New Jersey Gun ‘Appeasement’ Still Results in Citizen Disarmament

If a confiscation order had gone out, how many of these New Jersey LEOs do you think would refuse to carry it out? (New Jersey State Police/Facebook profile photo)

USA – -(Ammoland.com)- “To appease everybody, I had my firearms stored someplace else,” New Jersey gun owner and Army veteran Leonard Cottrell Jr. told New Jersey 101.5 after a June 14 visit from State Police,. “That way, during the course of the investigation, my son doesn’t have access to them and it’s on neutral ground and everything and everybody’s happy.”

Cottrell was recalling state troopers showing up at his door to confiscate firearms after his 13-year-old son was overheard discussing lax school safety with a friend.

Indoctrinated by a pervasive snitch culture — one that never seems to deter the blatantly obvious demonic nutjobs — the eavesdropping student told his parents, who told school administrators, who in turn called the cops. (Note “If you see something, say something” carries risks of its own – if you report the wrong person, you could end up smeared as a “hater.”)

“Cottrell said he made it very clear to the police that he was ‘not going to willingly give up my constitutional rights where there’s no justifiable cause, no warrants, no nothing,’” the report continued. Despite that, his home is now a “gun free zone” and that has been publicized by the media. He has, in fact, willingly ceded those rights, and by his own words in order to make authorities “happy.”

Before judging him for that, consider the environment that is New Jersey. Then consider the overwhelming force the state can bring to bear, and its predisposition to using it, especially if it’s to enforce citizen disarmament. It’s easy to anonymously declare “Molon Labe” on the internet. In meatspace, resistance is more effective when the aggressor doesn’t get to dictate the time and place, especially if that place is your home and you have family inside.

“[T]he troopers conducted an investigation and determined there was no need for the weapons to be seized,” New Jersey State Police spokesman Major Brian Polite stated. It sounds like Cottrell moved the guns offsite as a preemptive protective measure to preclude an escalation should the cops change their minds. But I doubt “everybody’s happy.”

Cottrell can’t be happy, not really. And neither is the State of New Jersey, which based on its actions wants everybody’s guns – at least those in private hands. They’ve made it clear they’ll keep moving toward that goal, one Intolerable Act infringement at a time.

Leonard Cottrell Jr., 40, of Millstone, NJ. (Courtesy of Leonard Cottrell)
Leonard Cottrell Jr., 40, of Millstone, NJ. (Courtesy of Leonard Cottrell)

This is the reason I support Oath Keepers. We are fast approaching a time where, depending on the state you live in, confiscation orders are increasingly likely. While many in “law enforcement” will no doubt obey such orders, it is to our advantage to encourage those who will not, and to get others thinking about the oath they took when they became sworn officers, and what that really requires of them.

Appeasing gun-grabbers, generally couched as “compromise,” is impossible. It’s like throwing a scrap of flesh to a circling pack of jackals and expecting them to be sated and leave you alone — instead of sensing opportunity and fear, and moving in closer.

That’s an analogy I wish more of our “gun rights leaders” in state and national groups would act like they understand.


About David Codrea:David Codrea
David Codrea is the winner of multiple journalist awards for investigating / defending the RKBA and a long-time gun owner rights advocate who defiantly challenges the folly of citizen disarmament.
In addition to being a field editor/columnist at GUNS Magazine and associate editor for Oath Keepers, he blogs at “The War on Guns: Notes from the Resistance,” and posts on Twitter: @dcodrea and Facebook.

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Melissa Wilson

I’m the moderator of JPFO Armed Jews and Gun Owners of the World, on Facebook. The biggest mistake I see in this article is the use of the term “gun rights”. Guns don’t have rights, PEOPLE DO, so these are CLEARLY HUMAN RIGHTS, and I can PROVE THAT by definition. And where are these “Oath Keepers” among the New Jersey police? AWOL?

