Pit Bull Owner May Be Banned from South Bend City Offices

Man Totes Gun On Hip
South Bend, IN - A judge will determine whether or not a local man should be banned from city offices. City employees claim 25-year-old Stephan Range has made threats against them and harassed them. The fight started more than two years ago over Range's love for pit bulls. Range refuses to follow the city's dangerous dog ordinance. He says he has the right to own the dogs if he wants.

The U.S. Constitution does not support his theory.

Range was denied a pit bull breeding license more than two years ago and since then tensions have escalated. In July, problems really heated-up as the city pursued a ban. City employees testified in court that Range sent threatening letters to the Animal Control shelter and the city’s code enforcement office. In fact the code enforcement director says she fears for animal control officers' safety and thinks someone could be killed soon.

Repeat: She fears someone could be killed soon.

Range carries a handgun on his hip that officers say is intimidating. Officers testified about the number of times they had to call police for help after fearing Range would use the gun while visiting the shelter. Meanwhile Range says he isn't violent or dangerous. He says he is just fighting for his citizen rights. "It’s not just about the dogs. It’s about property. What they doing is depriving me of my property without due process of law..."

The second day of the hearing was Wednesday (20th). Last week, two people from the mayor’s office and the director of animal control testified. The judge issued a temporary restraining order against Range. The assistant city attorney Ann-Carol Nash and Range will both submit proposed form of orders on what they feel the next step should be in the matter. The judge will be make a final decision in ten days.

Comments posted by Range
To educate readers about the radical and disturbing far wing of dog law theory, we've posted two comments that Range left at the news article. So disturbing are his comments that we have also forwarded them to South Bend's code enforcement director expressing our concern.

[Posted by: Stephen Range Location: SouthBend on Aug 20, 2008 at 10:15 PM] Everyone please pay close attention to this case I am about to shock the world!!!

[Posted by: Stephen Location: South Bend on Aug 20, 2008 at 10:21 PM] Hello, This is Stephen Range I am willing to answer any question anyone wants to ask me. I would like to say I am not a criminal I have not violated any law in the City of South Bend. I am not a crazy person I am a member of the Indiana Citizens Volunteer Militia (ICVM) I, Stephen Range, in these Presents do hereby Swear and affirm that I Shall Defend My Home and Family, Property, Constitution for the State Of Indiana and The Constitution for these United States Of America. I am prepared to Fight if Need Be to Defend and Perpetuate the God Given Rights and Liberties Contained in the Constitution for the State Of Indiana and The Constitutional for These United States Of America, and to render Assistance to the Sheriff and other Duly Elected Officials of My Country in the Defense of these Rights and Liberties. So Help Me God.My profession is safe guarding and shielding the American people. My vocation is defending the Constitution for the state of Indiana and these United States of America. I protect and inform the American people, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for worthless Federal Reserve notes. If I if we do not safe guard the American people and defend the Constitution for the state of Indiana and these United States of America, America will collapse and our children will be converted into slaves or worst. Death in the security of this purpose is the supreme Glory anyone in this generation can attain. I must prepare for this Glory.

Related article:
06/15/08: Mass Melee at "Bullies in Paradise Dog Show"
05/01/08: Comment: Pro-Pit Bull People Intimidate Local Politician