ASP in the News
First Sergeant C.J. Grisham, prominent military blogger and founder of A Soldier’s Perspective, embroiled in a battle to defend his second amendment rights. On March 16, 2013, C.J. was arrested in his hometown of Temple, Texas, for “rudely displaying” a hunting rifle while on a hike with his 15-year-old son. C.J., who is stationed at nearby Fort Hood. Since the story broke, many Americans have been stunned by the video footage of the arrest, which was filmed by both C.J. and his son.
“No one should have to fear being illegally disarmed without warrant, especially someone who has never committed a crime in his life,” C.J. writes. “There is an overt attempt to disarm Americans, and especially veterans, in this country.”
C.J. has maintained A Soldier’s Perspective since 2004, collecting numerous awards for its in-depth coverage on everything from online military dating scams to the war in Afghanistan. ASP will continue to be at the epicenter to chronicle and support C.J.’s fight to protect his freedom.
Video Footage of Arrest
ASP Posts on Arrest
– Continuance Filed in my Criminal Case (May 29, 2013)
– Judge Orders Release of Dashcam Footage (May 16, 2013)
– Accountability in Government (May 12, 2013)
– Iniquity, Dishonor, and Infidelity (April 30, 2013)
– A Case Update (April 26, 2013)
– Standing with Temple P.D. (April 21, 2013)
– Important Note RE: City of Temple and the P.D. (April 19, 2013)
– I Love Temple (April 18, 2013)
– News Coverage of My Case (April 02, 2013)
– The Wussification of America (March 31, 2013)
– Let’s Talk about Stalking (March 29, 2013)
Media Coverage on Arrest
– Judge orders dashcam video release in Grisham ‘rudely displaying of weapon’ case (Examiner.com)
– Interview on The Lynn Woolley Show
– Decorated Vet who was arrested after ‘rudely displaying’ his rifle on hike with teen son gets a huge shock at the NRA Convention (The Blaze)
– Vet arrested for carrying AR-15 on Boy Scout hike gets ultimate surprise at NRA convention (Guns.com)
– Decorated Vet Arrested After ‘Rudely Displaying’ His Rifle — And Says Officer Pulled Gun on Him in Front of His Son (The Blaze)
– ‘Shocked and Horrified’: Glenn Beck’s Gripping Interview with Vet Arrested After ‘Rudely Displaying’ His Gun (The Blaze)
– Texas Police Dept. Provides Statement to TheBlaze on Vet Arrested After ‘Rudely Displaying’ Rifle (Plus, A Texas Firearms Attorney Weighs in) (The Blaze)
– War Veteran Arrested for “Rudely Displaying” Rifle (Fox News)
– War Hero Busted for “Rudely Displaying” Weapon (RedState.com)
– Active Duty Soldier illegally disarmed and arrested (Reddit.com)
– Police, ‘anti-gun’ prosecutor clash with soldiers in area around Fort Hood [VIDEO] (The Daily Caller)
– Local Soldier Says Police Violated His Gun Rights (KCEN-TV)
– Decorated Vet C.J. Grisham Arrested For ‘Rudely Displaying’ AR-15 (Opposing Views)
– Texas: Combat vet arrested for ‘rudely displaying’ his legally owned weapon (Examiner.com)
– Texas CHL Holder Arrested for “Rudely Displaying” a Rifle (TheTruthAboutGuns.com)
– Vet Abused, Disarmed By Cops Because ‘Polite’ Constitution Has No Place For Rights (Personal Liberty Digest)
– Veteran Arrested for “Rudely Displaying” Rifle (WND-TV)
– CJ Grisham, Texas Vet Arrested for ‘Rudely Displaying His Rifle,’ Making Others Uncomfortable, Child Questioned (The Global Dispatch)
– Editorial: A Texas Tantrum (The Washington Times)
– ‘There Is The Law, And There Is Reality’: Blaze Readers Weigh In On Decorated Vet Arrested After ‘Rudely Displaying’ His Rifle (The Blaze)
– Decorated Army Vet Disarmed and Arrested for “Rudely Displaying” Firearm (The New American)
– Iraq Veteran Arrested For Legally Open-Carrying Rifle (The Dana Show)
– Arrested Vet May Have Had An Axe to Grind (The Blaze)
– Question of the Day: Have You Heard about Master Sergeant C.J. Grisham? (Angry White Dude)
– Decorated Military Veteran Disarmed and Arrested in TX while Carrying Rifle on Boy Scout Hike (Guns.com)
Past Controversy
C.J. is no stranger to controversy. In early October 2009, C.J. started using A Soldier’s Perspective as a vehicle to protest the decision to switch to uniforms mid-year at his children’s school. On this blog he posted an unflattering video of school officials at a PTA meeting, an open letter to the superintendent and, of course, documented the ensuing trials and tribulations with unflagging passion. As a result, C.J. says members of the school board contacted his army commanders to complain about his candid blog, asking him to remove all relating posts.