Lord-Pi-314

Is it too late to educate the LEO’s, especially the indoctrinated young ones, about illegal orders, and the Constitution ? Do any of them have a clue about the Supremacy Clause ? Do any of them know that they are being used to do the dirty work of very evil men ? How about those in the military, sent over to the Middle East, to fight the enemies of the tail wagging the dog ? How many of them have ever heard of Smedley Butler, the Greatest Marine who ever existed ? How many of them have ever read his… Read more »

R. William Orians

” When misguided public opinion honors what is despicable and despises what is honorable , punishes virtue and rewards vice , encourages what is harmful and discourages what is useful , applauds falsehood and smothers truth under indifference or insult , a nation turns it’s back on progress and can be restored only by the terrible lessons of catastrophe ” Frederick Bastiat

Marc DV.

The Cops Will Feel Safe !
They have THEIR Service Weapons
At Home ! What They Gonna do if ,
Their Kid Starts Talking About Guns ,
In School ? HAVE THEIRS CONFISCATED ?
Not Gonna Happen ! What About The ,
Governors Security Detail’s Kids Did the Same ?
I’d Like to See Him Go Out With Unarmed Guards !
Never Gonna Happen ! 2 tier Justice system !

m.

…shall not be infringed, gun control t**ts

Gunny1951

Bill Mullins- you are exactly right. Ran up against in CA while sworn to uphold the law and support the Constitutiln of the US. On more than one occasion. Probably why I didn’t advance very quickly despite having served in USMC prior to joining LAPD.

Wild Bill

Gunny, What years were you with LAPD? Where were you assigned? Did you know Bruce Khuel?

Eric_CA

@Gunny1951, Good post. BTW, I work ckose to the new LAPD Hq. Walk by every week day during my lunch time walk.

Wild Bill

@Eric CA, New LAPD HQ? What happened to Parker Center?

Gunny1951

MadMagyar- oh yeah- they’re watching this comment board closely. You’d lose a bet if you said “NOT”.

Gunny1951

Tyrants never view themselves as such, instead convincing themselves that what they do is “for the good of the people”. How dare they presume to know what is best for me and my family! They don’t even know, or care to know me!!

warhorse

“Of all tyrannies, a tyranny exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron’s cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end, for they do so with the approval of their own conscience.” CS Lewis

cliff

Gunny1951,
Thank you for your service to our GREAT COUNTRY!
I think I recall hearing that same old worn-out “LINE” before…from every EVIL DICTATOR in world history, BEFORE the “textbooks” were “altered” by the “ELITE” DEMOCOMMUNISTS to make sure the young are properly INDOCTRINATED.
SEMPER-FI.

Gunny1951

Randy- wow! I think you are me! It’s like you are reading my mind. History class IS sadly,a thing of the past. The devils know that if history is taught in the schools they cannot cram their idiotic beliefs into our kids’ heads.
They know that an armed population cannot be controlled effectively to suit their end goal and will continue to strive to disarm all civilians using any and all methods.

Gunny1951

Voting the Dems out is a wonderful idea. We have to be vigilant at the polls as it has become obvious in recent years that they are not above any firm of cheating. Changing the rules to allow felons to vote, to allow non-citizens, illegal or legally here, to vote, counting multiple votes from the same person with residences in more than one state, counting votes cast by people long dead and buried, et al. And then making imbecilic statements to the effect that “dead people have a right to make decisions, too”. Anytime they discover they aren’t winning “the… Read more »

James Troiano

It’s a joke to think that voting is going to do anything to change this state. The vast majority of voters that come out are Democrats. Last election allowed the drunken mick a governors seat, and showed that most of all NJ Republican’s stayed home and didn’t even vote. What was even more disgusting was how low of a turnout it was with gun owners!!!!!! I am sick of the garbage in this state! There will be no change. You have 2 options. Stay and be disarmed, or leave and find freedom in a non blue state!!

William Spurgeon

Your right samadams. Every person who ownsand with a fire arm and can use it needs to be ready and with plenty of ammo. and not the little 22’s a real fire arm 308-30/06-6.5 grendal 6.5 creedmore you get the pi.

recon29

@Wild Bill. I agree with you, Bill. It’s afterward I worry about. When everyone leaves. I always have Ruby Ridge in the back of my mind. All those agent snipers in gilly suits hiding in the woods. Look what they did. The local Sheriff couldn’t believe there were so many of them when they lined up on the road out after the killing stopped. Then the 51 days in Waco. Now Keystone pipeline trials. State and local police including some from out of state. Plus a private army to beat the crap out of protesters. All we have is the… Read more »

Wild Bill

@recon29, Hmmm, I may have to go out and buy a couple extra cases of booze to keep the folks around longer!

