So about a month a go, I'm in Hampton Beach and there's a ridiculous number of cops with way too much attitude. It occurs to me that what this place needed was nice open carry event. But when would it do the most good? On Labor day weekend when all of our friends from Mass can gawk at us.
I shared this with some folks since then got some positive responses so it's on for Sat the 30th. We'll decide on the details later but I wanted to get it out there so folks would have time to make plans. What could be better than enjoying a beautiful summer day at the beach and working in some activism too? I may go early and just spend the whole day walking around. Maybe pass out some flyers too.
Have the open carry events in Manchester continued every other Sunday? If not, why not? If so, does it fall on this weekend? Also needed would be videographers (hello copwatchers) and supporters neither carrying nor filming but just being there and kickin it on the coast.
I'm up for it and will ride-share with someone from Manchester. I'm planning on organizing a Nashua NH Rt. 3 clean up in the 'commercial' areas. WAYYY too many people from Massachusetts there.
Sweet. Hopefully we'll have plenty of folks from Manch and getting a ride won't be a problem. If by some chance you still don't have one when the time draws near, let me know we'll pick you up on our way in.
i'd be up for another OC day @ the beach..i'll have to get a new battery for my camcorder(old one doesn't hold charge well).
Quote from: William on August 07, 2008, 11:45 PM NHFT
Have the open carry events in Manchester continued every other Sunday? If not, why not? If so, does it fall on this weekend? Also needed would be videographers (hello copwatchers) and supporters neither carrying nor filming but just being there and kickin it on the coast.
Manchester has gotten rained out twice in a row now. No one wants rusty hardware. :)
It's always on the second and fourth Sunday of each month, preceding Alec's ice cream social event.
Quote from: J'raxis 270145 on August 15, 2008, 12:41 AM NHFT
Quote from: William on August 07, 2008, 11:45 PM NHFT
Have the open carry events in Manchester continued every other Sunday? If not, why not? If so, does it fall on this weekend? Also needed would be videographers (hello copwatchers) and supporters neither carrying nor filming but just being there and kickin it on the coast.
Manchester has gotten rained out twice in a row now. No one wants rusty hardware. :)
It's always on the second and fourth Sunday of each month, preceding Alec's ice cream social event.
That happens to be the day after. I'll talk to the guys on Sunday and Tues to see if they would be willing to reschedule to the day before. I doubt many folks will want to do two open carry events back to back especially on a holiday weekend.
I don't think I'll be able to make it. Sorry :( Have to be somewhere Saturday afternoon.
What time is this going to be at? Brad Jardis is going to do some door-to-door campaigning from 11:00–15:00 in Hooksett, which I'll be helping out with, and I'm sure several other people who might want to go to this will be there, too.
when is this planned for? I'm going to make a deal. . . I'll be there looking for people with guns on that don't dress up in police uniforms.
I'll have my camera, but no gun. Got a sox game in the evening so I'll be leaving around 1/2pm
Ok, Here's the best plan I can come up with. We are meeting at the Walmart in Seabrook between 10:30 - 11:00.
Parking is rough at the beach usually and more so on a holiday weekend. Fortunately, Peter has volunteered the use of his 15 passenger van. He also has handicap plates so we'll be able to smooth into a nice spot.
We'll load up in his van, park near the south end of the strip, head north walking to the far end and find a place to have lunch. I'd say 20 min - half hour leisurely walk each way plus lunch puts the whole event at about 2 hours barring complications. Add a 10 min drive each way and we should be out by 1:30.
It wouldn't be a bad idea to make a day of it and hang out at the beach afterwards.
Wal-Mart
270 Lafayette Road
Seabrook, NH 03874
sounds good to me. . . meet at Wal-Mart near the garden center?
Quote from: AntonLee on August 28, 2008, 07:57 PM NHFT
sounds good to me. . . meet at Wal-Mart near the garden center?
We'll be somewhere in middle of the parking lot. Look for the big blue van and the guys with guns. ;)
Folks, please be careful, and keep your cool. I'll see if I can make it out there to join you.
Be sure to review your rights and obligations, and have a plan of action if you're confronted - decide ahead of time whether your goal is to educate the officer about open carry, or to simply refuse to cooperate with an unlawful detention. "I don't feel like chatting, am I free to go?"
Remember, the place to win victory in a confrontation with a cop acting unlawfully is in the courtroom, not on the sidewalk.
For rain events perhaps we should get cheap guns we don't plan on using and keep them unloaded. Cops don't let the rain stop them from patrolling, perhaps we shouldn't let it stop us from educating the public. Then again, there will be far fewer people out if it is raining. We'd just have to keep in mind that they'd not be usable in the event of an emergency.
Quote from: William on August 28, 2008, 07:00 PM NHFTAdd a 10 min drive each way and we should be out by 1:30.
It wouldn't be a bad idea to make a day of it and hang out at the beach afterwards.
Is the "10 min drive" what you'd expect on a normal day?
