Stay away from NYC

[SteveNY]

This is just a letter I saw on another forum, good read, wanted to share.

Dear ..

I have never been a fan of the North East Coast, other than to recognize and appreciate all the revolutionary history that occurred there.

It boggles my mind that some of the same locations that forged the ideals and bravery of our Founding Fathers and played such pivotal roles in the birth of our great country, have since sunk to such despicable levels of oppression.

New York City is one of those locations.

I have heard of a number of very disturbing situations coming out of New York City regarding the loss of liberty over gun related issues, but had not made any formal stand on any of the issues because I did not personally know the people involved.

Last week I received a letter from a person I do know and also received an unrelated news article that moves me to tell you to stay clear of New York City and if possible, do not spend another penny on anything coming out of New York City. If every gun owner did so, it would send the proper message to New York City officials.

Here is the letter from Mark Meckler, Co-Founder of Tea Party Patriots ...

On December 15, 2011 at approximately 5:15 a.m., I was at LaGuardia International airport preparing to check in for a flight out of the city. During a routine check-in, I requested a firearms declaration form from the ticket agent. It was my intent to declare and check my unloaded firearm.

I purchased this firearm legally, and I have a valid concealed carry permit for it issued in California. The unloaded gun was locked inside a TSA-approved travel case, and the case was locked inside my checked luggage. I carry the firearm for my personal safety, having received numerous threats due to my role in the Tea Party Patriots. I have checked this firearm at airports dozens of times before, all across the country.

As I traveled through LaGuardia that morning, I passed TSA signs telling me I had the right to check this unloaded firearm in my luggage, and that I am required by law to declare the firearm to the ticketing agent. This is exactly what I did.

The ticketing agent provided me with the declaration form, and I signed it and returned it to her. She advised me that she would need to call Port Authority police to inspect. This is not unusual when traveling with a firearm. Procedures vary from airport to airport, from airline to airline, and even from day to day, and as a law-abiding citizen, I have always been happy to cooperate.

Unfortunately, that day, I didn't realize that I was about to cross paths with New York City's anti-Second Amendment stance. Upon showing my case and the weapon to the officer who arrived on the scene, and after a few brief questions, she advised me that she was placing me under arrest for violating New York City's firearms laws.

To say that I was stunned would be an understatement. I am from a law enforcement family. My mother is a retired correctional officer, and I have spent my life around folks from the law enforcement community. I have always considered myself a law-abiding citizen. I have never been arrested before. I have never been in police custody. I can never say those things again. On December 15th, 2011, I was arrested, handcuffed at the ticket counter, and taken to a waiting squad car for transport to the Port Authority Police station at LaGuardia.

I was subsequently transferred, in handcuffs, to the Queens Central booking facility in New York City. I was charged with felony possession of a firearm with intent to do harm. I spent the day in Queens...in jail.

It was a nightmare that I can scarcely describe to you. Until you have felt the handcuffs on your wrists, and until you have heard that cell door close behind you, it is impossible to understand what it means to actually lose your liberty. And since that day, my liberty has been at stake, and because of that threat, based upon the advice of counsel, I've been unable to publicly speak about this case. Today the silence ends.

I am pleased to announce that the criminal case against me has been dropped. Although I was originally charged with a violent felony, the case against me was resolved with a plea to "disorderly conduct. " Disorderly Conduct is not a felony or a misdemeanor, or even a crime. The facts underlying my plea are that I declared a legally purchased, properly licensed and unloaded firearm at an airport counter. Apparently, much to my surprise, in New York City, it is considered "disorderly conduct" to exercise your constitutionally guaranteed, Second Amendment rights.

Strangely, now that the case against me is over, the authorities refuse to return my firearm. There is no law that allows them to confiscate a weapon in this manner. They simply say "no" when you ask for your weapon back. This is apparently their "policy." This is apparently done regularly in New York. This is government robbery. Not only is New York City anti-Second Amendment rights, but they are depriving citizens of their legally owned property. My lawyer has advised me that I can attempt to pursue the return of my firearm, but that to do so would cost me more than the firearm is worth. I am not alone in facing this tyranny. It has happened to hundreds of people in the New York metro area. My lawyer, Brian Stapleton, has handled over 400 of these cases himself, so he is an expert on the subject.

