Open Carry at the Dallas Protest March

[Muss Muggins]

Certainly something to consider:

Dallas Police Chief - All Armed Protesters Were Suspects

Each of us should make his/her own decision about open carry. I support whatever manner you may choose to legally carry your firearm.

Edit: I was once honored to speak at a high school graduation. Probably 3,000 people in attendance. The general theme of my speech was "People Make Choices, Choices Have Consequences . . . " That point was driven home to me hard about six months later, and I have never forgotten the lesson.

[zzclancy]

Just another reason I'm not a fan of open

[lonestar57]

It was announced as a "Peaceful Protest" of a police related shooting. Ok, no problem so far so good we've come to see a number of these lately. But IMHO it changes the theme when the protestors show up with firearms. Texas has also seen and supported many 2nd Amendment rallies that demonstrated open carry but this protest was a separate issue and should be kept as such. It became problematic once the actual shooting started. I have no sympathy on the open carry idiots regardless of race due to their ineptness.

[Muss Muggins]

Originally Posted by lonestar57

It was announced as a "Peaceful Protest" of a police related shooting. Ok, no problem so far so good we've come to see a number of these lately. But IMHO it changes the theme when the protestors show up with firearms. Texas has also seen and supported many 2nd Amendment rallies that demonstrated open carry but this protest was a separate issue and should be kept as such. It became problematic once the actual shooting started. I have no sympathy on the open carry idiots regardless of race due to their ineptness.

Open carry is legal there. The location or event (if still legal) doesn't change that . . .

[lonestar57]

I agree to disagree.... Common sense should prevail.....

[Muss Muggins]

Originally Posted by lonestar57

I agree to disagree.... Common sense should prevail.....

Fair enough, although I decline to call anyone exercising a right guaranteed to them by the Constitution and Texas an "idiot. . ."

[lonestar57]

Originally Posted by Muss Muggins

Fair enough, although I decline to call anyone exercising a right guaranteed to them by the Constitution and Texas an "idiot. . ."

Call them as you may sir.......

[comtedeloach]

I don't want anyone knowing what or if I am carrying.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[Watchdog]

[ChattanoogaPhil]

Police chief David Brown, appearing on CNN, declined to answer questions about gun control, but made it clear that the prevalence of armed protesters — many who donned gas masks and had AR-15-style rifles slung over their shoulders....

Running around wearing gas masks carrying long guns while simultaniously a terrorist attack is underway... and they found themselves detained? Really? Sounds like another heinous abuse by authorities and rallying cry for another protest.

[steelslaver]

Somebody starts shooting at me or mine and I am going to start looking for people with guns. That simple. But, the people who showed up for the protest didn't know somebody was going to start sniping. Your never going to get a heads up as to this kind of thing. The police in a place like Texas would also figure there were lots of concealed guns too.

I will say that unless it is a shooting event, gun show, or something like that appearing in a large group of people carrying something like an AR maybe you right, but just how appropriate is it. I am a jeans and work shirt guy and have a right to dress as I please. I wouldn't show up at a formal affair wearing those.

[BB57]

Originally Posted by Muss Muggins

Certainly something to consider:

Dallas Police Chief - All Armed Protesters Were Suspects

Each of us should make his/her own decision about open carry. I support whatever manner you may choose to legally carry your firearm.

Edit: I was once honored to speak at a high school graduation. Probably 3,000 people in attendance. The general theme of my speech was "People Make Choices, Choices Have Consequences . . . " That point was driven home to me hard about six months later, and I have never forgotten the lesson.

Originally Posted by Muss Muggins

Open carry is legal there. The location or event (if still legal) doesn't change that . . .

One of the tenets of western civilization is that a right also comes with an equal amount of responsibility.

As you note, people make choices and choices have consequences.

Let's consider the well intended but farm animal stupid 2A demonstrations in Starbucks, Target, etc that were done a couple years ago.

The expression of 2A rights by those individuals with long guns, including AR-15s that people rightly or wrongly fear to a greater degree than grand dad's .30-30, made customers uncomfortable, and as a result those businesses exercised their rights to stop the process.

Not one of those demonstrations had a positive outcome for gun owners or gun rights as a whole. Just because something is legal doesn't make it smart.

Personally, when I observe a gun owner doing something that is outside the bound so a) common sense, or b) consideration for others, I generally exercise my first amendment rights to point out the flaws in their logic and the downsides of their behavior for the gun owning community as a whole.

