Had an incident in West Branch about a week ago. There was this young kid; I’ll call him a young kid because I’m 55 and he’s 19. He was open carrying in the City park when, the city police chief stopped him and took away his gun. The young man tried to tell the officer it was legal in Michigan to Open Carry. The Chief said that there was an ordinance against carrying in the city. I guess the kid told him that he didn’t know about any Ordinance. The police held on to his gun for about 4 days. And when they gave it back to him, “They said that the only reason that they were giving him his gun back was because he was a good kid, and that he didn’t know about the ordinance. But they may still charge him with something they just didn’t know what yet, and explain to him that it was illegal to carry in the city limits because of their ordinance.” (I hear he’s in the military)
A few days later, when I heard of this, I called the City Police Chief and advised him that what he did was illegal and that Michigan law MCL.123.1102 trumps any ordinance that they may have in place. He then said that, that was my opinion and that the city attorney advised him that he could enforce it. I again told him he was wrong, and that if he continued doing this, that he was setting himself and the city of West Branch up to be SUED. I then told him that I just came from the Hospital in his city, and that I was open carrying in there, and that there was nothing he could do about it! And that I’ll be back there in about an hour or so visiting my wife if he any questions. After about 15 mins. or so, of trying to explain to him he was still wrong! I asked him if he had a fax number. He said yes, and gave it to me. I said that I would fax him some info. that he and the city Attorney might want to read, before they cost the city some REAL money! (A Leo Packet was faxed) I open carry in West Branch all the time with no problems. He never did come to the hospital that I know of. I never saw him at least.
Since then, I talked with this young man and he said “Everything is fine with open carrying.” But that every time he looks in his mirror the city police are always following him. I said they are just waiting for you to mess up some way or some how. “Just keep your nose clean!!” And if they hassle him about open carrying just call me and I’ll see what we can do to help! (He learned about Open Carry from the Tri-folds I left at the Pawn Shop in West Branch.) I hear thru the grape vine that the chief went to the Ogemaw County Sheriffs office and they told also told him that he was wrong!! So when heading north, make sure you stop in the NOW friendly city of West Branch!!
Sorry About the Book!!
