Opinions on Walmart Open Carrier - Charges Warranted?
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/09/us/missouri-walmart-terrorist-threat.html
Curious what everyone's thoughts are on this. Granted, this guy was an idiot, open-carrying his rifle around Walmart to get attention after the recent shooting. That said, if it was legal for him to open carry and he wasn't making overt threats (which it sounds like he wasn't), then should he be charged with a crime? Just because recent events make it a sensitive issue, does that make an otherwise legal activity a "terroristic threat" (a felony)?
Personally, I think it is a slippery slope. Just because people FEEL threatened, doesn't mean they ARE being threatened.
Thoughts?
Curious what everyone's thoughts are on this. Granted, this guy was an idiot, open-carrying his rifle around Walmart to get attention after the recent shooting. That said, if it was legal for him to open carry and he wasn't making overt threats (which it sounds like he wasn't), then should he be charged with a crime? Just because recent events make it a sensitive issue, does that make an otherwise legal activity a "terroristic threat" (a felony)?
Personally, I think it is a slippery slope. Just because people FEEL threatened, doesn't mean they ARE being threatened.
Thoughts?
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I would ask what crime he committed? 0 -
JasonV wrote:I would ask what crime he committed?
+1
The only crime he committed is being a dumbass. He is lucky he wasn't shot.0 -
He reminds me of the clowns from a few years aback who walked in and around police stations for no reason other than to do it. Charge him with being a public nuisance, which he was. If the court recommends a psyche eval, he can kiss his guns goodbye for a while. 0 -
MC makes a good point with the public nuisance idea.
Trespassing or disturbing the peace possibly.0 -
mark christian wrote:He reminds me of the clowns from a few years aback who walked in and around police stations for no reason other than to do it.
Yea, those guys make me furious. Abusing your rights and flaunting them in people's faces is a sure fire way to get those rights taken from everyone.0 -
Of course, for just for going to walmart. Anybody who goes to walmart should be charged with a crime.Charges Warranted?0 -
Horse Plains Drifter wrote:
Of course, for just for going to walmart. Anybody who goes to walmart should be charged with a crime.Charges Warranted?
Fair point. And if you aren't already crazy when you go to one, you sure are by the time you leave.
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He is a World Class Dumb Ass. 0 -
Depending upon how the state laws are written, he could be charged with Actions to Incite Panic.
Regardless of if that was his intent, that was the result that he caused.
He was definitely a dumbass and that is not a crime. His actions had a detrimental impact upon the image of the lawful firearm owners. Why do these people need to be the center of attention?0 -
What if the licensed, gun-toting firefighter had just shot this yahoo in the back of the head rather than confront him?
Justifiable or not?0 -
We damn sure do not need idiots like this on our side. 0 -
Not to get off topic.....but notice how every news story emphasizes the off-duty firefighter/former firefighter designation, as if that somehow gave the guy some kind of formal authority to carry a gun and intervene. Heaven forbid it just be a lawfully carrying ordinary citizen that "saved the day." 0 -
JasonV wrote:I would ask what crime he committed?
I would say crying fire when there was none. Open carry of long rifles in stores should be outlawed unless you just bought it there or getting it repaired.
Inside a case too when getting to the counter too!
serf0 -
Horse hockey. Enacting a law that infringes on everyone?s right just because one person abused that right?
The epitome of Liberalism.0 -
jimdeere wrote:Horse hockey.
Nope is bad publicity when politicians go to vote on your 2nd amendment rights. And it's coming! Red Flags laws along with FBI background checks for all gun owners continuously! That's what is called an universal background check now! Just watched them do it now!
You get a parking ticket they are going to know immediately! Big brother is truly watching you believe it or not.
serf0 -
While I understand that his intentions were supposed to be ?good? his chosen method of displaying them sucked . Given the current political and moral situation, his actions draw unwanted ed and negative attention our way . Idiots behaving this way do more harm than good . There is still a statute on the North Carolina law books of ? going armed to the terror of the public?. As were were told many years ago ? the road to hell is paved with good intentions!?. Should be a charge of felony stupid on the books 0 -
nunn wrote:What if the licensed, gun-toting firefighter had just shot this yahoo in the back of the head rather than confront him?
Justifiable or not?
If I were on a jury I wouldn't convict either one. The dumbass had a right to do what he was doing even though very stupid and the firefighter would be doing what he thought was the right thing to do if he had shot him due to all the recent shootings.0 -
serf wrote:jimdeere wrote:Horse hockey.
Nope is bad publicity when politicians go to vote on your 2nd amendment rights. And it's coming! Red Flags laws along with FBI background checks for all gun owners continuously! That's what is called an universal background check now! Just watched them do it now!
You get a parking ticket they are going to know immediately! Big brother is truly watching you believe it or not.
serf
?...the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed, except you can?t carry one into a store??0 -
In some places open carry is not legal, and Walmart stores differ in what they allow. One here allows open carry, another has "no firearms" signs (which legally are not the ones that prohibit concealed carry). In any event the guy is either an adolescent, or an idiot. 0 -
serf wrote:Nope is bad publicity when politicians go to vote on your 2nd amendment rights. And it's coming!
They can argue and vote on it until they turn blue but the 2nd amendment is not going to get repealed until 3/4 of ALL the states ratify it. These idiot politicians don't even know how an amendment gets repealed.0 -
Do you have the right to open carry in Missouri?
Do you have the right to open carry in this particular Wal-Mart?
Are you carrying in a safe manner?
If yes to all three, your fears do not trump my right to carry. You either have the right or you don't.
