Troubling stint in jail sets Utahn on crusade

[Keith Hamburger]

http://www.sltrib.com/utah/ci_3588120

When Gregg Revell packed his bags for a trip to Pennsylvania last April, he had no idea how far he'd be traveling.

Before the week was out, the 57-year-old suburban real estate agent and grandfather would be arrested, thrown into one of the country's most notorious jails, strip searched and inoculated against his will. The soft-spoken Utah native would be on his way to becoming a poster child for the National Rifle Association in a $3 million lawsuit.

During a nearly five-day stay in a Newark, N.J., jail, he would meet a terrifying side of America that most Utahns see only on television and briefly would become a jailhouse mentor to drug dealers and violent criminals.

...

Revell, who has a Utah concealed weapon permit, usually takes a handgun with him for protection on his car trips.

Transporting a firearm in your luggage across country on an airline is not illegal, but involves some paperwork. Revell who has made a couple dozen such car-buying trips, knows the process. He fills out the Federal Aviation Administration paperwork, packs his .45 caliber pistol in a locked case, his hollow-point ammunition in another locked case and puts both in his checked luggage. He declares the gun to the ticketing agents.

In 1986, Congress passed the Firearm Owners Protection Act (FOPA) for citizens who are transporting firearms through various jurisdictions.

"Law abiding citizens who happened to wander into anti-gun jurisdictions could wind up being harassed and imprisoned," says Scott Bach, a New York-based attorney and member of the NRA board of directors. "FOPA was passed to end abuses."

Under the law, a citizen can transport an unloaded gun between two jurisdictions that don't prohibit it - as long as it is locked in a hard case with the ammunition locked in a separate hard case, "regardless of what local law says," explains Bach.

The law is routinely violated in "anti-gun" jurisdictions, Bach says, notably New York, Los Angeles and New Jersey.

...

[bugsbunny04]

I hope he wins his lawsuit. Some people are out of control, and some of them have badges, and some of them sit on benches. Fortunately we have the ability to sue them when they do stupid stuff like that, and that is why America is the greatest country in the world.

[Osborn F Enready]

Bugs said: Fortunately we have the ability to sue them when they do stupid stuff like that, and that is why America is the greatest country in the world.

I say:
Unfortunately, most people don't know that you can only sue when the law supports you, and you can only sue to get justice in a court that recognizes and seeks justice.

The majority of Americans have lost sight of this, the impact of this, and the inevitable results of this.

With no Constitution, no rights, there is no grounds for a lawsuit, and if so, what difference if they are all politically appointed lifer loyalists?

Don't let your podium get too high there Bugs......Nationalism and Patriotism are close cousins.

[Compugasm]

How many juridictions do you have to travel to going from Utah to NY? The story sounds like he was flying, but mentions a lot about road trips. I didn't realize you needed multi-permits for ammunition and weapons, and those permits might not be valid en route. That's just stupid.

[Osborn F Enready]

The whole concept is stupid.

If people on the airlines on 9-11 would have been allowed to carry their weapons, they would not have been flown into building most likely.

But then, that would hinge on understanding your rights, valuing liberty and justice, and not just focusing on daily life and putting gas in the Isuzu.

[Osborn F Enready]

This entire article, after re-reading it for a third time, pissed me off to a level I don't reach much. I think I may retire for the night, and allow this wave of anger to wash over me, and consume my thoughts as I try to drift off to sleep in dreams of finding these elected officials guilty, of their crimes against the constitution, and bringing back the firing squad just for them.

What fitting justice that would be. I sure wish justice and liberty were as popular as Nokia phones and Purple Dildos. I guess we get what we pay for, if we don't follow the money once it leaves our palms.......

[Keith Hamburger]

Quote by: Compugasm How many juridictions do you have to travel to going from Utah to NY? The story sounds like he was flying, but mentions a lot about road trips. I didn't realize you needed multi-permits for ammunition and weapons, and those permits might not be valid en route. That's just stupid.

Supposedly the federal government addressed that in law. As mentioned in the article the feral law states that when you're travelling between two locations that allow firearms and you have your firearms and ammunition locked seperately in locations without regulations you can't be harassed.

In this case the New Jersey municipal and state governments consider themselves above federal law that is intended to protect law abiding citizens. This guy did EVERYTHING right and he was still arrested and imprisoned for five days. In clear violation of federal law.

Keith

[Osborn F Enready]

Keith said: In this case the New Jersey municipal and state governments consider themselves above federal law that is intended to protect law abiding citizens.

I say:
Almost as if they took example by one of the many lessons by the Federal Government? So it seems to me, anyway.

[Chancellor]

Quote by: Compugasm How many juridictions do you have to travel to going from Utah to NY? The story sounds like he was flying, but mentions a lot about road trips. I didn't realize you needed multi-permits for ammunition and weapons, and those permits might not be valid en route. That's just stupid.

Sounds like a potential constitutional issue concerning whether this would fall under the "good faith and credit" clause. At the very least, considering there's a federal law involved, whether New Jersey is in violation of federal law.

[Keith Hamburger]

Quote by: Chancellor Sounds like a potential constitutional issue concerning whether this would fall under the "good faith and credit" clause. At the very least, considering there's a federal law involved, whether New Jersey is in violation of federal law.

I'm certain that will be a significant part of the lawsuit. It seems that some of these states and municipalities are of the opinion they are above anything. In fact, it has been cited that the City and County of Denver has had judges claim that neither the state nor the federal constitution apply to municipal ordinances.

Keith