Author Topic: LEOs keep stealing pro-2A signs  (Read 14571 times)

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Offline gryphon

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LEOs keep stealing pro-2A signs
« on: September 24, 2013, 10:08:09 AM »
Turns out it's on the blaze, too:
http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2013/09/23/fed-up-ny-man-sets-up-hidden-camera-to-find-out-who-was-repeatedly-stealing-his-pro-gun-sign-what-he-discovered-blew-him-away/

This is blowing up online!

It's a long thread in NY but its shocking.  This guy puts a small sign up about repealing the NY Safe Act and they keep getting stolen.  Then he thinks maybe it's issues with the laws of putting a sign up, but all is good there and he's allowed.

He makes the sign harder to steal and they keep going missing.  Finally he sets up a Trail Camera and makes it harder to steal the signs.  Turns out to be a total shocker to everyone following when its the local police department pulling up and destroying them.

Thread is here
http://www.nyfirearms.com/forums/laws-politics/60634-so-remember-my-repeal-safe-act-sign-issue.html

You gotta be logged in to see the photos but here are the incriminating ones.



You can see him kick over the sign here:







Offline gryphon

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Offline jgillmanjr

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Re: LEOs keep stealing pro-2A signs
« Reply #2 on: September 24, 2013, 01:05:00 PM »
I like the idea of rigging it so a flare goes off if it gets tampered with, but that's just me...
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Offline bigt8261

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Re: LEOs keep stealing pro-2A signs
« Reply #3 on: September 24, 2013, 01:58:34 PM »
I like the idea of rigging it so a flare goes off if it gets tampered with, but that's just me...

That's just asking to be charged with a crime.

Make the sign and post metal, attach a cable to it, and then bury the cable. Cop picks up the sign, starts walking back to his car, then *twang*. Flood lights go on, sirens sound, vid goes on Youtube.

Offline gryphon

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Re: LEOs keep stealing pro-2A signs
« Reply #4 on: September 24, 2013, 02:17:17 PM »
Many sites are picking this up now. Somers PD has been called by many organizations and they won't comment.

The code (170-127) gives only the Building Inspector removal authority, subject to and only after an order from the town board. The building inspector gave the homeowner permission to post the sign.

It does not appear the police have arbitrary code enforcement authority.

The guy has an attorney working on this. He has received many media requests for a statement or appearances, and they have decided the benefits outweigh the minuses, so they are going to make public statements about this and it sounds like they are going to proceed along a legal front against the police.

SCOPE is sending this guy out new signs free of charge.

http://www.scopeny.org/somersNY.html

Offline jgillmanjr

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Re: LEOs keep stealing pro-2A signs
« Reply #5 on: September 24, 2013, 03:23:40 PM »
That's just asking to be charged with a crime.

Make the sign and post metal, attach a cable to it, and then bury the cable. Cop picks up the sign, starts walking back to his car, then *twang*. Flood lights go on, sirens sound, vid goes on Youtube.

Eh, yeah, might not be the most legal. But then again, from a philosophical standpoint, I never had issue with potential injury coming to someone who initiated a rights violation.
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Offline gryphon

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Re: LEOs keep stealing pro-2A signs
« Reply #6 on: September 24, 2013, 04:00:20 PM »
From NYF:

I believe the Supreme Court has ruled that local ordinances are trumped by political signs in this case: City of Ladue v. Gilleo, 512 U.S. 43 (1994), was a free speech decision of the Supreme Court of the United States. It was a case challenging the legality of a city ordinance restricting the placement of signs in the yards of residents of Ladue, MO. The Court ruled in favor of Gilleo. The ordinance violates a Ladue resident's right to free speech. The law's ban on nearly all residential signs eliminates an entire form of expression of political, religious or personal messages, for which there is no equivalent substitute.

There are other signs in other yards on the street placed just like his. The police are only removing his signs. In fact, there is a series of hi-res pictures where the LEO has a big, sh*t-eating grin as he uses his boot to break the wooden sign and put it in his car.

So far they have taken four of his signs, one each Monday. Now that this has been reported to the media, the police are now cruising his street for some odd reason.  In fact, they are doing u-turns in front of his house to make sure they know he sees them.

Intimidation?  JBT?

It seems like the police there believe only the police should have firearms and high-capacity magazines, etc.

