The YouTube video from Dec. 28 on Watkins’ Facebook page shows Cordova yelling at police during the Arlington traffic stop at which Cordova had shown officers his weapon. He yelled that he didn’t understand how officers could be arresting him for openly carrying a black-powder pistol that Texas law considers legal.
But he had told his fellow cop-watchers a few seconds earlier, “Hey, they may arrest me, but I want them to.”
Officers told Cordova that he couldn’t be carrying a firearm. He responded by saying it was legal and quoted the law that he said allowed it. As officers placed him in handcuffs, Cordova began yelling, “I’m being arrested for a black-powder pistol!”
Officers informed him that they would figure it out down at the station, and then Cordova began spewing obscenities, calling officers “fucking douchebags” and “little cocksucker.”
Sgt. Jeff Houston, a media-relations officer for the Arlington police, said that over the course of the year, the cop-watchers of the Peaceful Streets Project have been verbally degrading officers, carrying rifles, and using bullhorns — in the officers’ eyes, doing whatever they could to provoke a response by law enforcement.
Houston said Watkins’ video of Cordova’s arrest was heavily edited and didn’t show the full encounter with police. He commended the officers for showing great restraint when dealing with these individuals.
“We don’t have any problem with people watching,” Houston said, “and it may be lawful to carry a black-powder pistol, but it’s not absolute. It’s still a deadly weapon.”
Houston said it’s a problem when officers have to divert their attention away from the scene of a crime to deal with cop-watchers. He related one instance involving a woman who was a victim of domestic abuse. As officers began to assess the scene, Houston said, an armed cop- watcher who was filming got into an argument with one of the victim’s neighbors, forcing police to have to deal with him instead of staying focused on the 911 call.
The Arlington Police Department has reached out to Watkins and his group in the past to discuss how they can accomplish holding officers accountable while allowing them to do their jobs in a safe manner, Houston said. But the group refused the offer.
“That offer is still open,” he said.
********
Last Saturday, those hundred armed supporters Watkins had predicted never materialized for Open Carry Tarrant County’s protest at Arlington City Hall. Fewer than a dozen showed up, and they had only news-media types to talk to. Watkins was willing to answer questions from only a few of the reporters.
“I don’t think [a weapon] should have to be concealed,” said one open-carry supporter. “I have constitutional rights that allow me to carry. … Who are you to say what I can and can’t carry?”
Watkins looked frustrated by the low turnout for an event he saw as protesting a just grievance. Arlington police had kept Cordova’s black-powder pistol and charged him with interfering with a public officer’s duties, a Class B misdemeanor charge that he and other open-carry supporters felt was being used far too often.
To make matters worse, a reporter had traveled all the way from New York to film a documentary on Watkins’ group for CBS News. So he took the supporters who had shown up and marched the few blocks to Arlington police headquarters on Division Street, where a group of police advocates were gathering.
The Citizens Supporting Law Enforcement Officers of North Texas had posted a notice about their walk on their Facebook page, and more than 60 people turned out to show support for the police in the face of Open Carry Tarrant County’s complaints.
Watkins’ people mostly kept away from the unarmed civilians gathering peacefully in front of the building. The open-carry supporters waved at motorists who were honking in support of the police.
Melissa Manning, a member of Law Enforcement Wives Association of North Texas, said the organizers of the event knew Open Carry Tarrant County planned to hold a protest rally at city hall that day and had asked the gun advocates to leave them alone.
“Personally, our family is in support of open carry,” said Manning, whose husband is an Arlington police officer, “but we don’t agree with them interfering with police duties.”
Claire Elizabeth, of Moms Demand Action Texas, said she’s not anti-gun, either, but she and other parents across Texas see Open Carry Tarrant County’s tactics as downright frightening.
“We just don’t think that’s how responsible gun owners behave,” she said. “If they can’t behave responsibly now, what would their behavior be like after we remove the regulations?”
North Texas writer Christian McPhate can be reached at christianmcphate@gmail.com.
There’s a video making the rounds today of Kory Watkins and a bunch of the open carry thugs making the rounds of offices in the capital threatening people. Had to be asked to leave some offices, and they acted like junior high jerks. Very unpleasant people.
