Illegal Government Censorship of Citizens on Facebook © 2022 Phillip Evans

The City of South Fulton, Georgia has a main Facebook page, and each district has its own official government page as well. The evening of August 30th, 2022, Councilwoman Helen Z. Willis blocked me from seeing her District 3 page at: https://www.facebook.com/cosfdistrict3.

City of South Fulton Seal

Fair Use

My perceived offense? I posted an on-topic and benign comment on the City's new gun ordinance she had sponsored. Although she deleted my comment, I was able to reproduce it entirely almost word for word, as follows:

"There are existing state laws that cover waving about a firearm dangerously, as well as covering pointing a gun at another without justification. The ordinance adds no additional substance to state law.

Also, if Section 2 passed, that is a violation of state preemption, since guns cannot be banned in government buildings (schools and courthouses excepted), unless there is weapons screening at the entrance. The ordinance does not mention screening, and therefore is null and void.

And, the news reporting on handling a gun was stupid, as it is legal in Georgia to carry a firearm in your hand."

That was it. The strongest word I used was "stupid", which was not even directed toward her. This is the news article I had referred to:

https://www.wsbradio.com/news/local/new-law-makes-it-illegal-handle-brandish-guns-city-south-fulton-property/UFLEBVRIPVGYVFV5JVNAJ7A7SI/

If Councilwoman Willis would like to run a Facebook page like it was her own personal page, she should close her government page and start one. Otherwise, she must abide by settled law on the matter and allow not only comments she agrees with but opposing viewpoints as well. 

Government officials do not have the authority to infringe on citizens' First Amendment Rights.

It can wind up being expensive for them.

The same evening she blocked me on Facebook, Ms. Willis emailed the City Attorney and copied me as follows:

"Attorney Hyman,

The comment was deleted because it’s was harassing and an attempt to undermine the intent of the ordinance. I will gladly speak with you about this in detail."

As you can see, that was an outright lie. There was nothing harassing in my comment, and as far as an "attempt to undermine" the ordinance, I was merely speaking what I considered to be the facts.

The District 3 Councilwoman's arrogance, violation of oath of office, and violation of my free speech rights could wind up costing the City of South Fulton tax-payers a good chunk of money in attorney's fees and damages.

I have reached out to the Mayor, City Manager, and City Attorney to resolve this without litigation. All I require is that my Facebook account be unlocked on the page, and that my comments will no longer be capriciously deleted. 

She did the same to two others that I know of, so this is a pattern with her.

Not All Adults Have Equal Rights...Well Yes They Do © 2022 Phillip Evans

A Federal judge has struck down Texas' ban on 18 to 20-year-olds carrying handguns in public. I'm shocked! You mean the Second Amendment applies to those other grownups too?

Photo by Vitaly V. Kuzmin

The Bruen case was referenced in the ruling, which I suspect will be instrumental in bringing a variety of keeping and bearing arms infringements off the books.

A common argument used to justify these under 21 year old adults bearing arms in public is the fact that they are old enough to serve in the military and die for our country, and therefore should have the same rights as older adults. The counter argument is that they should then pick a branch of the military and join up if they want that right. The counter argument sounds hollow on the face of it, even more so when you factor in that 18 year old men could be forced to serve whether or not they want to, if the draft was reinstated.

And there's more on the pro side. An 18 year old without parental permission can get married, buy a house, buy a car, be legally responsible for any valid contract they might sign, and automatically go to the adult jail for any crime committed, even for a mere non-violent misdemeanor. No juvie option available.

That makes it a wrap, that if you can be handled by the law as an adult, you therefore have all your adult rights!

Another lame anti argument is the pointing to laws requiring one to be 21 to purchase alcohol, as if that had anything to do with a constitutional right, unless there is an amendment to purchase and imbibe booze somewhere snuck in by Benjamin Franklin at the last minute. And while buying such beverages is not an enumerated constitutional right (neither is eating a sandwich without mayo on Saturdays), it is still stupid to treat adults unequally with any law.

