Group of Gun Owners Protest Treatment
Group of Gun Owners Protest Treatment
Posted: May 14, 2008 06:16 AM
Last Updated: May 14, 2008 10:09 AM
A group of gun owners attended the Dickson City council meeting Tuesday.
A group of gun owners attended the Dickson City council meeting Tuesday.
By Bianca Barr
A group of gun owners aimed for justice Tuesday in Lackawanna County. They want two Dickson City police officers disciplined for the way they handled a situation involving guns.
A group stood outside the Dickson City Municipal Building, guns visibly on their hips, talking to people before the council meeting began.
Inside, there was more discussion about the second amendment and whether two part-time Dickson City police officers should be reprimanded for their actions last week at Old Country Buffet, a restaurant in the borough.
Police responded to a 911 call that there were people in the restaurant with guns. Officers arrived to find a group of people having dinner.
Officers detained one man for a short time and confiscated his gun because they said he wasn't cooperating.
Alex Arnau of Scranton was part of the group and believes the police were in the wrong.
"The community doesn't have a right to exclude people if they are contributing to the community like we are spending our money in their community."
But Joanne Clancy of Dickson City said she doesn't want to see a person carrying a sidearm in a public place like that.
"A part of feeling safe is a community standard where firearms being worn like the wild west isn't accepted."
Dickson City Police Chief William Stadnitski said no charges will be filed and the man whose gun was taken can get it back anytime but he also insisted his officers did the right thing.
"We did what we had to do for the community. We verified their ownership, verification and everything was fine. And most of the individuals were very cooperative," Stadnitski added.
Since the incident, the Old Country Buffet now has a sign posted on the front door, forbidding anyone carrying a weapon to enter.
"If it happens again, if we're uncertain of something, we will check it out. We feel we are obligated to do that for our community," added Chief Stadnitski.