Shifty
Member
wait, so you see a stranger on the street with a loaded rifle slung on his back........ and you walk up to him to talk???
why??
why??
Man arrested for (legally) open carrying AK47, scaring people.
- Thread starter Andrewsky
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pdowg881
Member
Maybe if he had on hunting clothes, an orange vest and and a sXs shotgun nobody would have cared. But I bet he looked scary with an assault rifle!crazed_ss
Member
Not if it's unloaded. That doesnt mean Im gonna walk to the grocery store with my M1A slung over my shoulder. If I did decide to walk to the grocery store with my M1A, I'd understand 100% if people got spooked and called the cops.
This guy wasn't going to the grocery store, as far as we know.
As far as we know he could have hat a perfectly legitimate reason for bearing an arm.
[sarcasm]The guy must have thought his right to bear arms shall not be infringed or something like that. What an idiot. We all know the US Constitution means nothing and Alabama's Constitution is valid if a DC bureaucrat allows it to be. Why don't we just all have a Constitution Burning Party while we're at it?[/sarcasm]
In response to your edit: I would understand if the cops were called and they confronted me. I would not understand if my weapon was confiscated and I was jailed.
By the way I just looked at your myspace page. That is a beautiful M1A. I have a SOCOM myself.
If you want some CMI mags meet me in Yuma sometime. JUST KIDDING!
As far as we know he could have hat a perfectly legitimate reason for bearing an arm.
[sarcasm]The guy must have thought his right to bear arms shall not be infringed or something like that. What an idiot. We all know the US Constitution means nothing and Alabama's Constitution is valid if a DC bureaucrat allows it to be. Why don't we just all have a Constitution Burning Party while we're at it?[/sarcasm]
In response to your edit: I would understand if the cops were called and they confronted me. I would not understand if my weapon was confiscated and I was jailed.
By the way I just looked at your myspace page. That is a beautiful M1A. I have a SOCOM myself.
If you want some CMI mags meet me in Yuma sometime. JUST KIDDING!
crazed_ss
Member
Thanks! .. never get to shoot cause .308 is so expensive 
I Agree though.. if something's legal, then there's no reason to arrest or jail someone.. You cant blame the police for showing up and investigating though.
I Agree though.. if something's legal, then there's no reason to arrest or jail someone.. You cant blame the police for showing up and investigating though.Yep. I also can't afford to shoot my M1A.
Not only is ammo expensive, but it's extremely hard to find. I got lucky. My local shop (Phoenix Metro Area, AZ) had 640 rounds of Canadian 7.62mm. I bought all of it.
Sorry, I have to rub this in. I have 10 CMI 20 round magazines, brand new, $23 each. Hehe.
Not only is ammo expensive, but it's extremely hard to find. I got lucky. My local shop (Phoenix Metro Area, AZ) had 640 rounds of Canadian 7.62mm. I bought all of it.
Sorry, I have to rub this in. I have 10 CMI 20 round magazines, brand new, $23 each. Hehe.
TX35
Member
He wasn't arrested for carrying the rifle, he was arrested for disorderly conduct (scaring the neighbors)......
budney
member
Andrewsky, hardly anyone is criticizing the guy's open carry of a Kalashnikov (though one or two did, at least in the other thread). Nor is anyone here supporting the guy's arrest, AFAICT.
We're only pointing out that situational awareness involves noticing things that are unusual, and a man walking down the street with an AK is unusual (in most of our neighborhoods, at any rate). All of us would watch the guy, and most of us would report it so LE was aware of it. We would not expect him to be hassled or arrested.
I've let the cops know when I saw a car parked by my road with the lights off and teens inside--even though I realize they weren't breaking any laws, and were probably just making out. I've also reported cars "prowling" the neighborhood, even though they were probably just visiting their cousin and couldn't find the address. If it's unusual enough to make my antenna go "ping," there's a chance I'll report it. But I'm not trying to get anybody arrested.
BTW, one thing I'm seeing here is the tendency to welcome all gun-toters as brothers. That's healthy and good, for the most part--but we should certainly be aware of strangers with guns. If we're situationally aware enough to be watching out for potential threats from strangers, it goes without saying that finding one of them armed shouldn't make us lower our guard.
--Len.
