http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vBfpBxY2J00

When Canton, OH Police Officer Daniel Harless distinguished himself during a recent traffic stop, the whole sorry scene was, fortunately, caught on his dashcam video.  As you probably know by now, the video went viral, bringing the city of Canton a tad more notoriety that it probably wanted. Now comes Canton City Council President Alan Schulman who evidently wasn’t happy enough with the brushfire Harless started. Schulman thought it would be a good idea to throw a can of gasoline on top of it all…

Schulman was recently interviewed by WHLO radio. While he wouldn’t comment on the shocking disregard for the law by officer Harless, what seems to have gotten him really hot and bothered are all of the “out-of-town” emails and phone calls the city has been receiving. Not to mention the crushing inconvenience of the second amendment.

This is, in my judgment, a symptom of this arming, literally the arming, of a population with handguns. And the flooding of handguns into our communities.

These laws that allow our citizens to carry a concealed weapon at a university, in a school, in a bar where liquor is served, in automobiles, in the worst part of our neighborhoods, where there’s high crime, drugs, prostitution and someone is packing a Ruger at 1:30 in the morning…. That’s not acceptable in our society.

As long as people carry weapons under the worst of circumstances and in the worst situations, there are deaths waiting to happen. Either police officers or citzens who think by arming themselves, they’re somehow safe.

Schulman relayed this warning he said he gave a caller from Arizona:

If you allow the kind of carry concealed weapons laws that are in existence in Ohio, and they’re all over United States, you’re going to have the same problems over and over again and death will result.

And finally:

For those people who are going to say I am against guns, I am not against handguns, I’m not against people that hunt with weapons, but we all should believe in common sense, reasonable gun control laws that don’t allow this kind of thing to happen at 1:30 in the morning in a crime-ridden neighborhood with prostitution and drugs while we sit every week and listen to our citizens say, ‘we want to be protected.’

Well, we are being protected. And I know the police department and the safety director and the mayor will investigate this thoroughly. And that’s one of the benefits of having a video that allows our citizens some transparency as to what happens in these stops. But these laws are completely insane.

So the real problem here, according to the Council President, is that people “who think by arming themselves, they’re somehow safe” can legally carry a gun in their own car. The real problem is people who either live or work in neighborhoods Beaver Cleaver wouldn’t be caught dead in. The real problem isn’t that Officer Harless conducted himself like a jack-booted thug, violated a motorist’s Constitutional rights and threatened to execute a citizen who was licensed to carry a gun.

It’s good to hear, Councilman Schulman, that the people of Canton “are being protected.” The question is, who will protect the people of Canton from policemen like Daniel Harless?

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79 COMMENTS

  2. I saw a bumper sticker once that I always think of in these situations: “guns cause crime like flies cause garbage”.

  3. worrying about “out of town” agitation makes this guy sound like a deep south mayor in the 1960s.

    • “worrying about “out of town” agitation makes this guy sound like a deep south mayor in the 1960s.”

      Or a deep north mayor much later when a futile effort was made to integrate their schools via busing. Think Boston, MASS.

  5. “Either police officers or citzens who think by arming themselves, they’re somehow safe.”

    Try disarming the police for a week and see what happens. I bet they will be glad to have a lighter belt.

  6. I think this guy was hired as a fundraiser for Ohioans for Concealed Carry. And he’s brilliant.

  7. Seems to me 1:30 in the morning is a GREAT time to carry a weapon if you are out in a high crime area. What a jackass the officer was, and with this guy being the head of the city council, well I guess we know where the officer gets his attitude. He is talking about drugs and prostitution; did they arrest anyone else in this video? Maybe the people of Canton, (and don’t live there, but I do live in Ohio) should think about elected a new council.

    • I live in Ohio as well and have yet to hear a single story about a death related to concealed weapons since they allowed concealed carry.

      I think I’m going to send this jackass an email and point out that if his point about “If you allow the kind of carry concealed weapons laws that are in existence in Ohio, and they’re all over United States, you’re going to have the same problems over and over again and death will result.” is utter crap.

