County Commissioner Carries Gun to Meetings

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tom88

Well-Known Member
My headline is similar to a headline in one of the local newspapers this morning. The commissioner in question has a permit to carry the gun lawfully.

I don't have a link, so I'll just write about my observations without quotes. I don't get why this was front page news. I'm not sure who might oppose this, it didn't seem to be any of the other commissioners. The paper didn't have any opposing view points, just some obscure county policy prohibiting guns, which doesn't apply to elected officials.

Does anyone else have any insight?
 
vraiblonde

vraiblonde

Board Mommy
PREMO Member
Patron
More information is needed. Which county? Which newspaper?

My initial reaction is that the news idiots in this area are a bunch of liberal handwringers who should invest in a good therapist to come to grips with their Mommy issues, but I'll withhold that comment until I know more about the story.
 
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tom88

Well-Known Member
vraiblonde said:
More information is needed. Which county? Which newspaper?

My initial reaction is that the news idiots in this area are a bunch of liberal handwringers who should invest in a good therapist to come to grips with their Mommy issues, but I'll withhold that comment until I know more about the story.
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It was in today's enterprise. I didn't have a link, so I wasn't sure how much information is allowed to be posted on this forum.
 
vraiblonde

vraiblonde

Board Mommy
PREMO Member
Patron
StadEMS3 said:
It was in the paper last week. St. Mary's County officials with permits were not allowed to carry in county facilities, they have since changed the rules to be in line with the state. The court house is still a gun free zone.

http://www.somdnews.com/enterprise/...cle_0fcce98d-d140-5728-8bef-478d76e13ed2.html
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“I don’t know if guns are a Democrat or Republican issue,” said Commissioner Mike Hewitt (R). “I do support the right to own a gun,” he said, but people carrying guns around him makes him nervous.

“It’s not about liberals and conservatives. It’s about public confidence in public safety and how people feel around guns,” Hewitt said. “I don’t like being around guns if I’m at an event that doesn’t require people to have guns. Police officers who are on duty, sure. I don’t like guns just because people want to wear guns.”

Wow, Mike, really? The people who wear their guns openly aren't the ones you need to worry about. If some nut wanted to come in and shoot up a Commissioner's meeting, you'd be thrilled to have O'Connor there with his equalizer.

Not a lot of logic going on in government these days.
 
T

tom88

Well-Known Member
vraiblonde said:
“I don’t know if guns are a Democrat or Republican issue,” said Commissioner Mike Hewitt (R). “I do support the right to own a gun,” he said, but people carrying guns around him makes him nervous.

“It’s not about liberals and conservatives. It’s about public confidence in public safety and how people feel around guns,” Hewitt said. “I don’t like being around guns if I’m at an event that doesn’t require people to have guns. Police officers who are on duty, sure. I don’t like guns just because people want to wear guns.”

Wow, Mike, really? The people who wear their guns openly aren't the ones you need to worry about. If some nut wanted to come in and shoot up a Commissioner's meeting, you'd be thrilled to have O'Connor there with his equalizer.

Not a lot of logic going on in government these days.
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Today's article seems to be a follow up to this article. Today, they were specifically talking about one commissioner carrying during meetings. All of the commissioners said he had a right to carry and Hewitt added even if he didn't there wouldn't be a damn thing he could do about it.
 
huntr1

huntr1

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Comm. O'Connor is ex-LEO, married to a current LEO. He has a permit I support him carrying it everywhere he goes.
 
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tom88

Well-Known Member
huntr1 said:
Comm. O'Connor is ex-LEO, married to a current LEO. He has a permit I support him carrying it everywhere he goes.
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I don't know what being an ex-cop or married to a cop has to do with anything. I support any permit holder carrying a firearm where ever they go, with some minor exceptions. I don't think anyone other than those assigned to protect certain public facilities should carry.

In example, I don't think permit holders should be able to carry in a court house, the state house, or private businesses which don't wish them to carry.
 
huntr1

huntr1

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tom88 said:
I don't know what being an ex-cop or married to a cop has to do with anything. I support any permit holder carrying a firearm where ever they go, with some minor exceptions. I don't think anyone other than those assigned to protect certain public facilities should carry.

In example, I don't think permit holders should be able to carry in a court house, the state house, or private businesses which don't wish them to carry.
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He has a permit because he's ex-LEO, that's why it's germane to the conversation. You're correct, his being married to a serving LEO is not.
 
T

tom88

Well-Known Member
huntr1 said:
He has a permit because he's ex-LEO, that's why it's germane to the conversation. You're correct, his being married to a serving LEO is not.
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"EX" law enforcement officers are not automatically granted firearms permits. Retired law enforcement officers can be entitled to automatic permits, depending on why they were retired. So no, just being an "EX" law enforcement officer doesn't allow you to have a permit.
 
awpitt

awpitt

Main Streeter
The County Attorney is going to review the county policy regarding employees and will issue an opinion on whether or not it applies to the Commissioners.
 
awpitt

awpitt

Main Streeter
glhs837

glhs837

Power with Control
Yeah, not sure why this is a big deal all of a sudden. I think because he pushed to change the county policy that allows citizens to carry in places county govt folks may not. I noted from the last edition that Commissioner Jarboe seems to be a bit unhappy with it, and todays quote from Commissioner Hewitt seems like he's unhappy with it also.
 
huntr1

huntr1

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tom88 said:
"EX" law enforcement officers are not automatically granted firearms permits. Retired law enforcement officers can be entitled to automatic permits, depending on why they were retired. So no, just being an "EX" law enforcement officer doesn't allow you to have a permit.
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EX, retired, whatever. I don't know his personal info. I guess you will have to ask the state police for that information. All I know is that he has a permit and it was probably approved due to his having been a LEO.
 
Hijinx

Hijinx

Well-Known Member
huntr1 said:
Comm. O'Connor is ex-LEO, married to a current LEO. He has a permit I support him carrying it everywhere he goes.
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Since one practically has to have been an ex-police officer to get a carry permit in Maryland I doubt there are many other county employees other than the police who have permits.
I have no problem with this Commissioner carrying his weapon, my biggest complaint is that I cannot get a carry permit.
Why must one be required to be an ex police officer or some other special reason to get a permit that the Constitution says is not necessary anyway.
The Constitution is my permit. In many states that has become the law, and I have not read where those carrying in those state have caused any wholesale slaughter of human beings.
 
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baxter

Active Member
I have my concealed carry permit, am I'm glad to have it. It came in real handy when a thug decided to pull a knife on me because he wanted some cash. I instructed the nice man to go home, sit on his milk crate and wait for his Obama check! PS, I still have my cash! All folks who are lucky enough to have a concealed carry permit go through a VERY EXTENSIVE background check and personnel interview with the MSP. These are not the people you need to worry about. Look at Texas and Alaska, the two states with the most gun toting folks, and crime is way down there. Here in Maryland, we have the revolving door of justice. Look at the police blotters, I would guess 75% of folks arrested have many priors.
 
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