We're only pointing out that situational awareness involves noticing things that are unusual, and a man walking down the street with an AK is unusual (in most of our neighborhoods, at any rate). All of us would watch the guy, and most of us would report it so LE was aware of it. We would not expect him to be hassled or arrested.
I've let the cops know when I saw a car parked by my road with the lights off and teens inside--even though I realize they weren't breaking any laws, and were probably just making out. I've also reported cars "prowling" the neighborhood, even though they were probably just visiting their cousin and couldn't find the address. If it's unusual enough to make my antenna go "ping," there's a chance I'll report it. But I'm not trying to get anybody arrested.
BTW, one thing I'm seeing here is the tendency to welcome all gun-toters as brothers. That's healthy and good, for the most part--but we should certainly be aware of strangers with guns. If we're situationally aware enough to be watching out for potential threats from strangers, it goes without saying that finding one of them armed shouldn't make us lower our guard.
--Len.
748
member
Back home in Maine I had all the people that lived near me 100% desensitised to big bad guns and gun fire. I had a hunting licence and started walking around with my little rifle that was obvously a little 22LR for small game that was in season year round. Then moved up to a shot gun for bird season. For dear season I used my shot gun or 30-30. Then with in about a year I would go joging and take my mini14. I would go down the moutain and unload and jog back.
Now that I live in the city in VA I have had to start all over again and it is much harder because I can't go hunting. So far I have only gotten as far as open carrying my fiveseven "like a cop" when I cut grass and clear brush (I have a house on a big city lot). I all ways get that "you must be a cop look" when people that don't live there drive by. I also get out of the car and most times I will have a bag, keys and a pistol when I go to my front door.
I have some getto looking people that live a few houses down and I bet they don't like the idea of breaking into some ones house who comes home at random times with a gun in hand.
If I had a big enough porch I would sit out there with a shot gun.
Now that I live in the city in VA I have had to start all over again and it is much harder because I can't go hunting. So far I have only gotten as far as open carrying my fiveseven "like a cop" when I cut grass and clear brush (I have a house on a big city lot). I all ways get that "you must be a cop look" when people that don't live there drive by. I also get out of the car and most times I will have a bag, keys and a pistol when I go to my front door.
I have some getto looking people that live a few houses down and I bet they don't like the idea of breaking into some ones house who comes home at random times with a gun in hand.
If I had a big enough porch I would sit out there with a shot gun.
pacodelahoya
Member
Don't go interjecting common sense into this thread, the 2 a says shall not be infringed so they were totally right to trump up charges and confiscate his gun.
Titan6
member
I live one and a half miles from a small city. One eve just before dark a few months ago a young man was walking up and down the street with an AR. No one called the police. I think he was hunting armadillos but I was never sure. No children were harmed. No one had their guns taken away. No one was afraid. Everyone's yard still got mowed.
Ironic tht hunting armadillos from the road is probably not even legal.
Ironic tht hunting armadillos from the road is probably not even legal.
Double Naught Spy
Sus Venator
Actually, yes they do, usually as a result of being in transit and currently not with a better mode of transportation such as with the North Hollywood Bank robbers and the bank robbers in Dallas/Richardson who used full automatic rifles to fire at cops, then T-boned in an intersection and were out on foot with long guns. Never mind the Tyler incident where David Arroyo transited the Tyler square on foot, shooting folks. Then there is Chai Soua Vang who fled on foot with his rifle after killing several hunters in Wisconsin.
Maybe it doesn't happen all the time, but when bad guys do stroll down the street with rifles in the open, there have been some really bad results.
PennsyPlinker
Member
I read through the entire thread here, and it seems like most people are focusing on the guy with the AK. I think we need to focus on the guy who thought it was "scary". His little girl was scared too.
This is the root of the problem. People who see other people with guns automatically assume that they are up to no good, or that they are going to snap, etc, etc, etc, blah, blah, blah. This is where we, the gun owning and loving community, needs to do our part relentlessly to educate the rest of the people (sheeple) that guns are tools, and that the vast majority of gun owners are normal, everyday, law abiding people.
Sure there are people who own them who shouldn't, and we never know who might "go off" and kill someone. But did you ever drive your car down the road?
How many people willingly expose themselves every day to a BUNCH OF LUNATICS (and selfish, inconsiderate lunatics at that) who have no business whatsoever on the road, whizzing by at speeds approaching 100 mph? 
