This is unbelievable..The nazi's have landed

[peternap]

http://www.newsok.com/okc-officer-pulls-man-over-for-anti-obama-sign-on-vehicle/article/3347038?custom_click=headlines_widget
News  News - Local
Oklahoma City police officer pulls man over for anti-Obama sign on vehicle
By Johnny Johnson - Staff Writer
Published: February 19, 2009
Buzz up!

The police officers who stopped Oklahoma City motorist Chip Harrison and confiscated a sign from his car told him he has a right to his beliefs, but the Secret Service "could construe this as a threat against President Obama," according to the incident report released this morning.

The sign, which read "Abort Obama Not the Unborn," was returned to Harrison later that day, the report said.

Police spokesman Steve McCool said this morning that the sign was taken in error, and Oklahoma City residents should not be worried that their First Amendment rights will be violated.

Harrison told the officers that in his opinion the words "Abort Obama" meant to impeach him. He told the officers he does not believe in abortion because he is a Christian.

Harrison was stopped on westbound Interstate 240 at 8:45 a.m. on Feb. 12, according to the police report.

Harrison said he later received a call from a person who said he was a lieutenant supervisor for the Internal Investigations Department and wanted to know his location and return his sign to him.

According to Harrison, the supervisor said the Secret Service had been contacted on the matter and had told them the sign was not a threat to the president.

Harrison was asked if he would like to file a complaint. He said he was not sure but would take the paperwork, just in case.

But his run-in with the law wasn't over yet.

''The Secret Service called and said they were at my house," Harrison said.

After talking to his attorney, Harrison went home where he met the Secret Service.

''When I was on my way there, the Secret Service called me and said they weren't going to ransack my house or anything ... they just wanted to (walk through the house) and make sure I wasn't a part of any hate groups."

Harrison said he invited the Secret Service agents into the house and they were "very cordial."

''We walked through the house and my wife and 2-year-old were in the house," Harrison said.

He said they interviewed him for about 30 minutes and then left, not finding any evidence Harrison was a threat to the president.

''I'm still in contact with a lawyer right now," Harrison said. "I don't know what I'm going to do."

Harrison said he feels his First Amendment rights were violated.

McCool said the officer who pulled over Harrison misinterpreted the sign.

''We had an officer that his interpretation of the sign was different than what was meant," McCool said. "You've got an officer who had a different thought on what the word 'abort' meant."

McCool said the sign basically meant Obama should be impeached and it was not a threat.

''(The officer) shouldn't have taken the sign," McCool said. "That was (Harrison's) First Amendment right to voice his concern."

McCool said although the sign should not have been confiscated, the situation was made right in the end.

''We always try to do the right thing and in the end we believe we did the right thing by returning the sign," McCool said.

[Windpower]

''When I was on my way there, the Secret Service called me and said they weren't going to ransack my house or anything ... they just wanted to (walk through the house) and make sure I wasn't a part of any hate groups."




not without a search warrant in my house or car

[peternap]

Not with a search warrant in my house. They can kiss my A$$!

[StinkerBell]

I agree with wind and peter on this.

[Homegrown Tomatoes]

What a crock!  The guy who stopped him ought to be forced to memorize the Constitution and have his pay suspended a day or two.  What stupidity.  I am surprised it happened in OKC, though.  OKC has a strong pro-life constituency, and it is silly that anyone would make such a stink about the wording on a sign or bumper sticker like that...I've even seen signs like it.  The guy oughtta raise cain about it, and there is no way he should have let them search his house without a warrant.  It's funny... "abort" only means "kill" when it is convenient for law enforcement or government...not when in reference to the unborn.   I don't get it.

[bayview]

Harrison told the officers that in his opinion the words "Abort Obama" meant to impeach him. He told the officers he does not believe in abortion because he is a Christian.

   Abort = Impeach   No, Abort = Death . . .

   I can see why the police and the Secret Service were concerned.  They may have overreacted.  But Mr Harrison could have shown his anti-abortion views in a different way.

   We may not agree with our Presidents, but thier office should be respected.  The guy who threw his shoes at Bush should get the maximum sentence for assault.  He not only threw his shoes at our President, but also at our country.  No respect.

   No way would I allow anyone with a badge into my home without a search warrant.

[fishing_guy]

Harrison told the officers that in his opinion the words "Abort Obama" meant to impeach him. He told the officers he does not believe in abortion because he is a Christian.

   Abort = Impeach   No, Abort = Death . . .

   I can see why the police and the Secret Service were concerned.  They may have overreacted.  But Mr Harrison could have shown his anti-abortion views in a different way.

