Last Monday, February 5, 2018, two members of the firearms community were arrested while performing protest activities on the public sidewalks in front of Lawyers Mall on the Annapolis State House grounds, as they have done in the same spot consistently for the past three sessions of the General Assembly. They were handcuffed, taken to the Annapolis Police Department station, processed, ticketed and released within a couple of hours; they received additional tickets related to the original incident when they met with the Maryland Capitol Police the very next day. As of this notice, the Maryland Capitol Police has made a request to the Anne Arundel County State's Attorney to drop all charges.
This incident has a chilling effect on 1st Amendment-protected activity - peaceful assembly and redress of grievances. Those involved, and other members of the firearms community, are making plans to assemble in protest of this infringement of 1st Amendment-protected civil liberties again this coming Monday evening, February 12, 2018, in the same location as the arrests.
MSRPA believes in the defense of the entirety of the Constitution and its attendant amendments; if any of our members plan to attend of their own accord, please be cognizant that there may be additional encounters with law enforcement and, based on last Monday's experience, there exists a possibility of arrest related to activities in the area performed by peaceful protesters - please plan accordingly for the safety of any wishing to participate.
Warmest regards,
Mike Doherty
2nd Vice President - Legislative Affairs
This incident has a chilling effect on 1st Amendment-protected activity - peaceful assembly and redress of grievances. Those involved, and other members of the firearms community, are making plans to assemble in protest of this infringement of 1st Amendment-protected civil liberties again this coming Monday evening, February 12, 2018, in the same location as the arrests.
MSRPA believes in the defense of the entirety of the Constitution and its attendant amendments; if any of our members plan to attend of their own accord, please be cognizant that there may be additional encounters with law enforcement and, based on last Monday's experience, there exists a possibility of arrest related to activities in the area performed by peaceful protesters - please plan accordingly for the safety of any wishing to participate.
Warmest regards,
Mike Doherty
2nd Vice President - Legislative Affairs