-----

In general I think open carry is a bad idea on several levels. I think getting a concealed carry permit is a much bette approach for individuals who want to carry a firearm in self defense as it's something that is transparent to the public as a whole.

While it may be legal to open carry at a public demonstration, it also pretty stupid as these events always have the potential to become other than peaceful and open carry just complicates the issue. And of course when you see someone open carrying at an event like this you pretty much automatically question their judgement and their motives and keep them on your radar.

Please, feel free to exercise your rights, but do so responsibly and be aware of how your actions may effect the comfort levels of other people. Making other people uncomfortable has serious consequences in the long run as it's that perception of a threat (even it doesn't truly exist) that ultimately results in further restriction of our rights.

----

I've had anti-gun people ranting about people who carry guns, while standing there with my concealed .357 Magnum, but there is seldom any opportunity or advantage in making a point.

The one exception I encountered was a rather obnoxious anti-gun Canadian who was in the vehicle with us on the way to a cave diving site. After listening to her Canadian opinion on US gun culture and how screwed up people were who carried guns, we arrived at the sight and in front of her while carrying on a normal conversation about the upcoming dive, I took my Model 60 out of my waistband in it's holster, then proceeded to lock it in the lockbox in the vehicle, since I wasn't taking it on the dive. Normally I do this discreetly, but I was going for exactly the reaction I got to illustrate a point.

Noting the look on her face, I also took the liberty of pointing out that out of the 5 people in the vehicle 3 of them were conceal carrying at the time, and that the only person other than herself that was not carrying also had a concealed carry permit.

I also pointed out that she had known all of us for quite a while and that she obviously regarded us all as "normal" people that she was more than willing to trust her life with as team members on a cave dive, and that perhaps not all people who carry guns fit the ignorant red neck stereotype the media likes to portray.

Now...had we all instead been open carry folks, she would have avoided us at first sight and she would have never bothered to get to know us or develop any kind of working relationship with us. She certainly would not have gotten in a vehicle with us.

That's one of the serious downsides of open carry - people make automatic judgements about you and never give them selves the opportunity to revise their opinion.

[Old cop]

Of all the places to open carry (OC) the peaceful protest in Dallas, TX makes no sense. IMHO you're only asking for trouble when OC'g under those circumstances.

[Muss Muggins]

Originally Posted by lonestar57

. . . Common sense should prevail.....

Despite its inherent meaning, "common sense" isn't all that common . . .

[ChattanoogaPhil]

Originally Posted by BB57

Let's consider the well intended but farm animal stupid 2A demonstrations in Starbucks, Target, etc that were done a couple years ago.

The expression of 2A rights by those individuals with long guns, including AR-15s that people rightly or wrongly fear to a greater degree than grand dad's .30-30, made customers uncomfortable, and as a result those businesses exercised their rights to stop the process.

Not one of those demonstrations had a positive outcome for gun owners or gun rights as a whole. Just because something is legal doesn't make it smart.

Open carry of handguns in Texas is now legal due to those OC activists bringing their grievance front and center to the good people of Texas and their representatives. Seems like a positive outcome to me.

I always find curious those who seek to surrender to government their gun liberties in an effort to preserve them. I see this style of thinking all the time. Such as evil looking black guns and large magazines should be surrendered to somehow persevere the ownership of other guns.

[Slingn]

Not enough common sense in this world anymore. Everyone seems driven by an agenda.

[KSDeputy]

I never carried openly, except when in uniform and it was required. I never will carry openly, except on my farm. It creates a lot of problems for everyone. Yes it is the law, and that is fine for others, but I just won't do it. This is but one example of the problems is causes. It scares people, it results in more "person with a gun" calls to law enforcement which wastes their time, and it can cause people doing it to be mistaken for criminals, or suspects.

[Comrad]

I think open carry makes sense in the woods, far outside city limits only.

[BB57]

Originally Posted by ChattanoogaPhil

Open carry of handguns in Texas is now legal due to those OC activists bringing their grievance front and center to the good people of Texas and their representatives. Seems like a positive outcome to me.

Not in the big picture. Starbucks, Target, Chipolte, etc are national chains and the net effect was to infringe on the rights of gun owners in the country as a whole.

And it remains to be seen how well this fares in Texas, given how Texans seem to be leaving common sense at home when they exercise that open carry right.

Originally Posted by ChattanoogaPhil

Open carry of handguns in Texas is now legal due to those OC activists bringing their grievance front and center to the good people of Texas and their representatives. Seems like a positive outcome to me.

