A friend of mine, Patricia, gave me a ride to an event in
Santa Monica last week. She was willing to drive far out of her way from the
Inland Empire to the South Bay to pick me up. Like many Southern California Trump supporters, she is not afraid to take the fight right to the streets and get up front with the cameras and her fellow conservative patriots.
Santa Monica last week. She was willing to drive far out of her way from the
Inland Empire to the South Bay to pick me up. Like many Southern California Trump supporters, she is not afraid to take the fight right to the streets and get up front with the cameras and her fellow conservative patriots.
On the way back home from last week's event, she told me that she
had been convicted of a crime, and it was serious enough that the San
Bernardino County sheriff confiscated her fire arms as part of the plea deal.
had been convicted of a crime, and it was serious enough that the San
Bernardino County sheriff confiscated her fire arms as part of the plea deal.
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What happened?
She was demonstrating at a pro-Trump rally on
2015. One lady got really close to her, and Patricia told her to back off. The
woman, who was originally from El Salvador, reported Patricia to the police.
2015. One lady got really close to her, and Patricia told her to back off. The
woman, who was originally from El Salvador, reported Patricia to the police.
Instead of diffusing the situation
adequately, the county sheriff placed her under arrest for making criminal
threats. Incredible. She remained in custody—in jail—for 12 hours. The judge
posted a $50,000 bail amount on her.
adequately, the county sheriff placed her under arrest for making criminal
threats. Incredible. She remained in custody—in jail—for 12 hours. The judge
posted a $50,000 bail amount on her.
She did bail herself out by paying a bondsman $5,000, money
that she will never get back. This woman is a nurse, has never committed a crime
in her life, and she has to throw away $5,000 to get out of jail for a crime
that she did not commit!
that she will never get back. This woman is a nurse, has never committed a crime
in her life, and she has to throw away $5,000 to get out of jail for a crime
that she did not commit!
Then she hired a lawyer, which cost her $5,000. When her advocate
asked her about the case, and who was accusing her of making criminal threats,
she responded that she had no idea about this lady from El Salvador. She didn’t
even know the “victim’s” name!
asked her about the case, and who was accusing her of making criminal threats,
she responded that she had no idea about this lady from El Salvador. She didn’t
even know the “victim’s” name!
This crime, PC 442, does not require any proof other than
someone claiming that someone else had made a “criminal threat”, according to
Patricia. The charge is called a “wobbler,” which means that prosecutors have
the discretion to charge the crime as a felony or a misdemeanor,
someone claiming that someone else had made a “criminal threat”, according to
Patricia. The charge is called a “wobbler,” which means that prosecutors have
the discretion to charge the crime as a felony or a misdemeanor,
Felonies are serious. They can cost a defendant their right
to vote, run for office, as well as pursue certain careers. Because she is a
registered nurse, she potential could lose a lot.
to vote, run for office, as well as pursue certain careers. Because she is a
registered nurse, she potential could lose a lot.
And there was more trouble from her after that.
When the county district attorney found out
that she owned registered firearms, the county sheriff arrived at her home and
confiscated them. Why? Because she was under indictment for making criminal
threats, and she could have possibly used the firearms which she kept under her
bed to harm someone.
that she owned registered firearms, the county sheriff arrived at her home and
confiscated them. Why? Because she was under indictment for making criminal
threats, and she could have possibly used the firearms which she kept under her
bed to harm someone.
In spite of her legal challenges, a number of
friends and witnesses testified on her behalf. She had even collected written
statements of declaration affirming her innocence. The legal battle was
prolonged, lasting about a year. Not only that, but her registered nurses'
license was in jeopardy, too!
friends and witnesses testified on her behalf. She had even collected written
statements of declaration affirming her innocence. The legal battle was
prolonged, lasting about a year. Not only that, but her registered nurses'
license was in jeopardy, too!
She ended up losing her job over this
criminal action, too.
criminal action, too.
The case dragged out for over a year. The time,
the resources taken away from her proved more than she could afford. She ended
up plea down to a misdemeanor–disorderly conduct–since the trauma of the case
had grown so great. She had already spent $5,000 to defend herself in court,
then another $5,000 to hold onto her nurse's license.
the resources taken away from her proved more than she could afford. She ended
up plea down to a misdemeanor–disorderly conduct–since the trauma of the case
had grown so great. She had already spent $5,000 to defend herself in court,
then another $5,000 to hold onto her nurse's license.
