Pam Neely Can Put You in Jail
As some of you are likely aware, Berkeley County Prosecutor Pamela Games-Neely sent a letter to the legislature ranting in true Sarah Brady fashion about the lack of a law preventing lawful carry of firearms on college and university campuses. Her rant requested a ban of carry on all such institutions. Thanks to Delegate Larry Kump (a true believer in your Second Amendment rights) for bringing this to our attention.
Gun owners in the Panhandle had better be paying attention to this one. This truly matters to you. Law enforcement and prosecutors have, and constantly utilize a concept called "police discretion." Within this concept, they often can use their discretion, based on the totality of the circumstances, and decide whether or not to prosecute (within reason) in any given situation. Given that there are many gray areas surrounding firearms in West Virginia law (which the WVCDL has been trying to fix) this should be terrifying to you as a gun owner within her prosecutorial jurisdiction.
In case some of you haven't browsed over to
Larry Kump's site to read her ragingly anti-gun, anti-self defense diatribe, allow me to provide you with some real gems. Some of these beauties will be quite familiar to many of you, as you've seen them before in publications and commentary by such wonderfully liberty-loving folks like the Violence Policy Center or the Brady Campaign.
One of my favorites is this:
"What happens if that student, parent or other person suddenly becomes angry at the score, the roommate, the party, or even the call on the field?" This was in discussion of the presence of lawfully carried firearms at a sporting event.
I'd like to introduce Ms. Neely to a psychological concept called
"projection." It works like this. Ms. Neely apparently feels that if she were at a sporting event and became upset with the score, she might be likely to whip out a handgun and start shooting. Because Ms. Neely fears her own levels of self control, she's projecting that fear on to the rest of society. This is irrational. We can prove this easily. Because in the history of shall-issue carry permits in West Virginia, it has been legal to carry on college campuses statewide for the entire duration,
and not once has her sick fantasy ever happened. I hope Ms. Neely doesn't carry a gun. She scares me.
Another beauty:
"I can think of nothing worse than people attending an athletic event, living in a dorm, or sitting beside someone in a science class with a firearm strapped to their side or worse, concealed on their person."
For a prosecuting attorney, Ms. Neely sure seems removed from reality, and certainly is not very imaginative. You see, I can definitely think of things far worse which could, and do occur on college campuses nationwide. For example, being robbed, shot, stabbed, or raped on campus. Yet, somehow, Ms. Neely can't think of anything worse than sitting next to you at a football game. Have I mentioned that she's a prosecuting attorney? Surely..... I mean.... isn't it a near certainty that she's prosecuted people for far worse things than sitting next to you or I at a football game? There was an instance of male-on-male rape at West Virginia State University last year. As a student there, I sure didn't have to think very hard to come up with something a tiny bit worse than sitting next to any of you.
Now that we've clearly established Ms. Neely's irrationality, let's move on to why this matters to you. Ms. Neely can, and will prosecute you (She's proven this in the Beck case) for lawfully exercising your Second Amendment rights.
I can see only one course of action for those who live in, work in, or travel through Ms. Neely's prosecutorial jurisdiction (Berkeley County). This woman needs to be out of a job. She needs to be out of a job so you don't go to jail for lawful activity.
How do we accomplish this? How do you protect yourself from someone who fears they might shoot up a football game, and will prosecute you based on that fear? Put her out of a job. How do you do that? The first step is to show up at noon on Friday, November 18th, at the intersection of Church Street and Stephen Street in Martinsburg carrying a sign. Do not come alone. Bring everyone you know with you.
The WVCDL is asking a few things, however. Please do not bring long-arms. This protest is about the standard tool of every day self-defense, which is the handgun. Also, remember that the south side of that street is courthouse property. If you're carrying, concealed or open, please do not step a single foot on courthouse property. Lastly, please make sure all signs are non-profane and non-violent. Also, perhaps we could collect donation forms for VPC, The Brady Campaign, and maybe Nancy Pelosi's campaign and deliver them to Ms. Neely. Clearly, she could put them to better use than us.
I hope to see you there. I want this woman on the unemployment line where she can no longer harass and prosecute law-abiding citizens.
