I have an issue with this being on the bird list--each of us may I have our phobias and this list is no place for politics--the tenor of the description of the incident makes it political for me....the mere mention of guns around the kids is a biased statement all by itself.
On 11/13/2015 7:54 AM, Laura Stenzler wrote: > > Dave, > > It is great that you followed through on all of this! It sounds like > an intimidating situation, but you did not back down. I think it > would be worthwhile to share your experience with your city > representative and the Major. I just read in the Ithaca Journal this > morning that all Ithaca police officers are now wearing and using body > cameras (as of Nov. 3) which must be turned on when they respond to a > call. So there is a good official record of what occurred (we hope). > > Good for you! > > Laura > > > Laura Stenzler > [email protected] > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > *From:* [email protected] > <[email protected]> on behalf of Dave Nutter > <[email protected]> > *Sent:* Thursday, November 12, 2015 11:05 PM > *To:* CAYUGABIRDS-L > *Cc:* [email protected] > *Subject:* [cayugabirds-l] guns at Stewart Park > This afternoon I was enjoying Stewart Park - the Cayuga Waterfront > Trail, the Fuertes Sanctuary (swan pond), the birds on the lake - as I > often do. As I walked clockwise around the pond and came out from the > Fuertes Sanctuary path near the lakeshore and toward the park road, I > came face to face with 3 guys carrying guns and dragging a small boat. > I took a couple photos on my phone (I've been practicing lately, but > they weren't very good) and I told them they weren't allowed to have > guns in Stewart Park. They said lots of law enforcement agencies had > been called on them before, which sort of contradicts what they also > said about me being the only one who has given them a problem, and > they were told it was okay if the guns weren't loaded. I said the ban > was in the City Code, and maybe those police hadn't read that part. > They were skeptical. They said they'd seen guys walk right out and > shoot waterfowl from Stewart Park. I said I would've tried to stop > those guys, too. They didn't want to leave, but seemed to think that > having police, who had agreed with them before, resolve the issue > would get me out of their hair. So I called 911 and explained the > situation. The guys in camo agreed to wait for the cops, although > meanwhile they did put their guns back in their pick-up trucks. That > was nice, since kids were arriving next to them for rowing practice at > the Cascadilla Boathouse, although I think the kids were unaware of > what was going on. Also I was pretty uncomfortable confronting people > with guns while waiting for police (also with guns) to tell me I was > wrong. The guys asked me if I had been waiting for them. I said, no, I > was just here a lot. A short while later IPD showed up in the form of > a friendly woman who was smaller than the smallest of the 3 guys, and > a lot smaller than the largest, who was considerably bigger than me. > She seemed inclined to let them proceed, then took my ID info, and > said I could leave. I didn't say that I had been enjoying the park and > intended to continue. Instead I said I'd like to stay for the outcome, > that I thought guns were banned in Stewart Park by the City Code, and > if that's the case I'd like to see it enforced. She said she had to > look it up, then took the guys' IDs, and got back in her cruiser to > consult her computer monitor. Another IPD officer, a man, pulled up, > got out, and stood by her window, not talking to me or the gun guys. > After awhile she came out, gave the guys back their IDs and told them > they had to go. I didn't hear their whole conversation but she > gestured toward the boat ramp at Treman and they nodded and said they > wouldn't park here anymore, although I bet they'll set up within > conversational distance of the path around Fuertes. She then came over > to me and repeatd their story of being told before that what they were > doing was okay. I think that was my opportunity to insist they be > ticketed, but I didn't. I thanked the officer for looking up the law, > but she credited the other officer. After the cops drove off, the > leader of the guys, the big one, said I had won today, but if this > happened again they'd call the cops on me for harassing them. I asked, > if what happens? No answer to that. > > So it has been established, at least among six people, that you are > not allowed to bring your gun into Stewart Park, not even if you plan > to shoot the ducks and geese. I wish I had also asked the officers to > look up the boundaries of Stewart Park in the City Code, because > Stewart Park extends north to the City Limit, which is a considerable > distance out in the lake. > > A lot of Buffleheads went about their business. > > If you see a maroon Ford pickup 71642 KA or a dark gray Silverado > pickup GTL 7095 parked in Stewart Park while there are gunners in camo > standing in the water nearby, perhaps with a small boat for their > stuff, you can ask IPD to talk to them about whterh they brought their > guns through the park after being told not to. > --Dave Nutter > > -- > *Cayugabirds-L List Info:* > Welcome and Basics <http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME> > Cayugabirds-L Welcome and Basics > Cayugabirds-L – List Welcome and Basics . 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