How would any of you of handled this?

[Waywardson174]

So let's say this guy is out to make himself the center of the issue. He is drawing attention to a prevalent anti-gun culture in this nation. There are more than 300 million firearms in this nation, but many more than half of us don't own a firearm. Talking to classmates, they relate "that time they shot a .22 once" as their entire firearm experience. This guy was less than polite, but he was right on every point. An officer cannot detain (that is restrain from free movement) a person without reasonable suspicion (a belief that goes beyond a hunch based on articulable facts that a person is or has committed a crime).

When open carry is legal, it is legal and cannot be a fact on which the suspicion is based without a separate indication of unlawfulness.

Yes, police officers have a tough job to do. But their responsibility to uphold the citizens' right is as important as enforcement of statutes. This cop did not have a reasonable suspicion to stop a this guy. An anonymous tip IS NEVER enough without something more.

The only way to educate people about our and their rights is by acts of exercise. Whether I open or conceal carry, if it is legal then it is my right. If I am subjected to violations of that right then I have a responsibility resist the violation.

If believe you have a right to carry, then whether you agree or not with his tactic you must support the principle, otherwise you are just another citizen slowly observing the erosion of your ability to possess, carry, and use the firearms we all hold dear.

As an aside, the idea this guy was spoiling and ready for a confrontation is ludicrous based on the video. Few of us walk around w/o a camera phone in our pockets. If this guy were really looking to make a stink of it and get famous he would have a) focused more on capturing quality images of the confrontation, b) brought a buddy to video as a third party, or c) had a camera crew following along at a distance and mic'd himself up. The guy who "invaded" ACORN did so with pretty good hidden cameras which are obviously not present here.

[Adawg38]

I thought this guy new his stuff. I'm sure he was upset for being stopped doing nothing wrong and being withing his rights. I know we all don't want to be harassed when walking down the street legally open carrying a firearm and probably are shocked when we know more laws then the officers who are there to enforce them but this guy could have been more respectful to the officer doing his job and just said everything a little more calmly and respectfully. He was just possibly warming himself up to giving the officers a reason to arrest him.

[10mm-man]

So let's say this guy is out to make himself the center of the issue. He is drawing attention to a prevalent anti-gun culture in this nation. There are more than 300 million firearms in this nation, but many more than half of us don't own a firearm. Talking to classmates, they relate "that time they shot a .22 once" as their entire firearm experience. This guy was less than polite, but he was right on every point. An officer cannot detain (that is restrain from free movement) a person without reasonable suspicion (a belief that goes beyond a hunch based on articulable facts that a person is or has committed a crime).

When open carry is legal, it is legal and cannot be a fact on which the suspicion is based without a separate indication of unlawfulness.

Yes, police officers have a tough job to do. But their responsibility to uphold the citizens' right is as important as enforcement of statutes. This cop did not have a reasonable suspicion to stop a this guy. An anonymous tip IS NEVER enough without something more.

The only way to educate people about our and their rights is by acts of exercise. Whether I open or conceal carry, if it is legal then it is my right. If I am subjected to violations of that right then I have a responsibility resist the violation.

If believe you have a right to carry, then whether you agree or not with his tactic you must support the principle, otherwise you are just another citizen slowly observing the erosion of your ability to possess, carry, and use the firearms we all hold dear.

As an aside, the idea this guy was spoiling and ready for a confrontation is ludicrous based on the video. Few of us walk around w/o a camera phone in our pockets. If this guy were really looking to make a stink of it and get famous he would have a) focused more on capturing quality images of the confrontation, b) brought a buddy to video as a third party, or c) had a camera crew following along at a distance and mic'd himself up. The guy who "invaded" ACORN did so with pretty good hidden cameras which are obviously not present here.

AS STATED ABOVE! I couldn't have said it better, THANKS!