   We may not agree with our Presidents, but thier office should be respected.  The guy who threw his shoes at Bush should get the maximum sentence for assault.  He not only threw his shoes at our President, but also at our country.  No respect.

   No way would I allow anyone with a badge into my home without a search warrant.

Bayview,

This biggest difference is that between words and actions.  We're supposed to have much more freedom in our words, as guaranteed in the Constitution.  The "rousting" of a private citizen in this manner is unacceptable.
As much as I disliked Bush, I saw many worse signs degrading him...nothing was done.
I fear the pendulum is swung towards overreaction with Obama because of the color of his skin. 

[Curtis]

<sarcasm>
Come search my house. By showing that I disagree with our President, i'm clearly a member of some sort of organize group against him
</sarcasm>

Pshhhhhhhh

I just find it hard to believe that they considered it a worthy matter of getting the Secret Service involved. They took the sign, and they shouldn't of. It should of ended with them returning it, and apologizing. There was no need to go any further.

[bayview]

Bayview,

This biggest difference is that between words and actions.  We're supposed to have much more freedom in our words, as guaranteed in the Constitution.  The "rousting" of a private citizen in this manner is unacceptable.
As much as I disliked Bush, I saw many worse signs degrading him...nothing was done.
I fear the pendulum is swung towards overreaction with Obama because of the color of his skin. 

I agree that this situation was handled incorrectly.  An over-reaction on the police and Secret Service.  Strange that he consulted an attorney but still allowed himself to be harrassed.  Allowing them access to his home, being interviewed without an attorney present . . .  I'm sure he will be suing soon . . .   

Mr. Harrison could have used different language with his sign.  Words DO have meanings.  Abort means impeach?  Then why not say that?  Maybe a sign like:  "Impeach Obama, Don't abort the unborn" or "I don't agree with Obamas Abortion Views" may have been better.  Proper restraint and respect should have applied.

A person can speak sensibly or with maliciousness.  Defamation of a president may be Freedom of Speech, but is has been used in poor taste.  If you used the same type of language in the private sector you could be looking at a libel suit.  Freedom of Speech is not limitless when it infringes on the rights of others.

I don't mind when someone disagrees with our presidents.  But I dislike the hate type speech.




 

[StinkerBell]

I can see bayviewp, how abort could be meant as impeach. Yes when having an abortion a mother is causing the death of her baby and is forcing it out of the womb. It is not a big leap to say Abort Obama means to force him out of office and let his presidency die. I felt it was a reasonable explanation.

[Homegrown Tomatoes]

Thing is Bay, you face the issue later of what is and is not "hate" speech.  Pretty soon, anyone who offends someone else with what they say is accused of "hate".  I just find it ironic that as far as our government is concerned, abortion does not mean murder or killing.  It is heralded as a woman's "right".  That is until someone uses the term regarding the president, and then suddenly it means to kill?  Pretty hypocritical.  Abort also means to abandon, discard, quit, etc.  Plays on words are allowable so long as it doesn't offend our president?  It is NOT hate speech. It is freedom of speech.  And while I don't necessarily think it was the most tactful message, though I heartily agree with his stance on abortion, I would defend his right to say what he thinks about it without being harrassed by law enforcement.  I personally think that this is a much more tasteful take on the same message from a Catholic group
http://www.catholicvote.com/

[peternap]

Bayview, in poor taste or not, it was not a threat in any sense of the word. Now if Obama had not been born yet which he has unfortunately has, it could be considered a threat, but not now.

If that shocks you I'm afraid you'd have heart failure if you overhear what I say about him.

The entire episode was illegal and hopefully he does sue successfully. I also think this is a sign of what's coming. In crisis times the government tries to maintain it's position by force and intimidation.

This will be a trying 4 years if it goes that long.

[bayview]

I can see bayviewp, how abort could be meant as impeach. Yes when having an abortion a mother is causing the death of her baby and is forcing it out of the womb. It is not a big leap to say Abort Obama means to force him out of office and let his presidency die. I felt it was a reasonable explanation.

Yes, I can see what your saying . . . Why not just say impeach then.  Maybe, to get this type of reaction?

Sorry, this has hit a nerve.  Both with abortion and disrespecting the presidency . . .  Disagree with the president-presidency, dont disrespect.

[peternap]

I can see bayviewp, how abort could be meant as impeach. Yes when having an abortion a mother is causing the death of her baby and is forcing it out of the womb. It is not a big leap to say Abort Obama means to force him out of office and let his presidency die. I felt it was a reasonable explanation.