I respected her decision, even though she
felt that she should have fought it. Many of her friends criticized her
decision not to fight the criminal charges all the way.
felt that she should have fought it. Many of her friends criticized her
decision not to fight the criminal charges all the way.
Patricia rebuffs: "They don't understand, though! I
was unemployed for three months. My license was at stake."
was unemployed for three months. My license was at stake."
Indeed. I know how difficult it is for
someone to obtain a registered nurse's license in the state of California. My
mother was a registered nurse, and she had worked very hard to obtain it, in
spite of many challenges and obstacles in her life. Even after she left nursing
as a daily profession, she retained her license and renewed it every two years,
the effort and achievement of obtaining it was that valuable.
someone to obtain a registered nurse's license in the state of California. My
mother was a registered nurse, and she had worked very hard to obtain it, in
spite of many challenges and obstacles in her life. Even after she left nursing
as a daily profession, she retained her license and renewed it every two years,
the effort and achievement of obtaining it was that valuable.
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She ended up fighting against the California
Nurses Review Board and winning, too. They didn't revoke or suspend her
license, but they did issue a public reprimand, which still shows on her record
to this day. She also had to pay their attorney fees! Every time that she
applies for a job, she has to recount what happened to her in 2015 at the Trump
rally.
Nurses Review Board and winning, too. They didn't revoke or suspend her
license, but they did issue a public reprimand, which still shows on her record
to this day. She also had to pay their attorney fees! Every time that she
applies for a job, she has to recount what happened to her in 2015 at the Trump
rally.
"Does anyone have idea how embarrassing
that is?!"
that is?!"
I can’t imagine, and I don’t want to imagine.
But to her credit, she not only has an excellent job as a case manager, she
actually works two jobs and can't turn down the work, her profession is in such
high demand, and there is a massive shortage in her field.
But to her credit, she not only has an excellent job as a case manager, she
actually works two jobs and can't turn down the work, her profession is in such
high demand, and there is a massive shortage in her field.
The most disturbing aspect of this whole
case? She never got her guns back. She refused to contest for them, in part
because her plea deal mandated that she could not own firearms for three years.
This is ridiculous! Even when someone commits a crime, does that mean they have
no right to defend themselves or their property?
case? She never got her guns back. She refused to contest for them, in part
because her plea deal mandated that she could not own firearms for three years.
This is ridiculous! Even when someone commits a crime, does that mean they have
no right to defend themselves or their property?
Legislation in the state of California has
not only forced law-abiding citizens to register their firearms, but Democrats
in Sacramento have come up with all kinds of loopholes to justify taking away a
citizen's firearms. One piece of legislation has deemed that if someone suffers
from a mental disorder, they state can take their guns away.
not only forced law-abiding citizens to register their firearms, but Democrats
in Sacramento have come up with all kinds of loopholes to justify taking away a
citizen's firearms. One piece of legislation has deemed that if someone suffers
from a mental disorder, they state can take their guns away.
Consider that depression and post-traumatic
stress disorder fall into the "mental illness" category. This is very
serious, as there are many law-abiding citizens who suffer through tough times
emotionally. Our veterans gave everything for this country, and some of the
suffered massive forms of PTSD. Even after receiving quality treatment to easy
the mental anguish, they have endured the confiscation of their firearms by the
state!
stress disorder fall into the "mental illness" category. This is very
serious, as there are many law-abiding citizens who suffer through tough times
emotionally. Our veterans gave everything for this country, and some of the
suffered massive forms of PTSD. Even after receiving quality treatment to easy
the mental anguish, they have endured the confiscation of their firearms by the
state!
This is wrong, and we have to stand up to it!
The Second Amendment is not a suggestion, but a God-given natural right which
the Constitution affirms for our protection. More citizens in the state of
California need to be made aware of this.
The Second Amendment is not a suggestion, but a God-given natural right which
the Constitution affirms for our protection. More citizens in the state of
California need to be made aware of this.