Bellingham to pay man $15000 for harrassment

[3nails]

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Bellingham-to-pay-15000-to-man-who-wore-gun-in-park-219466731.html

[TheSkyBuster]

 Personally I don't open carry (at least not very often)  I've always felt concealed carry was a much better option and made more sense...... For me.    But with settlements of 15 Grand being paid out I might start open carrying in public places a little more frequently.  The odds of "Hitting the Legal jackpot" are probably much higher than winning the lottery.   Of course that only works if some Idiot Cop doesn't shoot you first.   

[Skillet]

Your taxes are covering the $15k this guy is getting because of a power tripping cop... does he really deserve a payment of any kind?  Cop deserves to lose his job for unjustifiably pulling on a lawful citizen, I agree 100%. But the guy getting $15k out of a municipal fund for the idiot with a badge's actions?

[TheSkyBuster]

Your taxes are covering the $15k this guy is getting because of a power tripping cop... does he really deserve a payment of any kind?  Cop deserves to lose his job for unjustifiably pulling on a lawful citizen, I agree 100%. But the guy getting $15k out of a municipal fund for the idiot with a badge's actions?

Yes,   
 "This Guy"  A Law abiding citizen who was exercising his right to carry a firearm for personal protection, had his life threatened by an officer of the Law (who was unaware of the laws?).  This officer needs to be held accountable as well as the jurisdiction that employed a peace officer with out the proper training or knowledge of the law.  I would much rather my tax dollars be paid to Law abiding Legal citizens who were wronged than to Illegal immigrants looking for a hand out.   
 

[3nails]

Your taxes are covering the $15k this guy is getting because of a power tripping cop... does he really deserve a payment of any kind?  Cop deserves to lose his job for unjustifiably pulling on a lawful citizen, I agree 100%. But the guy getting $15k out of a municipal fund for the idiot with a badge's actions?

Yes I would rather see the cop lose his job. That small sum seems rather grimy. Like a payoff.

[Skillet]

I would much rather my tax dollars be paid to Law abiding Legal citizens who were wronged than to Illegal immigrants looking for a hand out.

Wasn't aware those were the only two choices...   

[GoldTip]

My 2c.  Maybe the guy who got the gun pointed at him needs to feel a little less bad about his hurt feelings of having a gun poinnted at him and return the 15k and ask that the officer get a permanent write up in his file.  The Master Sargent has made his point and the police and 911 operators will get more training, point made and move on.  No need whatsoever to pay him 15K. 

[CAMPMEAT]

Never know. The guy with the open carry might of had a "Conservation Northwest" t shirt on. Maybe the cop felt threatened because or their radicalism, environmental dealings.

[pianoman9701]

Good for him. I hope he gets a new gun and a tone of ammo and accessories. I think monetary awards do two things; they compensate and they teach. It must've been pretty scary having a pistol pointed at him and because he was doing absolutely nothing wrong, he should be compensated for that trauma. The $15K will make sure the police officers in the department are thoroughly trained as to our rights and serves as a deterrent to future infringements. Cops and other government officials need to be reminded sometimes that we're their bosses, especially those of us who aren't breaking the law.

[xd2005]

Good for him. I hope he gets a new gun and a tone of ammo and accessories. I think monetary awards do two things; they compensate and they teach. It must've been pretty scary having a pistol pointed at him and because he was doing absolutely nothing wrong, he should be compensated for that trauma. The $15K will make sure the police officers in the department are thoroughly trained as to our rights and serves as a deterrent to future infringements. Cops and other government officials need to be reminded sometimes that we're their bosses, especially those of us who aren't breaking the law.

Unfortunately, as "their bosses," we're also the ones giving them their money for the $15k fine (although i am not sure if insurance kicks in right away or if there is a deductible). Point is, it's not money out of their pocket, but rather ours. I private industry, if an employee costs the owner a $15k fine, they can easily fire them so it doesn't happen again. Here, our only choice is to open our wallets and ask "how much do you need now?"

[NWWA Hunter]

No amount is enough to have a gun pulled on me!

[seth30]

  but 15K is a good start

[Skillet]

Good for him. I hope he gets a new gun and a tone of ammo and accessories. I think monetary awards do two things; they compensate and they teach. It must've been pretty scary having a pistol pointed at him and because he was doing absolutely nothing wrong, he should be compensated for that trauma. The $15K will make sure the police officers in the department are thoroughly trained as to our rights and serves as a deterrent to future infringements. Cops and other government officials need to be reminded sometimes that we're their bosses, especially those of us who aren't breaking the law.