Nobody really cares or worries too much about that do they? But oooh, see a gun, and immediately some nut case is on the loose and we need to catch him and lock him up.
How many people will walk right in front of a car at our very favorite store, Walmart, because the rules tell people they have to yield to pedestrians. Oh yeah? What if that guy doesn't like you? He could mow you down easier with his car than with any gun, and probably just get a ticket for not paying attention. Ever think of that?
But carry a gun around? Oh no, that is bad.
How about you "concealed means concealed" people? Yeah, I know we need to keep our guns concealed for the most part, but a lot of you act like we are really doing something wrong. No, we are not. We need to desensitize society to our tool the gun. We need to get people to see them for the innocuous things they are, whether they want to see them that way or not. If we fail, it won't be long before we are walking around with pointy sticks.
This is the root of the problem. People who see other people with guns automatically assume that they are up to no good, or that they are going to snap, etc, etc, etc, blah, blah, blah. This is where we, the gun owning and loving community, needs to do our part relentlessly to educate the rest of the people (sheeple) that guns are tools, and that the vast majority of gun owners are normal, everyday, law abiding people.
Sure there are people who own them who shouldn't, and we never know who might "go off" and kill someone. But did you ever drive your car down the road?
How many people willingly expose themselves every day to a BUNCH OF LUNATICS (and selfish, inconsiderate lunatics at that) who have no business whatsoever on the road, whizzing by at speeds approaching 100 mph? Nobody really cares or worries too much about that do they? But oooh, see a gun, and immediately some nut case is on the loose and we need to catch him and lock him up.
How many people will walk right in front of a car at our very favorite store, Walmart, because the rules tell people they have to yield to pedestrians. Oh yeah? What if that guy doesn't like you? He could mow you down easier with his car than with any gun, and probably just get a ticket for not paying attention. Ever think of that?
But carry a gun around? Oh no, that is bad.
How about you "concealed means concealed" people? Yeah, I know we need to keep our guns concealed for the most part, but a lot of you act like we are really doing something wrong. No, we are not. We need to desensitize society to our tool the gun. We need to get people to see them for the innocuous things they are, whether they want to see them that way or not. If we fail, it won't be long before we are walking around with pointy sticks.
Marshall
Member
***ATTENTION ATTENTION. BREAKING NEWS. WILDEST THING TO HAPPEN, EVER***
I fully agree with budney.
I fully agree with budney.
romma
Member
If someone calls the cops because I am walking down the road and I have a mean look on my face because I am angry, can I get arrested for scaring them?
As I said, no one knows what was going on here. Let's be frank, if I was on my block / in my driveway or by my neighbors, I doubt that there would be a problem, but we don't know that he was. If I was in the neighborhood next time mine, I would expect to have to talk to the police.
Bottom line, if I saw someone I didn't know walking around my neighborhood with an AK I would call the cops and expect that they do something...
Anyone who says different is not being honest with themselves.
This is post 9/11 folks... Maybe the DA won't press charges because you didn't break the law, but the cops SHOULD be called or we are not doing our part in the "war on terror" so on and so forth...
Bottom line, if I saw someone I didn't know walking around my neighborhood with an AK I would call the cops and expect that they do something...
Anyone who says different is not being honest with themselves.
This is post 9/11 folks... Maybe the DA won't press charges because you didn't break the law, but the cops SHOULD be called or we are not doing our part in the "war on terror" so on and so forth...
TallPine
Member
A few years back I saw a guy walking in downtown Billings with a backpack and some sort of EBR slung over his shoulder. Nobody paid any attention as far as I could tell, except that I tried unsuccessfully to figure out what kind of rifle it was.
I think it comes down to local norms or context. If I see an AK wielding man on my little street miles from a shooting range, I am going to be alarmed because Second Amendment or not there is no good reason to be here with an openly displayed loaded firearm. I have lived here 10 years and the number of times I have seen gun wielding individuals has been few but they all get called in. Why, because it is not the norm and it is unsafe. My state has laws about how firearms are to be transported/carried so at least here in this state the guy would be outside that law. If you live where shooting is permitted and practiced nearby then seeing a gun wielding individuals in this context is not a problem. This guy seems to have been in a regular nonshooting residential neighborhood where he was out of context hence the alarm/disturbance. The law is on the side of the Sheeple, go figure.