Probably the weakest anti argument is the "but 18 year-olds don't need to own or carry handguns". Really? So an 18 year old doing all the things an adult does has no need of effective tools of self-defense? No need for protection while driving, while walking to the store, while walking in a wooded park, while biking on a path, or while doing any other lawful thing out in public? Silly liberty haters, tricks are for kids.

Florida's knee-jerk liberty-hating law passed by Republicans, and lauded by Democrats,  forbidding adults under 21 from buying long guns in the wake of the badly handled Parkland school massacre is another one likely slated to be on the chopping block. 

It's outrageously ironic that government agents botched a rescue resulting in even more deaths, only for the government in response to then disarm and punish citizens wishing to defend themselves from murderers. And done by those who "support the Second Amendment". You can't write fiction stranger than this.

In Georgia, under 21 adults can carry a handgun on their own property, or in public at their place of business, or inside a vehicle that belongs to them. However, they do not get to benefit from the recent permitless carry law until they turn 21. Look for this one to go soon. If the Georgia General Assembly were to take the initiative, they could get it done early next year. Or they could sit back and wait for a court to strike down the prohibition. I suppose we will see what happens when they convene again.

Know where gun control came from and why? From White Democrats who didn't like the idea of armed Blacks.

When the fallout from Bruen forced New York to issue carry licenses, when the rich and politically connected (and vastly White), were no longer the only ones to get the government permission slip, what did they do? 

The petulant White politicians were so horrified that common citizens (many of them Black) could be legally armed in public, that faster than slave owners back then could say "go pick that cotton, boy", they passed and signed into law new prohibitions.

Criminals being armed in public was one thing but the idea of mere peon citizens being armed gave the politicians fits. Their new law has so many enumerated off-limits places, along with all private businesses unless there is a "guns welcome" sign posted, that the license is now virtually worthless.

That had the unintended consequence of giving heartburn to the elites, some of whom likely paid money or gave other favors to obtain their now devalued license, unless that law is also eventually struck down. It will be juicy seeing some of these elites turning on the elite politicians. Will they just curse them out to their face, or will they bring it public? Who knows?

With Justice Clarence Thomas carrying the ball for us, we are now finally back-to-the-future where the Second Amendment's "shall not be infringed" means what it actually says.

Be sure to join at least one or more national guns rights groups such as the NRA, Second Amendment Foundation, Gun Owners of America, Firearms Policy Coalition, etc., as well as your own state's gun rights organization. They are the ones supporting the lawsuits helping to restore our liberty.

Armed Black Activist Unlawfully Arrested © 2022 Phillip Evans

Antoine Tolbert, President of New Era Cleveland, was arrested last May by police and charged with "carrying a concealed weapon and inducing panic". The charges were dropped the next day and he was released.

Downtown Cleveland, Ohio Photo by Chris Gent

One might wonder how carrying a hidden weapon could induce panic. Oh wait, it turns out Mr. Tolbert wasn't carrying his shotgun concealed after all, but openly. He was therefore breaking no law. He has since filed a lawsuit in federal court for wrongful arrest.

Could racism have played a part in his ordeal? Possibly, but I suspect this was mainly a case where police manufactured a non-existent authority to harass an armed private citizen on the street, just because they thought they could. The reason being the attitude that police are the only special ones who can be openly armed. 

Open carry of firearms has been legal in Ohio for years, so ignorance of the law is hardly an excuse. Police harassment of citizens legally and openly carrying a firearm in Florida has also been a regular occurrence over the years, and publicized in TV and print news, though Florida limits this method of carry to when engaging in fishing, camping, hunting, target shooting, or going to or from.

New Era Cleveland peacefully patrols areas in downtown Cleveland to help deter crime, which is out of control, and sometimes distributes food to the poor. 

Here's to hoping Mr. Tolbert wins a huge settlement. It would be even better if the money came from the pockets of those who infringed on his rights and liberty, instead of the taxpayers, but it would be a win either way. Let the politicians explain to the voters why they allow public officials to play outside their authority, leading to lawsuits that waste their money.