D'Narius

You obviously have forgotten events in Viet Nam, Afghanistan,Iraq,Syria et alia…

Wild Bill

@D’N, Can you be more specific?

Lord-Pi-314

1776 was won by snipers firing from behind trees and stone walls at the heads of the officers first. When the rank and file saw their commanders brains all over the ground, they panicked and became easy prey. Their pants were soiled before they too stopped a rifle ball. Just saying.

Colonialgirl

SIEG HEIL New Jersey; Going to go take lessons from Castro’s CUBA and install neighborhood snitches and jack booted thugs like Hitler to seize peoples COnstitutionally LEGAL firearms ?

Gunny1951

Hi Colonialgirl- awesome comment! And just as in Hitler’s Germany, they are using the children as informants. Despicable! IMHO the worst part is that the LE community there sees nothing wrong with violating these citizens God given natural rights as protected by the 2A. I feel I can safely point that out as I was a part of that community fir over seventeen years. It is a very close knit group who will “circle the wagons” to defend and protect one of their own. I’ve spent some time in N.J. and can tell you from experience that N.J. State Troopers… Read more »

Edward Weber

Not just Gestapo like in their beliefs, but just look at their uniforms. I can’t remember any other State uniforms looking so much like Gestapo or SS. Before WWII, German heritage was very strong in the Northeast. Maybe it is still present.

MadMagyar

The commenting process (and somebody’s control of it) is getting more interesting by the day. I’ve left three replies to other’s comments here in the past half hour, only one of which has shown up. Additionally, as soon as I hit the post button, the page refreshes, and instead if “14 comments”, only TWO show up, even after refreshing again. Revisiting David’s blog, then re-linking showed the correct number [part edited, NOT by me ] let’s see if this comment makes it through. A copy will be posted (and emailed) to David’s site in case it doesn’t. Note: If this… Read more »

Lord-Pi-314

Bone up on Project TALPIOT, and, welcome to the NewGaza. If you have INTEL inside, you got your new oppressors inside INTEL. I just had my email hacked this evening, 7-16-18. I keep getting a message that says “Cannot get email. The password does not exist” (paraphrased). Someone doesn’t like me sending the TALPIOT story around. Or maybe a certain senator or 2 don’t like being called bad names that start with a “C” ?

Mark

Bad part that I see about a lot of this is the fact that you don’t hear about any of it in the news or local paper only on the web and sites like this, people out of the loop don’t realize what’s going on behind their backs ,it’s time to take back control of our country.

Rivahmitch

Those who are unwilling to kill and die to preserve their rights, freedoms and property will inevitably and deservedly lose them. To die is inevitable, to die taking enemies of freedom with you is the desirable way to go. Semper Fi!!

Gunny1951

Semper Fi Rivahmitch-oooRah. Nearly all USMC brothers I have had the honor and pleasure of being around believe exactly the same. Mueller is a disgrace to the uniform in my opinion. I do not understand how he didn’t get fragged while he was in SE Asia. Frat boy officers didn’t tend to have a very long life expectancy. There was a reason for that and he was a prime example. Got a lot of good men killed and returned to the real world decorated as a hero. And look at him now. Still doing whatever he can to make himself… Read more »

Larry Griffith

It is by all means the voter. If the gun owning voters don’t vote they will eventually loose. Just use the 2016 Presidential Election as an example. We the people got feed up with all of the empty promises. The Left swore up and down that Trump would never become President. We “Voters” made a difference. Don’t wait until it’s too late. VOTE.

MadMagyar

You should read about “voting” at blackboxvoting.org – then see if you think that’s going to work. I’ve known for about 40 years now that Mike Vanderboegh’s third box is the only real option we have left.

