I don’t think we need much introduction on this one.  We discussed yesterday the arrest of long-gun open-carrier Michael Keoughan of Come and Take It in Andrews, Texas. Andrews Police Chief Bud Jones  has now held forth, and it seems to be that if people call 911 over an open carrier, it is the job of his officers to arrest them.

This is the second time a “Come and Take It” member has been arrested in Andrews and that’s why Keoughan along with others are upset.

The group said they spoke with Police Chief Bud Jones to make sure this wouldn’t happen again because openly carrying a firearm is within their second amendment rights.

“From what I knew, I had the backing from Bud Jones on this,” Keoughan said.

“If an individual on his own wants to do that, he, out of the common courtesy, should contact us. That’s what I told them,” Chief Jones said.

Chief Jones said the group never called to give a heads up about Keoughan’s visit.

“We didn’t know who he was, had no clue but we started getting a mass number of phone calls,” Chief Jones said. “By displaying the weapon, he caused undue alarm.”

Keoughan said he didn’t break any laws.

“Because they received a 911 call, that was enough to charge me with disorderly conduct,” he said.

But Chief Jones disagreed.

“This is the issue that they don’t want to address that we have to address,” Chief Jones said. “When we get a call about a person with a gun, do we ignore it? Walking down the street? They’re alluding to the fact that we don’t have any right to make contact to them because they’re not doing anything wrong. I beg to differ with them.”

Chief Jones said the department strongly supports the second amendment and the group.

“I can’t emphasize enough that we support their right,” he said.

But in a post-Columbine and Sandy Hook world, public safety is his number one priority.

“You have to be protective of the community and that’s basically what we were doing,” Chief Jones said.

“Come and take it,” indeed.