      • Since when do people like this guy let FACTS get in the way of their opinion? He sounds like the Brady Campaign, I mean who could be against ” Common sense, reasonable gun control” They try not to let facts get in their way either.

      • I say put the Council President in that neighborhood by himself unarmed at 1:30am and see if he desires a weapon!

  8. My favorite line,” he is not against guns” I guess he is just against anyone one in Canton having the right to carry one. Any bets if he has one? Or maybe he just has 24 hour Police protection

    • He said, “I am not against handguns, I’m not against people that hunt with weapons.” What he went on to say implies he is against armed self-defense.

      • I’ve learned through the years that whenever someone starts a comment about guns and only mentions hunting, they haven’t developed a complete understanding of the many legal uses of a firearm.

        The Second Amendment wasn’t written so that Americans had the right to hunt.

        • Well, yes it was in part written to ensure that the pre-existing gun rights the colonists enjoyed under English rule would continue. That inculded hunting. According to the Heller decision. From the DC Court of Appeals ruling which was upheld by SCOTUS:

          “To summarize, we conclude that the Second Amendment protects an individual right to keep and bear arms. That right existed prior to the formation of the new government under the Constitution and was premised on the private use of arms for activities such as hunting and self-defense, the latter being understood as resistance to either private lawlessness or the
          depredations of a tyrannical government (or a threat from abroad)…”

          I would have agreed with you prior to Heller. If you haven’t read the court filings in the case, they’re interesting in the way they address the 2nd amendment being written to preserve an existing right and establish what that right was understood to be at the time the constitution was written.

          “

    • I do not have a gun to hunt bunnies.

      I have a gun to defend myself against people like Harless.

      I am not going to honor him by calling him “Officer Harless.”

      I was at a wedding over the weekend with a Sheriff’s Deputy–a very senior Deputy, Marine, and all-around great guy. He was upset about Harless, but not surprised. He said, “That’s the kind of guys we are hiring these days.”

  9. Allen Schulmam
    Years In Office: September 28, 2006 to Present
    Political Affiliation: Democrat
    Education:
    Graduate of Miami University (Ohio)
    Graduate of the University of Akron School of Law
    Council Office: 330-489-3223
    E-Mail:
    [email protected]

    There is Concil members Shulmans info, I suggest dropping him a line and personaly telling him how you feel. Apearntly he loves out of town callers.

    • And you might tell the good counciljerk that you have decided to cancel your plans to visit the National Football Hall of Fame, in Canton, OH, because the City Council does not like to deal with “out-of-town” people, and especially because you are afraid of being executed (“10 shots with this .40”) by the Canton Police.

      Be sure to tell Mr. Schulman to have a nice day.

  10. It makes no sense to write to Alan Schulman since the guy can’t read. Or think. You can’t fix stupid.

    If you’re really pissed off at this joker, make a small donation to the local concealed carry association in his name, even if it’s just a dollar, and cc Schulman so he can see what he did.

    • I can’t say +1 as the software thinks I’m making a duplicate comment. So I’ll say this: plus one! =)

      • “Ditto” works too, Rebecca. But then again, you wouldn’t want anybody to think you’re a Rush fan. (The man. Not the band.)

        heh.

  11. I love how he lectured someone from Arizona about how Ohio’s gun laws are going to result in more crime and death.

    He obviously has no idea of what he is talking about.

  12. just sent off the following to this dirtball:

    Mr. Schulman,

    After listening to your interview on WHLO, I will no longer stray from the safe confines of I77 while passing through your city. No more trips to the Pro Football HOF, no more stops at Bender’s for supper, no more shows at the Palace… I have no desire to support a city that would have you as an office holder. Your disdain for law biding citizens – by definition ALL Concealed Carry Permit holders are law biding citizens or they would not have the permit – is obvious.

    I suggest as a public face of Canton, you devote your efforts to cleaning-up the “neighborhoods, where there’s high crime, drugs, prostitution… ” and less time railing against those of us who choose to legally defend ourselves.

    Sincerely.
    [real name deleted to protect the guilty…]
    Brunswick, OH

    P.S. I will be forwarding the links to your interview and the video of Officer Harless to all of my law biding friends asking them to join me in my Canton boycott.