While the end of this case is the end of a horrible nightmare for my family and I, it is not the end of this fight. It is just the beginning. Since the original incident, I have received more emails, phone calls, texts and tweets of support than you can possibly imagine. To those people, I want to say heart-felt thanks on behalf of my entire family. We have come to know that we are not alone in this particular fight. Apparently, this happens to hundreds of people per year in New York City. And New York City is not alone in its attack on our rights. This sort of Constitutional abuse, Second Amendment and otherwise, is taking place all over the nation. And we as citizens must stand against it. We must protect our rights, or we will lose them.

Many of you know me as someone who is willing to stand and fight for self-governance in this country. I'm no politician, and I'm not from a powerful or connected family. I'm an average American citizen. And I stand shoulder to shoulder with millions of other Americans who, despite enormous obstacles, and despite the politicians and ruling elite who oppose us, intend to return this country to the bounds of the United States Constitution.

The politicians and ruling elite will try, but we must not let them label us Democrat or Republican, conservative or liberal. We cannot let them make us fight against each other. Too much is at stake. We the People are losing our sovereignty to the government. We the People, must stand and fight for our inalienable rights.

I'm not alone in this fight. There are so many laws, that no one can possibly know or understand them. We are all affected. From the inner city to the farm, from the heartland of America to the coasts, people are under pressure from a government that no longer serves them. From my home in California, to the farmland of Kansas... from the small towns of South Carolina to the metropolis of New York, every year the legislatures pass thousands of laws and regulations that do not serve the people.

The legislators don't read the bills they pass, and even if they did, they couldn't understand them. Our criminal justice system is terribly broken, and no longer serves the people and the communities it was intended to serve. Our regulatory system is broken; small businesses and the communities that rely on them crushed under the weight of unnecessary regulation.

We are, step by step, destroying the heart of America. And we are doing so because we are not governing ourselves according to the Constitution. It's up to us...the People.

It's time to stand for self-governance. It is time to stand for the plain meaning of the Constitution. Every word of the Constitution is important, and we must fight for them all. We must fight for every inch of this country, from the inner city to the smallest rural town. We are, all of us, first and foremost, American citizens. We've always governed ourselves...and we always intend to. And we've always been willing to stand when freedom is at stake. It is time to stand...time for all of us, every race, every religion, every gender, every American to stand up and fight for liberty and take responsibility for governing ourselves.

No one should ever have to go through what my family has been through, simply for exercising a fundamental right, specifically enumerated in the United States Constitution. I am committed to making sure no one does. And I'm willing to work with anyone...anyone, who agrees that it's time for the people to govern themselves once again.

Will we as citizens fight for our inalienable right to govern ourselves, or will we quietly allow ourselves to be "governed" into submission by a ruling elite, disconnected from our citizens and our communities? Only history will tell, but I intend to fight.

Mark Meckler

And here is an unrelated, but equally distrubing news article about the oppressive mindset of New York City officials...

NYPD Commissioner Ray Kelly told CBS in New York his department is looking to deploy Terahertz Imaging Detection scanners on the street in the war on "illegal guns."

Kelly said the scanners would be used in "reasonably suspicious circumstances" and intended to cut down on the number of stop-and-frisks on the street. So called stop-and-frisks are considered a violation of the Fourth Amendment.

New York City is largely a Second Amendment free zone. The city's mayor, Michael Bloomberg, has said that citizens "acting outside of any governmental military effort" should not be allowed to protect themselves with firearms.

"The NYPD and Department of Defense are working together testing Terahertz Imaging Detection, a new way to get concealed illegal weapons off the streets," CBS reports. Terahertz Imaging Detection measures energy radiating from the body up to 16 feet away and can detect anything blocking it.

The ACLU and civil libertarians oppose the effort to use the technology on the street. "It's worrisome. It implicates privacy, the right to walk down the street without being subjected to a virtual pat-down by the Police Department when you're doing nothing wrong," the NYCLU's Donna Lieberman said.

In addition to violating the Fourth Amendment, the proposed technology would subject citizens to a documented health risk -- the destruction of DNA.

Studies reveal that THz waves "unzip double-stranded DNA, creating bubbles in the double strand that could significantly interfere with processes such as gene expression and DNA replication," according to MIT's Technology Review.

For more information, see this paper posted at the Cornell University Library.

If we are to believe CBS, most residents either are not concerned about the privacy aspects of the technology or think it is a reasonable trade-off to stop gun crime and terrorism.

