Man who wore gun to Obama rally goes on trial
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
By Daniel Malloy, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Testimony began this morning in the trial of a man charged with disrupting a public meeting for taking a gun to an Obama campaign rally in Beaver last year.
John Noble, of Industry, openly carried his Glock pistol to the Aug. 29 outdoor rally at a park across the street from the Beaver County courthouse. The gun was licensed and open carry is legal in most places in Pennsylvania.
John Atkinson, of Beaver, testified that he saw Mr. Noble with his gun holstered at his hip and alerted authorities. "I was scared for my family because it's the situation of it -- the first black guy nominated to be president of the United States," Mr. Atkinson said, "All the crazy things people do these days, you never know what's going to happen."
Mr. Noble did not cause a noticeable disturbance. He was carrying a Bible and handing out pro-gun fliers. Three law enforcement officers testified that Mr. Noble was compliant and they detained him because they were told to watch for suspicious people and anyone with a weapon.
Prosecutors must prove Mr. Noble intentionally disrupted a public gathering and will present postings he made on Internet forums. In the postings Mr. Noble asked fellow gun owners to join him to send a message to then-Sen. Barack Obama in response to his comments at a fund raiser that Pennsylvanians "cling to guns or religion." Testimony was scheduled to continue this afternoon before Beaver County Judge Harry E. Knafelc.
More details in tomorrow's Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
First published on July 15, 2009 at 1:26 pm
If the gun was licensed, and open carry is legal there, then what's the problem? Had this gentleman been wearing a LEO uniform nobody would have thought a thing about it. Ok, I can feel the steam building........ready to erupt from my ears.
I actually do have a pretty high opinion of LEO's. But I find it completely absurd to expect that they can protect me at all times.
What were the comments he made on a internet forum????They were probably very similar to the comments made by all of
At least he only lost a Glock. It could have been a good gun he was wearing.Yeah it could have been a M&P , XD or God forbid a 1911
;D
At least he only lost a Glock. It could have been a good gun he was wearing.
;D
BHO was the "first" candidate to be extended Secret Service Protection that actually had to be signed by Pres. Bush. (ironic but true.) Late Winter/Spring 08.
They knew what "could happen" even at a candidate function. There will be an implied Federal usurpation of state law for a Pres. candidate, and states won't touch it.
"The gun was licensed"?
We don't "license" firearms here.
I thought that if a dignitary/politician was in a building/place it was deemed a default gun free zone. Am I mistaken on this?