Those very requests drove C.J. to shut down A Soldier’s Perspective in early November 2009. “Blogging is no longer worth the trouble,” he wrote in a final post. “Everything is fine as long as the stories are happy and positive.” This abrupt closure, which garnered much attention within the milblogging community, also grabbed the attention of Cat5 Commerce, an online retailer. In December 2009, C.J. partnered with Cat5 in order to keep his blog afloat.
“I’m pretty happy with the fact that Cat5 Commerce is going to continue to maintain the integrity and traditions of A Soldier’s Perspective,” C.J. said. “The followers of ASP as well as new readers can be confident that the quality and style of writing will not change as a result of new management.”
C.J. returned as a regular ASP contributor on Dec. 14, 2009.
In the following days, more than 30 bloggers went into a silent period in support of C.J. to draw attention to the increasing hostility towards bloggers within the military. These military bloggers wanted to show the world what it would be like if they did not utilize free speech. C.J. continues to post on ASP to this very day with more passion and intensity than ever.
ASP Posts on Censorship Controversy
– Huntsville City Schools Uniform Proposal (March 6, 2010)
– Me Vs. Huntsville City Schools and PTA (Jan. 22, 2010)
– An Explanation (Dec. 28, 2009)
– Coping With The Stigma (Dec. 25, 2009)
– Comm Silent Day 2 (Dec. 17, 2009)
– Comm Silent (Dec. 16, 2009)
– Sir, Let Me Tell Our Story (Dec. 7, 2009)
– Keeping ASP Alive – Ownership Change (Dec. 5, 2009)
– My Two Cents (Nov. 13, 2009)
– ASP Closed for Business (Nov. 10, 2009)
– CJ’s Speech To The Board (Nov. 7, 2009)
– WAAY-31 Covers Williams Middle School Incompetence (Nov. 6, 2009)
– New Management (Nov. 3, 2009)
– Armour of God (Nov. 1, 2009)
– Fed Up (Oct. 29, 2009)
– Thug-ocracy At Its Finest (Oct. 27, 2009)
– Fighting The Mob (Oct. 20, 2009)
– When To Say When (Oct. 9, 2009)
– Get Your Hands Off My PTSD (Oct. 7, 2009)
– The Battle Is Won (Oct. 2, 2009)
– The Myth Of Security in School Uniforms (Oct. 2, 2009)
– Off Topic: School Ignores Parents (Oct. 2, 2009)
– Army IG System: Fair or Biased (May 19, 2009)
– Army IG System Unwieldy and Unhelpful (April 29, 2009)
ASP in the Media
Read the Army Times Article: The Rise & Fall of a Military Blogger
CNN
– Military Impersonators Scamming Women Online
– Online Scams Target Lonely Hearts with Troops’ Photos
The Atlantic Wire
– Blog Blackout Exposes Tension Between Military, Soldier Bloggers
National Review Online
– All Quiet on the Miliblog Front
Wired.com
– How a Blog Brought Down Master Sergeant Grisham
Digg
– A Soldier’s Perspective: the rise & fall of a military blog
– Milblogs Go Silent for CJ
– Going silent for CJ
The Washington Independent
– The Day the Milblogs Stood Still
Army Times
– Milbloggers ‘run silent’ in protest
Air Force Times
– Appsolutely
WorldNetDaily
– U.S. military bloggers go silent
– School uniform argument may lead to lawsuit
The Huntsville Times
– Did complaint get him demoted?