I always find curious those who seek to surrender to government their gun liberties in an effort to preserve them. I see this style of thinking all the time. Such as evil looking black guns and large magazines should be surrendered to somehow persevere the ownership of other guns.

You're conflating two different issues here.

It isn't surrendering a right when you choose to exercise it prudently and with some discretion and common sense.

Let's look at it this way. It's LEGAL for me as a 51 year old male to sleep with an 18 year old girl in this state. But that doesn't make it a good idea (nor would my wife take a positive view of it). I haven't surrendered my "right" to sleep with a woman of minimum legal age, instead I'm just tempering my use of that right with some prudence, some common sense and with an eye to the possible negative consequences.

Open carry isn't any different. Either way, what ever right you pick, it's just a matter of acting responsibly, and when people stop acting responsibly, they start to lose rights.

[keith44spl]

And now we're off to the races...........

Let's see which name caller gets banned first.....


.

[Slingn]

I'm with you guys. Common sense should prevail. But open carry is really a non issue here. I've seen it twice. There is a tread about it and you can see very few incidences of it in the big cities. So I think most people do exercise common sense. To me. I don't want to be a target or a suspect. I'll keep mine hidden until I need it. Hope I never do.

[BB57]

Originally Posted by Slingn

I'm with you guys. Common sense should prevail. But open carry is really a non issue here. I've seen it twice. There is a tread about it and you can see very few incidences of it in the big cities. So I think most people do exercise common sense. To me. I don't want to be a target or a suspect. I'll keep mine hidden until I need it. Hope I never do.

I agree with you.

The instances where it is not excised responsibly however tend to be 2A demonstrations and demonstrations like this where the actions of a few people who want to exercise poor judgment to make a political point have a profoundly negative effect.

[ChattanoogaPhil]

Originally Posted by BB57

Not in the big picture. Starbucks, Target, Chipolte, etc are national chains and the net effect was to infringe on the rights of gun owners in the country as a whole.

And it remains to be seen how well this fares in Texas, given how Texans seem to be leaving common sense at home when they exercise that open carry right.

Open carry is legal in most all states in one form or another, including here in Tennessee. Doing fine. I'm unaware that Texans are less worthy of their freedom or otherwise not up to the task. Perhaps you could enlighten us.

Infringement of gun rights is related to government, not business owners. Some property owners will embrace gun freedoms, others won't. I'm perfectly fine with the concept of businesses dictating as they see fit and gun-owning consumers making their own choices. That's the way it should be.

[ChattanoogaPhil]

Originally Posted by BB57

You're conflating two different issues here.

It isn't surrendering a right when you choose to exercise it prudently and with some discretion and common sense.

Well... ya can't lawfully exercise a right, prudently or otherwise, when it is banned by government.

I said that making handgun open carry legal in Texas was a positive thing. You said no it wasn't in the "big picture". Please tell us why open carry should be banned by government for the good of the "big picture". Now if I'm misreading what you're saying and it's actually a positive thing in the "big picture" but just want folks to prudently exercise then I would understand and agree. The only thing left to quibble over is prudence.

Originally Posted by BB57

Open carry isn't any different. Either way, what ever right you pick, it's just a matter of acting responsibly, and when people stop acting responsibly, they start to lose rights.

Anyone not having an anti-gun agenda can clearly see that law abiding gun owners have well handled their freedoms across the country despite naysayers predictions of doom.

It's understood that some gun owners wish to use any OC behavior in a less than prudent manner as an opportunity to broad-brush all. That's the same mindset as those who wish to broad-brush all police.

[dougb1946]

Have you seen the decal on the chain saw warning to not touch the moving blade. May have to have some decals printed for gun owners. "Do not carry open into a potential riot zone". Goes with the "do not place your child on this animal" decal on the Yellowstone Bison and the " do not hand feed the bear" decal on the grizzly. Signs don't seem to help, people still get cut by chainsaws.

[da gimp]

I'm afraid that this incident in Dallas will stop/prevent the veto over ride vote for Missouri's Constitutional Carry.. as it was passed originally by veto proof majorities in both the Missouri Senate & House... with Gov. Jay Nixon vetoing it upon the urging of Mikie Bloomberg & his groups.

[Hapworth]

Originally Posted by Slingn

Not enough common sense in this world anymore. Everyone seems driven by an agenda.

Indeed -- and most seem to equate one with the other.

