We’ve already pointed out the hypocrisy on display by Moms Demand Action, the Bloomberg-funded group who demands that all Americans be disarmed and guns be banned yet hides behind their own paid armed guards. Apparently at the open carry and campus carry hearing yesterday, CJ Grisham (President of Open Carry Texas) was quietly and unobtrusively filming an interview with one of Moms Demand Action’s employees when their armed bodyguard pushed him out of the way and attempted to grab his phone (presumably to delete the video or stop him from recording). The man, pictured above in a plaid shirt being detained by Texas police (photo from OCT’s Facebook), was not arrested, but as Grisham points out it is ironic that the only violence on display at the hearing came from a paid member of Michael Bloomberg’s Moms Demand Action group, not the Open Carry Texas members. Video after the jump.
You seem to forget: MDA condones this type of assault. Just like the Florida Wal-Mart assault, this one is Shannon-approved.
CJ Grisham would be within his rights to press charges and probably should.
The armed body guard is probably a Cop or ex cop. They wont arrest one of their own.
Yes. State-sponsored or billionaire-funded violence is *the good kind* and only happens to bad people or, sometimes, to other *good* people who lack faith in Progress.
A+
Perfect.
I’d like to know the DPS troopers’ justification for failing to arrest this clown for assault.
And doesn’t Texas have some version of attempted strong-arm robbery charge?
In Texas, it’s assault if there is physical contact and the person being touched even feels the slightest bit threatened. The only think I can think of is that, for some reason, Grisham must have refused to press charges. That, or political pressure on the DPS troopers from above.
The attempted strong-arm robbery is in response to the bodyguard-thug attempting to steal his phone.
Actual physical contact would be “battery” and the fact he was trying to take a phone or camera would be strong armed robbery. This punk needs arrested, charged and his licenses revoked.
General Zod is correct. There is no such thing as battery in Texas. Unlike most States, Texas only has assault and aggravated assault.
Don’t keep us in suspense! How does “Assault” turn into “aggravated assault”?
There are various levels of assault. “Offensive contact” is a fine-only misdemeanor. “Injury” is a jailable misdemeanor. “Serious injury” is a felony. IIRC, it gets “aggravated” if you use a weapon or, yes, if you do it to a cop.
Maybe OCT declined to press charges. I might, just to rub it in their faces and not give them any soap box to grandstand from.
He did want to press charges. The DPS chose not to arrest the bodyguard. There’s a YouTube video where he explains what happened. Sorry, I don’t how to post the link. I’m one of those ofwg.
Then he can go to a judge and swear out a warrant himself. Then DPS won’t have choice in the matter. They can’t “undo” a warrant.
@ JR: If it didn’t happen right in front of the officers, that’s what he will have to do. No warrantless arrest is permitted for a misdemeanor that didn’t happen “in the officer’s presence”.
AR: Yep. Got that. That’s why the “He wanted to press charges, but the DPS didn’t play ball” doesn’t make any sense.
If he wants to press charges, he can. If he doesn’t, that’s his call, but DPS does not have a say in it.
Not arrested! One law for us and one law for fascist hired thugs.
It’s been that way for too long.
I would suggest that this would be the time to light up the DPS/Austin Capital switchboard, but I really haven’t been following the exploits of the various Open Carry groups, and I don’t like rushing to support someone who may have hurt the cause with antics. Anyone with knowledge, how has this CJ of Open Carry Texas been conducting himself?
He conducts himself a hell of a lot better than Kory Watkins of OC Tarrant County… I’m willing to assume Grisham was behaving the way a sane individual would behave unless proven otherwise. From what I’ve seen, Grisham seems to lean toward “empassioned activism” rather than “wild eyed lunacy”.
“I don’t like rushing to support someone who may have hurt the cause with antics.”
Just curious: How does that Kool-Aid the MSM and Progressive Statists serves daily actually taste?
I’d imagine you’d be better able to tell me. I asked for information to more adequately examine the situation and determine who and what ought be supported. The reason being that there are zealots that, in theory, might share the same values, or pursue the same goals you do, but prosecute their goals in an extreme manor. For all I know this fellow could have a history of being aggressive in asserting his opinion, and may have issued thinly veiled threats, or may have issued comments that could be interpreted as threats. I don’t support those things, and I won’t support someone who gets in-trouble using those tactics because those tactics hurt the cause. Did this CJ conduct himself in this manor? According to the video it doesn’t seem he did, but videos don’t show everything, do they? That’s why I asked. Content of character matters just as much as the message. We hold liberals accountable for how they pursue their agenda, why wouldn’t we hold our own accountable for how they pursue ours?
