted here. This makes sense to me as it is clear we cannot count on the NRA, ACLU, FBI, DOJ, AG. MSP or any other letter jumble to protect our civil rights.
http://forums.michiganopencarry.org/index.php/topic,1085.msg9595.html#msg9595
<snip w/link added L.B.P. story>
I have contributed to this fund and hope for the best (little hard to know the outcome when Judges rule based on feelings???). One thing I can say is this - If open carry is ever to be taken seriously it needs to bloody the nose of the anti-oc elements in government (L.Brooks Patterson) http://www.mlive.com/news/detroit/index.ssf/2010/08/l_brooks_patterson_slams_gun-t.htmletc... This case was brought because the corrupt officials in Lansing saw the "chink" in the OC movements armor, and that is lack of a general defense fund and the ability to defend against these frivolous legal [illegal] actions using our own tax dollars against us. They will throw away money without a care all while crying "poor mouth"!
Far too often OCers are singled out by corrupt departments and left to fight the entire legal system [with its unlimited resources] on their own. Most people cannot afford the tens of thousands of dollars it can take to fight a "trumped up" charge(s) and are left to "twist in the wind" so to speak by the OC community.
Let this be a warning to all who OC, you do so at your own risk! {please continue to carry, better to risk a bad LEO than a Bad guy encounter}. If you are targeted for whatever reason by a bad apple in law enforcement / city government you are on your own! There is no funding in place at this time, and as I see it, none planned in the coming future. So keep these thoughts in the back of your mind:
1. Can I afford the costs of a defense?
2. Can I afford the multiple days off from work a trial will bring and the loss of income; will I lose my job?
3. Am I ready for the months or even years, I could have my life turned upside down dealing with the legal[illegal] system?
It's a personal choice to OC, but without a dedicated group to stand LEGALLY/FINANCIALLY behind individual OCers we will never truly be safe! I hope this post gets you thinking about some of the risks, and if it does, take action. Ask our leaders to establish a General legal defense fund and donate to it. Why? Because one day you could be the "unlucky" OCer.
http://forums.michiganopencarry.org/index.php/topic,1085.msg9595.html#msg9595
<snip w/link added L.B.P. story>
I have contributed to this fund and hope for the best (little hard to know the outcome when Judges rule based on feelings???). One thing I can say is this - If open carry is ever to be taken seriously it needs to bloody the nose of the anti-oc elements in government (L.Brooks Patterson) http://www.mlive.com/news/detroit/index.ssf/2010/08/l_brooks_patterson_slams_gun-t.htmletc... This case was brought because the corrupt officials in Lansing saw the "chink" in the OC movements armor, and that is lack of a general defense fund and the ability to defend against these frivolous legal [illegal] actions using our own tax dollars against us. They will throw away money without a care all while crying "poor mouth"!
Far too often OCers are singled out by corrupt departments and left to fight the entire legal system [with its unlimited resources] on their own. Most people cannot afford the tens of thousands of dollars it can take to fight a "trumped up" charge(s) and are left to "twist in the wind" so to speak by the OC community.
Let this be a warning to all who OC, you do so at your own risk! {please continue to carry, better to risk a bad LEO than a Bad guy encounter}. If you are targeted for whatever reason by a bad apple in law enforcement / city government you are on your own! There is no funding in place at this time, and as I see it, none planned in the coming future. So keep these thoughts in the back of your mind:
1. Can I afford the costs of a defense?
2. Can I afford the multiple days off from work a trial will bring and the loss of income; will I lose my job?
3. Am I ready for the months or even years, I could have my life turned upside down dealing with the legal[illegal] system?
It's a personal choice to OC, but without a dedicated group to stand LEGALLY/FINANCIALLY behind individual OCers we will never truly be safe! I hope this post gets you thinking about some of the risks, and if it does, take action. Ask our leaders to establish a General legal defense fund and donate to it. Why? Because one day you could be the "unlucky" OCer.