CBS does not mention the ability of THz to destroy DNA. If they did, no doubt most people interviewed would oppose the new technology.

-News Article

As the site of George Washington's presidential inauguration and the first capital of United States, New York City was once a beacon of freedom and liberty.

The Rolling Stones sum up today's New York City quite well in the lyrics to their hit, Shattered.

Mick Jagger sings, "Go ahead, bite the Big Apple, don't mind the maggots..."

I suggest you stay out of New York City, you deserve better.

Please pass this e-mail on to all of your contacts so they too know what is happening in New York City and have the opportunity to become one of us, a member of the Front Sight Patriots Group. I have $2,780 in gifts for them in exchange for helping us spread our message.

Sincerely,

Dr. Ignatius Piazza

Founder and Director

Front Sight Firearms Training Institute

7975 Cameron Drive, #900

Windsor, CA 95492

Gun training | Firearm Training

[email protected]

1.800.987.7719

Edited January 25, 2012 by SteveNY

[wooffer]

Very good letter and very well written. I grew up in NYC and avoid it all costs now. I only go back to visit family now and then. Very sad at what it has become.

[Guides ForHire]

what was it that comedian Doug Stanhope said about New yorkers only thinking they were tough? something like

they are the biggest pussies, not tough guys, if they were really tough everytime NYC made another law about what they can eat wear or smoke and where, there'd be 60,000 people at city hall throwing batteries at bloomberg but new yorkers dont they sit and take it.

LOL.

[steve863]

I love these sob stories of non-resident gun owners crying foul in NYC. Is it any real big news to any gun owner in this nation that NYC has strict gun laws?? If these people bringing guns into NYC had half a brain maybe they would know that it isn't a good idea, unless you don't mind getting arrested. If you don't like NYC, then don't go there, but if you are dumb enough to go there with a gun, then you have to realize that you might run into some problems.

[Ford]

You can think what you want about NYC gun laws. But the law is the law. What did he expect?

[steve863]

You can think what you want about NYC gun laws. But the law is the law. What did he expect?

Well according to the article, this person claimed that his momma was in law enforcement and that he was a tea party patriot. Maybe he figured that would be enough to be exempt from the NYC laws?? LOL

[shawnhu]

I love these sob stories of non-resident gun owners crying foul in NYC. Is it any real big news to any gun owner in this nation that NYC has strict gun laws?? If these people bringing guns into NYC had half a brain maybe they would know that it isn't a good idea, unless you don't mind getting arrested. If you don't like NYC, then don't go there, but if you are dumb enough to go there with a gun, then you have to realize that you might run into some problems.

You can think what you want about NYC gun laws. But the law is the law. What did he expect?

So I guess you guys know ALL the laws across the nation? Wait, let's just start with laws pertaining to guns... yes?

If not, don't judge another's intellect based on the fact that his rights was stripped from him, when least expected. Not everyone grows in a messed up place we call NYC and know the work-arounds.

Bottom line is, law abiding citizens should not be treated this way, regardless if they knew the law or not.

[Ford]

I will tell you one thing, if I was planning to go to NYC with a firearm, I would research the laws pertaining to it. I would not want to be arrested. As everyone knows, ignorance of the law is no defense. At least they let him off easy, that is what the courts are for.

[steve863]

So I guess you guys know ALL the laws across the nation? Wait, let's just start with laws pertaining to guns... yes?

If not, don't judge another's intellect based on the fact that his rights was stripped from him, when least expected. Not everyone grows in a messed up place we call NYC and know the work-arounds.

Bottom line is, law abiding citizens should not be treated this way, regardless if they knew the law or not.

No, I surely don't know all the laws across the nation. In the meantime I won't go testing any of these laws, especially while in possession of a gun. I will say it again. Any gun owner that doesn't know that NYC has some of the strictest gun laws in the nation is not too sharp.

[Culvercreek hunt club]

Personally I wouldn't take any gun out of state without checking the laws of the state i was going to or traveling through. I would think as a gun owner and a member of a movement that focuses on too much Govt involvement in our lives he would have known there are widely differing laws.

I really have to say, while I think NYC's laws are BS they still are laws. It is no different than going out of state to hunt and just going by NY's game laws for weapons, hunting times and limits. I think it is our responsibility to know what we are doing.