Do these folks work? Someone should follow them around when they are trying to do their job and yell at them will bullhorns.
Wasn’t there a recent episode of lethal domestic violence where an Arlington “Open Carry” female( gang member?) killed her husband and step daughter just because the husband threatened to divorce her? These people belong in an asylum for the criminally insane.
These people are terrorists, plain and simple. The Open Carry movement is not about protecting American’s rights. It is about depowering legitimate authority in anticipation of a violent overthrow of the government and Open Carry Tarrant County’s lack of respect for police officers and trained military personnel is proof of that.
I have witnessed these half-wits, into their act, on four different occasions. Absolutely, clearly, every knuckle-head participating in these half-witted escapades are pure Repugs…..to the bone….guaranteed. Two dollars will get you five if you think not. What do these people eat? My bird-dog Roxy is way smarter than these babboons. I’m pretty sure one of the goofiest acting ones was one of those Startle-Gram reporters that continue bothering the decent people who visit this site. I’m praying for them.
Watkins and his bunch are do nothing but causing problems for those of us who are legal, sensible and decent gun owners and carriers. If Watkins brains were gunpowder, their wouldn’t be enough to blow his nose!
You’re railing against a protected right. If you replace open carry with political speech or voting you can clearly see how absurd your protestations are.
Tom is railing against hammer-headed half-wits, not protected rights. You’re the one who needs to get it right. I will add the obvious observation that the loons pulling this cheap, childish crap are clearly from the butt-scratching, racist, half-wit wing of the Repug party (not a big secret but unpleasent to admit). You common greed-head Repugs are ready to french kiss the dip-sticks around election time, but you prefer them to get lost when you are not rewared by their fifth-grade behavior and beliefs. Poor babies…boo hooo hoo.
I firmly believe in our right to carry a weapon legally and open. I differ with the methods these people are using to provoke people, not just cops. I am a Marine Vietnam vet, assault rifles have their uses, but there is absolutely no need to go to Wendy’s with an M16 or some derivative. Having someone approach my car with a slung rifle makes my PTSD kick in. I don’t believe these people have thought this approach out.
If they are approached by a bad guy with a handgun they will find that unslinging a rifle, aiming and getting off a shot will be long after someone with a Glock has put a few rounds through them.
I personally don’t care for the Arlington cops, too many bald bullies, but I actually take their side in this. I think the demonstrators are making more enemies than helping any ’cause’.
There are many things that can trigger a PTSD episode, are you saying that we should outlaw them all? Children playing in the streets triggers my PTSD from Iraq, so maybe we should outlaw children playing?
I agree about ‘Stressers’ affecting ones PTSD but if kids set yours off perhaps you should cloister yourself or increase your Xanax. Someone approaching my car or entering a restaurant with an assault rifle is different than a group of kids or a kid setting you off.
I wish you well dealing with your PTSD, I, in no way, am making light of it but let’s be realistic a group of people trying to make a point by being confrontational is in fact avoidable. Kids aren’t.
I cannot imagine how difficult it is to deal with PTSD and I too wish YOU well with that struggle. I also totally agree that independent random citizens– whose gun safety qualifications are unknown —in busy commercial shopping/restaurant venues or on street corners with large intimidating weapons, totally stress ordinary people out. It comes with a degree of emotional upset to any cautious person going about their usual routine. My fear is that a weapon is seized by a thug who proceeds to shoot up McDonalds or Macys, or a gun goes off accidentally wounding or killing an innocent bystander. These people are narcissists with “me first” personality disorders. Their need to show of their big “bang-bang” is as sicko as a pervert who has to expose himself to innocent women or school kids, weird and inappropriate behavior, indeed.
Here is the problem:
The law violates the constitution. These legislators are lucky these people are only expressing their frustration because some hotheads may take action. Such actions would take this to a whole different level. Gun owners are getting pissed at more than just bad laws regarding guns; they know the government has been violating a variety of rigths with impunity for some time now.
