The Public Opinion Soapbox

Mavis · Joined: 22 Oct 2007 Posts: 74

Was it necessary for Gregory Rotz to take his gun into the voting booth? Is it necessary and/or appropriate to exercise our legal rights any time, any place we choose to, just because we have them?

http://www.publicopiniononline.com/localnews/ci_7706118

AnonyMouse · Joined: 22 Oct 2007 Posts: 440

We're all about our rights in this country, but you don't hear much talk about responsibility.

Mavis · Joined: 22 Oct 2007 Posts: 74

It seems that many people use rights -- free speech, religion, carrying a gun etc. -- as a way of getting in someone else's face or gaining an advantage over someone else.

In my view, this cheapens our Bill of Rights.

.45chel · Joined: 26 Oct 2007 Posts: 2842 Location: Chambersburg

I personally cannot speak to neccessity.
I know that some would say it is absolutely necessary to be armed whenever legal, to ensure the safety of yourself and those around you.
I doubt I would have reacted the same way as Mr. Rotz, but I don't know if that is a good thing or not. It would have been easier to just put the firearm away or just wear it concealed, but would it have been best?

As far as exercising our rights go---Absolutely. Like a muscle, I think you need to use them. Especially now. Our government is whittling away at our rights to privacy, fair trial and so many others. And people have let them.

You may think I'm being overly dramatic. Perhaps I am. But Mr. Rotz was within the law. He didn't even need a license to do what he did. (You only need a license to conceal.) And because he dared to stand up and say,"No, you're wrong." They stripped his license. (Now he has to carry in open view, which is what got him in trouble in the first place!)

I don't know this guy--- he may be a complete butthead. But I know he was following the law. I know that right around the holidays he had to shell out money for a lawyer, just to clear his name and regain a right that should never have been taken. (Yes, I said right. Because the state issues Right to Carry licenses to anyone who is not a criminal, court-ruled mentally unstable, etc.) I know that ain't right. (Using ain't for emphasis.)

I also know that if my husband pulled some mess like this, I'd give him heck at home! But you better believe that I would be by his side in public, giving the sheriff and anyone else who dared say it was his fault for being dumb enough to think he was allowed to use his rights, a whole lot more heck!

Please don't take this post as an attack. It is merely my opinion and I swear I didn't raise my voice once while typing it! Very Happy

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anonymous_coward · Joined: 24 Oct 2007 Posts: 531

just a point of clarification, he did need a license to do what he did because he drove to the polls

Irish1 · Joined: 22 Oct 2007 Posts: 61 Location: Montgomery Township

a_c,
He may not have needed a permit for conceal, he could have drove up w/ it cased and unloaded. Not everyone has a permit to conceal but have the right to carry open and if they drive they must unload (and case).

anonymous_coward · Joined: 24 Oct 2007 Posts: 531

ok, good point, but i really doubt he did that, especially since he had a permit.

anonymous_coward · Joined: 24 Oct 2007 Posts: 531

and while i agree that it sounds like the law does not explicitly ban guns at polls now (ambiguous since it bans constables to carry at the polls, and if his polling place was a school it would have been banned) it probably would be a good idea to ban guns at polls. historically intimidation of force has been used to disenfranchise voters and allowing guns could facilitate future disenfranchising. This would be an example where someone else's rights are could be infringed (ability to vote freely) by someone's carrying a gun.

Ret-Fed · Joined: 04 Dec 2007 Posts: 6

Bobo · Joined: 22 Oct 2007 Posts: 173 Location: Chambersburg

Sorry Chel, but I'm gonna have to disagree with you on this one. I get what you're saying about our rights slowly being eroded. But come on. Taking a gun into a polling place is inappropriate, unnecessary and in my view, over the top. I agree with AC. Guns don't belong in a polling place - a place where people are gathered to exercise their voting rights. What if the guy had been a nut and started shooting up the place? Then we would have complained about how there wasn't enough security.
_________________
The sun, the moon and the stars would have disappeared long ago... had they happened to be within the reach of predatory human hands. ~Havelock Ellis, The Dance of Life, 1923

anonymous_coward · Joined: 24 Oct 2007 Posts: 531

State law prohibits constables and other law enforcement officers from wearing weapons at polling places during an election.

The constable at New Franklin, whom Wollyung declined to identify, was aware of the law, Wollyung said.

The constable asked other authorities whether Rotz could carry a weapon, according to Wollyung and Rotz. Rotz declined the constable's suggestion to leave his gun in his vehicle. Rotz voted wearing his side arm.

- From the article on public opinion. try reading to the bottom

As a taxpayer of Franklin County, I for one support the revocation of this guys permit, and the legal fees that will be incurred.

anonymous_coward · Joined: 24 Oct 2007 Posts: 531

.45chel · Joined: 26 Oct 2007 Posts: 2842 Location: Chambersburg

Ret-Fed · Joined: 04 Dec 2007 Posts: 6

.45chel · Joined: 26 Oct 2007 Posts: 2842 Location: Chambersburg