    • Great letter. I think we should also raise funds for the first 2nd ammendment supporter who plans to run against him next election, and make sure Mr. Schulman is aware of the fact that we are willing to invest in making sure he gets out of office.

          • Wow Ralph, I think you were trying to be funny but just in case, I will help you with the a lesson in US geography. Utah is the bright red state that sits between Colorado and Nevada.

            • @Kirk in Utah, did you happen to notice a “whoosh” sound above your head just as you put fingers to keyboard? From now on, try getting a bit more fiber in your diet.

  14. “Carrying a gun in your car at 1:30 AM “in the worst part of our neighborhoods where there is high crime drugs and prostitution…is not acceptable.”

    I carry a gun in my car in the best part of our neighborhoods where there is low crime and no drugs or prostitution. Why would I venture out less well armed in areas where worse conditions prevail?

  15. Well I guess he kind of held back on his feelings for those of us who would be so stupid to think a right in the US Constitution is insane and will lead to death and violence. How dumb of me

  17. “These laws that allow our citizens to carry a concealed weapon at a university, in a school, in a bar where liquor is served, in automobiles, in the worst part of our neighborhoods, where there’s high crime, drugs, prostitution and someone is packing a Ruger at 1:30 in the morning…. That’s not acceptable in our society.”

    …
    …
    …
    …
    …WTF?

    I think Mister Schulmann should take a walk around those parts at 1:30 and get his well-deserved thanks from the criminal scum hanging around for his tireless crusade for the safety of law-breaking hooligans, not just in Canton but he’s setting an amoral example to city officials all over this country.

  18. So I guess the next step for this jackhole is to create a map overlay of his city that lays out where and what times you can carry legally. “Between the hours of 9am and 6pm it’s fine to carry in this neighborhood, but not this area and certainly not after dark.”

    I don’t think our forefathers could have imagined there would be caveats to our rights.

  19. IROCK RULES!!! I was hoping someone would have this fools e-mail. I going to pass this on to the guys at the range.

  20. The question is, who will protect the people of Canton from Councilman Schulman. No, actually the REAL question is who will protect the people of Canton from the people who elect idiots like Schulman.

  22. This guy Schulman is an idiot…he’s obviously delusional, suffering from the two different sets of rules affliction. One for the police and one for the regular folks. Police aren’t personal bodyguards.
    The last thing I will do if I am in danger is call the police….I will defend myself and property first.
    That saying about “when seconds count, police are minutes away” is true.
    They gotta put on all their SWAT and ninja costumes..and it takes time you know!

  23. Did you ever note that when they report that you can carry “in a bar that serves liquor” (wouldn’t be much of bar if it didn’t) they forget to mention that YOU CAN”T DRINK ALCOHOL when you are carrying

  24. “These laws that allow our citizens to carry a concealed weapon at a university, in a school, in a bar where liquor is served, in automobiles, in the worst part of our neighborhoods, where there’s high crime, drugs, prostitution and someone is packing a Ruger at 1:30 in the morning…. That’s not acceptable in our society.”