[ChattanoogaPhil]

Originally Posted by da gimp

I'm afraid that this incident in Dallas will stop/prevent the veto over ride vote for Missouri's Constitutional Carry.. as it was passed originally by veto proof majorities in both the Missouri Senate & House... with Gov. Jay Nixon vetoing it upon the urging of Mikie Bloomberg & his groups.

Let's hope not. Gun owners need to stand together for liberties, not stand with Bloomberg against open carry and Constitutional carry.

[10ring]

This is a divisive issue among people otherwise of more-or-less like minds. None of us is going to be persuaded to change our opinions on this by another of these arguments...let's talk about something else less likely to aggravate each other.

[mpc]

So why in the first place would one need to open carry a rifle at a protest that everyone knows has contentious roots?

[Comrad]

I can't help but wonder what the best caliber would be for open carry.

[ChattanoogaPhil]

Originally Posted by 10ring

This is a divisive issue among people otherwise of more-or-less like minds. None of us is going to be persuaded to change our opinions on this by another of these arguments...let's talk about something else less likely to aggravate each other.

Well, someone could create a thread on mandatory training, that's always a handholding exercise. Maybe guns in bars? How about Constitutional carry? Background checks? The areas of like-mindedness are so vast it's hard to choose one.

[Big Cholla]

This whole thread is an argument for concealed carry only. IMHO, carrying a firearm is always serious business with deadly consequences if not done correctly and with the utmost consideration of the situation. Carrying openly to 'make a point' is not a good enough reason to do so. It would be acceptable to bring your long gun in your vehicle covered and not recognizable from the outside and carry a concealed handgun (or two) with which to enable you to fight your way back to the long gun if need be. Yes, it is a compromise, but it just might prevent getting shot when the unexpected terrorism event occurs with you in the wrong place at the wrong time. Some one said, "The times, they are a changing."

[BB57]

Originally Posted by ChattanoogaPhil

Well... ya can't lawfully exercise a right, prudently or otherwise, when it is banned by government.

I said that making handgun open carry legal in Texas was a positive thing. You said no it wasn't in the "big picture".

No, I said that the 2A demonstrations that you credit for leading the good people in TX to allow open carry did not have a positive outcome in the big picture.

I frankly don't care what TX law allows or does not allow, and whether it's ultimately a good thing or not will depend on how responsible the citizens of TX wield that right.

There off to a rough start. Jus' sayin.

----

If you're hurt over what I said you have my sympathies. All y'all can think and say whatever you want. Just don't twist my words and try to make it into something it isn't.

Regardless of what it is you *think* I said, it comes down to this:

1. Yes, you have a right. Good for you.

2. Your ability to keep that right will ultimately depend on your responsibility to exercise that right prudently and responsible.

3. Responsible behavior is part of being an adult. I don't like adulting any more than anyone else, and sometimes I'd rather not, but there isn't another option if we want the rights and privileges of an adult.

4. If a gun owner screws it up, there is a great deal of potential for the back lash affect all of us, as we'll all get tarred with the same brush. When that happens it doesn't make me happy.

5. In short, we as a community are in the eyes of the media and the anti-gun public only as good as dumbest and most irresponsible among us. Try hard not to be "that guy".

[ChattanoogaPhil]

Originally Posted by BB57

No, I said that the 2A demonstrations that you credit for leading the good people in TX to allow open carry did not have a positive outcome in the big picture.

I frankly don't care what TX law allows or does not allow, and whether it's ultimately a good thing or not will depend on how responsible the citizens of TX wield that right.

There off to a rough start. Jus' sayin.
.

That's where the difference shines through. I believe freedom from government gun restrictions is the best picture, period. May not be perfect, but it's the best.

I understand the temptation to believe that freedoms should be outcome-based on whatever one deems to be a favorable outcome. Certainly tens of thousands of deaths by a bullet coming out of the end of a barrel is not a positive big picture outcome, is it? That's at the core of 2A infringement.

Why do you think Texans are off to a "rough start", because of long gun carry? Long gun carry has been legal in Texas since forever.

I agree with personal responsibility, of course. What I don't agree with is the thinking that government should forbid open carry because an individual may abuse or recklessly use that freedom and harm others, or gasp... be a bad example. You could apply that to all gun ownership and all freedoms. See above.

Originally Posted by BB57

If you're hurt over what I said you have my sympathies.

Gee thanks.