Yes, I can see what your saying . . . Why not just say impeach then.  Maybe, to get this type of reaction?

Sorry, this has hit a nerve.  Both with abortion and disrespecting the presidency . . .  Disagree with the president-presidency, dont disrespect.

It hasn't hit a nerve, just healthy disagreement

I haven't seen anyone show disrespect for the office, just the man. On election I wrote that you would never hear the P word and Obama's name from me. And no one has,

The man and the office are separate entity s.

[bayview]

It hasn't hit a nerve, just healthy disagreement

I haven't seen anyone show disrespect for the office, just the man. On election I wrote that you would never hear the P word and Obama's name from me. And no one has,

The man and the office are separate entity s.

Your may be right . . .

[peternap]

It hasn't hit a nerve, just healthy disagreement

I haven't seen anyone show disrespect for the office, just the man. On election I wrote that you would never hear the P word and Obam.a's name from me. And no one has,

The man and the office are separate entity s.

Your may be right . . .

Now if you want to see blatant, childish disrespect for a Government Official, look at my post about the Double Ox Butt award for Tim Kaine .

[StinkerBell]

I can see bayviewp, how abort could be meant as impeach. Yes when having an abortion a mother is causing the death of her baby and is forcing it out of the womb. It is not a big leap to say Abort Obama means to force him out of office and let his presidency die. I felt it was a reasonable explanation.

Yes, I can see what your saying . . . Why not just say impeach then.  Maybe, to get this type of reaction?

Sorry, this has hit a nerve.  Both with abortion and disrespecting the presidency . . .  Disagree with the president-presidency, dont disrespect.

Hasn't hit a nerve with me at all, I just saw the connection before I read the explanation from the person who was protesting. I didn't think it was clever or anything, rather I found it crass. However I also find the magazines like Hustler and Playboy very crass and they are protected under the constitution.

[ScottA]

These cops have been watching to much TV.

[fishing_guy]

On the way to our up-north property, on the edge of Cotton is my favorite hand-painted free speech sign of all time:

Cotton, Founded 1858.  Dumbfounded ever since.

Gives me a chuckle every time I pass by.

[Jochen]

This is unbelievable..The nazi's have landed

Give me a break.  Were do you see nazi's entering the scene? I was under the impression that under the ousted Government of George W. Bush the U.S. were enroute to become a police state.

[glenn kangiser]

I think we are under way to becoming a police state no matter who is in there. 

[peternap]

I think we are under way to becoming a police state no matter who is in there. 

It depends Glenn....on how many of us don't put up with it. The fellow in the story is a good example of how not to act. A. He let the cop take his sign. B. He let the SS go in his house. C. He even talked to the JBT's.

Handling the cop would have been easy. Tell the Officer you want his supervisor on the scene. The supervisor would have ended it there and then. They know a suit is coming and started damage control. The cop is probably already a resource officer in some school.

The SS is easy. Just say NO! My guess is he got bad advice from his lawyer... but every American needs to know his rights. No warrant, no entry. No lawyer, no statment.

Don't know what it's like in Kanada other than what I've heard and that isn't good, but this S%it doesn't happen here unless you go with the program.

In Va. we have some police departments that try to make up their own laws. They get sued. Norfolk keeps arresting people for wearing guns in the city. They get sued and lose or settle. I think we have made our point now.
This fellow gets arrested often. The gun community across the state chips in for a lawyer and he gets off. Then sues. The city settled for $10,000.00 the last time. This one will be more expensive.

http://news.oldva.org/blogroll/another-story-about-dan-moore/

If people quit putting up with that crap, it will stop!

[ScottA]

Problem is peter that most people can't afford the arrest, lawyer, and the court time. The cops know this and that's how they get away with it.

[peternap]

Problem is peter that most people can't afford the arrest, lawyer, and the court time. The cops know this and that's how they get away with it.

I know Scott. They count on people not wanting to be arrested. That's why we need to chip in when it happens. Doing that does more to keep the localities on the straight and narrow than anything else.

[Windpower]

I have had two recent experiences with police

One can out ot write up a report on a theft of my GPS (from my driveway)   

he kept asking quests that were irrelevant to the report 

fast forward

house accross the street burns

I told the sheriff deputy  she  could use our bathroom if she needed

walking back to  the house she started asking questions about the people whose house burned

do you know them

not really

how many people live there

they have 2 dogs

Have you been seeing alot of traffic in and out of here lately

not really




I mean what has this got to do with a house burning down

this is a solid middle class neighborhood

It is like they are trying to get as much information as possible about people

they interviewed the man that was house sitting the burned house for 45 minutes -- what's with that