Be happy they only want to talk, because this could go south very, very quickly if a hardline police chief decides to crack down. We do not need another confrontation similar to that at the Bundy Ranch. That would have gone badly for the onsite agents and likely very badly politically in Congress.
We need honest political dialogue, but it’s not happening. For example, many people spent huge amounts of money on concealed carry legislation for many years before the courts forced the issue. In every instance, legislators lied about their intent and buried the bill. This frustrated Illinois gun owners to no end for years. This has moved to Washington state and it’s not a good thing.
I hope everyone calms down, but Washington gun owners may not have the patience for it.
`YOU THINKING MAYBE THE HALF-WITS ARE GOING TO REVOLT ? yeeeeeeeeee-hhhhhhhhhAAAHHHH.
I agree that these folks are way over the top in offensiveness, but with apparently rare exception, they’re nonviolent. The same cannot be said of the Ferguson and Occupy protesters, but it’ll be a cold day in hell when Fort Worth Weekly does an article critical of them.
Everyone agrees the local Tea-Bagging, attention-craving loons are non-violent in their half-witted behavior thus far,( your deep thinking tribe elected one of those heros Governor a short while back), but you are not suggesting to equate this simple arrogence & bone stupidity to a grown-up, self-entitled, Peckerwood child killer of a hands-helt-up, surrendering, shop-lifter of cigars…are you??? You Startle-Gram dips need serious council. Your reasoning is shameful…what’s new here?
See a therapist.
The Justice Department’s decision not to prosecute the Ferguson police officer kind of blows that “hands up, surrendering” narrative.
Bunk, you’re full of it Bubba.
Benny, are you aware the Grand Jury released their report regarding the Ferguson shooting? Please read that and then comment, as you appear to be ignorant of the facts.
Frank, are you aware the Grand Jury was composed of 100% Repugs and that two of them were Southern Baptist Sunday School teachers? Are you aware that the Southern Baptist Convention’s basis and reason for exixtence was to insist that Negroid humans were in fact inhuman ( that they lacked a God-given soul ) up until they retracted that belief in the1980’s with a one sentence apology? Did you know Repug Texas textbook pickers censure textbooks or refuse them? Ignorant of facts? Pull your head out. Good grief. Grow up.
– “Everyone agrees the local Tea-Bagging…”
What is it with you dopes and your reliance on childish sexual epithets?
Which sexual epithet would that be, O Wise Holy One? You got your feeble brain in gear??? Dopes, childish? Stupid is as stupid does….right? Where do they find you flakes? What do you eat? Your lighs turned on???
I’m not familiar with the term repug. And I find the use of the term “teabagging” to be anti-gay. Duh.
Monk…you alright??? How old are you??? Ask the next tea-bagging, peckerwood, knuckle-head, greed-head, Republican-voting , anti-gay, anti- feminist, anti-civil rights, butt-scratching, self-satisfied, Bible thumping, half-wit what a Repug is? Again….how old are you. You supposed to still be up at 9:30? Are you gay? I’m a Democrat, so if you’re gay, then we’re both minorities here in cowtown. We should be buddies. Maybe you’re just rich? Get a grip kid. Good luck to you.
Once again the liberal media are making a mountain out of a molehill. Guess that is why they didn’t post the link to the video Mr Watkins recorded. In the video you can tell the immense amount of mutual respect and calm atmosphere. Why anyone would object to this kind of behavior is beyond me. See for yourself.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BYqSP4xoP5U
We don’t need protection from 99% of the the people, just the 1% that are the problem. In Texas 125 years ago the lawmaker/cowboys decided that open carry (pistols) was a problem. What did they know that we have forgotten? Maybe they had too many encounters like this one with Tarrant County Open Carry in the Austin statehouse.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BYqSP4xoP5U
That’s a scrappy argument, Mark, because if you use Texas of 125 years ago as your guidepost, then you would have to agree with Jim Crow laws.
Don’t be a bed-wetting pantywaist. Grow a backbone and butch up.
These guys are no danger to you, only to bad actors who would attempt to attack them.
Metrosexual don’t make it.