[Muss Muggins]

Originally Posted by BB57

Let's look at it this way. It's LEGAL for me as a 51 year old male to sleep with an 18 year old girl in this state. But that doesn't make it a good idea (nor would my wife take a positive view of it). I haven't surrendered my "right" to sleep with a woman of minimum legal age, instead I'm just tempering my use of that right with some prudence, some common sense and with an eye to the possible negative consequences.

Open carry isn't any different. Either way, what ever right you pick, it's just a matter of acting responsibly, and when people stop acting responsibly, they start to lose rights.

Seems to me like you left out the part about finding an 18 year old willing to complete the bargain. My rifle, on the other hand, doesn't have a say in the matter . . .

[DevilDog72]

Originally Posted by Comrad

I can't help but wonder what the best caliber would be for open carry.

the one you have on you when you need it......

[DevilDog72]

Did I miss something? How is Texas " off to a rough start" ?

Can someone explain it?

The carry of long guns has been legal in Texas since Hector was a pup.

What issues or troubles or incidents prove this out?

[SilentKnight]

If I was going to attend a protest about police shooting civilians, when some of the protestors are calling for killing cops... I think it would be inappropriate to appear threatening by wearing a gas mask (concealing my identity) or open carrying a firearm. It would seem a lot more inappropriate when the shooting started and escape became the priority without getting killed in the confusing crossfire. Most folks just don't think about the potential consequences until they are upon them. Probably the most appropriate thing to do would be fix it at the ballot box, editorial page of the local paper, social media and not attend a protest if you want to be armed. There is a good bit of merit in not becoming an accidental victim... especially when you put your life in the hands of angry strangers.

[joeintexas]

"If I was going to attend a protest about police shooting civilians, when some of the protestors are calling for killing cops... I think it would be inappropriate to appear threatening by wearing a gas mask (concealing my identity) or open carrying a firearm."

Ah, the old common sense thing kicking in! Although I would defend anyone's right to exercise all of their constitutional rights, I have to agree that wearing a gas mask and carrying an AR15 to an anti shooting rally may not have been the brightest idea. Kinda like trying to sell sirloin steaks at a vegetarian rally, not going to get a lot of respect or support for your position. There are better ways.

[Muss Muggins]

Originally Posted by joeintexas

"If I was going to attend a protest about police shooting civilians, when some of the protestors are calling for killing cops... I think it would be inappropriate to appear threatening by wearing a gas mask (concealing my identity) or open carrying a firearm."

Ah, the old common sense thing kicking in! Although I would defend anyone's right to exercise all of their constitutional rights, I have to agree that wearing a gas mask and carrying an AR15 to an anti shooting rally may not have been the brightest idea. Kinda like trying to sell sirloin steaks at a vegetarian rally, not going to get a lot of respect or support for your position. There are better ways.

Lots of people want Constitutional Carry until somebody does it in an otherwise legal manner of which they disapprove . . .

[joeintexas]

I think in this case it's not just the Constitutional Carry that comes into play, it's also showing up wearing gas masks and camo clothing. I am all for a persons right to do legally as they see fit, but in my opinion those folks came looking to cause trouble and not to simply support a cause which most did. For me it's not can I or can't I do something, it's should I or shouldn't I do something. Is this the appropriate time and place. In this instance I don't think it was. Just my opinion. I can wear a swim suit to a formal affair but I don't think it's going to help sell swim suits.

[Muss Muggins]

Originally Posted by joeintexas

I think in this case it's not just the Constitutional Carry that comes into play, it's also showing up wearing gas masks and camo clothing. I am all for a persons right to do legally as they see fit, but in my opinion those folks came looking to cause trouble and not to simply support a cause which most did. For me it's not can I or can't I do something, it's should I or shouldn't I do something. Is this the appropriate time and place. In this instance I don't think it was. Just my opinion. I can wear a swim suit to a formal affair but I don't think it's going to help sell swim suits.

If I'm going to a place I might get tear gassed, I usually bring my gas mask. Granted, I don't go places like that much any more, but it pays to be prepared . . .

[joeintexas]

As a rule I try to avoid places I would expect to get tear gassed. If I thought for a minute those folks came to exercise their constitutional rights to carry open I would defend them to the high heavens, but they came dressed for trouble and hoping to find it. Fact is trouble did come and as I would have expected they did nothing to help the folks being shot at, they ran like everyone else in the other direction. I am most definitely for not taking away anyone's Constitutional rights, but let's not give the anti gun group any more reason to hate. All the good reporting coming out of this for a change by the networks was showing a very positive view of the police and the crowd, practically shutting up the anti's, until this surfaces and more fuel to their fire.

