Funeral Processions and the Law, Take 2
An Oregon resident writes about rude drivers in a letter to the editor. Note that the drivers weren’t just being rude, they were in violation of several Oregon statues covering funeral processions. I’ve come to the realization that people are just ignorant of procession laws, since they vary so from state to state. What’s required in some states isn’t even mentioned in others; several states don’t recognize processions at all. Add in self-appointed legal experts, and things become even more murky.
Locally, a Delhi Township police officer was struck during a funeral procession in suburban Cincinnati. His injuries were not considered life-threatening. The driver apparently left the scene after the crash, but later returned.
Dial 911 and Die
Over 40 years ago, Jeff Cooper coined the word “hoplophobe,” meaning a “mental disturbance characterized by irrational aversion to weapons.” I’d like to coin a new word, pertaining to the irrational dependence on protection orders, restraining orders, and the 911 emergency system. There needs to be such a word for people who think that a court order is going to stop someone who is bound and determined to kill them, or that all they have to do is call 911, because the people there will always protect you. Not.
We’re the “Only Ones” Who Can Be Trusted
Two gun bills recently came through the Virginia legislature. One, SB 476, would have allowed CCW permit holders to carry their guns into a restaurant that serves alcohol, provided they didn’t drink. Permit holders would be required to notify their server that they were carrying, so the server wouldn’t bring them any alcohol. The media went crazy, naturally. Democrat Mark Herring said, “Drinking alcohol and carrying firearms is not a good mix. It’s a public safety issue. There was no compelling case for loosening the restriction on carrying a concealed weapon into bars.” Never mind that the bill specifically prohibited “drinking alcohol and carrying firearms.” Gov. Tim Kaine vetoed the bill, because mixing guns and alcohol? It’s just not a good idea.
Unless, of course, you’re an “Only One.” Because SB 776 “[a]uthorizes an attorney for the Commonwealth or an assistant attorney for the Commonwealth to carry a concealed handgun without obtaining a permit wherever such attorney may travel in the Commonwealth,” like bars, restaurants that serve alcohol, and so forth. By the way, as “Only Ones” like this, you get a pass on training, too, since you’re apparently so good that you don’t need any training. That must be the case, since Gov. Kaine signed this one. Maybe it’s that whole bar exam thingie.
Because Everyone Deserves a Name…
…and “John Doe” doesn’t count. Neither does “Tent Girl,” or “Buckskin Girl,” or “Johnny ‘Dupage’ Doe.” Those aren’t real names. Those are the names given to people by the press, because no one knows who there are. Those names belong to dead people, bodies found by the side of the road, or wrapped in a bag in a vacant lot, or mummified in an abandoned railroad tunnel.
Law enforcement officials have some 40,000 unidentified bodies in their records, and over 100,000 people go missing each year. The Doe Network works to “give the nameless back their names and return the missing to their families.” I can’t think of many better uses of energy. What an amazing calling.
We’re The “Only Ones” Not Asking Much
“I won’t ask for much. Just sex, once or twice. You’ll get to like me. I’m a nice guy.” So allegedly said “Only One” Isaac R. Baichu, who reviews over 2,600 green card applications each year, as an adjudicator in the Garden City, N.Y., office of United States Citizenship and Immigration Services.
He was talking to a 22-year-old Colombian woman who, he suggested, might have some trouble on her application due to a couple of old legal issues. But, for the right price, this paragon of civil service could make those problems go away.
The victim would have reported the issue directly to CIS, except they quit publicizing the complaint email address and phone number last year. Lovely.
We’re The “Only Ones” Allowed to Intimidate People
Ryan Horsley owns a gun shop called Red’s Trading Post. He’s currently under trial regarding the revocation of his FFL. As you can imagine, this has been discussed at a lot of gun blogs, including War On Guns.
The trial concluded the other day, and a Deputy US Marshal pulled Ryan aside and asked him to give a specific message to David Codrea, over at WoG.
“Inspector Meyer asked me to contact you in regards to posting any information with the intent to threaten, intimidate, or incite the commission of a crime of violence against that covered official… “
So Inspector Meyer has apparently resorted to threatening or intimidating others to try and prevent something that’s not even happening. Hmm. And why didn’t Inspector Meyer call David himself, or email him? It’s not like David tries to hide anything.
David had a very clear, measured response: How dare you!
How dare you, indeed.
We’re The “Only Ones” Fast Enough
Good to see that the “Only Ones” in Montgomery County are keeping the double standard alive.
I don’t know about anyone else, but my boss tells me that I’m responsible for any citations issued when I’m on a company bike. But then again, I’m not an “Only One.”
How Can They Sleep at Night?
“In terms of my conscience, my conscience is that I did the right thing,” says attorney Dale Coventry. Jamie Kunz said, “How often did I think about it? Probably 250 times a year. I mean I thought about it regularly.”
They’re talking about how they kept attorney-client confidentiality. In 1982, they were public defenders, and their client, Andrew Wilson, admitted to them he had shot-gunned a security guard to death in a robbery. And they were very clear on things: they’re not allowed to betray that confidentiality for any reason.
Even if an innocent man was tried and convicted for that crime, and sentenced to life in prison. 26 years ago.
I think it’s safe to say we’ve now found a good example for the definition of egregious. You know, once upon a time, I thought I wanted to be an attorney. When I hear of attorneys taking actions like this, or rather not taking action in a situation like this, I am so glad I didn’t take up that career. I am astounded that a person could let a man they know to be innocent suffer through 26 years of imprisonment. Alton Logan faced the death penalty for a time. What do Coventry and Kunz say about that? “We thought that somehow we would stop at least the execution.” Oh, that’s good.
They say they were released from the confidentiality issue by Wilson’s death in November. What if Logan had died first?
How can you make up what they took from Alton Logan?
If there’s an attorney reading this, I’d really like to hear how you can justify keeping exculpatory evidence quiet. How can you justify letting a man sit in prison for 26 years, when you know he’s innocent?
More from The StandDown Project and The Chicago Tribune
Keeping the Skies Safe
…from a 14-year-old with a feeding tube. Because heaven only knows what could have been concealed in that sterile wrapper. Sounds like the screener needs to catch up on things.
Do people realize that when you treat citizens like this, the terrorists have already won?
We’re The “Only Ones” Handling it Internally Enough
H/T to the FAP list, again.
Members there pointed me to this outrage in Albany, New York, which turned into an “Only Ones” three-for-one. I suspect that if you or I walked up to a woman, and ended up inserting a finger in her vagina without her permission, we might be charged with a sex crime. It’s probably better that the Albany’s Citizens’ Police Review Board not investigate this. They probably didn’t get the special training they’d need, since Albany police officers are apparently the “Only Ones” trained in illegal searches.
Hmm. Maybe not. Maybe the Albany County Sheriff’s Department got some of that training, too.
Albany PD must be the “Only Ones” who are highly trained in firearm safety, though.
Brendan Lyons certainly has his hands full up in Albany. I’ll have to talk to a friend of mine who used to live up that way, and see what her recollections are of life there. I bet it’s changed.