Derrick J in Court on Gun Rights Appeal, Accused of Being “Unsuitable” to Conceal

KPD Prosecutor Jean Kilham

In district court yesterday morning, Keene Police prosecutor Jean Kilham seemed to be suggesting that because Derrick J was laughing during proceedings that he doesn’t deserve the right to concealed carry a gun.  Derrick was clearly laughing at the absurdity of the violence brought against him during his Victimless Crime Spree, which was detailed in witness testimony today.

Derrick J’s attorney, Free State Project participant and former FSP vice president Evan Nappen, is known among defense attorneys in New Hampshire as the go-to guy for gun rights cases.  Nappen did a fine job today and Derrick seemed very pleased with how he argued the case.

The Keene police argued that Derrick J is “unsuitable” to conceal carry, the big loophole word in the state’s “shall-issue” statute.  While simultaneously admitting that it’s fully legal for Derrick J to carry a gun openly, they claim that due to a record of victimless “crimes”, alleged cannabis use, and suggested affiliations with violent groups, that Derrick J should be prohibited from concealing.

Derrick J took the stand and told the story of his Victimless Crime Spree.  It was made clear that he is an activist dedicated to peace.  In fact, Derrick is the host of Peace News Now, heard twice a week on LRN.FM. Here’s full video of today’s “Hearing on the Merits”:

Burke ends the hearing and retires for the holiday weekend with a DVD of Derrick J’s Victimless Crime Spree as part of the evidence in the case.  Perhaps he will sit down with the family this holiday weekend and watch the movie that he helped make possible.  Probably one of the most outrageous scenes in the documentary is when Burke has Cop Block’s Ademo Freeman arrested and charged with a felony that is later dropped.  All Ademo was doing was asking Burke questions on video.

Since then, Burke has mellowed out and issued some freedom-friendly rulings, including the overturning of illegal, unconstitutional trespass notices from the folks calling themselves the “City of Keene” and the Sheriff.  Stay tuned here to Free Keene for the latest on this case as it develops.