Would you call the cops?

[ChCx2744]

I wouldn't use the same entrance where I saw him. I'd go to the opposite side of campus and park there. Then, I'd go to a campus police officer (My college has campus police everywhere) and let him know that there's someone walking down the sidewalk with what looks like a rifle. Even if I didn't say anything, if someone is walking on the sidewalk near campus OCing what appears to be an AR, I'm pretty sure someone else is going to call the police and they are going to be there quite fast.

A normal person wouldn't just do that...People understand that walking around near a college open carrying a rifle isn't a good idea and will attract police presence. I don't know anyone who would intentionally do that, unless they are looking for trouble.

 

[buck460XVR]

Is the man breaking the law? It seems not based upon the description given.

....as per the OP.

You live in a state that doesn't allow carry on a college campus.

....by the description, the man is breaking the law.

I surely hope that at some point it will be legal for all students on college campuses to CCW for their own protection. In some states this is already legal. Many other states are also considering making it legal. That still does not justify it in states where it is not legal, whether you agree with the law or not. This would be a 'ell of a place to live if everyone only had to obey the laws they agreed with.

Whenever I hear someone like Obama (or Bush) or someone else in power saying "Nation of laws, not of men" in a speech, I know he thinks he's personally above the law and he's talking about everybody else.

Anyway, in the scenario as it was presented I would mind my own business. And I would hope the rifleman would give me the same courtesy if a gust of wind blew my shirt up and my CCW was exposed.

Doesn't openly boasting about breaking the law(as per the scenario presented in the OP) make it appear you too feel you are above the law and is putting you down to the same level as those you loath? Again, I too disagree with the gun policy on many college campuses, but until it is changed, I certainly am not going to advocate breaking the law and giving the antis more evidence of irresponsible and criminal gunowners.

 

[Carl N. Brown]

A report to police objectively conveying the observable facts: on the road in the campus with a slung rifle, "not doing anything (otherwise) abnormal" or alarming, but carrying rifle on a sling, should be reported calmly.

I would not report the 4th paragraph verbiage "criminal", "scares", "fear of hell", etc. or hype up the police response. A false report can backfire. You don't want to panic the police into thinking there's an active shooter if it is not the case.

Geez, the worst recent murderer in my home town killed three people in two incidents with knife and baseball bat, so I don't believe in freaking out over guns. Since the murderer used weapons of opportunity found on premises, a multiple killer could look like just about anyone without a gun.

That said, if I had a legitimate reason to walk down a road with an AR-15 on campus, it would be cased.

 

[au01st]

I'd probably go up and talk to him about OC and give him a high-five.

 

[mdauben]

Don't be afraid. He might not be as knowledgeable about the laws as you. It might not be a real gun. Things may not be as you assume. You might ruin a guy's life when nothing that you assumed was happening was actually happening.

And he might be a psychotic grad student going to shoot up his professor's class for giving him a bad grade last semester. If we wait until the bullets start to fly, it may well be too late for someone, just because you didn't want to make waves.

All this talk about 2A rights is fine and I believe in them, but I also believe in responsible gun ownership, and even if the individual isn't getting ready to go "Virginia Tech" on a bunch of innocent bystanders, OC'ing a semiautomatic rifle through a college campus is both illegal and foolish. If he doesn't know that, there is something seriously wrong with him.

I actually ran into a similar situation a few years back, only the individual was carrying a compound crossbow, not a firearm, and dressed head to foot in camo. Still, he was walking down a public bike path frequented by people from infants to retirees, in an area where it ran between people's back yards, and at least several miles from the nearest area where he might conceivably have gone hunting (not that it was hunting season, anyway). So, as soon as I passed him I did call the police. I didn't hang around to see what happened but IMO he deserved any trouble he got.

 

[zxcvbob]

Doesn't openly boasting about breaking the law(as per the scenario presented in the OP) make it appear you too feel you are above the law and is putting you down to the same level as those you loath? Again, I too disagree with the gun policy on many college campuses, but until it is changed, I certainly am not going to advocate breaking the law and giving the antis more evidence of irresponsible and criminal gunowners.

Sorry, I'm 52 years old and "You are in college, and on the way to class..." is beyond my ability to imagine anymore. (btw, the recurring nightmares about "missed a final exam because I overslept", or "found out at the end of the semester that I forgot to officially drop that class I quit going to 2 months ago" just finally stopped a few years ago.

