I was at a New Years Party. I turned in my keys willingly and responsibly to the general host of the party. I accepted and acknowledged his general terms and conditions as to my stay there, and I observed my consumption to a limit, to those above and respected to my position that night. Later that night, one of the underage, ‘younger’ folks of the party noticed the handle/magazine of my carry/concealed weapon extending outside of my regular, civilian clothes. (Take it… I am fully licensed in the state of Pennsylvania to have a carry/concealed firearm) That person must have lost their composure because the next thing I can recall I was being escorted swiftly and violently upstairs by the ‘adult/elder’ males of the party (aged 40 and above is my best estimate). I tried to explain both my position and my element of legality but I was forced down, beyond my will and beyond ‘citizen arrests’ warrants, I was forced down against my neck, and head, to stay down by at least 3 male persons. And to my opinion, assaulted to stay down under ‘citizens arrest’ until PA state police arrived. Although! The only thing that exacerbated their suspicion of anything ill was the ‘ill air’ of the sight of the weapon concealed at my side. I tried with every effort to remain civil yet firm on my rights and legality; However, no matter what I said or displayed, my statements, positions, and questions were met with a swift, and hard sidearm into my face and with the question being hollered by those ‘elder’ why I would have a sidearm. In their words: "Why the f*ck do you have a gun?!" I tried to explain to them that I was licensed, trained, and that it was my state and federal right to carry legally. But…each and every time I was barred and struck to the floor to remain still and silent, although I was being hollered their inquisitions at the same time. So, realizing I was preaching to a proverbial ‘deaf choir ‘ I figured it was best, to wait for the police. I did. I was cuffed. (being inebriated of course) and put into the car while the police gathered their statements… I was put into a holding cell at their station for about a half an hour, and then released with a ride to my address, because I had really done nothing wrong and was not ‘under arrest.’ Point is, I have to endure being as an outcast amongst friends, acquaintances, and even my roommate, who herself had to told the police I was okay to release…. And now, today, I have to figure out a ride to my vehicle, more than four townships, away, collect my license to carry, and collect my firearm, as if I was convicted felon amongst those poignant to the situation. So…LOOOOONG story short, I feel I was incredibly, wrongfully embarrassed, wrongfully accused by those making statements, and wrongfully held against my will as well as assaulted by those ‘citizens’ who were inebriated themselves. Any attorneys, willing to either promote personally or off the record, OR would have it on their own, please leave your credentials. Everyone else… well, you people must be amongst those that believe that suspicion alone, constitutes the commission of a crime by a US citizen.
~A. D. Marrero
Former LCpl/USMC

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