The only one drinking Kool-aid here is you, pal.
“The only one drinking Kool-aid here is you, pal.”
More “I know you are but what am I”, huh? Seems we get a lot of that around here.
By “Kool Aid” I mean that a LOT of what you think you know about the various OC activists is WRONG. Things have been misreported and taken WAY out of context.
So, while you are certainly ‘free’ to condemn whoever you want for whatever reason, I suggest you be very careful from where you get your information.
A lot of rights have been ‘won’ historically by people that were less than “acceptable” by the sideline sitters at the time. My favorite example is Miranda. If he were the ‘test case’ for 5A rights today, in the age of the Internet and blog comments, no doubt a bunch of folks here would be saying crap like “we don’t need HIM to be representing US.”
Freedom and liberty is like that. It gets messy. The MSM plays on people’s unwillingness to get ‘dirty.’ Or to even be associated with ‘dirt.’ They are experts at using that psychology to portray anyone and everyone they don’t agree with (ie, 2A activists) in a way that they will be rejected as being “dirty.”
Don’t let them have that power over you.
The point is, that I DON’T KNOW. I don’t know anything about these groups, and about what they have or haven’t done. That’s why I ask people, because they can offer leads to look into or offer opinions that can be gauged. I advocate that everyone learn exactly whom and what they are supporting before they support it. All the time on Facebook I see sharing links to some special interest’s emotional appeal for immediate action, and I always try to act to temper that enthusiasm “to do something” because that’s what get’s us into trouble. I saw one just today about that Grand Canyon wolf that was shot, and claims we should give them national protection and prevent people from hunting coyotes. It’s ill conceived and misinformed. So, I encourage research! That’s why I said “I don’t like RUSHing to support anyone.” You’re the one who made the accusation that I have already consumed false rhetoric when clearly I haven’t, otherwise I would have merely written the man off. So get off your high horse.
Perhaps if more had zeal then infringements would already be gone and behind us. 😉
If you are merely seeking information, then fine. I was ONLY replying to this:
“I don’t like rushing to support someone who may have hurt the cause with antics. “
My question: where did you get the idea that someone MAY have hurt the cause with “antics?”
That’s the Kool-Aid part I meant. The lion’s share of “antics” and “hurt the cause” is a myth created by MSM and gun control friendly bloggers.
I’m not attacking YOU. Relax. I’m merely wondering why you think one has to be THIS careful about ‘supporting’ an OC-Activist?
There have been a LOT of people here say “I support this Second Amenment, but…this OC activism has to go.” Your comment APPEARED to be at least in part of that camp…like the assumption was he was into “antics” and you have to be convinced otherwise.
If that’s wrong, well, I apologize for any misunderstanding. But, if you want to appreciate my perspective, go back and read your FIRST comment again within the context of the level of hatred and vitriol Open Carry Texas related posts bring out nearly every time.
A lot of the hatred and vitriol is perpetuated on the basis of falsehood promulgated by the media; hence, the Kool-Aid remark.
What happened to the video? Should I be surprised that it is a Facebook message that is announcing its unavailable status? They aren’t exactly pro RKBA.
Videos Here:
https://www.youtube.com/user/OpenCarryTexas
Well, score one for OCT. While I agree with them totally in philosophy and beliefs, I’m one who tends to think that overall, they and the other open carry groups are doing more to hurt the cause than help it by making us all look like extremists, BUT here, they scored a biggie for the good guys. Anytime the left’s hypocrisy is exposed, it’s a good day. And it’s amazing to me that how MDA would allow such a relatively small group of activists (OCT) to get to them. As is usual with statists and collectivists, they are not only against open carry by anyone but the state; they’re against open debate, too!
“I’m one who tends to think that overall, they and the other open carry groups are doing more to hurt the cause than help it by making us all look like extremists,”
Just like Miranda hurt us all in the long run, too, right?