That's lawyer-think, P-Man.  That's what is at the root of the problems in this country.  Open carrying a gun, and he got $15K worth of scared when one is pulled on him?  I call BS on that.   He had the hardware himself, he had the understanding of what a gun does (which is nothing that the possessor doesn't make it to do).  How much do you ask from one of your pheasant hunting buddies if he accidentally sweeps you with his muzzle when he switches arms?  'Bout a grand for that?  How about the guy that hands you the gun from the display case but doesn't clear it before handing it over, but doesn't point it at you?  $500 off the price of the gun for that one?  When I'm hunting and I get scoped (happened once), I get pissed, not scared.  I certainly don't go and ask the idiot for $15K for doing it.  If I get the chance, I tell him what a stupid move that was.  Paying out $15K out of a muni fund is just $15K worth of something else that is actually needed and doesn't happen.  Like training cops on the laws they are sworn to protect, which happens to jump into my mind at this point for some reason.

Ambulance-chaser lawyers are ruining this country.  We are the laughing stock of the world when it comes to frivolous lawsuits. This $15K wasn't paid to compensate for fear, it was paid for his signature to guarantee he won't sue.  Think about that - the city of BHam paid $15K to some guy who suffered no actual loss.  $15K just to keep it out of the courts.  And smart people seem to think this is ok?  Sad.   

[pianoman9701]

Good for him. I hope he gets a new gun and a tone of ammo and accessories. I think monetary awards do two things; they compensate and they teach. It must've been pretty scary having a pistol pointed at him and because he was doing absolutely nothing wrong, he should be compensated for that trauma. The $15K will make sure the police officers in the department are thoroughly trained as to our rights and serves as a deterrent to future infringements. Cops and other government officials need to be reminded sometimes that we're their bosses, especially those of us who aren't breaking the law.

Unfortunately, as "their bosses," we're also the ones giving them their money for the $15k fine (although i am not sure if insurance kicks in right away or if there is a deductible). Point is, it's not money out of their pocket, but rather ours. I private industry, if an employee costs the owner a $15k fine, they can easily fire them so it doesn't happen again. Here, our only choice is to open our wallets and ask "how much do you need now?"

Yes, and as a taxpayer, that gives me extra incentive to put pressure on my police force to do their job correctly. County sherrifs are elected and so are mayors who appoint police chiefs. If they don't appoint the right one and put pressure on them to do their jobs without infringing on law-abiding citizens, they get voted out. Just because the taxpayers foot the bill doesn't mean that the award shouldn't be given.

[pianoman9701]

Good for him. I hope he gets a new gun and a tone of ammo and accessories. I think monetary awards do two things; they compensate and they teach. It must've been pretty scary having a pistol pointed at him and because he was doing absolutely nothing wrong, he should be compensated for that trauma. The $15K will make sure the police officers in the department are thoroughly trained as to our rights and serves as a deterrent to future infringements. Cops and other government officials need to be reminded sometimes that we're their bosses, especially those of us who aren't breaking the law.

That's lawyer-think, P-Man.  That's what is at the root of the problems in this country.  Open carrying a gun, and he got $15K worth of scared when one is pulled on him?  I call BS on that.   He had the hardware himself, he had the understanding of what a gun does (which is nothing that the possessor doesn't make it to do).  How much do you ask from one of your pheasant hunting buddies if he accidentally sweeps you with his muzzle when he switches arms?  'Bout a grand for that?  How about the guy that hands you the gun from the display case but doesn't clear it before handing it over, but doesn't point it at you?  $500 off the price of the gun for that one?  When I'm hunting and I get scoped (happened once), I get pissed, not scared.  I certainly don't go and ask the idiot for $15K for doing it.  If I get the chance, I tell him what a stupid move that was.  Paying out $15K out of a muni fund is just $15K worth of something else that is actually needed and doesn't happen.  Like training cops on the laws they are sworn to protect, which happens to jump into my mind at this point for some reason.

Ambulance-chaser lawyers are ruining this country.  We are the laughing stock of the world when it comes to frivolous lawsuits. This $15K wasn't paid to compensate for fear, it was paid for his signature to guarantee he won't sue.  Think about that - the city of BHam paid $15K to some guy who suffered no actual loss.  $15K just to keep it out of the courts.  And smart people seem to think this is ok?  Sad.   

Sorry, but I respectfully disagree. It's Constitution think. If you were practicing your 1st Amendment right of free speech and a cop stuck a gun in your face for doing so, do you think that's right? It's no different with the 2nd Amendment. Both are equally guaranteed to us under our beloved Constitution. If the cop and the force have no repercussions for doing so, do you think they'll change their ways? They won't.