Why is it so hard for some people to comprehend and accept the fact that normal citizen carry firearms! Some normal citizen carry guns everyday, while driving their vehicles, while walking the streets, in the stores and Yes, even while in their own yards.
If one had read all the available information on this situation they would have read that Ward had a permit to CCW. That is ( for those who don't know) is a permit to "carry a concealed weapon"
He carried everyday, even while in his yard. That may seem like bazaar behavior for somebody who lives in say, downtown Meredith, but If you lived up on the side of a mountain where Ward and his family live even I would carry while out in my yard.
Hell, I live on flat normal populated ground and I carry every day.
If you have ever walked around the corner and surprised a black bear and have him stand up on his rear legs and growl or if you have ever been chased out of the area by a pack of coy-dogs, ( yes I have personally experienced both, but not at my home) you just might consider arming yourself for protection from not only the 4 legged animals running free but also from the 2 legged variety that runs free.
I don't find it at all unusual for Ward to be armed while out in his yard or even while in his house for that fact. Anybody who has carried a firearm on their person, on a regular basis, over time it becomes a habit no different then carrying your wallet or making sure you have your watch on. Having it on you or with you becomes routine.

nope
 

Nope...no way...you're skirtting the issue.
Sorry marknh...can't spin it that way.
Yep, I know many poeple carry all the time. Lots and lots. No problem with it all. Have at it...gotta pack heat.
However, that was not my question. Answer what was asked.
He is in his house. He sees the woman that he was told would be coming. He decides he wants to talk to her. He says, "wait, let me grab my gun"??? Again marknh, I know you are friendly with Ward. But really...just be a normal, clear thinking third party for a second. This does not at least smell like he went out there to scare her off?
It just seems like you will not accept for even a second that he may have threatened her. I mean, clearly, he may have. It's possible. But you come across like, "no, no way, impossible, never happened"
Where I fall is, I think the punishment should not be mandatory, and he should have been given simple probation for a year or whatever.
Your example of gun carrying is normal for some people, like grabbing your watch or wallet, simply holds no water.
An hour ago I walked to mail box, to grab my mail. It was a quick trip outside. I grabbed neither my watch or wallet, which I carry everyday.
So I ask again...why did he need his gun to interact with this woman for such a brief time?

"Scare" may be the wrong word here for the connotations it carries. I do believe that he went out with the intention of making it clear that she was trespassing and needed to leave his property. If he is in the habit of carrying a gun with him, it would be reasonable to assume that he also kept it handy and grabbing it on the way to the door would be as natural as putting on a pair of shoes or a jacket.

Based on what I've built up as a mental model of Ward from the posts here, I think that, for him, carrying a concealed firearm was one of his rights and privileges that he exercised daily. I don't think he distinguished "this scenario requires a firearm", "this scenario does not" any more so than someone else would distinguish "this scenario requires me to wear underwear", "this scenario does not" in the same circumstances. The gun was an essential component in his everyday actions.

You could argue (ad infinitum) if this practice of his was his own undoing, or if it was "normal" (for however you define normal), but at least up until the time of the incident he was doing something that he had every legal right to do.

Because that's how HE did things. It is clearly a procedure that is foreign to you, but that does not mean people are required to explain it to you until you "get it". I am sure that there are things you do in your daily life that you consider "normal", that someone else, especially someone in a different regional setting, would consider very abnormal.

BTW, when I go to the mailbox I always grab my wallet (actually, money clip). My mailbox is about 400' down my driveway and the neighborhood kids are regularly selling cookies and raffle tickets and whatnot. I'll usually buy $5 or $20 of whatever they're raising money for, so I like to keep some cash handy even if I'm just out in the yard. Abnormal for you, normal for me. Both well within our rights.

funny
 

brk-int...I am trying to decide if your response is comicical on purpose, or not. Please. Seriously, please.
Do not tell me, or anyone else, evertime you walk to your mailbox, you're careful to care your money clip in case the neighborhood kids are selling something. You typed that, and decided it made sense. Really? Give it another shot.
Again...holds no water.
Every time I leave the house, like most people, I am sure to grab my phone, wallet, and keys...if I carried a heater, I'd grab that too. Probably just about everyone has their routine when they leave the house.
However running to the mail box, running out to the car to grab something I forgot, or running out for a second to tell my neighbor something...do you think I stop and gather my things? Or my money, in case the kids are selling something (Still not past that one...if you gather your mail, say 4 times a week...that's 200 times per year. How often could they possibly hit you up? Even once a week, which is just not believeable, you would need no money 150 times per year).
If Ward was going out to work in the yard, yep, I would guess he would carry. Taking a walk in the woods, yep. Quick trip to the store, yep.
To run out and grab a couple pieces of firewood, probably not.
To greet a family member coming to visit...maybe help them with their bags. Probably not.
But to confront someone he wanted to leave...better grab the piece...need her to understand I mean business.
Wait a minute...maybe she was selling cookies....Yeah you're right...my bad.

