This Baltimore Sun story shows how liberal “protective order” laws can give the relative you argue politics with during Thanksgiving Dinner the power to remove your constitutional rights and get you killed by the police.
Two Anne Arundel County police officers serving one of Maryland’s new “red flag†protective orders to remove guns from a house killed a Ferndale man after he refused to give up his gun and a struggle ensued early Monday morning, police said.
The subject of the protective order, Gary J. Willis, 60, answered his door in the 100 block of Linwood Ave. at 5:17 a.m. with a gun in his hand, Anne Arundel County police said. He initially put the gun down next to the door, but “became irate†when officers began to serve him with the order, opened the door and picked up the gun again, police said.
“A fight ensued over the gun,†said Sgt. Jacklyn Davis, a police spokeswoman.
One of the officers struggled to take the gun from Willis, and during the struggle the gun fired but did not strike anyone, police said. At that point, the other officer fatally shot Willis, police said.
Neither officer was injured, police said, and neither of their names was released.
Davis said she did not know whether anyone else was in the home at the time, and she did not know who had sought the protective order against Willis.
The “red flag†protective orders are officially known as emergency risk protection orders, and may be sought by family members, police or others to temporarily prohibit people’s access to firearms when they show signs that they are a danger to themselves or others. The law took effect Oct. 1.
A spokeswoman for the Maryland Judiciary denied a request to see any and all requests for protection orders made at the residence on Linwood Avenue, citing the law, which states that anything related to an order is confidential unless the court rules otherwise.
Police had come to the house Sunday night to speak with Willis, a longtime resident of the neighborhood, said Michele Willis, who was on the scene Monday morning and identified herself as his niece. She attributed that visit by police to “family being family†but declined to elaborate.
She said one of her aunts requested the protective order to temporarily remove Willis’ guns.
Michele Willis said she had grown up in the house and had been there Sunday night to move out her son, who had been helping to care for her grandmother.
Her uncle, Gary Willis, lived in an apartment above the garage; she said other family members, including her grandmother, another uncle, two aunts and Gary Willis’ girlfriend were also at the home Sunday night.
She said her uncle “likes to speak his mind,†but she described him as harmless.
“I’m just dumbfounded right now,†she said. “My uncle wouldn’t hurt anybody.â€
OneGuy
Two points:
1. Who answers the door with a gun in his hand??? Kind of tells me someone was right and this guy shouldn’t own a gun. I reluctantly say that as a full supporter of the 2nd amendment.
2. The whole “protective order” thing is a scam. Usually used by a disgruntled women/wife to use the system to punish the boyfriend/husband and 90% the time without legitimate reason. I doubt the constitutionality of it. How can one person use the government to deny another person of their constitutional rights (and I’m not just talking about the 2nd amendment). End the unconstitutional PO system/scam.
ed in texas
“Who answers the door with a gun in his hand?”
At 5:17 in the morning, I might well do it.
(Except I’ve usually left for work by then.)
OneGuy
But Ed, if you are truly worried about who is at the door don’t open it. I have a gun and I have a front door, I will never open the front door with a gun in my hand. Imagine that there is a confrontation and you shoot someone, you are now in a very bad legal position and even if you don’t get sent to the big house you will likely spend time in jail AND 100’s of thousands of dollars defending yourself. I would advise any law abiding person to never open the front door with a gun in your hand. Call 911. Just don’t open the door. Yell through the door to go away. Anything but to pick up that gun in a premeditated action and open that door.
Spurt Reynolds
You wake me up at 5:17 in the morning and I wouldn’t open the door. I’d shoot you through the door and then go back to bed.
No one should be calling you or knocking on your door at that hour. People make bad decisions after midnight and before 7:00.
That death was caused by lack of common sense.
Schill McGuffin
All part of the incremental rollback of this antiquated notion of “due process”. How are our wise shepherds supposed to look after us with their hands tied?
Mike-SMO
Whatever at 5:17AM, the victim put the firearm down and came outside, but then returned to grab the pistol.
His failure was in going outside to talk with the officers.
“Do you have a warrant?” “What is this about?” from inside. Then, possibly,” Please call back duringr regular business hours.” Getting into a wrestling match with police or court officers is hazardous to your health.
This actuaslly sounds like someone in the family was planning on getting the old guy out of the apartment and used the firearm call to show that they mean business.
Pounding on a door at Zero-Dark Hundred may get the target sleepy and confused. I read that technique was commonly used in Nazi Germany and Communist Russia. And, apparantly, now in the Peoples Republic of Maryland. But, sleepy, confused, and aggitated can make for a very “interesting” morning.
The background to this will be very interesting.
Mojo
These are liberalgood intentions gone bad. Where is due process? You can’t just grab someone’s gun because some idiot says you’re nuts?!?!
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