See how easy it is to demonize your rights? Here you all are, on a gun board, complaining about someone who had the balls to prove a point. If you don't exercise your rights, you are bound to loose them. You can see plenty of these first and second amendment audits on You-Tube.
Watch a few of them and see just how authority respects your rights.0 -
serf wrote:JasonV wrote:I would ask what crime he committed?
I would say crying fire when there was none. Open carry of long rifles in stores should be outlawed unless you just bought it there or getting it repaired.
Inside a case too when getting to the counter too!
serf
Yeah, right, let that camel stick it's nose in the tent. That's precisely how we got to where we are now.0 -
guns-n-painthorses wrote:Do you have the right to open carry in Missouri?
Do you have the right to open carry in this particular Wal-Mart?
Are you carrying in a safe manner?
If yes to all three, your fears do not trump my right to carry. You either have the right or you don't.
See how easy it is to demonize your rights? Here you all are, on a gun board, complaining about someone who had the balls to prove a point. If you don't exercise your rights, you are bound to loose them. You can see plenty of these first and second amendment audits on You-Tube.
Watch a few of them and see just how authority respects your rights.
Yes Sir! And the same ones who say he should be prosecuted are the same ones who ask, "what is it about "shall not be infringed" do you not understand!0 -
Interesting replies so far. I ask everyone of you.. ever been in a Walmart and seen someone toting a long gun around the store dressed in swat gear , bullet proof vest ready to go to a fire fight? I cannot say I have. So when someone comes forth and enters the store What the Hell do you think they are up to? I would automatically think that something bad is about to happen. Or maybe a movie theater.. You know one just don't see folks carrying long guns to do normal business. And IF you own a firearm and make a poor decision to scare the hell out of people for no reason.. you are going to be held accountable. Start waving a gun around on a busy street. My educated guess is that law enforcement will tell you to put down the firearm and just cuff you. Responsible gun owners don't do ignorant stuff. He made good gun owners look bad. So a penalty will have to happen. I heard he was being charged with terrorism. Scaring folks isn't funny and he isn't a comedian . What if someone fell, had a heart attack or died because his stupid actions. He would be charged. And I hope they take all of his firearms away forever. He is a time bomb waiting to happen. 0 -
Frogdog wrote:Not to get off topic.....but notice how every news story emphasizes the off-duty firefighter/former firefighter designation, as if that somehow gave the guy some kind of formal authority to carry a gun and intervene. Heaven forbid it just be a lawfully carrying ordinary citizen that "saved the day."
That?s exactly my thought. It could have been an off duty taxi driver legally carrying and not a fire fighter.0 -
select-fire wrote:Interesting replies so far. I ask everyone of you.. ever been in a Walmart and seen someone toting a long gun around the store dressed in swat gear , bullet proof vest ready to go to a fire fight? I cannot say I have. So when someone comes forth that isn't law enforcement and enters the store What the Hell do you think they are up to? I would automatically think that something bad is about to happen. Or maybe a movie theater.. You know one just don't see folks carrying long guns to do normal business. And IF you own a firearm and make a poor decision to scare the hell out of people for no reason.. you are going to be held accountable. Start waving a gun around on a busy street. My educated guess is that law enforcement will tell you to put down the firearm and just cuff you. Responsible gun owners don't do ignorant stuff. He made good gun owners look bad. So a penalty will have to happen. I heard he was being charged with terrorism. Scaring folks isn't funny and he isn't a comedian . What if someone fell, had a heart attack or died because his stupid actions. He would be charged. And I hope they take all of his firearms away forever. He is a time bomb waiting to happen.
Great points here as well. We must remember that rights also carry responsibility.0 -
jimdeere wrote:serf wrote:jimdeere wrote:Horse hockey.
Nope is bad publicity when politicians go to vote on your 2nd amendment rights. And it's coming! Red Flags laws along with FBI background checks for all gun owners continuously! That's what is called an universal background check now! Just watched them do it now!
You get a parking ticket they are going to know immediately! Big brother is truly watching you believe it or not.
serf
?...the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed, except you can?t carry one into a store??
Well how many long gun rifles have you seen open carry down at your drug store? I bet the pharmacist would get plenty upset and trigger happy!
People cannot use common sense anymore and believe it or not demanding you have the right is counterproductive for you and I in keeping our rights. I hope the idiot goes to jail for poor judgment. I never open carry in my town I am not looking for trouble I am trying to prevent it.
serf0 -
Ricci Wright wrote:We damn sure do not need idiots like this on our side.
Exactly. As a responsible gun owner, you know when and how to exercise your right. This jerk went about testing his right in the most stupid manner. Yes, he is lucky he was not shot first, questioned later.0 -
select-fire wrote:Interesting replies so far. I ask everyone of you.. ever been in a Walmart and seen someone toting a long gun around the store dressed in swat gear , bullet proof vest ready to go to a fire fight? I cannot say I have. So when someone comes forth and enters the store What the Hell do you think they are up to? I would automatically think that something bad is about to happen. Or maybe a movie theater.. You know one just don't see folks carrying long guns to do normal business. And IF you own a firearm and make a poor decision to scare the hell out of people for no reason.. you are going to be held accountable. Start waving a gun around on a busy street. My educated guess is that law enforcement will tell you to put down the firearm and just cuff you. Responsible gun owners don't do ignorant stuff. He made good gun owners look bad. So a penalty will have to happen. I heard he was being charged with terrorism. Scaring folks isn't funny and he isn't a comedian . What if someone fell, had a heart attack or died because his stupid actions. He would be charged. And I hope they take all of his firearms away forever. He is a time bomb waiting to happen.
What he said....0
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