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This just in from GOA:

Police Drop the Charges Against Jared Marcum!

These and other victories remind us, once again, there’s much to be grateful for this Independence Day

“I can't thank Larry Pratt and Gun Owners enough for standing with Jared and his family during these difficult days. You were there when we needed you. GOA and GOF's legal and financial support was critical to Jared's defense, to blocking the gag order which the government asked for, and finally obtaining a dismissal of all charges against Jared. Thank you for all you do and thanks for the GOA T-shirts!” -- Ben White, attorney for Jared Marcum

Gun Owners of America wants to thank all of you who contributed to the Jared Marcum legal defense fund.

All charges have now been dropped against the West Virginia teenager, and Jared will not have a criminal record.

In April, the 14-year-old was ordered by a band teacher to change his T-shirt because the instructor did not like the shirt’s pro-gun message. The shirt stated “protect your right” and pictured a rifle with a scope.

Jared was suspended from school, and later was arrested for “obstructing” an officer. He faced a $500 fine and one year in jail.

The police then issued a gag order against the family and his attorney, preventing them from talking about the case. And as if that wasn’t Orwellian enough, a reporter who tried to contest the gag order found herself being ejected from the courthouse. The reason?

If you guessed “obstruction,” then you move to the head of the class!

All of this heavy-handedness on part of the police led Kurt Hofmann of the Examiner to say, “The Logan, West Virginia PD apparently has the most easily ‘obstructed’ police officers since the Keystone Cops.”

In the midst of all this, GOA helped ignite a national outrage after alerting activists two weeks ago to what was happening in the Mountain State.

Plus, Gun Owners Foundation quickly set up a legal defense fund to assist the attorney who was taking Jared’s case pro bono.

Thankfully, the case is now over, as the police dropped all charges against Jared Marcum on Thursday.

With this victory behind them, the Marcum family is now considering legal action against the school district. GOA will be watching these efforts closely and will keep you updated.

In similar news, GOA is working with a Congressman in Washington to cut-off federal funds to any school district that imposes a zero-tolerance policy that punishes (e.g., suspends) children for wearing shirts containing a pro-gun message ... or for playing cops-and-robbers during recess … or for turning their pop tarts into “weapons” … or extending their fingers to resemble a gun, etc.

Please stay tuned.

GOA wins initial victory on behalf of pro-gun sheriff

Gun Owners of America also won an initial skirmish in Wisconsin, where a sheriff has come under attack for his pro-gun views.

If you’ve heard the name David Clarke, you know that he is one of the most pro-gun sheriffs in the country.

Last month, GOA Executive Director Larry Pratt personally awarded the “High Noon Award” to Wisconsin’s Milwaukee County Sheriff David A. Clarke, Jr., for “standing for truth when others run, for telling the truth even though politically incorrect.”

In a public safety announcement earlier this year, Sheriff Clarke told viewers: “With officers laid off and furloughed, simply calling 911 and waiting is no longer your best option. You can beg for mercy from a violent criminal, hide under the bed or you can fight back. But are you prepared?”

The ad ends with Clarke stating, “You have a duty to protect yourself and your family. We're partners now. Can I count on you?”

Well, a panel on the Milwaukee Board of Supervisors tried to discriminate against Sheriff Clarke and punish him for his pro-gun views. The committee did so by voting to restrict Sheriff David Clarke from appearing in any future public service announcements.

For the record, David Clarke has made several public service announcements, but they were never a problem until he cut the “pro-gun” advertisement.

Recognizing this for the sheer discrimination it is, Gun Owners of America immediately activated its grassroots network within the state and asked them to contact all the Board of Supervisors.

According to several media outlets, the GOA alert resulted in the Board being “flooded” and “inundated” with emails supporting Sheriff Clarke.

When politicians feel the heat … they see the light.

The full Board of Supervisors looked into the situation and sent the “gag order” resolution back to the committee. So while it’s bottled up there for now, it means Sheriff Clarke is free to continue educating the public on their rights and responsibilities relating to self-defense.