The homeowner was just interviewed on 930 AM in NY. He has another interview at 4:00 on 1300 AM.
« Last Edit: September 24, 2013, 04:51:38 PM by gryphon »

Offline Jeff

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Re: LEOs keep stealing pro-2A signs
« Reply #7 on: September 24, 2013, 05:51:40 PM »
Heh, park a vehicle there with a sign inside and see if they have the stones to bust out the window :D

Offline gryphon

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Re: LEOs keep stealing pro-2A signs
« Reply #8 on: September 24, 2013, 06:17:06 PM »
Can't do that.  They actually have a law against having signs on vehicles.  I read that earlier today.

Offline Jeff

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Re: LEOs keep stealing pro-2A signs
« Reply #9 on: September 24, 2013, 07:17:29 PM »
Can't do that.  They actually have a law against having signs on vehicles.  I read that earlier today.

 :( You sir have just shattered my world.

...What about claymores then?  ???

Offline gryphon

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Re: LEOs keep stealing pro-2A signs
« Reply #10 on: September 24, 2013, 08:07:05 PM »
My guess is there are no local ordinances against claymores. 

Offline gryphon

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Re: LEOs keep stealing pro-2A signs
« Reply #11 on: September 24, 2013, 08:10:57 PM »
From NYF:

Saw the Somers fire inspector at the deli and he told me every town office is aware of what happened and the phones won't stop ringing! He says its not looking pretty for the officer.

http://www.nyfirearms.com/forums/laws-politics/60634-so-remember-my-repeal-safe-act-sign-issue-42.html#post608734

Attorney on the case says they already have additional evidence and they will be skipping the state and pursuing a federal lawsuit.

Homeowner was interviewed by TV News 12 in Westchester.  It will be on the 10 PM news.

Live TV 12 News feed: http://westchester.news12.com/news/news-12-westchester-live-1.3924903

Offline Jeff

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Re: LEOs keep stealing pro-2A signs
« Reply #12 on: September 24, 2013, 08:21:55 PM »
Nice, thanks for the update.

Offline bigt8261

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Re: LEOs keep stealing pro-2A signs
« Reply #13 on: September 24, 2013, 08:48:02 PM »
Nice, thanks for the update.

+1 Keep us updated gryphon. Great work.

Offline gryphon

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Re: LEOs keep stealing pro-2A signs
« Reply #14 on: September 24, 2013, 08:58:35 PM »

Offline Super Trucker

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Re: LEOs keep stealing pro-2A signs
« Reply #15 on: September 25, 2013, 05:55:08 AM »
Due to union contracts the cop will get a 6 week paid suspension and a raise for the pain and suffering he has been though when he returns.

Offline FASBOLD

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Re: LEOs keep stealing pro-2A signs
« Reply #16 on: September 25, 2013, 11:24:06 AM »
Interesting that this has not made the CNN or Fox News websites. I would think at least Fox would have it.

I haven't followed CNN too closely, but noticed they no longer have a section on guns/firearms on their top link bar.

I wonder how long, if ever, until the "mainstream" media picks this up.
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Offline gryphon

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Re: LEOs keep stealing pro-2A signs
« Reply #17 on: September 25, 2013, 01:37:18 PM »
Fox was in contact with him yesterday.    More interviews are coming.

Offline Jeff

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Re: LEOs keep stealing pro-2A signs
« Reply #18 on: September 25, 2013, 01:38:29 PM »
I am guessing that they won't pick it up.  It would make the antis look bad and CNN isn't into reporting stuff like that.  I guess they could always twist the story up though, call it an AR-15 assault sign.

Offline gryphon

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Re: LEOs keep stealing pro-2A signs
« Reply #19 on: September 25, 2013, 02:09:50 PM »
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2013/09/25/hidden-camera-catches-culprit-taking-man-second-amendment-sign/

Hidden camera catches culprit taking man's Second Amendment sign



A New York man, frustrated when his pro-Second Amendment sign kept disappearing, was surprised when the hidden camera he set up revealed the culprit to be a local cop.

Jon Gibson, of rural Lake Lincolndale, about 50 miles north of New York City, told FoxNews.com he set up a hunting field camera near the sign, which reads "Protect the Second Amendment," and features the silhouette of an assault rifle, after two mysteriously vanished. A third sign disappeared before the camera finally captured the sign stealer -- a police officer from the nearby Somers Police Department.

...

Murphy also denied Gibson's claim that the officer had attempted to destroy the sign.

“I have seen the images that were taken, but it is my understanding that he was loosening the sign from the ground,” she said. “It was brought to the Police Department and it is still intact and he (Gibson) would be able to come pick it up.”

