From: donal@brewich.hou.tx.us (Donal)
Newsgroups: alt.pagan
Subject: Re: pagan self-defense
Date: Mon, 14 Sep 92 23:19:28 CDT
Organization: The Brewer's Witch BBS, +1 713 272 7350, Brewich.Hou.TX.US

altheimm@nextnet.csus.edu (Murray Altheim) writes:

> In article <IJD.92Sep10145942@idickins.hpl.hp.com> ijd@hplb.hpl.hp.com (Ian J
> >>>>>> On Sep, 9, Ciaran Benson (CB) wrote:
> >
> [Ciaran discussing the ugliness of killing an animal, and the number of
> weapons in her home...]
> 
> 
> You know, I've wondered at the direction this thread has gone...
> 
> More talk about what kind of bullets than the reasons for them. Of course
> I agree with the fact that this is a violent society and that guns kill
> people, etc. but the fact that this is posted on alt.pagan seems to have
> left the discussion. IMHO, this all began as an earnest discussion of the 
> ongoing and possibly increasing persecution of pagans in this country, not
> about the violence we all (regardless of religious denomination) share 
> living in our humble abodes.

After reading the above from Murray, I happened to remember a post from one
from one of my users about an incident just this last Sunday...

---begin copy---
Subject: city life....don't ya just love it
From: liam (Liam)
Level 5: Welsh Celtic Wicca
Date: Mon, 14 Sep 92 15:21:03 CDT
Organization: The Brewer's Witch BBS, +1 713 272 7350, Brewich.Hou.TX.US

        I am writing to relate a pair of incedents that happend here in 
the last year regarding the police. 
        It seems that the hpd is the most hypocritical bunch of people in 
the entire city when it comes to helping the people of the community 
(especialy if they think that you are involed in the "occult") The 
following incedents have proven this to me beyond a shadow of a doubt.

        Some years ago an occult bookstore in my area was firebombed by a 
group of people from a large baptist chuch just down the road from me.  
Everyone in the area knew who was responsible for this but said nothing 
(this includes the police).  At the time I didn't give it much thought 
because it didn't affect me  until the day my house was broken into I 
don't know who did it so I am not putting any blame on anyone. When the 
police arrived, they came in to look things over as they looked arround 
they spotted my altar, this changed thier atitude completely. They 
suddenly started asking about my "occult background" and treating me like 
the criminal. I watched one of them write in his notebook "apparenly cult 
related" even though there was no evidence to comfirm this.  They then 
packed up and left, about a month later,I got a letter addressed to me 
personally, telling me to give up my "satanic practices".  

        Then yesterday (sept 13th) my self and my family were sent diving 
for cover becase of some idiot target shooting with a pistol in the 
driveway accross the street from my house. A stray bullet hit one of the 
trees in my front yard adding to the nervous tension as we waited for the 
police to arive.  The police arived just after the fourth salvo was fired 
(30 seconds after to be exact). I walked over yto talk to them and then i 
realized that they were staring at my chest...or rather my pentagram. 
they began scribbling in thier  notebooks ( I can imagine what the were 
writing). they then went driving  arround the block ( after I had pointed 
out the house that the shots were coming from), they then drove away 
without a word... they never did get out of thier car to investigate.  
they did however talk to my neighbors who are now looking at me like I 
was the devil himself ( I'll give ya three guesses why).  

the whole point of all this raving is to point out that the police are 
not reliable when it comes to protecting people's rights. ( although I do 
know some individual oficers that are trying to be open minded).  I am 
not trying tobash the police, as they do have a very tough job. I am 
looking for input on how to deal with this situation. please give me any 
sugestions (aside from moving, because its been thought of alr) on how to 
normalise(sp?) relations with my nieghbours. thank you in advance 
                                        Blessed Be,
                                                 Liam

------------------
liam@brewich.hou.tx.us (Liam)
(Alternate) liam%brewich@lobster.hou.tx.us
Origin: The Brewer's Witch BBS -- Houston, TX -- +1 713 272 7350
     "Silence is the voice of complicity" - Vote Early, Vote Often!

I thought this might provide something to chew on...

Blessed Be

--------------------
Donal, SysAdmin of The Brewer's Witch BBS -- +1 713 272 7350
(Internet) donal@brewich.hou.tx.us  (Work) bill%pssi@lobster.hou.tx.us
(CIS) 76460,1443 
(SCA) Ld. Donal Dubh, IC of Dun Bruddair, B of the Stargate, K of Ansteorra