I know, I know, another gun thread....

[LisaR]

I'm just curious how everyone feels about this one.
White guy in Ohio is openly carrying his rifle across his back in predominately black neighborhoods. The right to open carry means the police can't do anything.

Do you feel like this type of open carry should be allowed?

Do you feel there should be some type of intimidation law that should apply here?

Would you be okay with this guy walking around your neighborhood?

If you are black and a white guy was doing this in your neighborhood, would you still be okay with it?

If you are white and a black guy was doing this in your neighborhood, would you still be okay with it?

http://www.rawstory.com/2015/12/ohi...man-stalks-black-neighborhoods-with-impunity/

 

[Gumbo4x4]

I'm not intimidated by anyone of any color wearing a rifle in the neighborhood in THAT manner. Now, if it were in his hands (and therefore in preparation to shoot), I'd react a WHOLE lot differently.

I also don't believe doing this is an effort to intimidate anyone. I DO however feel it's kind of an assinine thing to do, like most other "look at me" type demonstrations. Just because you can doesn't mean you should.

 

[LisaR]

I think it is a form of intimidation. From the things I've read over the weekend (and who knows if they are true or not, but I did read them on the internet so they must be true) he doesn't live in the area and takes a bus to purposely go to that neighborhood. There haven't been any reports of him eating in restaurants or shopping at the local businesses. He seems to be doing it simply because he can. The fact that he is white and picking a black neighborhood seems like intimidation.

 

[PrincessJo]

IMHO, I do believe he is doing it to intimidate others. He is going to make a bad situation worse with this behavior. The police don't need this. At all.

 

[NHdisneylover]

I think it is meant to intimidate, just like the protesters in Texas a couple of weeks ago who stood outside of a mosque with guns and an ant Islam signs pretty clearly had their guns there to intimidate those entering the mosque.

I don't think it should be legal. In fact, I think using your weapon to intimidate others should be grounds for losing your license completely and having to surrender your fire arms to authorities.

 

[RitaE]

I don't have any great answers here, it seems like he's asking for trouble and I only hope that it's only him that gets hurt and not some innocent kids that happen to be around when trouble finds him. Frankly, I wouldn't object all that much to a Police Cruiser that continually picks him up and takes him away for a mental health evaluation.

One thing I've never really comprehended is the arguments of Concealed Carry vs Open Carry. Personally, if some weird guy is out stalking my neighborhood at least that way I know to get the kids as far away as possible - compared to the weird guy with all the weaponry tucked away that just leaves everybody wondering what he's carrying.

 

[LisaR]

I don't have any great answers here, it seems like he's asking for trouble and I only hope that it's only him that gets hurt and not some innocent kids that happen to be around when trouble finds him. Frankly, I wouldn't object all that much to a Police Cruiser that continually picks him up and takes him away for a mental health evaluation.

One thing I've never really comprehended is the arguments of Concealed Carry vs Open Carry. Personally, if some weird guy is out stalking my neighborhood at least that way I know to get the kids as far away as possible - compared to the weird guy with all the weaponry tucked away that just leaves everybody wondering what he's carrying.

I've never thought of it that way. I'm fine with owning guns in your own home, but have never been a proponent of concealed carry or open carry UNLESS it comes with extensive training. Since there isn't a single state here that requires extensive training, I've always been opposed, but since the right to carry in public will likely never go away, you've made me see a different side to carrying openly. I think I would much rather see what everyone is carrying so I can decide who I want to avoid rather than allow them to cover it up. I like that!

 

[LJSquishy]

Yikes. I don't care what color the person is -- I wouldn't want anyone walking around my neighborhood carrying a gun openly like that. I agree that concealed or open carry should require more extensive training. Passing a background check does not mean you are qualified to responsibly own a gun.

 

[robinb]

What he is doing is definitely intimidating. I've now read a couple of articles about this guy and he strikes me as on the mentally disturbed side of eccentric. He's said a few things that taken as a whole throw all kinds of red flags for me.