How ’bout those folks who brought their blackness right into that Woolworths and sat down at the lunch counter! How dare they! We sure don’t want to be caught accidentally supporting them, right? Getting all their pictures in the newspapers being illegally black. The nerve!
Either you have a right or you don’t.
I don’t want my rights trampled upon; my right to bear arms infringed. If THAT makes me an extremist these days then so be it. Rights are meaningless if one cannot exercise them. I and many others exercise our right to openly carry firearms. We aren’t going away and we aren’t stopping. People can complain about it, side with the antis on it, or try to be more tolerant of the fact that we are tired of our ability to exercise our right being crippled.
X infinity!!
So I guess we can now add professional hypocrite to the list of superlatives. That really takes the cake.
Why would you even assault someone for video taping an interview that is presumably being taped already anyway?
Well, as usual, we may not have the entire story.
I would have beat that dudes ass for sure…push me and try to grab my phone, watch your teeth fly out of your mouth…nuff said…
Assault and battery does not result in arrest? The only valid reason for this monstrous result should be that Grisham did not press charges, but he DAMN well should have. As I understand things, if he had, the DPS troopers would have no choice but to arrest this thug. Even if he had not, those troopers should have done so, if they were witnesses to the assault. We need to stop being nice guys about thugs and tyrants who oppose us, either physically or “legally”.
This. Had he accidentally brushed one of the “moms”with his elbow, they would have had him arrested. We need a better offensive game. This guy assaulted him and should have been arrested.
Grisham can take extra points here from taking the high road. He would get no more publicity from pressing charges and making a stink about it.. It won’t be covered anywhere but gun blogs anyway.
I respect him for not stooping to Moms’ tactics.
Brushing someone accidentally with an elbow is not even comparable to what was done to him. Not going along with charges would be foolish… not any “high road.” Taking the high road would’ve been declining to have someone charged for something minor. This was not a minor criminal act! As far as I’ve been reading, he wanted charges made but law enforcement failed to do so.
Hell if I showed up and took a selfie with Shannon, God only knows what she would demand I be charged with
PWAB (Photographing while Armed and Black) would be my guess.
@Sian: I know it wouldn’t be covered, but that scumbag deserves an arrest along with all the other consequences we proles would have been made to suffer. Not pressing charges reinforces his attitude that he can get away with treating innocent people like trash.
@Dirk: No kidding!
Can’t see video, and unless he’s a leftie, I don’t see a holster. Was this guy actually armed? Of the three descriptors used on the article title, he might barely qualify for “guard,” if only as a technicality. I don’t see much “armed” or “body” that would cause me much concern.
You may want to look closer at his right front pocket.
Not ironic at all, when you understand the roots of the peasant disarmament movement.
Wheres the video? Surely someone mirrored it somewhere….
Armed guards are frequently off duty cops. Not surprised that the jackass wasnt arrested.
I’m not sure of TX law but in many states the police cannot arrest if certain crimes occur outside of their presence. In such a case they make a report and then the victim must go to a local magistrate to initiate charges.
If this happened as described here some money needs to be put where a mouth is and charges should be pursued.
You might be on to something there. Failing “serious” bodily injury, an assault charge would be a misdemeanor; if it occurred outside the officer’s presence, no warrantless arrest. Hard to believe a scuffle could break out in the Capitol building without DPS being on the spot PDQ, tho.
You would think. It’s also possible that the police were technically able to make an arrest but declined to do so. While this may seem strange, there is one good reason… often purported victims don’t show up for court or pursue a matter, in which case the time of the police and suspect is wasted. Better in some cases to write the report and let the victim file charges if they wish, which at least makes it more likely they are part of the process.
As of 11:24 AM, CST, it appears that Facebook has come to the rescue of Moms Demand Assassination of Gun Owners in America and taken OCT page down. The link from the picture goes to a content unavailable screen the and video after the jump is also unavailable.
They’re back up now.
None of the links in the article work anymore.
I smell shenanigans….
I smell Bloomberg-funded monkey business…
Any follow-up from MDA? Some wild tale about how they were forced to defend themselves from…death rays from a cell phone being openly carried??
They posted side-by-side photos of the OCT advocate’s arrest with one of four of their vapid sheep smiling into the camera (armed guard undoubtedly just out of frame) with the pithy comment that a picture is worth a thousand words.
