Shocking News: Kentucky "Hate Crime" Report

Infowars picked up an interesting report that was posted on the Kentucky Justice & Public Safety Cabinet website yesterday with some information that I thought the readers might like to know about. The report is the 2006 Hate Crime and Hate Incidents in the Commonwealth report. The report is compiled by the Justice and Safety Center at Eastern Kentucky University on behalf of the Kentucky Justice & Public Safety Cabinet.

To view the full report, click here.

The report is 50+ pages long and there are a few with some shocking information. The last paragraph of page 3 of the PDF file is below:

Although hate crimes are not typically committed by organized hate groups, hate groups often commit some of the most brutal hate crimes. Throughout history, people have formed hate groups, united in their hatred for those of different races, religions, sexual orientations, and ethnicities/national origins. Organized hate groups are generally defined by federal authorities as groups whose primary purpose is to promote animosity, hostility, and malice against persons belonging to a race, religion, gender, handicap, sexual orientation, or ethnicity group which differs from that of the members of the organization. These groups range from loosely organized and informal organizations to highly structured international organizations. The Southern Poverty Law Center’s (SPLC) Intelligence Project tracks active hate and patriot groups across the nation and maintains a state-by-state directory of where such groups have been established. While not exhaustive, the list identifies known groups based on information from hate or patriot groups’ publications, citizens’ reports, law enforcement agencies, field sources, news reports, and the Internet (See Tables 6.3 and 6.4).

In the above excerpt they're openly linking hate groups to patriot groups. And confirm that all groups are under close watch.

The final paragraph in page 5 is equally as shocking:

The Internet provides an accessible and inviting interface that allows extremists new ways to communicate, no longer with words alone but through pictures, graphics, sounds, animation, and video (Tiven, 2003, p.13). Websites, chat rooms, discussion boards, email messages, and instant messages are all part of a virtual playground for extremists to disperse their messages of hate to the masses. The ability to use these techniques to entice Internet users has proven to be a very successful recruitment tool for hate groups. Groups may twist their message to appear as though they are legitimate activists who have been unfairly characterized as extremists. Some post provocative messages on online discussion forums devoted to mainstream, legitimate topics with the hope of attracting new supporters (Tiven, 2003, p.17). Groups operating in Kentucky are no exception. Examples include the Kentucky based websites for hate groups such as the Imperial Klans of America, Knights of the KKK, http://www.kkkk.net/kentucky1/index.htm, and
Warriors of the White World, http://www.warriorsofthewhiteworld.com, and for patriot groups such as Take Back Kentucky, http://www.takebackkentucky.com/index.html, and the Kentucky State Militia, www.kysm.org. Such groups are actively using the Internet to share their message, recruit new members, and improve the coordination and communication among current members.

Again, openly relating the Take Back Kentucky group with the KKK chapters. I am a member of Take Back Kentucky and so is Dr. Rand Paul! This is just an outrage and shows proves that they view us as the enemy and want to demonize our movement by relating us to the Klu Klux Klan. And it gets even better, on page 25 it shows a chart 6.4 (referenced on page 3) and lists some other patriot groups as hate groups.

-Take Back Kentucky Clarkson, KY
-Ranch Rescue Hebron, KY
-Constitution Party Louisville, KY
-Kentucky State Militia Stanford, KY

*Patriot groups define themselves as opposed to the “New World Order” or advocate or adhere to extreme anti-government or conspiratorial doctrines. Listing here does not imply that the groups themselves advocate or engage in violence or other criminal activities, or are racist. This list was compiled from field reports, Patriot publications, the Internet, law enforcement officials and news reports. Source: Southern Poverty Law Center.

This really is just unbelievable. How can the Constitution Party be a hate group? That is a legitimate political party with candidates that run for the presidency! And then they go on to say Patriot groups oppose the "New World Order" like that's a bad thing. I'm not trying to rant here but the proof is in the pudding. Let me know your thoughts on this.

Can you Open Carry in Kentucky?

I have covered this topic in a previous post but the post continues to be extremely popular and I get multiple direct and search hits every day on that post. So I figured I would post a follow-up to my previous open carry post with more information for a comprehensive open carry post.

Open carry simply means "openly carrying a firearm in public." In the United States the laws concerning open carry vary from state to state. In Kentucky, open carry is permitted without a license or permit. Don't get this confused with concealed carry where it is required to have a license. With open carry you can carry into any place of business (as long as it is not clearly posted that carrying is not allowed) with full protection under Kentucky Law. Of course you can't carry into a bank or courthouse and a few other government buildings, but even those buildings are required to post that you aren't allowed to carry so it's always important to check if you are openly carrying a firearm.

Opencarry.org, a non-profit organization that lobbies for open carry rights in the US describe Kentucky as a "Gold Star" state for open carry. Their summary is as follows:

Kentucky is one of our "Gold Star" open carry states. There is complete state preemption of all firearms laws, open carry is constitutionally protected with court precedent and law enforcement is aware of its legality.

That's right, open carry is protected under the state Constitution and we have the right to openly carry firearms legally. As stated above, a business has the right to prohibit guns from being carried into the store, whether openly or concealed. The flip side is that as a gun carrier, you can choose not to purchase the businesses goods or services.

