Some of you are aware of the recent "incident" at Parkdale Mall, in Beaumont, Texas, where Derek Poe (a mall store owner) had an AR (actually an M4 clone), muzzle down on his back while in the mall ...
Today there was a rally, planned by Poe and others prior to the mall incident, where locals open carried long guns.
Here are the media reports:
Dozens march with rifles in open carry rally - 12 News KBMT and K-JAC. News, Weather and Sports for SE Texas
Dozens march with rifles in open carry rally
Posted: Jan 18, 2014 7:11 PM CST Updated: Jan 18, 2014 7:14 PM CST By Adam Wright
BEAUMONT - Marching along Dowlen Road in Beaumont Saturday with rifles slung behind their backs and signs in the air, dozens of Southeast Texans exercised their right to openly carry long arms. It's a right they feel is being attacked.
"The United States Constitution is being trampled," said one marcher.
Saturday's march was organized by the Beaumont chapter of Come and Take It America (CATI), an organization that fights for Second Amendment rights.
"There's a media narrative out there today that guns are bad, and that people with guns are bad, and all across the state we're showing that (that's not true)... just because you're carrying a gun doesn't mean you're a bad person," said CATI regional director Terry Holcomb.
The rally, which started with speakers addressing a crowd outside Sertinos cafe, was attended by many supporters of Derek Poe, owner of Golden Triangle Tactical inside Parkdale Mall. Poe was charged with disorderly conduct after carrying an AR-15 through the mall in December.
Under Texas law, you can openly carry rifles and shotguns, but not handguns. You have to do so in a manner that does not cause alarm. That's why police say Poe was charged with a crime, because people at the mall told authorities they were fearful.
"When someone does open carry, people freak out, so hopefully this will desensitize people to the aspect of seeing firearms," Poe said at Saturday's rally.
Among marchers was 91-year-old Charles Henson, one of the last surviving World War II veterans in Beaumont.
"The oath that I took said this: 'I swear to uphold and support the Constitution of the United States of America'.... that also includes the Second Amendment," said Henson.
Several mothers were also on hand, some who brought their children. Before the march began, each gun was checked to make sure it wasn't loaded for safety reasons.
Beaumont police were on hand to make sure everything went smoothly. Officers say the difference between Saturday's demonstration and the incident with Poe at Parkdale Mall is that marchers made it clear ahead of time that their intent was peaceful in nature.
Poe's rifle is still in police custody. He is fighting the charges brought against him and is scheduled to appear in court February 4th.
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Group defends Second Amendment rights with long guns and cookies - Beaumont Enterprise
Group defends Second Amendment rights with long guns and cookies
By Sarah Moore
Published 6:58 pm, Saturday, January 18, 2014
A group of determined men, women and children got together Saturday for a family-friendly outing - a heavily-armed family outing with some of Southeast Texas' staunchest defenders of their Second Amendment rights.
The Beaumont chapter of Come and Take it Texas organized an open carry rally and walk down Dowlen Road to air their concerns following an incident at Parkdale Mall on Dec. 28, when a store owner's gun was seized and he was cited after he walked through the mall with an AR-15 strapped to his back.
Organizer Brian Smith of Liberty County estimated about 110 people showed up at the Sertino's parking lot, where the Pledge of Allegiance was recited and a microphone was set up anyone who wanted to speak.
Following the rally, the gun-toting group walked out to Crow Road, crossed Dowlen and went south to Lowe's.
There were AR-15s and AK-47s and other long guns that are legal to carry openly in Texas.
Smith, a 53-year-old retired firefighter, carried a 1914 Remington Enfield.
"It's a veteran of World War I, it's been around a while," he said. "It's 100 years old, let it see some sunshine."
Smith said the group's main objective is for Texas' open carry rights to be extended to handguns as well as long guns.
As it stands, only police officers and those breaking the law display handguns openly, and Smith said there is no reason why law-abiding Texans should not be able to carry them openly.
After the walk, they went to lunch at one of three restaurants that agreed to host them: Raising Cane's, Schlotzsky's and Chick-fil-A.
Smith and his wife, Pam, said public reaction was mostly positive, with honking, thumbs up and rebel yells offered as signs of support from passing motorists.
In keeping with promoting a positive image of firearms, Pam Smith baked batches of homemade sugar cookies for those who attended.
"Everybody likes cookies," she said.
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