And that issue is totally different thatn whether NYC's laws are bogus. (whiich , I agin think they are) He should consider himself lucky he isn't behind bars.

Edited January 25, 2012 by Culvercreek hunt club

[waterweasle]

So I guess you guys know ALL the laws across the nation? Wait, let's just start with laws pertaining to guns... yes?

If not, don't judge another's intellect based on the fact that his rights was stripped from him, when least expected. Not everyone grows in a messed up place we call NYC and know the work-arounds.

Bottom line is, law abiding citizens should not be treated this way, regardless if they knew the law or not.

certainly dont know all the laws around the country.BUT if I'm traveling to another state I no for damn sure I'll be calling the state police in that state and asking what I should do or what I can carry in thier state........and upon entering NYC with thier legally owned guns( in thier home states) they ARENT law abiding anymore, they broke local laws

[WNYBuckHunter]

Im sorry, but there is no good excuse for any of the recent cases of people getting caught carrying in NYC without the proper permit. As a responsible gun owner, you should always make sure you can carry your gun where you are traveling, and find out what restrictions there are in place. If you arent sure, then leave your gun at home.

I dont agree with NY's gun laws, but I still follow them.

[Doc]

I have to admit that NYC has kind of a European view of private gun ownership and it hasn't really been kept a secret that the People's Republic of New York basically views the notion of freedom and the Constitution as kind of an inconvenience. For me NYC is simply a place to stay the heck away from (gun or no gun). We visited it one time just out of curiosity (kind of the same mentality of stopping to stare at a train wreck). That was enough for one lifetime. So anyone who goes into that hell-hole with a weapon, probably is asking for confrontation. And I don't doubt for a minute that the authorities there are simply loving a chance to show off their Commie handi-work.

[Suilleabhain]

Problem with NYC, Manhattan specifically, is no New Yorkers live there anymore. Everyone I know, work with, travel with who lives in NYC is from out of state. A lot from Boston and Mass in general, Seattle folks have large representation as do Chicago and Conn. And they are all liberals. I work in finance, in 40 years in my industry, I don't think I met more than 6hunters.

If you go to Bklyn, 60% aren't from this country, continent or hemisphere.

The melting pot is just a bowl of sludge now.

I have to travel through it daily, I'm in the place for maybe 10 minutes and I hate it and I hate the grubby sponging trash junkies all over the place. And I hate the liberal elite who think this is what America is or should be.

I grew up in Queens when neighborhoods were ethnic. You went to different neighborhoods for different things. People spoke their own languages but, one common theme was..if you asked them they were Americans and very proud of it. It wasn't perfect and I'm sure there were abuses But in many respects it was better than today. This reminds me of the DESCENT of mankind. Now there are so many neighborhoods I would dare go into or only before dark.

[Elmo]

Unless you're a Native American Indian then you're not truly from this land. This entire country was founded on the backs and sweat of immigrants. If you were born here, the only difference that means was your father, grandfather, great grandfater, or how ever far back you want to do, came here first ahead of everyone else. But they didn't do it any different or for a different reason. And that's for a better oppurtunity. Because you or your ancentors liked it here better than where they're original from. So if you're Irish, or Dominican, or Guyanese, or what have you. If you're so damn proud to be who you are then why do you continue to choose to stay here? Why not go back? I mean I'm Chinese and I'm proud of it. But if I have to ever choose between China and America because my allegence is to United States of America.

[Elmo]

And while I'm ranting...why the f*** do I have to "press 1 to continue in English"? Why isn't it "press 1 if you want to switch over to Spanish and if your a** don't press 1 then we're going to continue in English and your a** better learn some real f***ing soon because this is America, damn it!"

Edited January 29, 2012 by Elmo

[WNYBuckHunter]

+1 Elmo. I am of Native American and German decent, but I am 100% American. My family has been here since well before the Civil War, and the other part has been here all along. The German side came here, assimilated and made their way. My family has fought in every war this country has ever seen, besides the Revolutionary (that we know of). The way I look at it is much like you, if you love the place your ancestors came from so much, then take your butt back there. Otherwise, call yourself an American, learn the language and be a productive member of society.

[wooffer]

You guys miss what is going on, laws are supposed to be promulgated. The ever changing laws of NYC are the equivalent of a speed trap. It is easy to see why this nation is slipping away from it's citizens and further into the governments hands.