In a vehicle it is legal to openly carry a firearm as long as it is in plain view or in the glove box. If it's under the seat, or stashed away, it becomes concealed and at that point illegal if you don't have a concealed weapons license. This is stated in KRS 527.020 and does not include a center console.

The Kentucky constitution has a strong preemptive gun law that prevents firearms from being locally regulated. This means that no local governments (city or county) can pass any law concerning gun rights that go against the Kentucky Constitution. The preemption law also applies to college campuses, but not public school systems (K-12). Federal law prohibits firearms on K-12 school property, but the laws regarding carry on college campuses in KY are left up to the policy of the individual college. If you plan on carrying on a college campus, make sure to check the school's policies because most don't allow it.

Unless posted by private businesses or companies, you can legally carry into a church, bar, restaurant, shopping center, mall, or supermarket. Opencarry.org's slogan is "a right not exercised is a right lost." This is very true. I know there are a lot of arguments against open carry, but I will not be going into those at this time. What I will say is that if we don't show that responsible citizens can carry weapons openly then the public will continue to be scared and uneasy around someone carrying. The reality of the situation is that people would be safer, not less safe, if responsible people openly carried more. When you're carrying openly you are the least likely person to be targeted for a crime. And if you're in public, others around you are less likely to be targeted by a criminal. Criminals are weak and not looking for a fight. They prey on the weak and helpless, and anyone carrying a firearm is showing that their not helpless and ready to defend themselves.

Kentucky Constitution, Bill of Rights, Section I

All men are, by nature, free and equal, and have certain inherent and inalienable rights, among which may be reckoned: First: The right of enjoying and defending their lives and liberties. Seventh: The right to bear arms in defense of themselves and of the State, subject to the power of the General Assembly to enact laws to prevent persons from carrying concealed weapons.

If you plan on exercising your open carry rights, it's important to be familiar with the law in case you get harassed by law enforcement. Kentucky law enforcement officials are suppose to be aware of the law and the open carry right, but it doesn't stop people from getting harassed and sometimes jailed temporarily. Know your rights and watch the signs and you will be alright when openly carrying.

Open Carry in Kentucky

**UPDATE: I have an updated Open Carry post. Click Here to read!

Let me start off by staying this, if you can legally own a handgun, you can openly carry it in Kentucky regardless of the state you live in. You can carry into any building or business except for banks, courthouses or if the business has it posted you cannot carry. Kentucky even allows a concealed handgun license holder to carry concealed into an establishment that serves alcohol. Opencarry.org describes Kentucky as a "gold stare state" meaning "There is complete state preemption of all firearms laws, open carry is constitutionally protected with court precedent and law enforcement is aware of its legality."

Open Carry History (Wikipedia)

Open Carry was common during the pioneer era and in the American Old West According to UCLA historian Dr. Roger McGrath in his book Gunfighters, Highwaymen and Vigilantes: Violence in the Old West, the rates of murder, robbery, rape, and other assorted violent crimes in the western United States were far lower than they are today, and McGrath attributes those lower rates directly to the open carry of firearms. McGrath states that "the young, the old, and the female—those most vulnerable—were far safer in the most wild and wooly frontier towns than they are in any American city today," because "people had arms, knew how to use them, and were willing to fight with deadly force to protect their persons or property." However, crime rates overall were much lower in the United States in the 19th century.

Kentucky Preemption Law

In Kentucky, the constitution has a preemptive gun law, which means that no local governments (city or county) can pass any law restricting gun rights. Bars, grocery stores, restaurants, malls, are all legal for carry openly. Open carry also applies to motor vehicles. KRS 527.020 states "A deadly weapon shall not be deemed concealed on or about the person if it is located in a glove compartment, regularly installed in a motor vehicle by its manufacturer regardless of whether said compartment is locked, unlocked, or does not have a locking mechanism." This means you can carry in the glove box without a license, and you can also carry a loaded handgun in the seat in plain site and it is totally legal.

Kentucky has really relaxed gun laws, is among the best states regarding gun laws. There are many hunters and sportsman living in Kentucky and we all value our Second Amendment right to bear arms and I personally exercise my right to bear arms. Our founding fathers founded the country on the right to bear arms, and it is one of the key rights that make a nation truly free. Our right to bear arms is guaranteed by the Constitution of the United States to defend ourselves from criminals or from the government themselves.

It is also legal in Kentucky to carry a firearm while parking in a government parking garage, to carry a firearm into the airport to meet someone, to pick-up or drop-off children at school, to carry on all college campuses, to carry into a church, or also go into a highway rest stop with a firearm. Employers also must allow employees the right to keep guns in their vehicles at work.

Kentucky Bill of Rights, Section I

"All men are, by nature, free and equal, and have certain inherent and inalienable rights, among which may be reckoned: First: The right of enjoying and defending their lives and liberties. Seventh: The right to bear arms in defense of themselves and of the State, subject to the power of the General Assembly to enact laws to prevent persons from carrying concealed weapons."

Sources:
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/36389/open_carry_laws.html?cat=17
http://www.buckeyefirearms.org/node/3742
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_carry
http://opencarry.mywowbb.com/forum25/7971.html