Remember the fact that this is not only a holiday weekend - but also the last one of the summer!
Traffic is heavy enough heading into (and sometimes out of) the beach area that I ruled the area out when choosing where to live.
Anywho, I hope to see you all at the beach. I plan on doing 2 separate stories for my youtube channel - which is PHONHJohn.
I'm sure traffic will be far worse later in the afternoon / early eve. Fortunately we will only be in one vehicle and won't have parking issues whatsoever. The strip has a fairly large overhang so we should be able to stay mostly dry even if it rains. We've had beautiful weather the last few days, it could hold out one more that would be awesome.
Quote from: William on August 29, 2008, 07:56 PM NHFTWe've had beautiful weather the last few days, it could hold out one more that would be awesome.
I find these guys to be pretty accurate.
http://www.weather.com/weather/hourbyhour/USNH0099?from=36hr_topnav_undeclared
Quote from: John on August 29, 2008, 10:17 PM NHFT
Quote from: William on August 29, 2008, 07:56 PM NHFTWe've had beautiful weather the last few days, it could hold out one more that would be awesome.
I find these guys to be pretty accurate.
http://www.weather.com/weather/hourbyhour/USNH0099?from=36hr_topnav_undeclared
Thanks for the link. Partly cloudy, 68% humidity, 20% chance of precipitation and a nice 8mph breeze. Perfect!
have fun out there guys! i hope to hear some 411 calls if there are any police encounters....but don't forget to inform the police they are being recorded.
Quote from: William on August 28, 2008, 11:24 PM NHFT
Quote from: AntonLee on August 28, 2008, 07:57 PM NHFT
sounds good to me. . . meet at Wal-Mart near the garden center?
We'll be somewhere in middle of the parking lot. Look for the big blue van and the guys with guns. ;)
Sorry, it's a white van.
This was for today, the 30th? Just checking out the forum and saw this, if its on labor day monday I'll be there :P if its today, have fun.
it was fun, didn't see anyone carrying though. . .myself and John were there with cameras.
I couldn't make it. I didn't wake up until 9 ish and had other things to do besides.
The coast is too far away. :(
How'd everything go?
actually it was just me and John from Salem. . . I don't have a gun (still in MA) and he had his camera. We talked to a few people about what we were going to be filming. . . and after a couple of hours we took off.
It was a good time I'm glad I did it.
The first one in Manchester didn't have anyone show up. Times change so don't be discouraged.
Quote from: AntonLee on August 30, 2008, 11:23 PM NHFT
actually it was just me and John from Salem. . . I don't have a gun (still in MA) and he had his camera. We talked to a few people about what we were going to be filming. . . and after a couple of hours we took off.
It was a good time I'm glad I did it.
Didn't see you guys there. I guess we should have exchanged phone #'s. I was there with Pete and we walked the strip and had lunch at the purple urchin. We were both carrying and got a few looks from the beach goers but no response from the cops. There were at least 4 cars and one motorcycle patrolling a few square block area. I couldn't tell if any of the car units saw us at all or noticed but I'm sure the bike cop did and he just ignored us which of course was the best possible outcome.
Maybe next time I'll open carry while wearing a Guy Fawkes mask. ;D
I did have a minor incident at the Hopkington fair the day before which I'll post about in another thread.
You just wanna be careful with carry while concealing your identity, that could constitute a lawful stop in that the average person would be reasonably suspicious of such a scene.
I just moved to Hampton last week. We should get in touch about this stuff!
Quote from: Giggan on September 02, 2008, 12:01 PM NHFT
You just wanna be careful with carry while concealing your identity, that could constitute a lawful stop in that the average person would be reasonably suspicious of such a scene.
Why?
What specific facts about that scene would reasonably lead someone to conclude that a law has been, is being, or is about to be broken?
In and of itself, nothing. But it makes two factors of 'unordinary' behavior (though we aim to removes open carry from unordinary) which would amount to suspicious behavior. Being it a strange scene in and of itself, one more strange factor would likely tempt an officer to question, thought the technical requirements for a stop would not be there, we know this will not stop a suspicious officer. I don't believe it qualifies for an articuable amount of reasonable suspicion, but most officers would probably agree that the scene is strange enough in itself that it would lead them to stop (or at the very least, question) someone who is open carrying as well as concealing their identity. I don't agree with it, but that is the way they will see it...unless of course they are aware of the politically-conscious open carry crowd that is seeing if perfectly legal behavior will pre-empt a stop. If they think they will get resistance (and know the person carrying will know they are right) they will be far less likely to stop them.
Just because the law is on our side doesn't mean the police will necessarily see it that way, and I'm thinking its something we should be aware of. Many of them are still ignorant of the legality of open carry as it is. Throw in another factor, and they may not respond so nicely.
I'm ready to open carry publicly when there are more porcs in the state. I just got here so I have to feel out what my comfort level is. I decided to move and then figure all these things out eventually....especially as more porcs move in.