Conservative Blogger Found Guilty of 21 Felony, Misdemeanor Crimes after Defending Himself from BLM Protesters

The Pacific coast has not been kind to gun owners historically, and the state of Oregon is no exception as conservative blogger Michael Strickland learned the hard way. Interested in covering a Black Lives Matter protest in Portland, the blogger was going about his business when a group of thugs approached him with intent to assault him. Strickland happened to be carrying his piece on him and brandished at the agitators, successfully deterring them without firing a single shot. You would think the authorities would appreciate Strickland’s restraint and handling of the situation, but instead of applauding his conduct they jailed him for it:

A man who pulled out a gun at a Don’t Shoot Portland march and pointed it at a crowd of protesters in downtown was found guilty Friday of 21 felony and misdemeanor crimes.

Multnomah County Circuit Judge Thomas Ryan found Michael Aaron Strickland, 37, guilty of 10 counts of unlawful use of a weapon, 10 counts of menacing and one count of second-degree disorderly conduct for pointing his Glock semi-automatic handgun at 10 protesters.

During the weeklong trial, prosecutors argued that Strickland didn’t have a reasonable fear that he was in imminent danger of getting hurt.

Strickland, who had a concealed weapons permit, claimed self-defense. He contended some protesters and anarchists wearing masks and carrying flagpoles had called him a racist, told him to leave, aggressively advanced toward him and pushed him. Some of the confrontation was caught on video — including Strickland’s own.

Strickland can be heard saying “Get the hell back!” before pulling out his gun.

Strickland makes a living as an independent videographer-journalist and was at the July 7 demonstration last year to record it. Members of the groups Don’t Shoot Portland and Black Lives Matter were protesting the shooting deaths of two African Americans by police earlier that week in Minnesota and Louisiana.

During closing arguments, prosecutor Todd Jackson said no one touched Strickland and that he overreacted. The men carrying flagpoles weren’t near Strickland when he took out his gun, Jackson said.

Strickland could have simply turned and run away if he had been afraid, prosecutors said.

Jackson said Strickland’s contention that he was in grave danger isn’t believable, pointing out that Stickland reholstered his gun and stepped off the street and onto the sidewalk to give an interview in front of a TV camera just steps away from the scene of the confrontation.

“My life was in danger, I was surrounded by people,” Strickland can be heard saying during the interview, which was shown in court.

Prosecutors said it was protesters who were scared for their lives as they screamed that Strickland had a gun and ran.

Strickland brought lots of bullets — 123 — to the protest with him, prosecutors said. He didn’t fire off any rounds during the incident.

Source: Oregon Live