Who dares approach The Great Raúl?
There’s mass confusion on various blogs concerning the nature of my physical contact with the Grijalva staffer, not the least of which is oddly enough on a post critical towards me, so let me set the record straight:
Initial contact with the staffer was during the interview with Rep. Grijalva. She said "You’re done" and condescendingly laid her hand on my right forearm in order to appease me. She did this again after the second podcast clip when Grijalva stopped speaking. Simply put, it was condescending and downright disrespectful, especially when you factor in that I’m 21 and she was about 35. One could argue that she was taking advantage of her gender. I’d certainly be more willing to sock a man who had laid his hand on my arm in that manner.
During the conversation between Rep. Grijalva and Mr. Drake, she grabbed my microphone (in my right hand the entire time) and forcefully switched it off. I then switched it back on, moved to my right (east) and raised my arm up to get a better vantage point for the microphone, at which point she ripped the microphone cable from my recorder (which was in my left hand). As such, aggressive contact occured at the time when she switched the microphone off, not when she was trying to condescend me earlier. Theft (at minimum) occured when she ripped the cable from my recorder, as a small 3/32" to 1/8" adapter was lost in the process. I ended up combing my hand through the sand below me to see if this adapter was around; I have no way of telling whether she had the adapter in hand or simply threw it away whether by incident or intention.
If you’re still confused, ask me.
Note: I replaced some of the language in the second paragraph shortly after posting. I didn’t really need to be calmed down, but ultimately she wanted to keep the little pipsqueak plebian from approaching The Great Raúl.
Garrett,
Not so much about your confrontation…but more about the issue that, eh, led to it.
The second amendment and the right for students to have guns on campus: its more than about them having it in their dorm room. I mean, I drive back and forth between Tucson and Phoenix on a semi-daily basis often through somewhat shady areas of Arizona.
I would like to have a weapon with me when I drive (by weapon, I mean handgun) back and forth. But if I am not mistaken, I cannot have that weapon in the zone 1 parking lots that are available to me. Correct me if I am wrong.
Obviously I have the option of finding off campus parking (but likewise, students living in dorms have the option of finding off campus housing), however this still provides a problem.
Wish there was a different solution.
Comment by Laura Latimer — October 10, 2006 @ 5:22 pm
To my knowledge, if a firearm is in a car, it cannot be loaded and the ammunition must be separated from the weapon, which defeats the point. And, of course, you can never take it out of the car until you’re off-campus.
Comment by Garrett O'Hara — October 10, 2006 @ 5:30 pm
I’d certainly be more willing to sock a man who had laid his hand on my arm in that manner.
So you’d be willing to assault a staffer, then.
Look, you’re suffering from wounded pride. But nothing more. Just about every journalist has been shot down and blown off. Join the club.
Comment by Stacy H. — October 10, 2006 @ 6:35 pm
I said I’d be more willing, not that I’d do it.
Comment by Garrett O'Hara — October 10, 2006 @ 8:41 pm
So its like shipping through UPS. Hah.
But you are right, it does defeat the purpose. I mean, unload ammo while in the neighborhood, put ammo somewhere that no one will see (very hard in a two seater hatchback), put gun in locked glove box, go to class, return, unlock glovebox, drive a little bit into the neighboorhood, find where i put ammo, load gun, put on car seat, drive away.
I mean, what happens if I were walking from class to car (everyone knows how safe zone 1 and parking garages are). I guess I should take up my father-in-laws offer of learning self defense.
Oh what fun. I wish they did what Yuma County Library does: have lockers!
Comment by Laura Latimer — October 11, 2006 @ 11:03 am
I think it’s interesting to hear individuals who say they need a weapon. I am 62 years old, lived in Denver, Phoenix, Las Vegas, Globe, Scottsdale, and never felt a need to have a weapon. Did own one when I was a reserve Officer for the Arizona Highway Patrol back in the 60s. Understood the need for it then while on patrol, but never a need personally. Interesting
Comment by Norm — October 11, 2006 @ 8:22 pm
Thanks for that note of reason Norm. The thing that would concern me is a cub reporter running around with a firearm who might get upset during an interview and shoot someone.
Have you filed a complaint yet?
Comment by Tim O — October 12, 2006 @ 6:06 am
In the 20 or so years I worked in broadcasting, don’t remember ever carrying a weapon. Tape recorder maybe but in my hands that’s not a weapon. At least I didn’t think so.
Comment by Norm — October 12, 2006 @ 9:39 am
“NORM” and “TIM O”,
During my time in Tucson I was a victim of violent crime, had two girlfriends that were raped, a roommate that was beaten during a robbery, all on or within a few blocks of campus at the UofA. The UAPD was never there to help or save anyone.
Just because you have never been a victim of violent crime does not mean it will never happen. I have never been in a car accident that a seatbelt could have saved my life, but that is not reason to drive without wearing one.
NORM if you are really an ex-LEO you need some real mindset training.
“TIM O” as if he had a gun at that moment he would have turned into a raving lunatic. Just like if you bought a fast car you would magically turn into Mario Andretti or Michael Schumacher.
Comment by Jon — March 31, 2007 @ 1:18 am
“NORM” and “TIM O”,
During my time in Tucson I was a victim of violent crime, had two girlfriends that were raped, a roommate that was beaten during a robbery, all on or within a few blocks of campus at the UofA. The UAPD was never there to help or save anyone.
Just because you have never been a victim of violent crime does not mean it will never happen. I have never been in a car accident that a seatbelt could have saved my life, but that is not reason to drive without wearing one.
NORM if you are really an ex-LEO you need some real mindset training.
“TIM O” as if he had a gun at that moment he would have turned into a raving lunatic. Just like if you bought a fast car you would magically turn into Mario Andretti or Michael Schumacher.
Comment by Jon — March 31, 2007 @ 1:19 am