Gerhard posted a picture in Aug. 2019 of his new firearm to a private Snapchat group with classmates, claiming that his AR-15 rifle would “make the snowflakes melt” when he returned to campus. The reference meant that far-left students would be triggered by his possession of the rifle and it would literally melt snow, as the LSSU campus is located in Michigan’s upper peninsula renowned for its icy conditions.
“Taking this bad boy up. This ought to make the snowflakes melt a — and I mean snowflakes as in snow,” he wrote on social media, according to a transcript of the preliminary examination obtained by Big League Politics.
One classmate in the private group – who stated in court proceedings that she did not feel threatened by the post – showed the picture to a left-leaning female student, who copied the image on her phone before they filed a complaint to the district supervisor. It was then kicked up to campus public safety, who got Sault Ste. Marie police involved in the matter.
“I seen the picture, and when he said like make the snowflakes melt, it kind of made me assume that, um, kind of like as with the gun and shoot other civilians and stuff with it,” the woman who initiated the report said during questioning. She also mentioned that media coverage about mass shootings contributed to her panic when seeing the weapon and admitted to having prior political disputes with Gerhard over political matters.
Before Gerhard was even alerted to the controversy, he checked in his rifle and ammo at the campus armory as is required by LSSU. Police came and Gerhard consented to a search of his room, but they found nothing except a BB gun and a few hunting knives. Gerhard told police that he deleted the Snapchat post after people commented about its possibly offensive nature, and he was compliant with law enforcement while they questioned him.
Gerhard alerted his father, Mark, who drove hundreds of miles to campus from the Metro Detroit area to offer his son moral support. Despite the alleged terrorist emergency on campus, nothing was locked down and no precautions were taken by authorities. The Gerhards expected things to blow over, considering Lucas did nothing but exercise his 1st and 2nd Amendment rights. However, that was not the case as Lucas was apprehended the next day.
He would be detained for several months in county jail.
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“Today at approximately 8:45 a.m., Sault Sainte Marie Police and
Public Safety officers removed an individual from campus. The individual is allegedly responsible for a social media posting that was potentially threatening to the safety and well-being of the LSSU community,” Hanley wrote.
“We are certain that the individual involved is no longer in the campus vicinity. The
Public Safety Department takes this type of messaging seriously, and the University is working closely with the Sault Sainte Marie Police Department during the investigation,” he added.
Lucas’ father Mark, who is a retired Marine colonel that has worked for many years in the federal government, told Big League Politics that he understands why the campus would take a possible threat so seriously. What he doesn’t understand is why prosecutors would continue pursuing such a case when it is abundantly clear that his son poses no threat to public safety. As the case develops, it is becoming clear that
the intent is to make a statement and strip Lucas of his constitutional liberties forever.
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In an age where
Trump supporters are being dehumanized and profiled as terrorist threats, Lucas is being railroaded as an example to all conservatives that they must sit down, shut up, and jettison their rights, or face the consequences.
Lucas is refusing to take any plea deal, and will fight the injustice in the courts. His father explains that they feel the case has broad ramifications that could impact many cases around the country.
“Lucas is adamant that he didn’t do this. He is not in any way or fashion looking to take a plea. He is going to fight this all the way through, which I think is a good thing,” Mark said.
“There are a lot of kids getting prosecuted under these kind of charges. If Lucas takes a plea, everyone following him is diminished. There are not going to be many opportunities for them to fight back against this after it becomes a precedent,” he added.
While
Michigan does not yet have red flag laws on the books, Lucas’ case shows that lawful gun owners are under attack like never before.
Citizen snitches, similar to Soviet Union, have been activated by the fake news hysteria to enforce Big Brother’s march against the 2nd Amendment. Pre-crime is the new norm, and the Orwellian Nightmare is the cruel reality facing us.