sa meredith question, are you related to FLL by any chance?

why
 

Why would you say that...look...you are welcome to attack any part of my argument. Show me the holes in my theroy. I welcome it.
I just think people are too close to this, and can't see the forest for the trees. Read some of my posts as to what I think about this, and tell me were I am wrong.
As I stated...I have no respect for this woman (Harris), and think she is way off.
Also, I think Ward got way more than he deserved.
But seriously...who in a clear thinking, honest way, can say there is not way he is guilty????
Of course the possibiltiy exists.
Also...when someone types something that I believe to be "inaccurate" just to support their theory...I call them on.
And someone saying that they don't go to the mail box without being sure they have secured their money clip???sorry, not buyin' it.
Related to FLL..sorry pal...
Anytime I take a stand on something in this forum, I state my side as clearly as possible, and support as best I can.
Have an issue with me...send me a PM, and I'll debate you on the matter privately.
I'm sorry I am not wearing a "Free Bird" Tshirt, and jumping up an down waiving my pompoms. It's not the popular view, but I'm OK with that.
Show me the where the things I think about this case are wrong, and tell me why.
Don't just post a one sentence entry, be condescending to me, and stop. Disagree with me? Great. Show me where I am wrong.

I'm not skirting any issues !
I provided a fully justifiable reason as to why Ward or any person who owns and carry's a firearm would have it on their person. You just don't want to accept it because you have your mind clearly set, as do I.
How about this for a reason why he happened to have his firearm on him at the time Cristine Harris trespassed on his property and it doesn't get any simpler then this.
His house, His property, His constitutional right to have the firearm on him / with him for any damn reason he choose's.

Nope, dead serious.

You seem to have a major deficiency in considering that anyone could lead their lives or have particular habits in any manner that is not 100% inline with your own personal perception of "normal".

There is no way to explain any of this to you because you seem unable to consider alternate viewpoints, no matter how they are presented. People, myself included, give you real examples but you dismiss them as made up because they appear to be beyond your grasp of possibility.

You are correct, there aren't that many times per year that I actually *need* my cash to check the mail. However, I don't have kids of my own, so I'm usually at best vaguely aware of the normal cycles of raising money for football teams, basketball teams, girlscout cookies, cheerleader raffles or whatever. But, for how my house is setup and for how my daily routine is structured, it's pretty easy to grab my money clip on the way out the door.

So the woman had spoken to Ward on the phone in the previous day or two and he had told her he was not interested in selling his land. Then she comes to town to look at an adjoining parcel (which Ward is unhappy is being sold out of the family) and Ward's niece gives her directions up the road and also calls Ward to tell him the woman is around (she must traverse Ward's land to get to the parcel). The woman gets lost and ends up at Ward's house. He (or his wife, who was on the porch but then disappears) sees her coming, loads his gun and steps out of his house onto the porch, where he proceeds to yell and swear at the woman (by admission) while holding the gun behind his back (per his statement) until she understands she is in the wrong place and isn't going to be getting any directions from Ward. Then presumably he "makes his gun safe" in order to go back into the house, in view of her before she has even started to leave his dooryard (???) . . . it sure sounds like he was jonesing for her before she even said "hello". Maybe not, , maybe not,, but the jury said "yes"

A FACT of Life.
 

