Alphecca: Ohio Pink Pistols Confronted

June 30, 2004

Ohio Pink Pistols Confronted

In a follow up to my mention of the Pink Pistols being dis-invited from the Columbus, Ohio Gay Pride Parade last Sunday, Gwen, from the Pink Pistols reported on the confrontation in my comments section. I thought it should receive more publicity so I'm reprinting it here:

Initially three, then later, four members of the Central Ohio Pink Pistols, a group promoting the safe handling of firearms in the GLBT community, were threatened by the Executive Director of Stonewall Columbus, who wielded a 2-foot club, and up to 30 volunteer security personnel at the Stonewall Columbus Pride Event on Saturday, June 26. The Pink Pistols were repeatedly ordered to surrender their legally-owned and carried firearms by a steadily-growing army of guards. Knowing the law was on their side, the Pink Pistols refused to surrender their property or knuckle under to illegal threats of violence, search, and seizure by Stonewall Columbus personnel. Police were summoned at Pink Pistols request. No firearms were surrendered or confiscated, and no arrests were made, as no laws were broken.

Emphasis mine. As others have noted, various Pride Parade organizers around the country have allowed such disgusting and illegal (or at least promoting illegal activity) groups as NAMBLA to march with them, but would not allow responsible, law-abiding groups such the Pink Pistols to do the same.

If this was a place of business, then yes, the organizers could say, "Sorry, no guns allowed." But in a public venue (a street) parade, I don't think they should be allowed to.

Should cops, marching in a St. Paddy's Day Parade be prevented from wearing their sidearms? Veterans in a Memorial Day Parade?

James at Hell in a Handbasket has a first hand account of what happened via one of his readers. James first brought this whole story to my attention.

The Ohio chapter of the Pink Pistols are all legally licensed to conceal-carry. They did nothing wrong. They weren't even carrying openly as far as I know. (Actually, James says they were, but that's legal too.) But the shrill left that dominates these parades attempted to "confiscate" their guns rather than properly welcoming them as a group that could help empower other gays and lesbians to proactively take their personal protection into their own hands. Outrageous!

Posted by Jeff Soyer at June 30, 2004 06:25 AM

Comments

"They weren't even carrying openly as far as I know."

Yeah, they were openly carrying. But that's legal under the Ohio Constitution. (And they were carrying plastic guns or unloaded ones, which the gay pride people were too ignorant to figure out.)

James

Posted by: James R. Rummel at June 30, 2004 10:18 AM

If I read your post correctly, it appears that those from the left will back the rights of gays as long as they don't do something legal like carry their legal guns. Hmmmm

Posted by: JT_Hunter at June 30, 2004 01:14 PM

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June 30, 2004

Ohio Pink Pistols Confronted

By Golly, you're reading an archived post. Click Here to head to the main page and read current stuff...

Check it out:

My group sci-fi blog novel:

Colony: Alchibah