posted on August 15, 2005 11:06:21 AM new
CRAWFORD, Texas (Aug. 15) - A man fired a shotgun into the air as about 60 anti-war protesters held a religious service on the road to President Bush's ranch.
Sheriff's deputies and Secret Service agents in the area of the demonstration site Sunday rushed to the home of Larry Mattlage after the shots were fired but did not arrest him.
"I ain't threatening nobody, and I ain't pointing a gun at nobody," Mattlage said. "This is Texas."
Cindy Sheehan of Vacaville, Calif., began a protest Aug. 6 on the road that leads to Bush's ranch in memory of her 24-year-old son Casey, who was killed in Iraq last year. Dozens of others have since joined her.
Sheehan said Sunday she will continue to demonstrate for three more weeks.
Mattlage said he was sympathetic toward the demonstrators at first, but they have blocked roads in the area and caused traffic problems.
He said he fired his gun in preparation for dove-hunting season but when asked if he had another motive, he said, "Figure it out for yourself."
Quotes From Bush's Neighbor
LM Otero, AP"I'm just ready for dove season."
"When they first came out here, I was sympathetic to their cause. Right? They as American citizens have a right to march, to protest. But it's like company. If you had your brother-in-law in your house for five days, wouldn't it start stinking after a while?"
"They moved one port-a-potty. Now we got two port-a-pots. And now we got three, and if this keeps up, they'll be all the way at the end of the road."
Source: CNN
Sheehan, 48, said she was not concerned with her own safety but has told others to be aware that "this could get physical, even though we are peaceful."
"I think we knew of the risks when we came down here," she said. "I'm surprised we haven't had more of that since we're in Bush country."
Sheehan says she won't leave her makeshift campsite until Bush meets with her and other grieving families or until his monthlong ranch visit ends. She met with two top White House officials on the first day of her demonstration.
Bush has said he sympathizes with Sheehan but has not said if he will meet with her.
Sherry Bohlen of Scottsdale, Ariz., drove with two friends to Crawford last week but did not leave Sunday as planned.
"This is history in the making, and it's hard to walk away from that," said Bohlen, whose son, Thor, has been in Iraq for a month.
posted on August 15, 2005 03:12:36 PM newTHIS BEAR was already in Texas and in a strange bit of reality, Mr. Mattlage bears a close resemblance to a certain other Texas native.
Nothing illegal about what he did & I commend his action in his preperation for dove season. Nothing upsets you hunting day like getting into the field and finding your ammo will not fire or your shotgun has a problem.......
"Why, it appears that we appointed all of our worst generals to command the armies and we appointed all of our best generals to edit the newspapers. I mean, I found by reading a newspaper that these editor generals saw all of the defects plainly from the start but didn't tell me until it was too late. I'm willing to yield my place to these best generals and I'll do my best for the cause by editing a newspaper." --Robert E. Lee
[ edited by Bear1949 on Aug 15, 2005 04:18 PM ]
[ edited by Bear1949 on Aug 15, 2005 04:24 PM ]
posted on August 15, 2005 05:19:13 PM new
You have to feel for the guy - not only does he have to put up with all the protesting hoopla there, but he fires his gun and the secret service shows up. I liked him, he called it like it was and said enough is enough.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Caroline
posted on August 16, 2005 06:10:21 PM new
I hope he got aressted under the Patriot Act and charged as a terrorist.
Absolute faith has been shown, consistently, to breed intolerance. And intolerance, history teaches us, again and again, begets violence.
---------------------------------- The duty of a patriot in this time and place is to ask questions, to demand answers, to understand where our nation is headed and why. If the answers you get do not suit you, or if they frighten you, or if they anger you, it is your duty as a patriot to dissent. Freedom does not begin with blind acceptance and with a flag. Freedom begins when you say 'No.'
posted on August 16, 2005 07:12:30 PM new I hope he got aressted under the Patriot Act and charged as a terrorist.
You can't read either, can you........
"Why, it appears that we appointed all of our worst generals to command the armies and we appointed all of our best generals to edit the newspapers. I mean, I found by reading a newspaper that these editor generals saw all of the defects plainly from the start but didn't tell me until it was too late. I'm willing to yield my place to these best generals and I'll do my best for the cause by editing a newspaper." --Robert E. Lee
posted on August 16, 2005 11:08:47 PM new
Bear on a rampage....
(08/16/2005 ) Arrest In Texas Protest Cross-Up
Larry Northern - Cross Buster?
Meet Larry Northern
A 46-year-old Waco, Texas man was arrested for vandalizing 'Camp Casey,' the area just outside President Bush's ranch where Cindy Sheehan is holding her vigil in an attempt to meet with the president. Ms. Sheehan's 24-year-old son, Casey was killed in the war in Iraq and the bereaved mother says she will not leave Crawford until Mr. Bush meets with her to discuss the reason for her son's death.
Larry Northern was arrested in connection with the vandalizing of the protest area. Northern allegedly ran his pickup truck over the makeshift crosses Sheehan and her supporters had erected. Each cross contained the name of a soldier killed in the war in Iraq. ""
Caroline 