I'm not sure that we have established that anybody is breaking the law here, only that Tipro thinks it's illegal (was the guy with the rifle actually on the campus or was he on a public street, and what does the law actually say?)

I would still mind my own business.

 

[lobo9er]

But there is a strong counter in that a holstered handgun is a suitable weapon for self defense

Funny how some people know what is appropriate for others.

 

[csa77]

in no way would I consider calling the cops. way too many reasons for me to list, not worth the arguments.

 

[lobo9er]

is a wood chuck rifle that scary?

 

[M-Cameron]

I'm not sure that we have established that anybody is breaking the law here, only that Tipro thinks it's illegal (was the guy with the rifle actually on the campus or was he on a public street, and what does the law actually say?)

according to OPs initial hypothetical situation .....it is understood that it is illegal to posses a firearm on a college campus, and that he is breaking the law.

 

[au01st]

Well if we're going to go with the original situation, he said you are on your way to class, and the guy is walking down the road.

I had to drive about 5 miles before I was "on campus". We can assume he was on campus, but that wasn't stated...

 

[mortablunt]

I wouldn't call the Police. I'd definitely talk to him and let him know that as much as I support gun right and Open Carry, it's not legal to carry like that in Maryland, or on Campus. Therefore, he'd best high tail it out before somebody goes overboard and gets him arrested.

 

[Agsalaska]

Well if we're going to go with the original situation, he said you are on your way to class, and the guy is walking down the road.

I had to drive about 5 miles before I was "on campus". We can assume he was on campus, but that wasn't stated...

I believe that we have established in the thread that, for arguments sake, he was on campus even though he was not clear in the OP. But to your point it would make a big difference on how I reacted.

 

[ATW525]

If I call and he gets arrested that's on him, because he chose to carry illegally. If I don't call, and he guns somebody down then that's on me because I saw something wrong and failed to act on it. So, I would call because that's the outcome I'd have an easier time sleeping with.

 

[jerkface11]

Isn't this a forum about guns and gun rights? There seem to be a lot of people here who would call the police on someone who's just walking around with a gun. Would you guys call the cops if the gun was in a case? It's simply ridiculous that when you see someone carrying a rifle you assume he's going to start murdering people.

 

[Voltia]

I am very saddened by the bs I have read here.

The second amendment protects (note I said protects, not grants) the right to carry a weapon wherever you go. Schools, courts, airport cordons...those are current restrictions that are unconstitutional, and a true American will be against them.

Secondly, many college campuses allow carry weapons, thank the Lord. So, don't ASSume that this man's behavior was illegal. Thirdly, if you call in the cops on a man not doing anything wrong, you committed the crime of harassment; I am especially impressed with the cowardice of those that would call the police, then leave and would not apologize if you called wrongly.

Anyone who would call the police in this event needs to look themselves in the mirror, say "I AM the problem with this country" and promptly go register Republican.

 

[denton]

Here in Utah, I'm not sure what I would report.

If the guy has a concealed carry permit he can legally walk across the campus of any state owned university or college while carrying a firearm, and sit down in class that way. I can pack my 1911 while picking up my granddaughter at school (common sense says to do it concealed, of course).

The federal 1000 foot law has been ruled unconstitutional, then re-passed by Congress without significant change. So it's going to cost somebody $250K to get the present version tossed too. And even as it is, it exempts permit holders. So the only real problem is with state laws, and here in Utah permit holders are allowed to carry in state schools. It has been that way for years, with exactly zero problems.

Now if the person looks 16, he's too young to have a permit, and that might be a problem.

It might be worth watching and analyzing for a moment. There might be cases where I would call. Probably my number one motivation would be to make sure that the first call the police got was from a calm voice that says the guy doesn't seem to be doing anything suspicious, but I just wanted them to be aware.

 

[th1229]

Yes i would call.

 

[Gtimothy]

WAY too many IFs in this thread!
I remember deer hunting in the morning before school then taking off the cami's and vest and going to first period. During lunch we would hang around our trucks and compare kills or talk guns. This included the Principal, Vice principal and many of the teachers! Our rifles and shotguns were in the trucks we drove and I NEVER heard of any being stolen or used in a dangerous manner. Today, if someone puts GUN and SCHOOL in the same sentence, the whole world goes completely Bat S**T Crazy!
We have become a society of people who are afraid of their own shadows and that think the police are actually there to protect us from badguys! I got my CCW because I believe the saying "When seconds count, the police are only minutes away!"