Fatal Self-Defense Error Costs Florida Student's Life © 2022 Phillip Evans

When you need to shoot, shoot. Don't waste time giving orders. Why? Because it can get you killed.

Talladega National Forest Photo by "Rick of Alabama"

Adam Simjee was a Good Samaritan who stopped to help a woman in the Talladega National Forest in Alabama who supposedly had car trouble. He then fell victim to an armed robbery. When he saw his opportunity to draw his concealed pistol, he ordered the robber to get on the ground. The hesitation to shoot was likely because the robber was female, or perhaps simply out of a sense of mercy he would have had for anyone.

She responded by fatally shooting him. He was then able to shoot her a few times and send her to the hospital, but that is no consolation.

Folks, when a robber is holding a weapon or reaching for one, you don't tell them to get on the ground, you don't even yell "freeze" like in the movies, you don't do anything else except immediately shoot, and you keep shooting until the threat is no longer a threat.

If you don't believe you can do this when the situation arises, then don't carry a gun, because your hesitation will get you hurt or murdered.

True story: A few years ago I was casually instructing a young woman on the laws of self-defense in Georgia, and decided to give her a scenario to test her knowledge.

The scene was a drugstore where an armed robber was pointing a gun at a clerk. The defender was able to position himself behind the robber without being seen, and without giving any warning shoots the robber in the back of the head, killing him. Legal or not?

She was incredulous, and thought this was a case of murder. I did my best to explain that in Georgia and many other states (including Alabama and Florida), this was perfectly legal. I even pressed the point that this was perfectly moral as well.

When deadly force is unlawfully threatened against you, you have the right to defend yourself with deadly force, and to even defend the life of another as well, such as the drugstore clerk in my scenario.

You don't legally need to give any warning, giving the robber the opportunity to fire first, for that's your job. You shoot first. That's the best way to win a gunfight. If you can't, then don't carry. Just comply and put yourself under the mercy of the robber. There are odds either way. I prefer the odds with a gun in my hand.

If the laws in your state don't allow this, then you need to consider whether it's best to risk jail or death in defending yourself. The best thing to do would be to move to a state that honors self-defense.

Music Midtown Atlanta Cancellation - The Compete Story © 2022 Phillip Evans

What is the REAL reason Live Nation cancelled their Midtown Music Festival a month and a half before it was scheduled this September at Piedmont Park, a City of Atlanta public park?

So much misinformation is being reported, to the point that people are irrationally believing that a private citizen, I, would have the power to shut down a multi-million dollar event. I'm hoping this article can clear things up.

Sweetwater 420 Fest April 20th, 2013 in Atlanta (hosted by SweetWater Brewing Company)

Photo by Roger Zender

Live Nation's original mushmouth excuse read as follows:

“Hey Midtown fans, Music Midtown will no longer be held this year due to unforeseen circumstances. We hope to see each other again soon so we can all resume enjoying the festival together. We were looking forward to reuniting in September..." (bold mine)

Apparently, whatever the issue was, it was NOT unforeseen. They had known about it leading up to the festival, but had never properly addressed it to the point of being able to hold the festival. They quickly changed one mushmouth excuse to the new one:

"Hey Midtown fans - due to circumstances beyond our control, Music Midtown will no longer be taking place this year. We were looking forward to reuniting in September..." (bold mine)

I was WRONG about an important detail: I was NOT the first, or only one to bring knowledge of our gun laws to Live Nation's attention. Although my recent memory was that I had first contacted them in 2018, I'd like to correct that now. Myself and others had done so via email to Live Nation back in 2014, the same year HB 60 "Safe Carry Protection Act" became law.

So think about this, even with all of our complaining to them for six years, EVEN when in 2020 I pointed out the 2019 GA Supreme Court decision confirming the gun law, here's what happened:

They HELD the festival in 2021 with no problem. Right? And no one sued them. No one sued them this year either that I know of, even though we've been saying that could be opening themselves up to a lawsuit if they violated anyone's rights. But they had ALREADY heard all that before - and dismissed it!

