To all Monumental Members:
I do not know if everyone is aware, but on last Monday evening, two members of the Patriot Picket were arrested and charged while peacefully walking with signs on the public sidewalk in Annapolis near the Capitol and the House of Delegates and Senate Office Buildings. This group has been conducting a similar protest for over the past two years.
Jeff and Kevin Hulbert, two leaders of the "Patriot Picket" sign guys, were arrested on Monday evening for various charges (trespassing/failure to obey an order/disturbing the peace) related to their sign actions on Monday on the sidewalk in front of Lawyers Mall in Annapolis.
You can watch a video of the event: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oIu6SPpFG4A.
As far as I know no member of Monumental Rifle and Pistol Club was present at the event on February 5, 2018. If the facts bear out to what has been posted in Maryland Shooters, on Facebook, Maryland Shall Issue , the various media reports and from the members of the Patriot Picket, this would appear to be a violation of the First Amendment (1A) protected protest speech.
The Patriot Picket stated that they were not impeding the sidewalk, merely occupying portions of it while allowing room for others to walk by, when they were ordered off. There has been significant press coverage on the issue, which has been surprisingly even-handed, and has made mention that similar protest activity from other groups within the past several weeks has not been handled the same way by the Maryland Capitol Police (MCP). This has the appearances to be content-related and politically motivated.
What we do know is that the charges have been dropped against the Hulbert Brothers. The MCP released the following statement:
"After a thorough review of all the evidence and supporting documentation, and after consulting with the Anne Arundel County States Attorney’s Office; the Maryland Capitol Police believes it is in the best interest of all parties involved not to pursue any criminal charges against Mr. Jeff Hulbert and Mr. Kevin Hulbert. Both defendants were charged on Monday, February 5, 2018. Today, MCP forwarded an official request to the states attorney’s office, asking that all the criminal charges in this case be dropped.
The Maryland Capitol Police fully supports the 1st Amendment Rights of freedom of speech and the right to peacefully assemble. The department is committed to providing a safe environment for employees, visitors, and demonstrators that frequent state facilities, which is why the Maryland Capitol Police have the ability to determine times, locations, and venues in which these demonstrations may occur; particularly when it involves the safety of others. The Maryland Capitol Police work hard at facilitating an orderly environment that is safe and pleasant for all to express their 1st amendment rights.
The department will use this event to strengthen our community outreach training efforts and to further educate our officers and the general public, in order to clarify our "Demonstrating on Public Property" procedures so the policy is clear and understandable to the public for future demonstrations."
Monumental Rifle and Pistol Club is primarily a social shooting club. While we encourage our members to actively participate in writing to their local, state and national legislators, we do not favor one political faction over another. We expect that our members can act responsibly in doing whatever activities they feel is appropriate to support the Second Amendment. The Patriot Picket is a fellow Second Amendment organization (much like Maryland Shall Issue and the Maryland State Rifle and Pistol Association), we stand with them in the exercise of fundamental First Amendment rights, regardless of whether we agree or disagree with the particular message or a particular placards and signs. These arrests are an affront to all of us as it endangers our First Amendment right to protest. The actions of the Maryland Capitol Police is intended to be a sign primarily for any Second Amendment group but just as easily be used to control a group that protests the prevailing political sentiment in the Maryland General Assembly. Clearly, the actions of the MCP on Monday February 5, 2018 is intended to intimidate those citizens of Maryland who exercise their First Amendment right to advocate for reform of laws impacting the Second Amendment in Maryland.
The Patriot Picket is holding its regular Monday night vigil on the public sidewalk at this same location in Annapolis on Monday February 12, 2018 at 7:00PM on the sidewalk at Lawyers Mall in Annapolis. I cannot guarantee that there will not be a repeat of the actions taken last Monday by the Maryland Capitol Police. I expect that each Monumental Rifle and Pistol Club member will take the time to view the video and the various media sources about the incident and act accordingly, whether by writing, e-mailing, calling, visiting your State Delegate or State Senator, or by attending the vigil on Monday night.
For me, my letters and e-mails have been sent and phone calls made to several State Delegates, State Senators and the Governor’s office. I intend to be there in support of their, and my, First Amendment rights.
Michael Bruzdzinski
President
Monumental Rifle and Pistol Club
Dinner/Meet & Greet: 6:00PM-7:00PM at both Annapolis Mission BBQ locations.
