Howdy from 2,843 mi away!

Nice forum you have here, but you guys need to do some promotion / recruiting. I'm trying to help, I recommended the NWCDL to someone on THR.

Here is a story out of Georgia, from GCO Sues. Check it out GCO is doing great things in Georgia.

On August 1, a GCO member went shopping at his neighborhood Kroger (a GCO Corporate Sponsor) in Augusta while openly carrying a holstered pistol, as is his habit, particularly during Georgia's hot summertime when concealment is not as easily effected as in the winter. As he was carrying his groceries to the car, a police vehicle raced toward him and stopped. The GCO member, Zach Mead, just had time gently to set down his groceries in the parking lot next to his car before Deputy Kadum Townsend of the Richmond County Sheriff's office rushed up to him and violently snatched the pistol from Mr. Mead's holster. Deputy Townsend then turned his back on Mr. Mead and took the pistol to his patrol car. When Mr. Mead protested, he was informed, over the officer's shoulder, that it was illegal to carry a pistol openly in Augusta. The deputy informed Mr. Mead that his license is a "Concealed Carry Permit" only and that he must conceal while carrying his pistol. The deputy proceeded to run the serial number of the firearm to see if it was stolen, since it is common knowledge that thieves openly carry any pistol they might steal.

The deputy told Mr. Mead that he was being detained because a pedestrian had told him that there was a "man with a gun" shopping inside the grocery store.

Mr. Mead presented his military identification. In Georgia, a person with military identification has the same exemptions as a law enforcement officer (see O.C.G.A. 16-11-130). Mr. Mead also showed his firearms license and tried to inform the deputy of the error of his ways. Failing to display the appropriate level of humility that a servile subject owes his sovereign, Mr. Mead told Deputy Townsend he was violating his rights. Mr. Mead even had the audacity to ask for his gun back.

Responding to this unexpected insolence, the deputy snapped that he would arrest Mr. Mead for disorderly conduct if he did not keep quiet. He also informed him that he would be keeping his gun.

This was only for "safekeeping" until Mr. Mead could present "proof of purchase."

When he later contacted the Sheriff's Department, they told Mr. Mead they did not have his firearm, because it had been shipped to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation for analysis. An Open Records Act request to the GBI showed that the firearm had never been shipped to the GBI for any reason whatsoever. In other words, the Sheriff's Department was lying to Mr. Mead.

GCO believes it is a violation of the Fourth Amendment to forcibly[sic] detain a free Georgian for no reason other than that the person is carrying a holstered pistol while shopping. This amounts to governmental harassment for exercising a constitutional right. GCO certainly believes it is a violation of the Fourth Amendment to seize a citizen's property without justification.

GCO's Board of Directors is concerned over the increasing number of reports it is receiving of police officers harassing people merely for carrying a holstered pistol. Consequently, GCO filed a lawsuit in federal court, Southern District of Georgia, on Friday naming Deputy Townsend and the Richmond County Sheriff as defendants and alleging violations of the Fourth Amendment. Look for a copy of the Complaint to be posted on the GCO web site, www.GeorgiaCarry.Org, very soon.