However, images provided to FoxNews.com by Gibson clearly show the officer in mid-kick, snapping the post of the sign in half.

...

Gibson says that he never received any sort of citation and that he’s been singled out as other signs in the area have been left undisturbed.

“This isn’t about the Second Amendment. My First Amendment and even my Fifth Amendment rights have been violated,” he said, explaining that words and image on the sign are protected by his right to free speech and the sign itself was taken from him without due process.

“I’m not quite sure where this is going to go, but what’s important here is that people need to defend their rights,” Gibson said.

Offline gryphon

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Re: LEOs keep stealing pro-2A signs
« Reply #20 on: September 25, 2013, 02:31:16 PM »
Somers Police Get Death Threats After Pro-Gun Sign Photos Go Viral

SOMERS, N.Y. – The Somers Police Department is receiving national attention after a resident videotaped an officer removing a “Protect The 2nd Amendment” sign from his front yard.

Somers Police Chief Michael Driscoll told The Daily Voice the department has received hundreds of phone calls and emails from around the country “screaming that the incident is a violation of rights.”

"We’ve received numerous hate mail and phone calls threatening to kill officers. Most are very upset. They say the sign was on private property. It wasn’t. I’m very shocked by the venom we’ve received.”

Gibson, however, is continuing to tell TheBlaze that his sign was indeed on his property and that the Somers police are violating his First Amendment rights. His attorney told TheBlaze the issue has become a big deal because his client put up a First Amendment covered sign on a Second Amendment issue, which is a hot button topic in New York.

http://somers.dailyvoice.com/news/somers-police-get-death-threats-after-pro-gun-sign-photos-go-viral

Offline gryphon

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Re: LEOs keep stealing pro-2A signs
« Reply #21 on: September 25, 2013, 03:03:55 PM »
LAWYER VS. TOWN SUPERVISOR: NEW DETAILS IN CASE OF OFFICER TAKING MAN’S PRO-GUN SIGN

A police officer was justified in taking a New York man’s pro-Second Amendment sign as the city of Somers, N.Y., has determined it was located on “public property,” Town Supervisor Mary Beth Murphy told TheBlaze.

However, the man’s attorney, Richard Bombardo, of Syracuse, strongly refuted the claim, telling TheBlaze “that’s not what the law says.” To that effect, the attorney said he and his client, Jon Gibson, will “probably” file federal civil rights lawsuit.

Indicating that the law was much more complex than that, Bombardo disputed the city’s claim, saying that the city does not exclusively own the property and was required to cite his client prior to taking action relating to personal items on his property.

“We have a very solid case,” he said.

When asked about the manner in which the officer caught on camera removed the sign, kicking it and snapping its post, Murphy was slightly evasive.

“I did ask the police chief if there was any damage to the sign and he said no,” she said, but later admitted that the “support beam” may have been slightly damaged as the officer tried to loosen it.


Somers police officer kicking the sign and breaking it with his boot.

http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2013/09/25/lawyer-vs-town-supervisor-new-details-in-case-of-officer-taking-mans-pro-gun-sign/

Offline bigt8261

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Re: LEOs keep stealing pro-2A signs
« Reply #22 on: September 25, 2013, 03:13:19 PM »
“I did ask the police chief if there was any damage to the sign and he said no,” she said, but later admitted that the “support beam” may have been slightly damaged as the officer tried to loosen it.

Well ma'm, it looks like you have some slight damage to your support beam.


Offline jgillmanjr

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Re: LEOs keep stealing pro-2A signs
« Reply #23 on: September 25, 2013, 03:35:43 PM »

"We’ve received numerous hate mail and phone calls threatening to kill officers. Most are very upset. They say the sign was on private property. It wasn’t. I’m very shocked by the venom we’ve received.”


Shocked? Amazing.

This made me re-read a certain piece with a significant shock title...

Not sure if the powers that be will let the link stand, but here we go:
http://www.copblock.org/5475/when-should-you-shoot-a-cop/
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Offline gryphon

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Re: LEOs keep stealing pro-2A signs
« Reply #24 on: September 25, 2013, 06:07:51 PM »
Homeowner will be doing an in-studio interview on Fox and Friends 6:30 AM this Friday.

Offline gryphon

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Re: LEOs keep stealing pro-2A signs
« Reply #25 on: September 25, 2013, 10:02:55 PM »
From the homeowner's attorney on NYF:

...there have been many developments. The [homeowner] already posted about some of them. There is more.