Wait a minute–was the OCT guy arrested? For getting assaulted?
So the armed MDA thug is the cat in the plaid shirt ? He doesn’t appear to be capable of forcibly stopping too many people from doing much of anything.
If people can’t find the video it is here http://youtu.be/hkLcnkMkOjc
My bad its been fixed.
So, to sum up:
OCT advocate arrested for LAWFULLY carrying a toy gun onto state grounds.
MDA armed (!) security guard NOT arrested for UNLAWFULLY assaulting OCT president filming an interview.
Tell me again WHY we insist on relying on and ‘supporting’ existing gun laws?
If that’s the case- the open carry guy was arrested- I believe we’re not getting the whole story from them. It wouldn’t be the first time.
So I guess somebody talked facebook into taking down the video?
The bodyguard has the same legal status as a bouncer. No LEO would arrest a bodyguard for trying to stop a video of the person they are charged to protect.
Kudos to OCT for acting like grown-ups and getting the best side of this incident.
“No LEO would arrest a bodyguard for trying to stop a video of the person they are charged to protect. “
You sure about that?
Being a bodyguard does not give you a right to ASSAULT people that are not actively engaged in trying to do harm to their client.
If the subjects were in public and the dude was taking video in a public place…it is at best a legal gray area that ANYONE has a right to stop him from videoing. This comes up a lot when people video their interactions with the Police.
Geez, if what you say is true, The National Enquirer and BS “gossip shows” on TV would never have any photos or video to ‘exploit.’ The bodyguards would take care of it with no repercussions from the cops.
From Nick’s description, it looks like both assault and attempted grand theft when the security guard shoved and then attempted to take Grisham’s phone. That seems to be me to be something pretty serious that could be pursued. You have to wonder abut the professional qualifications of Shannon’s “security”. Shoving someone and trying to grab a phone is a pretty stupid thing to do.
Grisham deserves a lot of credit. He entered this fight as a complete amateur who found himself up against the best paid professionals Bloomberg could hire. Not surprisingly, he got handed his head a few times but he appears to have learned from those mistakes and adapted well. Now both he and OCT are a lot more effective and we’ve just watched him hand Shannon and the Mom’s their collective heads in a very graphic way. So, good on ‘ya CJ!
This morning I read that both gun bills have made it out of the Texas house and are now in the senate. Open carry and campus carry are doing a whole hell of a lot better than I thought they would.
“Shoving someone and trying to grab a phone is a pretty stupid thing to do.”
Uh, apparently not!
“Armed Bodyguard for Moms Demand Action Assaults Open Carry Texas President”
Yes, but he wouldn’t have done that if he wasn’t armed. So it’s the gun’s fault. 🙂
It’s the NRA’s fault!!!
Some ‘tard on ‘tard crime…
Hey now, if the armed guard was packing heat that’s gun violence!
#gunsense #gunmanassualtsperson #banARstyleGlockclipazines #pancakes
Anywhere I am not legally allowed to carry a gun, I OC a banana (the delicious fruit, not the AK magazine of similar profile), very visibly at my 3 o’clock as often as I can. It starts conversation, and if you are eloquent and articulate enough to engage with anti-gunners in on the spot debates, I think this should practice should be more widespread amongst POTG.
I think OCT should start pulling stunts like that, rather than ARs in Chipotle and things of the like. That could potentially get them some neutral/positive media attention.
“That could potentially get them some neutral/positive media attention.”
I admire your enthusiasm, but “media attention” will never be either positive OR neutral so long as the progressive Statists write the stories. It simply is not going to happen.
They lie now and will continue to do so – just as they did about the Chipotle story you even mentioned in your comment. It did NOT happen as presented in the press. They had permission to be there and there were police officers present that were not ‘alarmed’ by their actions. No one present in the store at that time was alarmed by their actions.
Sorry, man…but bananas in holsters trick is not going to change what the MSM does…
They will invariably describe it as “a high-capacity assault banana carried by a crazed gun nut.”
Mmm… bananna-nut bread. Now I’ve gotta fire up the kitchen.
