BEAVER — An Industry man arrested after openly carrying a handgun to an August presidential rally in Beaver wore an empty holster to court on Monday and defended his right to bear arms, but the judge wasn’t buying his argument.
District Judge Douglas Loughner ruled in Beaver County Court Monday that John Noble, 50, of 1063 Willowbrook Drive should stand trial on misdemeanor charges of disorderly conduct and disrupting a public meeting, stemming from the Sept. 29 rally for Democratic presidential running mates Barack Obama and Joe Biden.
According to hearing testimony, the incident was at least partially triggered by comments Obama made in April about rural Americans being bitter and clinging to guns and religion. And the defense argued that Noble had a constitutional right to attend armed.
Noble said in an interview before the hearing that he never intended to cause a ruckus, and he wasn’t there to make a statement. He was there, he said, to distribute gun-rights literature and “mirror” Obama’s comments.
However, prosecutors presented evidence that he had planned the appearance in advance “to test what would happen.”
Noble was accompanied by his wife, Janet, who was carrying a Bible, and at least nine other supporters, at least four of whom wore empty holsters at their sides.
Pennsylvania law permits residents to carry handguns so long as they are not concealed.
“I would have my firearm today with me if I was allowed and if it wasn’t taken away,” Noble said.
The others said they arrived at the courthouse armed, but checked their guns at the door. The county provides locked storage containers at each of the two courthouse entrances for police officers and residents to store guns.
Prosecutors called John Atkinson Sr. of Vanport Township, the first person to spot Noble in a crowd of about 300 people standing in Beaver’s McIntosh Square. Obama, Biden and other Democratic leaders were speaking less than 100 yards away in Quay Square. The parks are at the center of town.
Atkinson said Noble had a semiautomatic 9mm handgun holstered on his right hip and was carrying a Bible. Noble crossed under a police tape cordoning off the park and began distributing literature.
Atkinson, who has a license to carry a concealed weapon and has been a gun owner most of his life, said he immediately hailed a sheriff’s deputy and pointed out Noble, who was arrested on the spot.
“He had every right to (have the gun), but in my opinion, this was a presidential rally, and that isn’t the right time or place to carry a firearm,” Atkinson said.
State Police Trooper Shawn Schexnaildre, the arresting officer, testified that Noble’s gun was loaded with 14 rounds, including one in the chamber ready for firing. He described Noble as a “pleasant gentleman” and “not hostile in any way.” Noble cooperated with his questioning, he said. The first question was about the gun.
“He looked me right in the eye and said, ‘I’m here to show Mr. Obama that Pennsylvanians still cling to their guns and religion,’ ” the officer said.
Schexnaildre said Internet postings on two Web sites indicated that Noble planned the incident.
Several days before the rally, Noble posted a message on one site saying he would attend the rally armed “to test what would happen,” Schexnaildre said. A subsequent post on the day of the rally urged readers to bring their guns and Bibles to Beaver that night.
Assistant District Attorney Frank Martucci said the police didn’t arrest Noble because he had a gun, but because he caused a public disturbance by wearing it to the rally.
Noble’s attorney, Steve Colafella, said that his client had every right to carry a gun, even to the rally, and that he believed Noble had a good chance of acquittal at trial. Prosecutors, he said, were sending a public message by charging him.
“I think they’re sending a message that they want to discourage the practice of openly carrying a firearm to a political rally,” he said.
¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤ To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L Web interface at: http://listserv.icors.org/archives/gambia-l.htmlBecause of the image of Obama on his T-shirt?May his soull rest in perfect peace.\AlieuOsloOn Fri, Oct 10, 2008 at 1:17 AM, [log in to unmask]> wrote:
A man wearing a T-shirt with an image of Obama was shot three times in London. The guy is Nigerian emigrant.Folks in UK what do you make of this? Is it this bad over there or is it just an isolated incident?Please share your thoughts about this incident.
housMcCain or Obama? Stay updated on coverage of the Presidential race while you browse - Download Now!¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤ To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L Web interface at: http://listserv.icors.org/archives/gambia-l.htmlTo Search in the Gambia-L archives, go to: http://listserv.icors.org/SCRIPTS/WA-ICORS.EXE?S1=gambia-l To contact the List Management, please send an e-mail to: [log in to unmask] ¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤
To Search in the Gambia-L archives, go to: http://listserv.icors.org/SCRIPTS/WA-ICORS.EXE?S1=gambia-l To contact the List Management, please send an e-mail to: [log in to unmask] ¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