NOTHING CHANGED in 2022 regarding ANYTHING we private citizens have been doing, so I smell a fish, or maybe just something fishy.

Some folks have been angry that I had never planned to attend Music Midtown, as if that meant that I as a gun-carry rights advocate didn't have any skin in the game. When someone is passionate about an issue, especially regarding self-defense rights for my fellow citizens, they speak out, even if it doesn't directly effect them. Those that deny this are hypocrites. Both sides of the political spectrum does it, and you know it, so let's stay real.

Posted on Twitter: I've never attended Music Midtown, but the Atlanta Jazz Festival is just as large, and guns have been allowed there at least since 2014, and been 3 times wearing my gun openly. Also allowed at Sweetwater 420 Fest since 2018, with no issues at either, ever. So what's the problem?

Now regarding Sweetwater 420 Fest, what's funny is the media has been incorrectly implying they are banning weapons, because of the reported concern of how the Live Nation situation will affect them.

Do you see how lazy most reporters are? They never did their research to learn the truth, that five yearly concerts (or less if affected by Covid-19) have been held in a public park where legally carried weapons HAVE BEEN ALLOWED, since 2018 when I emailed the GWCCA, which owns the property.

And speaking of reporters, another mistake they can make is mischaracterization.

What got a lot of folks unhinged was they had seen the word "CELEBRATED" in a Saporta Report article by John Ruch that may have been quoted in other sources. To one person on Twitter who said they heard I was celebrating Live Nation's cancellation of the Music Midtown Festival, I replied as follows:

"Then you heard LIES. What's your source and where's the PROOF??? That one word 'celebrated' was used by one single reporter, John Ruch, in a Saporta Report article. He has since edited it out. Please get the FACTS."

On Reddit, a person asked, "you happy" and I responded:

"A bit disappointed actually, that Live Nation cancelled Music Midtown. I was happy when Sweetwater 420 Fest held at Centennial Olympic Park in Atlanta started following state law in 2018 after I informed the Georgia World Congress Center of their website's weapon prohibition, and you can verify that with them. They changed the prohibition from 'weapons' to 'illegal weapons'.

So they've had their music festival five times now allowing lawful carry with no reported issues. Shocking, huh? No wild, wild west or blood in the streets that hyperventilating prophets of doom cry about any time that liberty wins."

Sure, I was one of the first ones to get the ball rolling in shedding light on Live Nation's ignoring our gun laws with regard to citizens carrying their firearms on tax-payer owned property, but the intent was never to get them to cancel, it was to get them into compliance with state law.

It's ironic that those on the left often complain that big businesses are not above the law, but when a Conservative makes the same claim, some go bonkers. Where's the disconnect? Maybe it's due to a hatred of the law? Well, if you don't like the law, you work to change it. EVERYONE has that right, no? 

What you don't get to do is assume a business gets a free pass to violate the law just because you don't like the law in question.

Live Nation, their attorneys, and their insurance company has known of our gun laws since 2014. By scheduling events here, that is an explicit agreement with our state that they will follow the law as written, no?

Do companies get to disregard the law IF NO ONE COMPLAINS? What kind of rule of law would that be? Folks are telling me to shut up and go away so that can happen. Well, there's more than one of us. The First Amendment applies equally to all, no? So one person shutting up is not a workable solution, no matter how soothing that might be.

These million dollar folks are BIG BOYS, they get their high-paid legal council and they proceed with their plans, just as they did last year when they held the festival. So what changed?

In light of all this, it's entirely silly to ascribe such power to me as if I could shut them down. I wouldn't even if I could; that was the furthest thing from my mind. 

A real victory would have been Live Nation behaving like the hosts of the Sweetwater 420 Fest and Atlanta Jazz Festival. To have folks exercising their rights while enjoying a music festival would have been satisfying.