    Would a Glock 22 be acceptable to him? Can’t really conceal a 12 gauge .lol

  25. I SAW THE VIDEO, AND HEARD THE COUNCIL PREZ MAKE HIS SELF EFFACING COMMENTS. THAT SAID , TWO THINGS ARE CLEAR TO ME. ONE, THIS GUY IS AN AWFUL LAWYER,AND TWO, HE WILL NOT BE ELECTED.
    NOW TO THE MEAT OF THE MATTER, OR RATHER THE MEAT HEAD. THIS OFFICER’S IA RECORD SPEAKS VOLUMES TO HIS PERSONA, AND I CANNOT HELP BUT THINK THE COP WAS DEMONSTRATING CLASSIC ROID RAGE.
    HARLISS’S CONDUCT WAS OUTRAGIOUS AND IS NOW CANTON OHIO’S NATIONAL IMAGE OF THIS HERETOFORE WELL RESPECTED CITY IN MIDDLE AMERICA. THAT IS CORRECT MR. LAWYER, NOW COUNCIL PRES. YOU ARE PART OF AMERICA, AND AS SUCH ARE SUBJECT TO THE SCRUTINY OF ALL AMERICAN’S AND SUBJECT TO THE RIGHTS AND PRIVILEGES WE ARE GOVERNED BY. YOUR DISGRACEFUL LAWMAN ACTED LIKE THE JUDGE JURY AND ALMOST HANGMAN, AND DESPITE YOUR ATTEMPTS TO EXHONORATE THIS FOOL ALL YOU DID WAS GIVE YOUR OFFICE OF TOURISM HEARTBURN. I WILL CERTAIN GO OUT OF MY WAY TO AVOID YOUR CITY. I HOPE SOMEONE GETS A GRIP AND FIRES THIS HAIR LIP HARLISS, JUDGE JUDY WHERE ARE YOU, WE NEED YOUR JUSTICE HERE, OH SORRY YOU ARE AN OUT OF TOWNER.
    CANTON OH, WHAT ARE YOU FOLKS DOING? DRUG TEST THOSE COPS, AND THE TOWN COUNCIL AS WELL. GOD BLESS AMERICA !!!!!!

    • Agree he must be an awful lawyer. He refers to the police as protecting the citizens despite the numerous rulings from SCOTUS on down stating that it is not the responsibility of the police to protect individual citizens.

  26. As far as I know Ohio doesn’t allow you to carry at a University or school. It just goes to show he’s not even familiar with CCW law.

  27. Councilman, I know *everything* I need to know about “your city” and your police force. You might want to be a bit more worried about steroid abuse in your city.

  28. Know why I carry a gun? When seconds count the police are only mintues away.
    That rings truest in exactly the ‘worst neighborhoods’ and other locales which Mr. Schulman says should be gun-free.

    • Given the conduct of Harless, we can only hope “minutes away” might stretch out to hours….

  29. If you open carry, the only people who will hassle you are the cops, as if a felon is going to open carry.

  30. Hey, councilman: If CCWs are so bad, why is the Cop the only one who threatened to use his, and illegally?

  31. Well, certainly this guy hates the idea of out-of-towners interfering in the way his city is run.

    Damn strangers probably expect him and his city to abide by that stupid federal Constitution. He never voted for that Constitution! Why should he have to follow it! And what business is it of all these strangers what goes on in his town? Mind your own business!

  32. Your headline is wrong it shouldn’t be “irate cop”, but “Krazed Killer Kop”. Much more accurate as it’s only a matter of time before he busts a cap on some kid.

  34. bobby b, it’s only an “accident of history” that the federal second amendment would apply to this tyrant’s bailiwick. In the long run, it may turn out that it doesn’t constrain him at all. But he is bound by the Fourth Amendment to the Ohio Constitution, which is pretty specific: “The people have the right to bear arms for their defense and security.” His oath is to that document, and he sounds like a traitor.

    The trouble with politicians is that they don’t know when to quit campaigning and start governing.

  36. The culture of a police department is established from the top on down. Canton City Council President Alan Schulman sounds as if he’s the root of the CPD problem. The police officer was simply expressing the councilman’s established culture, albeit in a foul-mouthed manner: “The citizen is the enemy. And an armed citizen is de facto a criminal.

    This even though countless studies and police statistics verify that in places in which the citizen is armed, crime is reduced–and that means not only that citizens are safer, so too are police officers.

    Council President Alan Schulman is irrational on this issue–and he shapes the CPD culture to follow his own irrationality.

    He should be recalled–in effect, suspended with the officer whose mindset he has helped to shape.

    End of discussion.

  37. I think this IDIOT should be given a copy of the Declaration of Independence and our Constitution to read. Also, he should be voted out of office.

    Don’t believe in the 2nd Amendment? Move to Europe. And where in the hell does he get the idea that “police protect us”?

  38. dear sir you are an idiot your as dumb as the idiot police officer,hes the one that dont need a badge or a gun,what an idiot.

  42. A legal carrier of a handgun is packing a ruger in a crime infested neighborhood at 1:30 in the morning; No wonder our streets are unsafe. Schulman you are a moron and so is your cop buddy.

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