Although I am no longer an Ithaca resident, it warms my heart to see that
as always, Dave is looking out for his fellow birders and the citizens of
Ithaca by standing up to those men. Keep up the good work Dave and please
keep posting your birding adventures! They make me feel like I am back
birding alongside with you and enjoying the birds!
Deirdre Anderson
PS. For all those who have voiced their dislike of Dave's post, why don't
you pick up your binoculars, go birding and for goodness' sakes, relax!
On Thu, Nov 12, 2015 at 11:05 PM, Dave Nutter <nutter.d...@mac.com> wrote:
> 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
>
>
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