The Tennessean
– Soldier hoping to start effort against online romance scams
WSMV Nashville
– Soldier Scam Targets People Looking For Love
KXXV News Channel 25
– Dead soldiers’ identities stolen in online fraud scheme
The Leaf-Chronicle
– Fort Hood soldier spreading word about online love scam
Yahoo! News
– Cat5 Commerce Acquires Controversial Military Blog
News Talk 770 AM / 92.5 FM WVNN, The Dale Jackson Show
– AUDIO: Don’t know about C.J. Grisham vs. HSV City Schools: We’ll fill you in because our local media wont
– AUDIO: Dr. Jennie said she wouldn’t ask for Dr. Ann Roy Moore’s resignation if she was lied to; Where are you
– AUDIO: Who is at fault in the C.J. Grisham, Huntsville City School story
– AUDIO: Emily Grisham joins Dale in studio; Soldier being harassed by Huntsville City Schools
Military Times
– Facebook face-off
Blogcritics
– War Wife Weekly: Military Blogs Go Silent in Protest
CNN iReport
– Milbloggers Unite
Military.com
– Milbloggers Clash Over DADT
Muncie Free Press
– Military Blogs go Silent for Fellow Bloggers
– A Soldier’s Perspective: Cat5 Commerce Acquires Controverisal Military Blog
Journalism Hope
– Military Blogs Go Silent for CJ Grisham
ASP in the Blogosphere
Army Live (The Official Blog of the United States Army)
– A message to MilBloggers
Michelle Malkin
– Milbloggers rally around CJ Grisham
You Served
– You Served Goes Silent for CJ
– An Open Letter To Huntsville
– Soldier Defense Fund
Bouhammer
– CJ Grisham, Man of the Year
– Bouhammer responds to Army Social Media Division
– CJ By Sudsy
– The Silence Is Over
– Milblogs Go Silent
– Press Release on the sale of CJ’s blog, A Soldier’s Perspective
– Decorated soldier’s blog attracts loyal following, but he says his bosses are muzzling him
– Milblogger and dear friend needs your help
– Pitchfork Brigade; Pitch in to Help a Veteran Who’s Rights Have Been Trampled
Millblogging.com
– Several Military Blogs Go Silent for the Day in Support of CJ Grisham
– Cat5 Commerce, Online Military Retailer, acquires MILblog: A Soldier’s Perspective and Keeps Website Going with No Major Changes
– One of the First Military Bloggers CJ Grisham, Humbled by the idea of Asking for Help
JammieWearingFool
– It Started With A Question About School Uniforms
Blackfive
– Blackfive Blackout: MilBloggers Supporting CJ Grisham (UPDATE)
– Military Times Covers CJ Grisham
– Help a Soldier in Need
This Ain’t Hell
– Milblogs Go Silent
– Still Under Fire
– Military Blogger under fire
Flashpoint
– Time to call in the world
– Attention BRAC Parents: Huntsville City Schools vs. CJ Grisham
– CJ’s speech to the Huntsville Board of Education
Mudville Gazette
– From CJ Grisham
– The Extreme (Part One)
– More Zero Tolerance
– Zero Tolerance
– Our friend CJ Grisham Under Fire
FreeMilitaryPhotos.com
– Free Military Photos
Dr. Melissa Clouthier
– Podcast: Why Are Milblogs Going Silent? What Is Going On With Healthcare? Hope For Dateless Men
The Radio Patriot
– M SGT. CJ GRISHAM STORY NOW TOLD AT WORLD NET DAILY
– CJ GRISHAM COULD USE A LITTLE CHRISTMAS
The Thunder Run
– One Of the Strongest Voices has been Muzzled
The Kitchen Dispatch
– My Response to the Army Blog
– Fighting A Slothful Behemoth: A Soldier Needs Your Help
The Attack Machine
– Show notes 12/17: Bama is football crazy and CJ Grisham’s battle goes on
– Show notes 12/11: The Huntsville City Board of Education has decided on the “didn’t do it first” defense
– Show notes 12/10: Huntsville City Schools continue to embarrass Huntsville, Les Phillip comments on Sen. Reids slavery stupidity
– Join this Facebook group and tell Dr. Jennie Robinson that she should demand that Dr. Ann Roy Moore resign
– Show notes 11/24: Master Sergeant CJ Grisham needs your help, tax hike in Madison and Saban to Notre Dame…
– Show notes 11/20: School Board digs in, CJ Grisham is a terrorist and we talk turkey
– Show notes 11/19: Will the Huntsville City Schools apologize this evening? Is amnesty coming? Is Parker Griffith right?