Rally/Vigil: 7:00PM-8:30 PM Monday, February 12, 2018
on the sidewalk in front of Lawyers
Mall (90 College Avenue, Annapolis,
MD 21401)
I do not know if everyone is aware, but on last Monday evening, two members of the Patriot Picket were arrested and charged while peacefully walking with signs on the public sidewalk in Annapolis near the Capitol and the House of Delegates and Senate Office Buildings. This group has been conducting a similar protest for over the past two years.
Jeff and Kevin Hulbert, two leaders of the "Patriot Picket" sign guys, were arrested on Monday evening for various charges (trespassing/failure to obey an order/disturbing the peace) related to their sign actions on Monday on the sidewalk in front of Lawyers Mall in Annapolis.
You can watch a video of the event: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oIu6SPpFG4A.
As far as I know no member of Monumental Rifle and Pistol Club was present at the event on February 5, 2018. If the facts bear out to what has been posted in Maryland Shooters, on Facebook, Maryland Shall Issue , the various media reports and from the members of the Patriot Picket, this would appear to be a violation of the First Amendment (1A) protected protest speech.
The Patriot Picket stated that they were not impeding the sidewalk, merely occupying portions of it while allowing room for others to walk by, when they were ordered off. There has been significant press coverage on the issue, which has been surprisingly even-handed, and has made mention that similar protest activity from other groups within the past several weeks has not been handled the same way by the Maryland Capitol Police (MCP). This has the appearances to be content-related and politically motivated.
What we do know is that the charges have been dropped against the Hulbert Brothers. The MCP released the following statement:
"After a thorough review of all the evidence and supporting documentation, and after consulting with the Anne Arundel County States Attorney’s Office; the Maryland Capitol Police believes it is in the best interest of all parties involved not to pursue any criminal charges against Mr. Jeff Hulbert and Mr. Kevin Hulbert. Both defendants were charged on Monday, February 5, 2018. Today, MCP forwarded an official request to the states attorney’s office, asking that all the criminal charges in this case be dropped.
The Maryland Capitol Police fully supports the 1st Amendment Rights of freedom of speech and the right to peacefully assemble. The department is committed to providing a safe environment for employees, visitors, and demonstrators that frequent state facilities, which is why the Maryland Capitol Police have the ability to determine times, locations, and venues in which these demonstrations may occur; particularly when it involves the safety of others. The Maryland Capitol Police work hard at facilitating an orderly environment that is safe and pleasant for all to express their 1st amendment rights.
The department will use this event to strengthen our community outreach training efforts and to further educate our officers and the general public, in order to clarify our "Demonstrating on Public Property" procedures so the policy is clear and understandable to the public for future demonstrations."
Monumental Rifle and Pistol Club is primarily a social shooting club. While we encourage our members to actively participate in writing to their local, state and national legislators, we do not favor one political faction over another. We expect that our members can act responsibly in doing whatever activities they feel is appropriate to support the Second Amendment. The Patriot Picket is a fellow Second Amendment organization (much like Maryland Shall Issue and the Maryland State Rifle and Pistol Association), we stand with them in the exercise of fundamental First Amendment rights, regardless of whether we agree or disagree with the particular message or a particular placards and signs. These arrests are an affront to all of us as it endangers our First Amendment right to protest. The actions of the Maryland Capitol Police is intended to be a sign primarily for any Second Amendment group but just as easily be used to control a group that protests the prevailing political sentiment in the Maryland General Assembly. Clearly, the actions of the MCP on Monday February 5, 2018 is intended to intimidate those citizens of Maryland who exercise their First Amendment right to advocate for reform of laws impacting the Second Amendment in Maryland.
The Patriot Picket is holding its regular Monday night vigil on the public sidewalk at this same location in Annapolis on Monday February 12, 2018 at 7:00PM on the sidewalk at Lawyers Mall in Annapolis. I cannot guarantee that there will not be a repeat of the actions taken last Monday by the Maryland Capitol Police. I expect that each Monumental Rifle and Pistol Club member will take the time to view the video and the various media sources about the incident and act accordingly, whether by writing, e-mailing, calling, visiting your State Delegate or State Senator, or by attending the vigil on Monday night.
For me, my letters and e-mails have been sent and phone calls made to several State Delegates, State Senators and the Governor’s office. I intend to be there in support of their, and my, First Amendment rights.
Michael Bruzdzinski
President
Monumental Rifle and Pistol Club
Dinner/Meet & Greet: 6:00PM-7:00PM at both Annapolis Mission BBQ locations.
Rally/Vigil: 7:00PM-8:30 PM Monday, February 12, 2018
on the sidewalk in front of Lawyers
Mall (90 College Avenue, Annapolis,
MD 21401)
