Not to be confused with my own lawful drawing of a red gun at a candidates forum (over which I filed a federal suit, entry of judgment expected soon in my favor), another Morro Bay man drew a bayonet at a city council meeting. I haven’t seen his speech and i know nothing of the incident other than what is reported in the excerpts below. But i’m guessing i’d like his style of political speech. Importantly, note that a police commander stated there was nothing threatening about his display of the bayonet (see below). Again, i have no idea what he was speaking about but i pray that repercussions for him are minimal, given my own experience with disarmingly overreactive Morroans.
Here is what was reported by KPRL, a station i advertise on:
A man who regularly speaks during public comment at the Morro Bay city council meetings, 28-year-old Kiernen Cottle, was arrested by police after he drew a bayonet during public comment.
This occurred on the January 28th city council meeting for Morro Bay, where Cottle is seen on video unsheathing a bayonet, holding it above his head while speaking, and sheathing it before wrapping it back in a towel and sitting down when his comment was over.
He was later arrested for violating California penal code 171b(a3), prohibiting people from carrying a knife longer than four inches in a public building or meeting.
And here is what was reported by KVEC, another station i advertise on:
A Morro Bay man brought a 20-inch-long World War II bayonet to this week’s City Council meeting and ended up in jail. According to the Tribune, 28-year-old Kiernan Cottle stepped to the podium Tuesday, unrolled a towel, revealing a sheathed bayonet. He gave an impassioned speech while unsheathing the the blade. He finished he comments and returned to his seat. Morro Bay Police Commander Tony Mosqueda watched the incident and did not think Cottle’s actions were a threat. Cottle was arrested the next day for bringing a knife longer than 4 inches to a public building or meeting.