Re: “These guys are no danger”
Tell that to Open Carry Arlington gun activist Veronica Dunnachie’s dead husband and step daughter, killed as recently as December 2014, by local gun slinging Open Carry activist Veronica allegedly because her unarmed husband was about to divorce her. These people are bullying nuts with lethal weapons.
Did your Mama have any brats that lived? What do you eat?:
Given the importance you ascribe to it, I’m wondering, Benny, what the hell do you eat?
I mostly dine on communion crackers and cheap communal wine, but I also enjoy organic, home-grown vegies & herbs from my organic garden.
These guys are offensive even to a two-week old dead skunk. What do you eat? You crackers are really precious. Live with it (and the half-wits) Repugs.
Benny: You are a piece of work. Look at all the names you’ve spewed out during this comment string: half-wits … knuckle-head … Repugs … babboons … hammer-headed half-wits … loons … butt-scratching, racist, half-wit wing of the Repug party … greed-head Repugs … dip-sticks … Tea-Bagging, attention-craving loons … Peckerwood child killer …
If your name-calling were redacted, you wouldn’t be saying anything! My favorite is your old stand-by: What do you eat? I’m glad you’re a Lib. Conservatives wouldn’t have you.
Stouty…I got your piece of work. I call them like I see them. Your beliefs, behavior, and odor are repulsive. You and your lay-about buddies, employed by the Star Telegram, infect the Weeklys pages weekly. Your actions and additudes are contemtible and childish. Have you no shame? Grow up. how old are you? I went to a casual KKK get-together in Upshur County, Tex. with a cousin (who was a Repug member of the low-life outfit) back in the early 1970’s. The rats gathered up at one of their members fishing camp on Caddo Lake. Quite a few half-wits brought their wives, dogs, and baby bigots. The Repug County Chair said Grace before we dined on fried cat-fish & hush-puppies & Pearl Beer. I got your conservative here swinging. You’re disgusting, get a decent life. Go away.
Lol Benny, you are still wasting your time being a sheep, and bashing a group you have no knowledge about, funny how you stated other people who oppose your ideologies are childish yet you do the exact same thing, contradicting much? Keep living your mind as a close minded loser, maybe someday someone will literally punch sense into your minuscule head
Jesus said it was a good thing to oppose black-hearted snot-rags and jerk-offs. You Tea-Bagging nit-wits breaths stink. A fifth-grader knows a vile, self- entitled and cowardly half-wit when he reads or hears one. Household-variety, conservative Texans pray that the snuff-spitting, butt-scratching, pretend cow-boys would shut up and sit down. You’re a stupid person and dead wrong. I like sheep, Jesus did too. What’s wrong with you and sheep. You taking your meds?
I didn’t notice it before and just now snapped, Mr. Anonyymous Startlegram flake…are you stupid enough to threaten me? Looks like it to me? Easy does it.
Got your gun Bubba ???
If a person can safely and responsibly handle a weapon, the idea of open carry doesn’t bother me. I understand that weapons make people uncomfortable and or scared but comfort and fear alone should never be the reason to take someone else’s rights. I also think however, i do not agree with some of the methods used by protesters.
Josh, thanks for speaking up, Sir. You hit the nail directly on the head. IF is the key word…we are together on our reasoning. This issue is clear and simple. We can not, if you are honest, no way Jose, sort out the jerks, mentally disordered, and normal half-wits, from the competent, citizen squares. It’s impossibe, wish it was. You certainly can recognize that. If we could, I would be in line to sign up on open cary in front of you. I have caried a fire-arm all my life, since I was nineteen. I am seventy years old. I played poker every tuesday night for seven years with a Fort Worth policeman who should never have been allowed to carry even a night-stick. An elderly, stand-up, square, elderly gentleman was murdered, in his own home, by a Fort Worth policeman recently. The cop was, I assume, well intentioned, trained, supposed to be O.K., but he clearly was not O.K. We very clearly are foolish to give permission for squares, including me, to carry firearms. Foolish, childish, dumb, it’s dangerous for the squares and the law enforcement. No way is it necessary or needed. Clearly, one of the most cock-eyed suggestions of the century. If you have a brain and some life experience, you will recognize that it’s stupid and childish to insist on it. It is clearly impossible to sort out the incompetent fruit-loops….they are plentiful as Johnson Grass or fire-ants.. You see them on T.V. everyday. Pray about it, do what’s right. God bless you.
