scribblings from a deist transhumanist libertarian minarchist citizen soldier

Nancy Pelosi evacuated due to lack of common sense

Posted by Trevor in under other on Aug 25th, 2008 | View Comments |

Government, by its very nature, engenders some pretty idiotic news stories. This is one of the dumbest I’ve read in years. Intent is no longer an issue in the giant plantation of subjects we called the United States of America. Nancy Pelosi, being one of the overseers, must be protected, even when no one is trying to harm her.

Secret Service spokesman Malcolm Wiley said 29-year-old Joseph Calanchini of Pinedale, Wyo., faces a charge of unlawful carrying of a weapon after police officers at the Grand Hyatt hotel noticed him carrying a rifle-type case while checking in. Calanchini did not have a concealed weapons permit, said Lance Clem, spokesman for the Colorado Department of Public Safety.

Wiley said authorities were not releasing information about whether the weapons were loaded because the case remained under investigation. Wiley said the charge is the same whether the weapons were loaded or unloaded.

Pelosi and other guests briefly evacuated the hotel but were never in danger, Pelosi spokesman Brendan Daly said.

The charge of unlawful carrying of a weapon is ridiculous. Carrying a rifle in a rifle case is perfectly reasonable by anyone’s definition, unless you’re dealing with the government. Since government makes up the rules as they go they don’t have to be reasonable.

Authorities were investigating a report that Calanchini was in town on business and had had the weapons worked upon to prepare for the trip.

“The speaker was never in any danger and she appreciates the quick and professional response of the police,” said Daly.

So what we have is a situation where Speaker Pelosi appreciates “the professional response” of armed thugs. If these police were professional they wouldn’t be charging Joseph Calanchini with anything. They would have simply determined that he was a hunter passing through the area and let him go about his business. Unfortunately we are being treated as subjects instead of citizens by our government. That’s why Calanchini had to be charged with something. He needed to be reminded that he isn’t really free, and America isn’t really the home of the brave.

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Roger May

Re: Nancy Pelosi evacuated due to "lack of common sense".

Imagine this scenario: The President or Vice-President are in a locale to give a speech or fund-raise or just on vacation. The Secret Service has their 'curiosity' piqued (to put it mildly) because a man is carrying what appears to be a concealed rifle while he is checking into a hotel where the President or Vice-President are located.

What happened to the gentleman in the 'Pelosi' story would be far less than what would happen to the man in my scenario.
Nancy Pelosi as Speaker of the House, is 2nd in line to succeed the President. I feel the SECRET SERVICE (not police) did what they felt was required in this situation.

Obviously the Secret Service take their job seriously and rightly so considering the times we live in after 9/11 and what has transpired in previous decades.

Trevor

Roger,

I certainly understand everything you are saying. And I understand that the Secret Service has a job to do.

Hopefully you understand the point I am trying to make, which is that intent matters. As much as I dislike Nancy Pelosi's politics they have nothing to do with the fact that this incident became a news story.

What is important here is that this gentleman checking in to the hotel was on a hunting trip and had no ill will towards anyone. By all we can glean from this story he is a law abiding productive citizen. Why are the authorities looking to charge him with ANYTHING? He should be politely apologized to and on his way within minutes.

If the government insists on treating citizens like serfs then a rebellion is imminent at some point. Nancy Pelosi, the Secret Service and every government employee at the federal, state and local level need to understand this. They work for YOU, not the other way around. Bear in mind that I am in the National Guard, and I expect nothing less than a humble attitude and a respectful demeanor at all times - from myself and from any soldiers in my charge.

kitanis

According to Air Force Instructions.. your correct Trevor A person who lives in family housing can bring the weapon on base to and from.. A military member could also do that if they come in from off base etc. But to carry a firearm or store a firearm with intent to use as a personal protection is against federal law even if that individual carries a CCW. You also got to remember.. during Force Protection Charlie. The rules change slightly and enforcement measures increase to protect the installation. Hill AFB remained that way for over two months after 9/11. Heck I even got one of my pistols confiscated for awhile when I came off-duty from my second job as a reserve police officer and drove into the base.. forgetting that my duty weapon was stored in the trunk that I forget to take to my apartment before putting on my military uniform.

Trevor

Kitanis,

Isn't it possible to get written permission to drive on and off base with personal weapons as long as they are properly registered with the base PMO?

How else would a servicemember travel to and from off base housing with a personal weapon? What about individuals who are on the rifle/pistol team or who have other reasons for carrying, self-defense not the least of all? I drive 70 miles to drill when I go and it would be highly inconvenient to rent a storage locker or otherwise make arrangements to store my personal defense weapons somewhere.

kitanis

Illegally carrying a firearm without a concealed weapons permit? the reporter and the colorado department of public saftey obviously dose not know the law and the purpose of the CCW. You do not need a CCW to own a rifle in that state.. and Trevor is right when he says to carry it in a case is actually a safe thing to do.. could have been worse..it could have been out of the case and loaded and firing.... I think his judgement was in question.. but he was not actually breaking any law.. it was a interpetation of a threat involved here.
Reminds me when I got put on security forces augmentee duty after 9/11 at Hill AFB.. and we were doing 100% vehicle checks.. a civilian employee drives up in a 1978 toyota tercell.. with a loaded 12 gauge shotgun under the seat that was 22 inches long. When the CMSgt asked him what was up with the shotgun after i pulled it out from under the seat. The guy produced his Utah CCW and told us that he wanted it there in case of the terrorists attack..
I was laughing so hard but ended up having to tell the guy that his weapon was to be confiscated until his supervisory chain was informed.. and that it was illegal to bring firearms on base according to Federal Law..and his CCW was null and void at the gate, and that he would have to jump out of the car to get the darn thing out if something did happen on base.. The guy was just playing on the fears that the rest of the country was going through after that day and everyone thought the bases were going to be mad rushed by "terrorists".
But in the end.. me and the chief convinced the base commander to release the weapon back to him after work.. three days later minus the ammo. Apparently the Secret Service and the Colorado Dept of Public Safety are not so lienient with Mr. Calanchini.

T F Stern

Maybe the hunter shouldn't have placed a three ring target on Nancy's forehead with the words, "Drill Here"; that might have been an issue.

Trevor

Right. Professional assassins always walk through the hotel lobby with a rifle in a rifle bag just before they strike!

Coralie Solange

No, you're wrong, Trevor. It was a rifle and rifles are dangerous. Guns are bad, m'kay? Especially something as easily concealed and used in close quarters as a freakin rifle!