[Kevin J.]

Just because you can doesn't mean you should. This applies to a lot of situations in life. People just need to think sometimes. Common sense hasn't been common in a long time.

[old bear]

Originally Posted by Muss Muggins

Fair enough, although I decline to call anyone exercising a right guaranteed to them by the Constitution and Texas an "idiot. . ."

Sir, there is a difference between acting like a idiot, and using a little common sense and proper decorum. It may be a fine line but it still exists.

[Muss Muggins]

Originally Posted by old bear

Sir, there is a difference between acting like a idiot, and using a little common sense and proper decorum. It may be a fine line but it still exists.

If we truly want to exercise the rights guaranteed by the Constitution, we all have to tolerate conversations like this:

Open Carry Snob: Don't do that . . .
Open Carry Practitioner: Why not?
Open Carry Snob: You look like an idiot . . .
Open Carry Practitioner: Don't care . . .

[scoobysnacker]

This is just my own opinion, and I appreciate the chance to discuss it civilly here with others who share a similar desire to own firearms. I mean no offense to anyone who disagrees with me, I'm just expressing my own feelings on it.

I appreciate the right to carry, but in this case, while the guy was being legal, I also think he was being reckless and irresponsible.

Remove all politics about what the march was about from the discussion.

This man was going to participate in a protest march, brandishing an AR-15, which from multiple accounts was empty.

So for practical, defensive purposes, the weapon was not only useless, it was a negative- as we have all observed, due to it being so visible, the man was singled out for carrying it. In this case, he was singled out by authorities, but honestly, he just as easily could have been targeted by a shooter. If he had been, he'd have had no means to defend himself, and all he would have done would have been to increase the chances that he and/or the people around him would have been shot.

So then, let's look just a little at the symbolism and politics... why is he parading around with the gun? Is it meant to portray vigilance, independence, strength? If so, he failed on those counts. He quickly turned the rifle in to authorities once the shootings started; it might be the smart thing to do (and we all agree with that), but that also isn't the "strong presence of safety" he may have wanted to portray to his fellow protesters. He didn't shepherd them once things went sideways, he ran to the police, turned in his gun, and was back to his home well before a lot of the others were, instead of staying in the general area to assist in any way he could.

Had I been marching in any such protest, and saw a man marching beside me openly with such a weapon, I probably would have thought "he's got my back" or something to the effect. In the ensuing chaos, had he remained to help move the other protesters to various areas of safety and/or watch buildings for threats, his face would have been one I'd have remembered, and someone I'd likely have listened to. Heck, I probably would have looked for "Rifleman" while we all ran for cover, to see what "my protector" was telling us to do.

But again, he seemed to be one of the first to leave the scene, was home while there were still tons of people swirling around in a dangerous location. He still could have stayed to help after disarming, but left instead. In fact, given how the area was cordoned off so quickly (the news made a point of saying people couldn't get to their cars to disperse home), he left VERY fast.

Basically, yes, you have the right to carry openly, but the gun isn't just a fashion statement. Doing so, you assume some responsibilities. At the very least, this guy didn't consider those responsibilities, and everyone was very fortunate (us gunowners included) that things didn't turn out much worse for him, and the people around him.

[ChattanoogaPhil]

Originally Posted by SilentKnight

If I was going to attend a protest about police shooting civilians, when some of the protestors are calling for killing cops... I think it would be inappropriate to appear threatening by wearing a gas mask (concealing my identity) or open carrying a firearm.

Say what?

Hey, there's a protest tonite that will include calling for harm and killing of police. Sounds like a good idea to attend and be associated with. Probably won't wear a gas mask because it might be viewed as "inappropriate". Really?

The line crossed inappropriate well before a gas mask or method of gun carry. The notion that these protesters have anything in their brainpan capable of distinguishing appropriate from inappropriate is highly questionable.

[Muss Muggins]

Originally Posted by scoobysnacker

. . . This man was going to participate in a protest march, brandishing an AR-15, which from multiple accounts was empty.

. . .

At the very least, this guy didn't consider those responsibilities, and everyone was very fortunate (us gunowners included) that things didn't turn out much worse for him, and the people around him.

Well, only two points from me. One, he wasn't "brandishing" it, as the pictures I saw depicted him carrying it slung, muzzle down, and B, we don't know what he considered . . .