In other words if Armadillo hunting is good to go on Main street in your town then great, he was in a different town/street his actions were out of context.
Individual firearm friendly folks do a disservice too the larger gun community when they disturb the peace with firearms, as this fellow did. It may be his “right” but it won’t be for long if the Antis have their way about it and he just reinforced their errant notion that guns are evil. This is the type of unthinking action that people remember at vote time.
It is easy and simple to cover the guns up for transport. Covering is a sign of respect that pays benefits at vote time. It may not be what you want to do or in line with “2A Rights” but it can only help not hurt our image. He disturbed the peace and he needs to be corrected.
Recently I walked through the site of a plane crash with lots of media, local people, and Police I had on my person 2 ARs and five handguns. Nobody blinked an eye. Why, because they were all in cases so nobody cared, same guns inside just had the evil covered that’s all. No scared Sheeple no problems. It is only common sense. If the Antis or Neutrals in your neighborhood are on the fence about gun control his type of action hurts our cause big time. We need to get our message out but this ain’t the way to do it. BTW I am not referring to organized events surrounding open carry laws. This was out of context plain and simple.
In other words if Armadillo hunting is good to go on Main street in your town then great, he was in a different town/street his actions were out of context.
Individual firearm friendly folks do a disservice too the larger gun community when they disturb the peace with firearms, as this fellow did. It may be his “right” but it won’t be for long if the Antis have their way about it and he just reinforced their errant notion that guns are evil. This is the type of unthinking action that people remember at vote time.
It is easy and simple to cover the guns up for transport. Covering is a sign of respect that pays benefits at vote time. It may not be what you want to do or in line with “2A Rights” but it can only help not hurt our image. He disturbed the peace and he needs to be corrected.
Recently I walked through the site of a plane crash with lots of media, local people, and Police I had on my person 2 ARs and five handguns. Nobody blinked an eye. Why, because they were all in cases so nobody cared, same guns inside just had the evil covered that’s all. No scared Sheeple no problems. It is only common sense. If the Antis or Neutrals in your neighborhood are on the fence about gun control his type of action hurts our cause big time. We need to get our message out but this ain’t the way to do it. BTW I am not referring to organized events surrounding open carry laws. This was out of context plain and simple.
crazed_ss
Member
Exactly.. There is a time and place for everything. We have freedom of speech, but we know that in front of certain people or in certain places, we should watch what we say.
Context is everything.. look at it this way.. If a person were to walk down the street in their underwear, you'd get a bunch of people gawking at the person, because he/she is walking down the street in their underwear and that just isnt normal behavior that you see everday. Put that same person on the beach in a skimpy bikini or pair of speedos and no one would think twice about their attire because a being virtually naked at the beach is an accepted social norm.
AntiqueCollector
Member
- Joined
- Mar 13, 2007
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No one needs a reason to exercise a right. And, really, how do you know you will never be attacked/threatened/whatever? I bet you'd really wish you had an AK47 if that ever happens..."good" neighborhood or not, means little when it comes to where crimes can happen. Actually, I find the "good" neighborhoods here more dangerous, because the punk kids of the rich people in this city can get away with anything they want. A couple were in a car a couple months ago, drunk, ran down a guy (who was rather poor) sped off, and it's just a matter of who gets charged as the driver, both have confessed to being there, but they have not been arrested yet...so actually, I consider it a good idea to have a gun anywhere I am. And guns in cases are useless when you need them most.
AntiqueCollector
Member
- Joined
- Mar 13, 2007
- Messages
- 842
Yes he was. The trumped up disorderly conduct charge is the only way they think they can do anything to him as carrying the rifle is legal. The person who wants him arrested and charged wants him to be because he carried that rifle, and the police have given him the chance to get the guy on other charges instead. Him carrying the rifle was why the police were called, he's getting arrested, and the gun was stolen from him. It's pretty obvious really...
-C4-
Member
+1. This is total BS. They can't make carrying illegal, so instead they make it illegal to be seen carrying? That is some messed up logic. People really need some common sense. It seems like the "Anti-Social Behavior" charges in the UK.
Being concerned and having the LEO's come to see what's going on is one thing...them trumping up charges is altogether different. The whole culture of fear is what has me worried...it's going to be 1984 where we are turning in our neighbors for any slight real or imagined.
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