Detroit Gun Rights Advocates Stage Successful Protest At ‘Guns For Groceries’ Event

Detroit Gun Rights Advocates Stage Successful Protest At “Guns For Groceries” Event Conducted By Wayne County (MI) Executive And The Local Sheriff Department.

Gun Rights Advocates Making Better Offers For Firearms Than The Wayne County (MI) Government
Gun Rights Advocates Making Better Offers For Firearms Than The Wayne County (MI) Government
Legally Armed In Detroit
Legally Armed In Detroit

Detroit, Michigan – -(Ammoland.com)- This past Saturday, May 18th, 2013, approximately 50 gun rights activists attended a “Guns for Groceries” event to stage a demonstration of their own against the Wayne County (MI) government.

The Wayne County Executive Robert Ficano and the Wayne County Sheriff Benny Napoleon teamed up with a local church (The New St. Paul Tabernacle Church of God in Christ), the Meijer’s grocery store chain, and the Goodman-Acker law firm to entice citizens to turn in their guns on a “no questions asked” basis.

All month long commercials were being run over the airwaves seeking to convince Detroit residents that the cause of the violence in their town was guns owned by them. Thus, if they wanted to reduce the amount of violent crime in Detroit, the “obvious” solution floated by the local county government was for everybody to sell their firearms for a $50 gift card to buy groceries at Meijer’s.

Local Detroit gun rights activists, however, know the truth about these “guns for goods” program ran by local governments all across our country:

  • They have never been proven to have any positive effect on violent crime rates.
  • They encourage firearm thefts because no questions will be asked.
  • They potentially lead to the destruction of evidence used in crimes.
  • They lead to the destruction of personal property of the rightful owners.
  • They consume public resources that could be used to fight crime.
  • They exploit the poor by offering $50 for potentially valuable hardware.
  • They mislead the public by creating only a “feel good” fluff story in the media.

Accordingly, gun rights activists who are members of a variety of local organizations (e.g. Legally Armed in Detroit, Michigan Open Carry, Inc., Michigan Gun Owners, and Michigan Coalition of Responsible Gun Owners) set up for business in the parking lot of a local fast-food restaurant located next door to the church. Activists made sure that they were equipped to comply with current state law by having either a Michigan Concealed Pistol License or a Michigan Pistol Purchase Permits and Michigan Pistol Sales Record Forms.

Gun rescued by local gun rights activist
Gun rescued by local gun rights activist

The protest was an instant success: Cars that carried people looking for the church had to drive by the gun rights activists in the parking lot. As such, many people pulled over and were willing to part with their firearms for cash, often more than $50, instead of a gift card for groceries.

It didn’t take long for the county officials to discover why their event wasn’t as successful as they thought it would be. In fact, about an hour into the selling period, the Wayne County Executive himself, Robert Ficano, pulled into the parking lot where the gun rights activists were set up and exited his vehicle to survey what was happening. He left frustrated, 10 minutes later. In his place, Wayne County deputies were sent to the lot.

From that moment forward until the event ended, the gun rights activists were harassed by all day by Wayne County deputies. Their first act was to park one of their marked cars by the parking lot’s entrance and started directing people further up the street to the church.

Then a deputy went into the fast-food restaurant and talked to the manager on duty. We do not know what they told the manager, but suddenly, the restaurant reversed its decision to allow gun rights activists onto its property. Prior to contact with the deputies, their presence was allowed as long as it did not interfere with customers buying food.

Thus, the gun rights activists were ejected from the parking lot and had to move their cars. Apparently, the deputies thought their actions were enough to deter the activists. They couldn’t have been more wrong. The activists adjusted by walking up and down the public sidewalk while holding their signs.

The deputies responded by telling them that they would start writing tickets for both being on and obstructing the sidewalk in front of the church. It would be a hour or so later before discussions with the top deputy in charge confirmed that walking on the sidewalk was legal and that all deputies would be apprised of that fact.

One gun rights activists was detained for a while. It is unclear why it happened. After he was released, Rick Ector from Legally Armed In Detroit, interviewed him so that he could tell us what happened. Check out the video for an account in his own words.

At the end of the day, the Wayne County government bought 200 guns – many of them inoperable pieces of junk. The activists bought 40 guns in working condition.

The activists prevailed because they did not quit, especially after being harassed by the Wayne County government.

About The Author

Rick Ector is a National Rifle Association credentialed Firearms Trainer, who provides Michigan CCW Class training in Detroit for students at his firearms school – Rick’s Firearm Academy of Detroit.

Ector is a recognized expert in firearm safety and has been featured extensively in the national and local media: Associated Press, NRAnews, Gun Digest, The Politics Daily, Fox News Detroit, The Detroit News, WJLB, WGPR and the UrbanShooterPodcast.

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Mr. Terry

Hello, how are you? My name is Duane Terry and I’ve become a victim of the ‘open carry’ law in Detroit as well. My case is similar to Elijah Woody’s case but mines didn’t involve no drugs at all. I was detained and unlawful arrested in front of my home and my family. I was coming from the parking lot of a business near my house and the officer seen me carrying my pistol open, in plain sight, and they rolled up on me asking if I had a CPL for my weapon. As I responded to the officers that… Read more »

cabezon

Dont worry harry the Horrible, everything they bought is now on Armslist for MSRP + $100.

Harry the Horrible

Did they get anything nice?

Eggplant emoji

F Wayne Co. govt. fascists

Jim H

When are folks going to figure out that the vast majority of law enforcement officers will gladly trample their rights, otherwise they’ll lose their paychecks.

But hey, we’re supposed to “sympathize” with them and “understand” their difficult position.

for every cop that SWEARS they will never seize guns upon order of their superiors, you have a cop that hasn’t faced losing his job yet. Easy to have principles when you’re not asked to pay a price for them.

TEX

I might start going to these type events with a few buddies and some cash and seeing what kind of deals we can pick up.I’m glad it worked out really good for these pro-second amendment people and the detroit gestapo basically got bitch slapped by their own dumbass.

CL

Some goons sent by the big man!!

Frdmftr

Great results! I hope the activists, having purchased some forty guns their own literature above points out might be stolen, will now confirm the firearms they purchased are either not stolen or will see to it they are returned to their rightful owners.

Jeffrey

Shows how far Anti-gun zealots will go to interfere with LAW ABIDING GUN OWNERS!!
HARRASING! CALLING PD ETC!! maybe some of the guns bought can be traced to crimes or back to their legal gun owners if ( most likely stolen)
this PROVES ANTI- GUN CRUSADERS WILL DO ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING POSSIBLE AGAINST LAW ABIDING GUN OWNERS EVEN IF IT MEANS AGAINST THE LAW TACTICS! LYING ETC