Gilberton, Pennsylvania, fires its police chief for anti-liberal gun rants

[philw]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EZ6DLCGHo2I&feature=player_embedded

Gilberton, Pennsylvania, fires its police chief for anti-liberal gun rants

A SMALL American town will fire a police chief suspended after posting videos of himself firing automatic weapons and launching profanity-laced tirades about liberals.

Gilberton, Pennsylvania, city officials made the decision concerning police chief Mark Kessler, the only full-time member of the town's police force, who is active in gun rights circles and is organising an armed, non-government group that critics call a private militia.

Kessler said the decision was "no surprise."

"We knew it was coming," he said.

A closed-door disciplinary hearing earlier in the day had dwelled on allegations including that Kessler improperly used a state-administered program to buy discounted tires for his personal vehicle, failed to submit required crime data and made derogatory comments about borough officials.

MORE:  "Chief Kessler's Constitution Security Force" website


Suspended Gilberton police chief, Mark Kessler, right, stands with supporter Dave Zimmerman outside the Gilberton Borough Hall in Schuylkill County. (AP Photo/PennLive.com, Sean Simmers)

The charges were trumped up to conceal the town's intent to fire Kessler over the videos, his attorney Joseph Nahas said. Kessler told reporters outside his disciplinary hearing that he had been an excellent police chief and had nothing to apologise for.

Kessler solicited donations to help keep his family afloat financially during his unpaid suspension, which he said was "really stressful."

"But I feel in my heart I'm doing the right thing," he said. "Yeah, I made some videos with some choice language, but that's my right. That's my freedom."

Kessler's pro-gun videos have garnered hundreds of thousands of views online. He acknowledges they are inflammatory but says they're designed to draw attention to the erosion of Second Amendment and other constitutional rights.

Mayor Mary Lou Hannon had said she found the police chief's language offensive.


The police chief of the small town of Gilberton in Pennsylvania has been fired after posting rants against liberals along with pro-gun videos online.

Kessler, a former coal miner, often posts online radio shows about gun rights, has spoken at gun rights rallies and created a website on which he seeks recruits for the Constitution Security Force, whose stated mission is to defend the constitution and the country from tyranny.

Gun rights activists had descended on the community of about 800 people, in Schuylkill County in eastern Pennsylvania's anthracite coal country, to show support for Kessler, some carrying flags and displaying weapons.

In January, Kessler drafted a resolution the borough adopted that calls for nullifying any federal, state or local regulations that infringe on the Second Amendment.

 


A member of the Constitution Security Force walks ahead of Gilberton Police Chief Mark Kessler, background left, as he makes his way back into a closed disciplinary hearing in the borough building. (AP Photo/Republican-Herald, Jacqueline Dormer) MANDATORY CREDIT

http://www.news.com.au/world-news/gilberton-pennsylvania-fires-its-police-chief-for-anti-liberal-gun-rants/story-fndir2ev-1226723364470

[fightingquaker13]

Idiot! Being pro-gun is fine. Profanity laced political tirades if you're in a non-political public office? Not so much. If they were pre-job I'd support him. But after being chief, he should know better, no matter the issue or POV. It calls his objectivity on the job into question.

[crusader rabbit]

Idiot! Being pro-gun is fine. Profanity laced political tirades if you're in a non-political public office? Not so much. If they were pre-job I'd support him. But after being chief, he should know better, no matter the issue or POV. It calls his objectivity on the job into question.

In another sure sign of the "end times," I find myself in agreement with The Quaker. 

This guy did our side no good.  Vitriol and profanity do nothing to advance the cause of 2-A rights.  This CoP demonstrated a lack of control that is inconsistent with the office he holds/held.  Good riddance. 

Crusader Rabbit

[tombogan03884]

Idiot! Being pro-gun is fine. Profanity laced political tirades if you're in a non-political public office? Not so much. If they were pre-job I'd support him. But after being chief, he should know better, no matter the issue or POV. It calls his objectivity on the job into question.

First amendment applies to ALL citizens.
It's there to protect what people want to say, not what some pantywaist wants to hear.

[Magoo541]

He needs to run for Sheriff 

[Sponsor]

[WatchManUSA]

First amendment applies to ALL citizens.
It's there to protect what people want to say, not what some pantywaist wants to hear.

He is free to say what he pleases but that doesn't mean there are not consequences for what he said.  An employer can and do put limits on what an employee can say.  These limits by employers on employee speech have been upheld in the courts.  Also, I would think a Chief would technically on duty 24/7. 

I know when I work at the gun shop we are told that we express our opinions, especially to the media.  The only opinion that counts is the opinion of the owner.  If we were ever quoted in any media and identified as an employee of the gun shop you will be fired.

[billt]

People are fired over Facebook pictures every day of the week. Most without uttering a single word.

[tombogan03884]

There is no way of knowing but it would make some difference if the firing was over the opinion, or the language used by a city official .
From reading the article I got the impression it was the language .

[DaverZ]

Although I agree with his basic ideals his presentation hurts us all,he came off as a lunatic IMHO.I'm sure most of us agree with a lot of his ideals but we don't present ourselves as rabid dogs.