Another thing…..Speaking of your incompetent fruit-loops and , Startle-Gram reporters that don’t do much reporting, but lots of fifth-grade sky-larking….. just how many similar entitled, free-loading flakes do you figure are employed by the Fort Worth School Admenistration? Both outfit’s bone stupidity and self-satisfied arogence go together like ham and eggs. Have you read this weeks article in the Weekly concerning the tragic situation in our schools? Seen anything worthwhile in the Startle-Gram on this crisis or just fluff? Does anyone actually pay money for a Startle-Gram paper now-a-days? I don’t know anyone who does. What gives??? The rags printed over in ‘Big D’. Who pays the bills, the Koch boys???.
I live very close to the open arms protesting that has been apparently happening in Arlington and this is the first time I have heard anything like this. It surprises me that people would go to such length in attitude in order to get their voices heard about open carry. I believe that the protesters are using the most frightening form of violence there is. I don’t believe that they realize the depth of their pursuit in making this topic public because a gun can cause a lot of damage in less than one second. So this type of protesting is not a responsible way of getting their point across. All they are doing is creating fear in unarmed bystanders and causing disruptions in law enforcement. So yes I am an advocate using your rights to exercise our firearms commandment, but I am not advocating for the irresponsible actions of someone to possibly harm our general public by using the saint in open arm carry.
Take a look at the fiifth-grade, attention seeking retards marching around like snuff-dipping peacocks…..you think these irresponsibile loons are what Texans really deserve? This deep-seated stupididy is legal.This is Texas and they are knuckle-head Repugs…ham and eggs it is. That’s what even the normal, grown up Texans are going to see in our playgrounds and churches if you people go for it. On the square, really, are you signing on to this idiocy? Think back and recall the pustule, fifth-grade jerk named Ted Nugent that our upcoming governor paid to draw a crowd for his campaign just prior to the recent election, Did you see them on T.V? Would you kindly dig them up on YOU TUBE and get back? The sacred right to bear arms was intended to countenance well regulated militias, not fifth grade level, unbalanced idiots. How smart does one need to be to get it? Get it right Repugs.
Amen. Thanks kindly, Tom. I truly respect your thinking. If you are a Republican, let me tell you, you’re O.K. Having said that, if you are a Republican voter, would you consider standing up and saying so? Republicans call the shots most of the time in Texas nowdays and have done so for many years. I play poker frequently with a few Repub Fort Worth policemen and they certainly agree with you. I have an opinion, but being a liberal since before I was born, I don’t pull a lot of weight with the majority. Peace.
Benny, regarding your claim that the Second Amendment was intended to countenance a well-regulated militia and not the right of an indivual (not part of a militia) to bear arms, you’re wrong. The US Supreme Court said it does apply to the individual.
I don’t know the depth, or the amount, of mature desire you posess to grow up and discard your fifth-grade foolishness. I have read nothing, ever, from you or your lay-about, knuckle-headed Startlegram buddies of much value. I don’t predict much of anything that amounts to anything to spring from you. I don’t recall even one instance of a Tea-Bagging flake endorsing any rulings from our Supreme Court previously. What are you smoking, whose on first? Your lights turned on Bubba? You childish Tea-Bagging squirls give grown-ups heart burn. Get lost, good grief.
The Scalia majority opinion was not based on what the founders intended or meant. That is well known and published amongst Constitutional scholars. Scalia rendered a rogue, “activist” opinion. The founders would have him tarred and feathered if they could. The Second Amendment’s inclusion in the Bill of Rights had everything to do with appeasing Virginia to gain their ratification of those amendments and nothing whatsoever to do with individual rights to guns. You know nothing about the 2nd Amendment, its history, and even less about why it’s in the Constitution. Guns, in the 18th century were highly regulated as was gun powder, etc.
Awesome post.
If anyone is from Dr. G’s class please help me!!