* He used to carry a handgun but a few weeks ago a man glanced at his gun and asked for the time. He thought the man was going to steal his gun so he started carrying a rifle instead.
* He says that he would be willing to lend rapists and murderers a gun to walk with him as long as they have "repented" (given other things he says, I assume in the religious sense).
* He says that 2nd amendment rights should be extended to people in prison.
* He says he started to wear ties in kindergarten because he feels that people respect him more.
* He called the police when the owner of the barber shop confronted him for standing outside his business because he was afraid that the owner was a member of ISIS.

 

[Squirlz]

I don't think it should be legal. In fact, I think using your weapon to intimidate others should be grounds for losing your license completely and having to surrender your fire arms to authorities.

Threatening, aka brandishing, is indeed cause to lose your license.

 

[littleblackegg]

I'll bet that guy hasn't had sex in months.

 

[usnuzuloose]

I don't approve of this being done by anyone. It could create a bad situation.

 

[ICF]

IMO -- as many people do in the age we live in -- he's looking for attention. Good, Bad or in between -- he wants to be "famous".

If the cops do something to him -- he's being harassed.

If the blacks in the neighborhood do something to him -- he's been harassed.

It's nothing but a "LOOK AT ME" moment.

 

[littleblackegg]

My grandmother used to call this, "looking for trouble." Of course, we all know what happens when you look for trouble.

 

[sunshinehighway]

Threatening, aka brandishing, is indeed cause to lose your license.

He's playing a game though. Unless he openlu, directly threatens someone he'll just hide behind not doing anything even if he is doing this to threaten and intimidate.
He sounds like a complete nut from what's been written here.
I feel badly for the people in that neighborhood.
Too bad those responsible gun owners we hear so much about don't take a stand and agree this behavior isn't ok and something should be done about it.

 

[TAX GUY]

Everyone has their own opinions. We all know how the saying goes...opinions are like..... everyone has one and they all stink!

I already some of the same players in these types of threads (me included) and will gracefully bow out of this one since I already know where it'll turn and eventually get locked, but not before there's a good ole "tinkle" match.

 

[penn19]

What he is doing is definitely intimidating. I've now read a couple of articles about this guy and he strikes me as on the mentally disturbed side of eccentric. He's said a few things that taken as a whole throw all kinds of red flags for me.

* He used to carry a handgun but a few weeks ago a man glanced at his gun and asked for the time. He thought the man was going to steal his gun so he started carrying a rifle instead.
* He says that he would be willing to lend rapists and murderers a gun to walk with him as long as they have "repented" (given other things he says, I assume in the religious sense).
* He says that 2nd amendment rights should be extended to people in prison.
* He says he started to wear ties in kindergarten because he feels that people respect him more.
* He called the police when the owner of the barber shop confronted him for standing outside his business because he was afraid that the owner was a member of ISIS.

Yea, these are the really the type of people who should be able to own a gun.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

Yea, these are the really the type of people who should be able to own a gun.

If the guy's a legitimate nutcase, he should have a competency hearing. Of course, that would require someone taking action, which all too often doesn't happen.

 

[Squirlz]

He's playing a game though. Unless he openlu, directly threatens someone he'll just hide behind not doing anything even if he is doing this to threaten and intimidate.
He sounds like a complete nut from what's been written here.
I feel badly for the people in that neighborhood.
Too bad those responsible gun owners we hear so much about don't take a stand and agree this behavior isn't ok and something should be done about it.

oh absolutely. This is the kind of idiot that gives responsible gun owners a bad name.

 

[robinb]

If the guy's a legitimate nutcase, he should have a competency hearing. Of course, that would require someone taking action, which all too often doesn't happen.

Unfortunately, I don't think you can just pick someone up for a psych evaluation just because they are acting oddly and I think many people don't find his behaviour or statements to be odd. If he is a legitimate nutcase, I bet his family knows.