Bob Koceja

Years ago I took a sworn oath when I become a Police Officer to “protect and defend the Constitution
of the United States.” It didn’t say except for the 2nd Amendment. Without the 2nd Amendment there
would be no Constitutional rights. Wake up people! Our enemies are not some foreign invaders attacking with
weapons. They are some of our power hungry elected officials who want control every part of our lives.
“Know guns = know freedom. No guns = no freedom”

Capndad

That picture of New Jersey cops looks like they are lining up to invade Poland.

MadMagyar

Funny thing is, you’re pretty close on that comment. A friend of mine who grew up in Nazi Germany, and was in the Hitler Youth when they invaded Poland, says that this country reminds him exactly of what it was like back then. He laments that he never thought he’d see the same thing happen twice in his lifetime.

Randy

I have tried explaining to many gun owners that there are many police and even soldiers that will be to follow the orders coming from their seniors no matter what even if it means violating their oath to defend the constitution. For many at least in the beginning they’ll do it because they want to keep their jobs. There was a survey taken many years ago (maybe in the 1970s) and the survey asked would you be willing to help the government confiscate guns from the people in the country and 40% said they would. It would be interesting to… Read more »

hippybiker

David,
I have only one small complaint. Comparing scumbag gun grabbers to Jackals, gives good Jackals everywhere a bad name.

GitErDone

Tyranny happens at ALL levels of government – and must be treated the same way. It may be time for those patriots who live in gun grabbing fascist states to rise up against the tyranny in their state governments – resist and oppose by any means necessary. “Desperate Sons”.

samadams1776

So at some point we’re going to have to start blowing up the towers that carry power lines, disrupt the supply of fuel and food and kill politicians and judges. A civil war is coming and you people better be prepared for it. That means producing a shadow government to take the place of the one we’re going to topple and the militia in all 50 states to seize the power there as well as from the federal government. David codrea is right about people claiming molon labe anonymously on the internet. But the reality is we’re going to have… Read more »

JOE CHAMBERLAIN

shades of 1936 Germany and Hitler in charge.

Wild Bill

@s1776, We have not the logistics secure communications, command structure, or transport for what you suggest. We the People are less self sufficient than in 1861. The BATFE is more prepared for what you suggest than We the People. Why would conservatives do as you suggest under a conservative administration that is working to turn things around? It is the libtards that should be revolting. As soon as you hold formation at your house, ten different federal agencies that want to look good will be at your house with camera men from the MSM. Are you a government agent trying… Read more »

MadMagyar

@”samadams1779″ – the last time I heard someone talking like that, it was an undercover agent working for the FBI to take down the Ty Hardin and the rest of the so-called “Arizona Patriots” (an organization that never existed under that name, btw). He’d show up at meetings they held (unannounced to most of Ty’s constitutional class students) in hotel rooms around the state, and start talking the same exact things you have posted here. Turns out that when they compared notes afterwards, nobody else had invited this guy, and he’d be the ONLY one saying such stuff. Later on,… Read more »

Gunny1951

Samadams1776- what you are advocating is totally rebellious and anarchical, much the same as the man whose name you have taken as your moniker’s ideas and beliefs. My question to you is why would you post such tripe here, knowing that this forum has to be being monitored by alphabet agencies? Are you a “ plant”, attempting to stir others into making similar remarks? Sure sounds like it. If so, you’ve been discovered buddy and you can take your hateful rhetoric and stick it. If not, it’s still hatefilled rhetoric and will accomplish nothing productive. But you are entitled to… Read more »

Tionico

A civil war is coming and you people better be prepared for it.

Interesting how you set yourself up as uninvolved..”YOU people”… I prefer to live in a country where WE THE PEOPLE do what is necessary and right. Puople like YOU can stand about and pout as we stand up for the rightness of our Constitutional principles.