– Friendly reminder: The CJ Grisham vs. Huntsville City Schools case is not about the military
– It is absolutely my understanding that Ms. Williams, Dr. Moore, or ANY school employee did not contact anyone at the arsenal.†Really?
– Show notes 11/16: Huntsville City Schools continues to fail
– Contact The Hunstville City Schools and tell them that they are way out of line…
– The Grisham Family vs. Huntsville City Schools (in their own words)….
Invincible Armor
– Local Principal Has No Principles About Harassing A Soldier/Parent
Delta Bravo Sierra
– 12/08/2009
Great Reader
– MilBlogger Needs Help
Liberty Research Institute
– CJ Grisham: A Man and His Beliefs
War On Terror News
– Battles for Free Speech by CJ Grisham, A Soldier’s Perspective
Miss Ladybug
– Milblogs Silent Today
– Freedom of Speech & the Army
Los Angeles Times Pressmens 20 Year Club
– Time to Slay The Behemoth: A Soldier Needs Your Help
From my position … On the way!
– Radio Silence
– Soldier Defense Fund
Building Peace
– When blogging crosses the line of professionalism
Chromed Curses
– COMM BLACKOUT
– Need Help
Citizen Soldier Sojack in OIF
– Blogger Quits!
Bostonmaggie
– Milblogs Go Silent for Fellow Blogger
Drunken Wisdom
– Milblogs Go Silent
Grim’s Hall
– Milblogs Go Silent
Little Drops … Into the Pool of Life
– Milblogs Silent For Just Cause
Homefront Six
– Going Dark
Yankeemom
– Wednesday Hero ~ Going Silent For The Day
Knee Deep in the Hooah!
– Wednesday Hero: Milblogs Go Silent Today
Assoluta Tranquillita
– Wednesday Hero: Milblogs Go Silent Today
Soldiers Angels New York
– Wednesday Hero: Milblogs Go Silent Today
Hewitt Blog
– The Milblogs Are Silent Today
My Own Political Party
– Wednesday Hero: Milbogs Go Silent Today
The Pink Flamingo
– Wednesday’s Hero – MSG. C.J. Grisham
Winds of Change
– Taking The Day off – In Support of CJ Grisham
R Evil
– Silence on this Channel
The Sniper
– It’s My Birthday
– MilBlogging Day of Silence, Day of Solidarity
United Conservatives of Virginia
– For CJ
Support Your Local Gunfighter
– Milblogs Go Silent for CJ
– Another War Hero Is Dishonored
Knottie’s Niche
– Silent…
The Jawa Report
– A Day Without Milbogs
Villainous Company
– CJ Grisham and Undue Command Influence
Bring the heat, Bring the Stupid
– Noise and Light Discipline
Flopping Aces
– Why are Milblogs falling silent today?
Around the Sphere
– In The Dark
Cao’s Blog
– Milblogger blackout; call for air support for C.J. Grisham of A Soldier’s Perspective
Bookworm Room
– Silencing the military
Genie’s Dream
– U.S. military bloggers go silent
Asymmetric Military
– Milblogs Silence
Marooned in Marin
– Milblogs Are Silent Today … For A Reason
Wings Over Iraq
– The Blogger Blackout
Blunt – The Conversation Agency
– 3 reasons why I’m ambivalent about social media in 2010
Kiss My Gumbo
– Wednesday Hero
PoliGazette
– Army to Iraq Veteran: Don’t Criticize Your Local PTA
Simple Analysis
– 18DEC09 Milblogs fall silent for a day…
Third Culture Kids R Mine
– Master Sgt. C.J. Grisham…. vs. PUBLIC SCHOOL!
Army of Dude
– The Guns Fall Silent
Seaspook’s Rants
– The Same Army That Ignored The Fort Hood Jihadist is After an Army Blogger
David Bellavia
– Man of the Year 2009- Persecuted Military Blogger
Thank You another scammer on the go. I believe he got id from another soldier I talked to for 2 years with no problem.
Need to fright away if a soldier gets sick and goes to private hospital does army pay hospital all of it or just some.
All of it.
Has anyone had or is having any contact with a Sgt. Gilbert William Ramos one Facebook or any where else. Says he is Kahului one a mission and lives Miami, Fl. Went checking on him and found out it’s a scam as he’s using a picture of another soldier whom I feel very sorry for. This person needs to be stopped.
