Conservative Journalist Found Guilty After Pulling Gun On Hostile Crowd

[MechAg94]

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2016/jul/8/michael-strickland-conservative-blogger-arrested-a/

http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2017/02/guilty_man_who_pulled_gun_out.html

I appears he was being harrassed by BLM activists and ended up pulling his gun.  The way he claims it, I would think it would be justified, but I don't know the state laws there on use of force or display of the firearm.  It seems he was found guilty so the judge and jury didn't agree. 

I heard an interview the other day with an advocate of Strickland.  That person made a bunch of claims about the incident and the trial.  I was hoping one of you had heard of this.  In the interview I heard, the person claimed the incident was a setup by people who knew he was a concealed carrier.  They also said some stuff about how the trial was set up.  I will have to go back and find the interview and see where those claims came from. 

[MechAg94]

http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2017/02/as_jurors_share_feelings_about.html

https://www.oregonfirearms.org/pro-gun-journalist-faces-felony-counts-for-defending-himself

http://www.victoriataft.com/

A few more links.  The last one might be who I heard interviewed.  I sounded like it might be an important case to know about, but I haven't heard anything up to now.  Of course, it could just be a case of a misbehaving concealed carrier. 

[Hawkmoon]

This was discussed at the time of the incident, I think on The Firing Line. No consensus, if I recall. I watched several videos, none of which seemed to show enough to form a completely valid opinion. IIRC, my take-away was that, at the time others were saying he was "safe" and should not have drawn, he was clearly being flanked by at least one black demonstrator and was IMHO in potential danger.

If I had been on the jury, I would have voted to acquit.

[AmbulanceDriver]

I've heard a little more about this since I'm local - I'm not at all surprised that in this incredibly liberal city in an incredibly liberal state he was convicted.  

there is *rumor* that the judge basically folded, spindled, and mutilated both Oregon's statutes regarding self defense as well as case law.   Essentially made it impossible for him to *not* be convicted.  He did opt for a bench trial instead of a jury trial probably because he knew he wouldn't get a fair jury trial here in Portland.

However, if that is the case, I would expect the conviction to be overturned on appeal.

[AmbulanceDriver]

From the Oregon Firearm's Federation website, here's a quote from one of our local judges:

Multnomah County is also home to Judge Kenneth Walker who said (in open court) "If I could I would take all the guns in America, put them on big barges and go dump them in the ocean. Nobody would have a gun. Not police, not security, not anybody. We should eliminate all of them."

[MechAg94]

From the Oregon Firearm's Federation website, here's a quote from one of our local judges:

I don't think that judge has really thought through that scenario.