A. White

@ Tionico: I believe it will be more of a ‘socialist revolution’ than a civil war but war is war and you are very correct… IT IS COMING!!! That pain in our backs isn’t old age. It’s a commiecrat knife that is being inserted slowly! The commiecrats only have fodder as strategy which is their fuse. Success needs not infrastructure but the will to sacrifice with the use of competent strategy and tactical superiority. There are those who wish to keep waiting for RINOs to it for them. They believe elections will fix this several decades old problem socialist subversion.… Read more »

Caw@Waconia

This sounds so prewar Nazi Germany and the Hitler Youth. Children indoctrinated to turn in friends and family for innocent comments as suspicious activity. Cottrell’s son makes an innocent comment or criticism of school security and is turned in by some little Nazi and the Storm Troopers show up at the families front door. This is the road we are on! We need to wake up and stop this path the left is bringing us down.

James Andrews

New Jersey voters are responsible for this idiocy, and are only encouraging and further helping the gangs and other armed thugs in the process.

Michael Twidle

It’s not the voters it’s the non voters, NJ has a million gun owners that apparently are not out there pulling the lever for their 2nd Amendment rights.

Missouri Born

This all falls on the shoulders of the voters of New Jersey for electing the type of gun hating elected officials in the first place, only the voters can change what’s going on in their state.

Cyborghunter

“If a confiscation order had gone out, how many of these New Jersey LEOs do you think would refuse to carry them out?”

Virtually none.
Put another way, a statistically insignificant number.
And even those will stand quietly aside while their comrades gun you down.
The States are already confiscating.
Heard of any LEOs refusing to follow those orders?

Wild Bill

@Cy, I agree with you, but we are not without options in those circumstances. Immediately call everyone you know to come over you your house. Make mutual defense agreements in advance, just like our Minutemen fore fathers. Call some teenager and tell them to come to your flash party, the booze is free, and bring their friends. Call news people. Call your prepaid lawyer.
Police agencies hate to have witnesses, much less a huge crowd of evidence gatherers. The police fear and loath a lawyer taking names and looking at their paperwork.

Gunny1951

Wild Bill- if you have ever been involved in a swat type operation you know full well that the streets will be blocked to outside access before and during the operation. Cell phone jamming devices are employed. Communication with others is limited as best as is possible. The wonderful advances in technology are not out friends in such a scenario.You are correct in your assessment that virtually no LEOs will refuse to follow orders of confiscation, believing that those orders supercede the Constitution they swore to uphold. Having spent slightly more than seventeen years in LE I know and understand… Read more »

Wild Bill

@Gunny, if “they” block cell phone use, then they deprive you, and other noninvolved persons, the Sixth Amendment Civil Right to contact your attorney, First Amendment Civil Right to speak, communicate, and associate. That would be great! Juries would automatically hate them. 42 USC 1983

Gunny1951

@wildbill- gee whiz, do you think that the sixth amendment is that much more important to the confiscators than the 2nd or the first or any of the others? Remember- with all of those bent on disarming honest, law-abiding citizens the end justifies the means. They believe that breaking the law is ok when they’re the ones doing it. Anything goes when the raid goes down and damn the consequences. Deal with those pesky rules and regs later.

Wild Bill

@Gunny, not to the confiscators, but when asking for a 42 USC 1983 award, you want to include in your cause of action every Civil Right that “they” violated.

Gunny1951

@wildbill- in order for 42 USC 1983 to be of any help an arrest has to be made. I doubt that will take place in a civil forfeiture scenario. More than likely if an arrest seems imminent there will be gunfire exchanged and it will just become another “justified homicide” on the books when the homeowner refused to cooperate with authorities. And no one will be any wiser. It’s already occuring in various locations throughout the country. happening

Wild Bill

@Gunny, No an arrest does not have to be made. 42 USC 1983 confers a cause of action upon a person who has suffered some manner of injury as the consequence of having been deprived of any Civil Right, privilege or immunity secured by the Constitution or a federal statute. Please see Baker v McCollan

Bill Mullins

+1000 to your answer of “Virtually none”. In fact these days I would not expect ANY to fail to obey – especially in places like Kali, NY, Mass, Ill, etc. I would be surprised if even 1% refused to obey even here in Texas. You – and more importantly your wife and kids – cannot eat principles. If the unit commander narrows your choices down to obey or kiss your job (and very likely your state-issued license) goodbye; your duty to provide for your family might just HAVE to trump your principles.