Has anyone been contacted by a Sgt Robert Porter , stationed in kabul ? Please contact me I have questions n would rather not post personal information on this site.
I already wrote on one of the other sections but I really need the answers this week please contact me soon so I can give you more details and the name he is using besides chandler Johnson photo.
I don’t have a comment, I was wondering how I report a scammer using a US Marine’s pictures, and maybe quite possibly pictures of the Marine’s daughter. I didn’t fall for any of this idiots crap, did a image search, among other searches, and the Marine’s picture comes up on various names with account in Linkedin. I will gladly share the pictures, and I have a bunch of messages between him and I. He also put me in touch with his so called “Aunt”, who supposedly lives in TN. I also have this woman’s name, saw her pics on FB, and have a phone #. Can you steer me in the right direction, or are you the right people to go to?
Thank you in advance for any assistance.
Patti
Dear Master Sergeant Grisham,
Thank you for your time in the service, the effort you’ve put in and the work that you’re doing now to stop these military scammers. I’ve read your articles and corresponding posts and am prompted to write because I began a conversation on OKCupid with a “Sergeant First Class of the United States Army” (Wouldn’t you usually say “in” the Army?) He is “…currently on deployment to Afghanistan (Kabul) for peace keeping and special duties.”
I am ignorant of Army insignia and rankings so looked online and saw that the insignia on his cap matched the information he gave me in his email and matched a Google search for Army insignia and rank. He had two photos: one out of and one in uniform. The last few letters of his (uniform) name (tag) matched the name he gave when he introduced himself. That, of course, means nothing if nothing is real. What alerted me was the fact that his OKCupid Profile was literate, correctly punctuated, descriptive, funny and caring with no overt request for money or commitment. So, I was taken aback by the tone of the IMs. All given, I’ve stopped communicating via Yahoo and indicated that I preferred the OKCupid portal. If he doesn’t respond it will be confirmation of something – I don’t know what.
My main concern then is how to tell when a man in the military is real: how to distinguish between the real deal and the phony. At some point in our Yahoo conversation, I decided to test him, for example, this exchange. I’ve deleted the extraneous chatter. I’m “occassio45”.
occassio45: Aren’t security restrictions in place for things like online chats?
ccfd58: yes we have security checks and even my superiors must not know that i am using the internet dating
ccfd58: that was why i asked if we could chat on yahoo messenger
occassio45: You have a nice photo online. I imagine it wasn’t taken in Kabul.
ccfd58: it was taken in Kabul
ccfd58: i would realy love for us to get to know each other
occassio45: You’ve been in the Army for 15 years?
ccfd58: yes i have been
ccfd58: and i really want out but where do i go to?
ccfd58: i have no one
occassio45: You’ve been there (Kabul) for four years. Where were you before that? What’s your specialty?
ccfd58: i was in other places
ccfd58: i am in the counter terrorism unit
ccfd58: and there are many things i might not be able to tell you right now, ok?
ccfd58: hope you will understand
occassio45: Oh, I do understand. I won’t keep you long. Just wanted to check in and say, “Hello”. Perhaps next time we can Video Call. I hope you have a good evening. Be safe. Be well. Good night.
ccfd58: i am not saying we should or cannot chat right now …what i meant was that i might not be able to say some things about my job to you now…hope you understand
occassio45: Thanks for talking to me. Shall we Video Call next time?
ccfd58: oh we are not allowed to do that
ccfd58: hope you do not mind
I can’t imagine how many families have suffered, how many real relationships have gone wrong. I, myself, am sorely disappointed in the lost potential – not just for love but for warm friendship. There’s no way I could have vetted him.
What security is enforced?
Are outside calls and video communication allowed even if a man is in a special unit?
Does a commanding officer (is “superior” a term used in the Army or in any branch?) need to give permission for such use? What isn’t allowed?
Thank you again for your service.
Respectfully,
Elizabeth Wilson
LOOKING FOR ARMY MAN SERVING IRAQ, IN RUSSIA CURRENTLY. RICHARD MAYVILLE
Hi CJ
calling from the UK here, were used to fighting for stuff and to be honest weve got to stop the brainwashing
Just watched your you tube vid, stand your ground, youve gone this far and right now were all watching, the more people that stand up like you the better chance we have at standing up for our rights
all the best matey
Cheers
Cameron
Thanks, Cameron! Fight the fight or lose the right.
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