MEN carry a Wallet ALL the time. It's in their hip pocket. In the house.. outside the house....but NOT in their pajamas. Some also carry a "Money Clip" in their front pocket. Women carry a purse. They don't have pockets.. I have always wondered Why Not. Pockets certainly make more sense than a big bag of STUFF. .:)

I have noticed this practice over my 70 years as a Male. My wife of 44 years carry's a purse...she carry's it everywhere "OFF The Property"...but not in the yard, or out to the mailbox. :D :D NB

PS: This is my final comment on Wallets. :)

I'm just an observer (A Totally Innocent Bystander) as I don't know anything about guns. I DO like the NAVY Phalanx "Close In Weapons System"..C-WIZ..?? . :D

http://www.myspace.com/video/vid/35986988

I would think having the weapon Visible on your person would be a Big Deterent...NO..??? I'm curious about "Concealed" Vs "Out in the OPEN".....:look:

NB

sameredith, I was amazed with traffic that has occurred on this thread, but I think I have an answer to a nagging question that you have posed.

"He sees the woman that he was told would be coming. Why arm yourself?"

1. You don't know the hidden intent of whose coming.
2. You always arm yourself when you go outside.
3. You feel less able to defend yourself than normal because of your injuries.
4. You don't know if the women is alone. Typical setup, fools alot of males.
5. You have the right to arm yourself.
6. Who else is coming that you haven't been told about?

BTW, I can't even walk tonight. Major infection in foot, and can't even consider coming up Saturday. Sorry, really wanted to have you pay for dinner at The Woodshed. Catch you at a later date. All my best.

I believe that most all responsible citizens who choose to carry a concealed self defense weapon aren't looking to advertise the fact that they are carrying.
There is no "hey look at me and see what I have" mentality in the mind of a responsible gun owner.

Some people carry.... its no big deal

Some people clear their weapon upon entering their residence .... its no big deal

Unless those that don't carry or don't understand spin it into something it isn't

Very Well Said !!

all right
 

OK then...tell me this. Why does the rabbit have a pancake on his head?

And Pineedles...you actually made my piont...I agree completely. He took the gun with with him because he thought he might need it. Which he did. Not to fire, but to let an unwelcomed person get a look at it.
And what a shame...a crack pot like Harris steals 3 years of his life. A freakin' outright sin. Deplorable. My heart goes out to him...a guy who busts his hump all day farming, and probably lives out there because he loves his privacy, and doing his own thing...not the type of guy who would easily adjust to being in jail.
Maybe some new evidence will come out at the hearing and they will send him home.
I still say though, that he won't be sent home, because everyone likes him, and his support is overwhelming. Those issues play no role, I believe.

I still say though, that he won't be sent home, because everyone likes him, and his support is overwhelming. Those issues play no role, I believe.

Never underestimate the necessity of politics.

I think I've got the reason for the additional charge.
Sometime after the original trial the prosecutor learned that this was the third incident Ward Bird had been involved in that showed (at the very least) poor judgement when armed.
She believed he should be disarmed for life, and this was the charge that would do it.

Guns...Just my opinion
 

I agree with this quote:

An armed society is a polite society. Manners are good when one may have to back up his acts with his life.
Robert A. Heinlein

I'm not sure the Iraqi people would agree with you, TOAD.

I hope and pray that Ward is released.

If they took past incidents with Ward into account then why did they dismiss all the past incidents with the women. That is just ridiculous! Free Ward Bird and give his kids their father back!

You missed my point, and apparently you didn't read the testimony either.

In the Thursday, January 20, 2011 edition of "THE LACONIA DAILY SUN", there is an article about Ward Bird having 22 firearms taken away from him.

This is what it said: “Because it’s a felony conviction, Bird, 49, would not be allowed to possess guns in the future. Moultonborough police took 22 handguns and long guns from Bird’s home after his arrest.”


I wonder if this is true and when did they take the firearms away from him. It states “after his arrest”, so I am wondering what that means. I wouldn’t think that they could take them away from him until he was convicted on the felony charge. Maybe they arrested him after the trial and then took the firearms? Did they give the firearms to his wife so that she can protect herself if needed? It is a little confusing to me as to just what transpired.

Sun article
 

A Pardon Hearing?
 

I just heard he was granted a pardon hearing and the Governor will not stand in the way. Does anyone know more?

Hearing tomorrow.
 

Wmur reported there is a planned one hour meeting tomorrow to make the final decision.

OMG, this man may be with his family soon. Thank you.

Here are some comments taken from one of Wards Facebook pages on todays pardon hearing.

"Pardon hearing went well. Good questions asked, good responses heard. Harris didn't show. No surprise. Beyond the current county prosecutor and the advocate, there were no voices in opposition to those in support".