Whether you hate guns in public or not, you can't deny it is doable. The last Atlanta Jazz Festival was estimated to have 50,000 in attendance (Sweetwater 420 just as large), and lawfully carried guns have been allowed there since 2014, with no issues EVER with a lawful carrier of a firearm. It's just a fact.

This is truly a FIASCO of major proportions for Live Nation to cancel at the last minute, after some fans have reported holding tickets for three years. It's unconscionable for them to do that. Read the full Axios report.

Why are they not specifying the reason? Why the ultra secrecy?

Perhaps they will eventually reveal the answers, or someone from within may leak the information. Whether artist concerns, artist contracts, guns laws, insurance, etc., ALL of these have been KNOWN factors for SEVERAL YEARS. 

Threatening Social Media Activity Over Music Midtown Cancellation © 2022 Phillip Evans

 Aug. 2nd, 2020 8:20pmEST, I posted on my Facebook home page:

I've been seeing threats to my safety on social media and have heard that I am being DOXED. Screenshots are being taken. Please see the details below:

Live Nation's Cancellation Of Music Midtown:

Some folks are having an absolute meltdown over the cancellation and directly blaming me. That's fine, it's their prerogative, and we have the right of free speech.

I did post on Reddit a few days ago that I was the one who got the ball rolling on this.

And I should have been more specific. Let me be clear: I was the one of the first, if not the first (I had thought), to bring attention to Live Nation banning lawfully carried firearms at a public park contrary to state law. I dropped the ball in their court and let them run with it. They ran with the ball for almost three years, then dropped it. It was NOT my intent that they cancel the event. It was my intent for them to hold the event and follow state law, as everyone else is expected to follow.

Also, I was WRONG - I wasn't near the first, others had gone BEFORE me informing Live Nation of the law as early as 2014. The text of one of these emails is posted at:

https://www.georgiapacking.org/threads/piedmont-park-midtown-music-festival.261643/#post-2715675

PERHAPS Live Nation will come along and set the record straight, that I am not personally to blame.

And contrary to John Ruch's original Saporta Report article, I did NOT celebrate the cancellation, as I stated in an interview with Peter Biello of GPB.

It appears that John has edited the article to correct that:

https://saportareport.com/music-midtown-cancellation-spotlights-state-law-on-guns-in-parks/sections/reports/johnruch/

But here's the deal, those who are all upset at me are undermining their own position, namely, they are ascribing too much power to me. This causes them to lose sight of the real decision maker - Live Nation.

I had hoped Live Nation would follow the example of Sweetwater 420 Fest, held on state public property, as they have allowed lawful carriers of firearms into their music festival since 2018. Ask the Georgia World Congress Center. I have an email to prove it. Any problems EVER reported there related to citizens being armed? You haven't heard of any.

Not to mention citizens concealing AND carrying openly at Stone Mountain Park for their packed events such as the July 4 Celebration with NO issues - FOR YEARS.

Look, I don't have the power to force a multi-million dollar company to shut down their events. What I did was INFORM them of the law, and the possible lawsuits they might face if they didn't follow it by violating a protected RIGHT codified and well established under our state law AND state constitution.

They knew of the HB 60 law passed in 2014 and interpreted by our highest state court in 2019. I guarantee you their lawyers did! If they received poor legal council, they can take it up with their attorneys. They had almost three years to get this settled before Sept. 2022.

WARNING: Some of you have been sending me harassing messages and posting comments on Facebook implying threats against me. These threats are at a minimum threats of harassment of a private citizen, and some could be construed to imply violence.

"I know where you live", for example, and another, "don't let him have a moment of peace". When I replied, "So?" to the one who knows where I live (going by the name Ryan Mitchell), he replied, "I hope your family and friends feel the same!" Mitchell also messaged me that he couldn't wait to come to my house to meet me. I assure you, he was not invited.

I'm telling FACEBOOK right now, be prepared for legal subpoenas and law enforcement investigations of all necessary data if any harm comes to me or my family. This STOPS NOW.