Schaeffer Cox

The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner reports on the latest trouble for Schaeffer Cox, a well-known gun activist.

The leader of the local Second Amendment Task Force has been barred from possessing a gun for at least the next two months.

Schaeffer Cox, 26, was arrested Wednesday night after Fairbanks police say he failed to notify an officer he was carrying a concealed pistol. Cox was in court Friday morning to plead not guilty to a misdemeanor count of fifth-degree weapons misconduct.

Cox also recently had a court appearance on a felony assault charge, which stemmed from an accusation that he choked his wife during a trip to Anchorage. Three days later, Cox, who had no prior criminal record, pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of misdemeanor reckless endangerment and received a suspended sentence.

Cox posted $500 bail Wednesday night on the weapons misconduct charge, but Magistrate Alicemary Rasley set as a condition of his release that he is not to possess any firearm while the case is pending.

This is what I'm talking about when I urge Zorro to step up into a role of leadership. The sad reality is there are guys like young Mr. Cox taking those positions and speaking for the rest.

I would like to point out that I'm not the only one who makes certain observations. Look what the prosecutor, Scott Mattern had to say.

“He probably came close to getting shot, and his conduct reflects poorly on every law-abiding firearm owner.”

I say something is wrong with the gun-friendly Alaska attitude when a guy can assault his wife, choking her, plead guilty to a lesser charge, and continue to enjoy his gun rights. The recent arrest for not telling the cop he was carrying sounds like it was more a case of the cop abusing his power, but that business with the wife sounds like a deal breaker to me.

Cox, whose task force has offered seminars about the Constitution, said he believes police violated several of his rights, including the right to bear arms, the right to remain silent and protection from unlawful search.

“If a right can be lost, it’s not a right; it’s a permission,” Cox said. “So in America, you don’t have the right to bear arms; you have permission to have a gun.”

Maybe this is the problem. Many gun owners have elevated this idea of "a right" to a place that is untouchable. They become so intoxicated with the idea of exercising their "rights" that they forget about the responsibility part. They forget that you can't slap your wife around and plead to a lesser charge and continue to have "gun rights." They forget you can't go barging into police business because the neighbor claims their "rights" are being violated without paying some consequences.

Cox is known to carry a gun anywhere he’s allowed to. He said he carries the gun and wears a bullet-proof vest because he has received “[no] fewer than 12” death threats, but he refused to elaborate.

“Everybody’s going to think, ‘He’s not armed, so let’s go get him,’” Cox said.

What could this be all about? This guy is a gun rights advocate, a 2nd Amendment guy, so how could he possibly receive 12 death threats? Are the gun control people in Alaska that passionate? Is it the Brady Campaign or Josh Sugarmann he's worried about?

No, obviously he's worried about gun owners coming after him, that's why he wears a vest. But who would they be and why would they be so numerous?

I know there's not enough to go on in this report, but I can't help noticing what a perfect example he seems to be of the grandiose victimism and the paranoia of many pro gun folks. "They're after me, but I can't elaborate." Some of these guys live in a fantasy world which in and of itself should disqualify them, the only problem is it's hard to screen for.

Zorro, please consider moving up to Alaska. These guys are desperate for a proper leader.

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