"Felt bad for new County Atty getting grilled up there since he wasn't in office at the time this all occurred and he has to protect the reputation of that office as best he can. I even felt for the witness advocate, it was very clear that the Exec Council was not happy that the only witness to the event chose not to testify".


"Ward's wrap up was powerful. Asked for and was granted permission to stand before the Governor, Exec Council and gallery. He stood slowly, and in a voice full of emotion that grew stronger as he went: "As God is my witness, and on the honor of my family, and my friends, in this room today, I did not point or wave a firearm at Christine Harris. And that's all I have to say."


"Four of the five councilors wouldn't comment after Tuesday's hearing. But Councilor David Wheeler says Bird deserves a full pardon because there's evidence of "a gross miscarriage of justice."

Last night's 6-pm WMUR tv news had a 60 second video-audio with Councilor Ray Worciek, Governor John Lynch, Prisoner Ward Bird, all speaking, and a Christine Harris written statement read aloud at the hearing. In the statement it said that she was too intimidated by all of Ward's supporter's to be there in person plus some other comments. Ward was seated at one end of a large old wood table with a uniformed state trooper seated on either side of him, and as I recall, Ward was wearing prison gray clothes as opposed to prison orange, but maybe I'm wrong on that and they were regular non-prison clothes.

Today's Feb 2 www.unionleader.com has a front page photo of Ward seated at the table along with the backs of some others, and the two state troopers cannot be seen in the photo even if you know they are present.

Suggest you read today's Feb 2 www.citizen.com report by Bea Lewis which is about 100 times better written and more informative than the Union Leader article.

Gov Lynch asked Ward at the close: "How long would it take you to replace the clip back into the gun as you were entering your house." Ward thought on it for a couple seconds and said "about five seconds."

Where this whole Ward Bird saga is going is anyone's guess? What do the London bookies have to say for their betting odds?

Any chance someone can post a link to the WMUR video?

If you were on a jury trying to make a serious and intelligent decision based on all the input you received over the length of a trial, and the defense attorney making the closing statement to the jury was a bald guy with a pony tail would that pony tail make any difference to your thinking about his presentation?

Since when does prison attire of Any color include a White shirt, Suit coat and Tie ?
You can easily tell from the WMUR footage that he is wearing normal civilian clothing

Here is the link to the WMUR footage.
http://www.wmur.com/newsarchive/26690254/detail.html

My opinion of Harris's statement is. If she were telling the truth, then should would be able to walk into that room with here head held high and not feel intimidated by anyone !

I keep wondering what the Governor was trying to ascertain with the question he asked.

Sun article:
 

Union Leader article
 

video
 

Just watched the video from the link provided.
Not for nothing, but if I hired Sisti, I'd ask him to lose the pony tail before going to court.
Pony tail ????? Really?
Regarding the Gov's question about "how long would it take to have loaded the gun?"...cleary, what he was a saying was, the fact that there was not a round in the chamber makes no difference. The clip was loaded, and in the gun, so in a matter of seconds, it could have been ready to fire.

Hopefully we will have a answer soon, good luck to Ward Bird

Yah the pony tail doesn't do much for me either.
Your take on the governors question is pretty much what I was thinking, although I still don't see what relevent point it makes as to how quickly he could have made the gun ready to fire.

Hope not, but could be posturing for an already made up mind

loaded
 

Maybe not a made up mind...he should take time to consider everything he heard.
But I think it was to discredit the statement that the gun was not loaded.
I always thought that if the clip had bullets in it, the gun was loaded. But ( being someone who does not knows a lick about guns) I guess that may not be the case. A bullet has to be in the firing chamber, for it to be considered loaded, is the way I now understand it.

I hadn't considered that and I sure hope not as well.
The governor has never granted a pardon and I have my fingers crossed that this will be his first.

I believe that many people when they hear the word "loaded" in referance to a gun, takes it to mean that the gun is 100% ready to fire a round. To me and I am sure many others a "loaded" weapon merely means that it has bullets in it, they maybe in a clip for a semi automatic handgun or rifle or the magazine for a rifle or shotgun with bolt action or lever action or pump action. Unless an action is taken to actually place a round in the chamber, the gun Is Not ready to fire.
A revolver is a differant story. If all chambers in the cylinder are loaded then there is always a round ready to be fired. No action needs to be made to place a round in a firing position.
To me and I expect most anybody who owns and carry's a firearm an unloaded gun is as useful as a rock.