A Pennsylvania police chief was fired on Friday after a month-long suspension for posting threatening gun videos online in July, CNN reported.
The borough council of Gilberton, Pa. voted 6-1 to terminate Mark Kessler, 41, from his position as the small town's police chief, council chairman Daniel J. Malloy said.
"We knew it was coming," Kessler said after the vote.
Council members accused the gun advocate of misusing borough property, neglecting his duties, and failing to turn over weapons.
An attorney for the former chief, Joseph Nahas, said he plans on requesting a public hearing next week.
Kessler said to reporters on the day of the final hearing that he was an excellent officer and didn't need to apologize for anything.
"My message was to wake up the people who are independents," he said, "to say, 'We've had enough and something needs to change, because we're in bad shape all around. Not only here in this little town but across the nation. It's a mess.'"
During his period of unpaid suspension, he said donations helped him support his family during the "really stressful" time.
"But I feel in my heart I'm doing the right thing," he added. "Yeah, I made some videos with some choice language, but that's my right. That's my freedom."
Pro-gun and anti-gun activists appeared outside of the hearing held for Kessler, who uploaded YouTube videos in mid-July ranting about gun rights and liberal politicians.
"If Mark Kessler wants to shoot someone, he can shoot me," said Gene Stilp, a Democratic activist. Stilp was handing out anti-gun leaflets during the hearing, many of which were being destroyed -- even eaten -- by pro-gun protesters dressed in Constitutional Security Force (CSF) apparel, representing a group Kessler created following his temporary leave.
While the suspended chief has received backlash and punishment for his threatening videos, he refused to back down from his job without a fight and said he has enough support behind him to keep him going.
"Come and take it!" Kessler screamed to U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry in one video, who he called a "traitor," as he fired off a machine gun.