This hypothetical guy walking down the street isn't showing much intellegence, BUT, last time I checked, it wasn't against the law to be stupid! Call the cops if you want. Me personally, I'm gonna keep a weather eye on him and when he either is no longer in my sight or has done something worthy of my continued attention, I'll decide to call or not. For just walking down the street....no.

 

[mortablunt]

^ Dude, edit out the political part of your statement; we don't allow partisan hackery here.

 

[Charleo0192]

It's a very rare practice to open-carry rifles where I live. No one does it. If you decide to carry, you can expect a visit or so from the police. As much as I wish open-carry in general were not viewed in this way, it is.

 

[Bobson]

Absolutely call the police. We've had enough school shooting headlines that anyone who would strap a gun on their back and walk near a school needs the sort of attention that the police can provide fastest.

At the very least, he's an idiot...

I agree wholeheartedly, particularly with the second part of this statement. Would I immediately assume he had ill-intent? I honestly don't think so. I'm pretty sure, though, that it would at least make me nervous, mostly because I can't come up with a legitimate reason for someone to be walking down the street with an AR15 slung across one's back - whether that's near a school, a lake, a grocery store, or almost anywhere else.

Whether or not he was breaking any laws is irrelevant, IMO. Frankly, given the area of my school, he would be putting himself in a moderately high amount of danger, even if he wasn't putting anyone else in danger. I'd have to assume he wasn't all there...

So yes, I would call the police - even if it was mostly for his safety.

 

[Neverwinter]

Isn't this a forum about guns and gun rights? There seem to be a lot of people here who would call the police on someone who's just walking around with a gun. Would you guys call the cops if the gun was in a case? It's simply ridiculous that when you see someone carrying a rifle you assume he's going to start murdering people.

"The High Road, an online discussion board dedicated to the discussion and advancement of responsible firearms ownership."
Promoting willful ignorance to a crime in progress is hardly responsible.

Secondly, many college campuses allow carry weapons, thank the Lord. So, don't ASSume that this man's behavior was illegal. Thirdly, if you call in the cops on a man not doing anything wrong, you committed the crime of harassment; I am especially impressed with the cowardice of those that would call the police, then leave and would not apologize if you called wrongly.

The initial premise of the OP states that it is illegal. Calling in that case is justified based on the information available. The expectation that someone should stay behind and apologize if they didn't have complete omniscience and certainty that what they were observing was illegal is unreasonable and fatuous.

 

[lono]

No, I believe in "shall not be infringed." I am not law enforcement and do not think I would need to call them in this situation.

Good hypothetical btw.

 

[Sam1911]

Ain't many folks out there that own guns that don't know they are illegal on campus grounds.

Really? They aren't universally. The GFSZA doesn't cover them so it is entirely up to state law, and state laws differ. It is hardly unrealistic to believe that someone could be unfamiliar with whether or not it was illegal -- especially in a cosmopolitan environment like a college town which attracts at least 50% of its inhabitants from out of town/state.

If they are that uninformed and don't know the law, then they deserve to be questioned by LEOs and suffer the resulting consequences.

Really? If someone is uninformed they deserve -- let's be clear here -- not "questioning" by the local police, but almost certain prosecution and conviction, loss of their weapon, and having their future irrevocably "ruined?" They deserve this because they didn't think to go check the statute? I agree that it happens, and the law says what it says and we should follow it to the best of our ability, but I have a hard time with deciding that someone deserves to lose their future and freedom over a law that I see as silly, fearful, and unconstitutional.

As a gunowner, you are responsible to know know what is legal or not, ignorance of the law is no excuse...

...at TRIAL. I am not a judge, nor a jury. I am not going to promote or assist in enforcing this malum prohibidum nonsense.

Not calling the cops because you don't agree with the law is your choice, but don't try to disguise it by claiming "oh well, odds are he has a good reason". If the gun toter does turn out to be the next Virginia Tech shooter, I wish you good luck living with yourself.

So...let me get this straight: 80 million gun owners vs. a statistically insignificant number of folks who commit mass murder. But you see a guy with a rifle and you're more comfortable assuming that he's one of the handful of whackos, not one of the millions upon millions of good guys? Even given his less common choice to travel from point A to point B with his rifle slung instead of slipped into a cloth bag, I can't see the logic.

Reading over this thread it is clear: we, the gunniest of the gun guys, are honestly FEARFUL when we see another armed person. That is so disheartening.