Open Carry at Independence Hall

FOACPAC · May 15, 2011

[video=youtube;KK8aWFr20_U]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KK8aWFr20_U[/video]

This was the climax of a successful open carry rally today in Philadelphia. All of us were treated with professionalism and respect by the PPD and the Park Rangers.

It was truly a pleasure to stand in front of the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall and exercise the second amendment openly.

MKEgal · May 15, 2011

Dayum! Talk about being part of history...
"exercising our 2A rights where the 2A was signed!"
That would be so majorly cool.
Even better if, someday, our rights are completely restored & we could go into the historic buildings armed like our ancestors did.

2 thoughts:
1) This video is obviously doctored. You've removed all the screaming people running in terror.

2) Do all marches/protests get that well-protected & served by the various LEOs? :shocker:
They did seem reasonably well-behaved, if a bit too prone to congregate in large numbers.

Was there any media coverage?

MtnJanet · May 15, 2011

Kudos to those who walked the walk!
The march was a great response to official oppression!
Hope we may be able to make the next one!

lprgcFrank · May 15, 2011

MKEgal said:
2) Do all marches/protests get that well-protected & served by the various LEOs? :shocker:
They did seem reasonably well-behaved, if a bit too prone to congregate in large numbers.

At the beginning it was 1to1 LEO to protestor. The PPD had a photographer and a videographer following us. Once we wrapped up the photo at Independence hall, the PPD escort took off. We walked from 5th st all the way back to City Hall (just under a mile) without any escort or issues.

since9 · May 15, 2011

I think showing up in larger numbers like this says loads, particularly you're all wearing different styles of clothing. In the minds of many LEO's one person OCing raises suspicion. Twenty, however, not so much, as it's obviously a demonstration.

Did you have to get a permit for the demonstration? Many cities require permits for demonstrations/marches, usually based on whether or not the size exceeds a certain limit.

MKEgal · May 15, 2011

since9 said:
Did you have to get a permit for the demonstration? Many cities require permits for demonstrations/marches, usually based on whether or not the size exceeds a certain limit.

That's an interesting topic...
Do tour groups have to get parade permits, or demonstration permits? They're usually large numbers.
Why should a group of friends, who have agreed to go for a walk together, need a permit to tour downtown?
Yes, I know this was set up as a protest but again, why should that need a permit?
So a group of friends agrees to go for a walk, and intends to talk about certain topics and events during that walk.
That makes it something the gov't can or should control?

Notifying the PD about the walk made it harder for them to attack you, claim you were doing something illegal or threatening. But we shouldn't need to notify any gov't official when we plan to peacefully exercise our rights.

At the beginning it was 1to1 LEO to protestor. The PPD had a photographer and a videographer following us.

Sounds intimidating.
Hope they weren't, you know, trying to coerce people into not exercising their right to assemble,
to travel,
to speak,
to associate,
to bear arms,
to petition the gov't for redress of grievances...

bill gray · May 16, 2011

I was there

kneeling, second from the right w/ blue jacket and black hat. The Phila Police with us were with the Civil Affairs Unit (red armbands identify them) They were VERY good and served to keep the local (uninformed) district police from getting involved. Long article in today's Philadelphia Inquirer about how the mistreatment of an open carrier led to this march. Headline: "Carrier of a legal gun was also armed with a digital recorder." Search it and read it if you are interested.

MKEgal said:
Dayum! Talk about being part of history...
"exercising our 2A rights where the 2A was signed!"
That would be so majorly cool.
Even better if, someday, our rights are completely restored & we could go into the historic buildings armed like our ancestors did.

2 thoughts:
1) This video is obviously doctored. You've removed all the screaming people running in terror.

2) Do all marches/protests get that well-protected & served by the various LEOs? :shocker:
They did seem reasonably well-behaved, if a bit too prone to congregate in large numbers.

Was there any media coverage?

Statkowski · May 16, 2011

Google "AP Mark Fiorino" and you'll see this story has gone nationwide.

paramedic70002 · May 22, 2011

Nice!

I read a news story today that quoted some Philly cop. Basically OCers can expect to be proned out while the LEOs figure out if you're legal. Sadly, there was no comment section for that article so I could get my two cents in.

Do these morons (and yes I mean that) realize that scat don't fly in much of the rest of America?

Jonesy · May 23, 2011

This is interesting, Virginia went through this process of educating the police about 25 years ago, now they all know that not only is oc legal but that they have no pc to detain us just for carrying. Of course in Philly, you need a license to oc, so I guess the best you can hope for is that the police will ask you for your license when they see you, w/out drawing weapons.

I have been ocing for about 3 years now, and have NEVER been stopped or questioned by the police. I wish we could get all of the US to that point. But you guys are making good progress, keep it up!

protias · May 23, 2011

Jonesy said:
This is interesting, Virginia went through this process of educating the police about 25 years ago, now they all know that not only is oc legal but that they have no pc to detain us just for carrying. Of course in Philly, you need a license to oc, so I guess the best you can hope for is that the police will ask you for your license when they see you, w/out drawing weapons.

I have been ocing for about 3 years now, and have NEVER been stopped or questioned by the police. I wish we could get all of the US to that point. But you guys are making good progress, keep it up!

You can OC without a permit in PA.

GenkiSudo · May 23, 2011

protias said:
You can OC without a permit in PA.

But not Philly proper. I think that was the point he was getting at.

protias · May 23, 2011

GenkiSudo said:
But not Philly proper. I think that was the point he was getting at.

Regardless if you have a permit to carry concealed or choose to open carry, the police are going to harass you either way.

Keep fighting the good fight Pennsylvanians!

GenkiSudo · May 23, 2011

Exactly.

This has brought a lot of positive attention. I don't frequent these boards often and when I do it's in regards to Utah but this made it over to another Utah gun forum I frequent. I'm just thankful Utah is one of the 'best' states for people who carry CC or OC.

A bit of a surprise considering you'd think that the birthplace of our Constitution is worse off than Utah of all places. Keep up the good fight folks and stay smart with how you go about it!

c45man · May 23, 2011

FOACPAC said:
[video=youtube;KK8aWFr20_U]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KK8aWFr20_U[/video]

This was the climax of a successful open carry rally today in Philadelphia. All of us were treated with professionalism and respect by the PPD and the Park Rangers.

It was truly a pleasure to stand in front of the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall and exercise the second amendment openly.

Were you able to walk into the liberty bell pavilion or inside Independence Hall?

Dreamer · May 23, 2011

I hope you folks got the names and badge numbers of all the uniformed PPD officers who attended this event, and are planning to file formal complaints with the City regarding the fact that they ALL violated policy by NOT enforcing Directive 137 and detaining you ALL and checking to be sure you ALL had carry permits.

Blatant 14th Amendment violation there, the way I see it.

Either they enforce this directive or they don't. There is NO room for "officer discretion" in that directive, and by not checking all these marchers, they are committing a HUGE "equal protection" violation.

Apparently, the presence of video cameras and media somehow exempt the PPD from enforcing their own policies and procedures. :banghead:

lprgcFrank · May 24, 2011

c45man said:
Were you able to walk into the liberty bell pavilion or inside Independence Hall?

No - the buildings are federal buildings and firearms are prohibited. When we talked to the Park Police they were clearly up and current on the changes in the firearms laws that in PA permit open or concealed carry in federal parks - but not in federal buildings. The buildings are also clearly marked as firearms being prohibited. When we walked down 6th st to Chestnut we passed an open side door that was marked firearms prohibited - there were a couple comments that here we're legal and 3 feet over there we're committing a felony.....

Open Carry at Independence Hall

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MKEgal

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since9

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