I have been to many states such as New Mexico and LA both of which have open carry laws, and guess what I didn’t see people with 6-shooters or 1911 strapped to their hips. I do in fact have a CHL from the state of Texas and carry all the time. I carry for protection and my intent is not to advertise that I’m armed. If a person wants to carry I believe they should pay the money take the class and get a CHL.
“If a person wants to carry I believe they should pay the money take the class and get a CHL”
Then I guess it is a good thing the Second Amendment does not say “The Right of the People to Keep and Bear Arms Is Subject to What Texas_CHL Believes They Should Do.”
Pesky little thing about rights, eh? What YOU believe someone should do is not part of the equation.
I’m not opposed to a person carrying opening frankly I don’t care. I just don’t understand the desire…what are they trying to accomplish. To me a person who is carrying openingly has lost the very important element of surprise. And should I find myself in a kill or be killed situation I want every advantage I can get.
To some folks, a person who carries concealed so that he looks like the rest of the sheep is losing the important element of initial deterrence. It’s a trade-off. Kind of like, some cops are plain-clothes and carry concealed so they will have “surprise” on their side, and some are uniformed and carry openly so they will have “deterrence” on their side. For me, if the state decides to stop interfering with my right to bear arms, including handguns, as long as I do so openly, but insists on making me pay them in order to exercise that right incognito, I would just as soon carry openly.
I prefer concealed carry too, but that doesn’t mean in the right circumstance that if I feel the need to remove my jacket for some reason that I want to go to jail for exercising my natural, civil and constitutionally protected right to be armed.
JSG
I also carry all the time, and cc is all that’s available in TX for handguns. As a result, I carry a 7-round .380 or an 8-round 9mm, both subcompacts. I can foresee circumstances in which I would much rather be carrying at minimum a full size .40 or .45 with significantly higher capacity, while the temperature is over 100. For example, if I or my family had recently been threatened, or our car or home burglarized. In such a circumstance, right now, I would be carrying a suppressed .300 blk SBR, fully loaded, but OCing a handgun would be far more acceptable to me, if it were legal.
What you’re clearly stating is that you do not support the right to bear arms. Is this an accurate reflection of where you stand on the right?
Carrying under a license is the exercise of a government granted privilege and not the exercise of a right.
I’m saying that from what I have observed people in open tend not to, and that given the option I would rather carry concealed that is all. If this law gets passed and open carry becomes a legal isn’t that the government saying OK you can carry now? Just like they did when I got a license?
Not exactly. it will be the government saying, OK, we’re going to quit doing something we shouldn’t have ever been doing in the first place, namely criminalizing the open carry of a firearm by an otherwise law-abiding citizen. And incidentally, we’re not going to make you give up your time and money in order to exercise a fundamental Constitutional right.
I’m not questions the right to carry. I just asking what the benefit of open carry is.
As noted above, some folks like the deterrent effect. Some folks like the extra speed of an unobstructed draw. And again, if you are in a state that differentiates between the two, and makes you jump through monetary and other hoops before you carry concealed, some folks would rather carry without going through the additional trouble.
I’m not commenting about any proposed Texas legislation. I was commenting about your previous statement. As far as open carry goes, I live in Ohio. There isn’t any law stating that we can open carry. We simply open carry because it is not infringed by law. That which is not prohibited is allowed.
I support your decision to conceal your firearm. I would prefer that you did not have to take any classes against your will or pay any fees. Then, it would be the exercise of a right. If you are okay paying fees and being mandated to training, that is your choice as well.
I enjoyed the class very much. The instructor is a Marine who got his FFL and certified to teach the CHL class. I think its great information and people should be able to shoot well before they carry otherwise people are in danger. If you disagree with people being educated and being able to shoot well then I don’t understand your mindset which is fine also
@Another Robert: Spot on with all of the information.
@Texas_chl: My problem is with mandatory training. People voluntarily seeking training is a great thing.
I had been shooting handguns for 40 years and held an expert marksman badge from the AF before TX passed the CHL law, yet I had to pay for that class and waste my time there as well, though I’d also been carrying concealed for 30 years by that time, ignoring the law.
Constitutional carry (open or concealed) does not prevent anyone from getting training. We do not need nanny state to tell us how many hours we must spend in class or on the range.
+1
“Members of MDA said they have taken steps to protect themselves from opponents, but they did not want to comment on the controversy outside the hearing.”