James Tresmond and I are jointly filing this case. We have confirmed a second source of information regarding who stole at least one other sign. We also have uncovered another case of this same conduct in the Town of Somers. Unbelievable. You haven't seen anything yet.


FYI, James Tresmond is the attorney who is filing the lawsuits against NY's SAFE Act.

Offline gryphon

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Re: LEOs keep stealing pro-2A signs
« Reply #26 on: September 26, 2013, 11:53:54 AM »
USA Today

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/09/25/dispute-over-pro-gun-sign-becomes-internet-cause-celebre/2873727/

They omitted that part where the building inspector told the homeowner he could leave the sign up.

Offline gryphon

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Re: LEOs keep stealing pro-2A signs
« Reply #27 on: September 26, 2013, 02:04:05 PM »
The Daily Mail has picked this up.  They photoshopped the AR15 out of the sign closeup.  ;D

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2433233/Hidden-camera-catches-culprit-taking-mans-Second-Amendment-sign--POLICEMAN.html

Offline Jeff

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Re: LEOs keep stealing pro-2A signs
« Reply #28 on: September 26, 2013, 04:40:15 PM »
HAH, they sure did photoshop it out that's funny.

Offline gryphon

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Re: LEOs keep stealing pro-2A signs
« Reply #29 on: September 26, 2013, 05:11:24 PM »
Oops, I forgot to come back and edit my comment.  I found out that the first version of the sign did not have the AR15 on it, and that is what the pic is of.  My mistake.

Offline gryphon

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Re: LEOs keep stealing pro-2A signs
« Reply #30 on: September 26, 2013, 05:27:02 PM »
LOL.  The local Democrat running comes out in support of the homeowner, pointing out the Republicans have plastered their signs all over the public right of ways and public property and and they haven't ordered the police to remove them despite existing laws.

Hypocrites.

Quote
The campaign [of Democrat Noam Bramson] called on his opponent, Republican incumbent County Executive Rob Astorino, to join his call.

“Gun safety is a crucial issue in this election, and people have a right to express their beliefs about it regardless of what side of the aisle they’re on,” said Bramson spokesman Barry Caro in a statement. “During this campaign, Mr. Astorino has plastered lawn signs on public property throughout Westchester regardless of local restrictions. That’s why we hope he’ll join us in condemning his running mate’s censorship."

http://polhudson.lohudblogs.com/2013/09/26/bramson-campaign-comments-on-somers-sign-controversy/

Offline Jeff

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Re: LEOs keep stealing pro-2A signs
« Reply #31 on: September 26, 2013, 06:08:22 PM »
Oops, I forgot to come back and edit my comment.  I found out that the first version of the sign did not have the AR15 on it, and that is what the pic is of.  My mistake.

The shame, and here I trusted you.  I dunno man, I don't things can ever go back to the way they were. I just don't know, leave your key on the nightstand.

Offline gryphon

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Re: LEOs keep stealing pro-2A signs
« Reply #32 on: September 26, 2013, 06:59:38 PM »

Offline gryphon

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Re: LEOs keep stealing pro-2A signs
« Reply #33 on: September 27, 2013, 08:11:19 AM »

Offline gryphon

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Re: LEOs keep stealing pro-2A signs
« Reply #34 on: September 27, 2013, 10:59:02 AM »
Sign back up in a slightly different location.

Offline Jeff

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Re: LEOs keep stealing pro-2A signs
« Reply #35 on: September 27, 2013, 02:01:24 PM »
Are they going to give him grief now from nailing into a living tree?

Offline gryphon

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Re: LEOs keep stealing pro-2A signs
« Reply #36 on: September 27, 2013, 06:55:58 PM »
More from the attorney:

"We have had substantial consultations about the placement and size of the sign. The tree placement is temporary. A larger sign will go up shortly in a different location. Stay tuned. He will place the sign where he wants to. It is his land. We will not bend on this."

Offline Jeff

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Re: LEOs keep stealing pro-2A signs
« Reply #37 on: September 27, 2013, 08:44:29 PM »
More from the attorney:

"He will place the sign where he wants to. It is his land. We will not bend on this."

Damn right!!!

Offline gryphon

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Offline gryphon

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Re: LEOs keep stealing pro-2A signs
« Reply #39 on: October 09, 2013, 09:17:40 AM »
The new staked survey has been completed, and the results have been turned over to the attorneys.  They have been looking at several ways to proceed, so the homeowner is waiting on them right now.