Seems like it’s the opponents that need protecting…
“Members of MDA said they have taken steps to protect themselves from opponent’s ideas, and they did not want to comment on the beatings taking place outside the hearing.”
Fixed it for them.
Well they got action…
MDA objects to carrying guns, but carrying a man carrying a gun is totally fine! I wish I could afford a gun-caddy. I bet they feel like special princesses!
-D
I’m pretty sure they think they ARE special princesses!
There has got to be a way to nationally advertize the hypocrisy of the armed guards they use. The Anti’s have no business using an armed anything, that is, if they subscribe to what they Demand. Practice what you preach I believe is the idiom.
Basically, MDA is exploiting the OCTC/Kory Watkins vs. Pancho “Panic Button” Nevarez incident. OCTC served this one up on a platter for them…
Chances are the “body guard” is an off duty cop, maybe even DPS. That he wasn’t arrested isn’t a surprise. However, if CJ is adamant, he can press charges. I’d file the charges and also a civil action against MDA as his employer.
Fortunately, OC (with CHL) and Campus Carry made it out of the Senate committee and will go to floor. BTW “Panic Button” Nevarez is the vice chair of the House committee that has oversight of the House bills on OC and CC. Again, fortunately, the chair is Phillips, and most of the committee is pretty conservative. I expect it to go through the committee fairly quickly also. The floor votes are going to be the challenge.
“The floor votes are going to be the challenge.”
And that’s where the grass-roots support will have to carry the day. Sellout Dan Patrick was all set to kill OC and campus carry until the People Of The Gun started lighting up the phone lines and email servers. There’s nothing like the appearance of a an entire, committed voters’ demographic to scare the pee out of go-along-get-along politicians. The only thing they care about is numbers and, this time, it looks like we have the votes to effectively overcome the usual governing class objections to increased gun-rights. You can count on progressive Joe Strauss the declining numbers of libtards still holding onto office to try to derail open carry and campus carry.
OCTC served this one up on a platter for them
That is a ridiculous statement. It’s utter rubbish. You’re blaming OCTC for something it had no control over and, AFAIK, wasn’t even the slightest bit involved in. Perhaps MDA isn’t the only one distorting reality beyond recognition to grind an axe or push an agenda.
Is OCTC to be responsible for the global climate next?
Once again, John from Ohio, your grasp of the politics in Texas is about as good as Wendy Davis’ Turn Texas Blue advisors. I’ll give you a hint…what goes on at the intersection of Congress and 11th isn’t a hobby.
The OCTC/Watkins episode is still being milked by the Dems and media to fight OC and Campus Carry. The bigger issue is that the Speaker is using it as platform to rally center R’s and D’s against the conservative R young turks. If you had a grasp of state politics…you would know it has very little to do with the issue at hand than the internal fight within the party. Straus cares less about OC than he does isolating and minimizing the far right. But you already knew that…or not..John from…Ohio.
Your initial statement was horse feathers. That has nothing to do with politics or location.
Your quote: “Basically, MDA is exploiting the OCTC/Kory Watkins vs. Pancho “Panic Button” Nevarez incident. OCTC served this one up on a platter for them…”
MDA might very well be exploiting the “panic button” incident. However, this current incident was not “served up by OCTC.” They were not directly involved in MDA’s LATEST escapade. Anyone can see the truth in what I’m saying.
If you would’ve simply stopped with, “Basically, MDA is exploiting the OCTC/Kory Watkins vs. Pancho “Panic Button” Nevarez incident.” then I might have agreed with you as a matter of speculation. But, you had to jump the shark and blame it DIRECTLY on OCTC. That’s spin. That’s a lie. That’s what you are defending.
Be as much of a smart ass as you wish in your comments. Continue to try and deflect from the subject. Your lies and attitude in this thread showcase your character for any and all who read here.
@ John..from…Ohio..
“Be as much of a smart ass as you wish in your comments. Continue to try and deflect from the subject. Your lies and attitude in this thread showcase your character for any and all who read here.”
Your comments show exactly how little knowledge you have of this particular incident and the overall politics involved…down right ignorant would be the case.
As for the accusations and ad homiem…The only one showing their character flaws is you my friend…You ought to a little reading before you brand someone a liar.
Comments are closed.