Man arrested for bringing gun into Thornton movie theater

[O2HeN2]

I am really hopeful these charges get dropped.

They won't be dropped, no matter how ridiculous they may be. To do so at this point will make a lawsuit against Thornton too easy to win. The DA will press on, knowing full well he'll lose, but will make appearances that s/he (have no idea) believed that the charges were applicable in order to "protect" both the DA's office and the police officers.

What this means is that it's going to cost thousands to fight the charges, thousands to sue the city and the city will pay more because it went too far. Final loser: the residents of Thornton.

O2

[Chad4000]

Same team guys

[sneakerd]

If everyone agreed- or there was "consensus", this forum would be boring.

[TFOGGER]

They won't be dropped, no matter how ridiculous they may be. To do so at this point will make a lawsuit against Thornton too easy to win. The DA will press on, knowing full well he'll lose, but will make appearances that s/he (have no idea) believed that the charges were applicable in order to "protect" both the DA's office and the police officers.

What this means is that it's going to cost thousands to fight the charges, thousands to sue the city and the city will pay more because it went too far. Final loser: the residents of Thornton.

O2

And the only winners are the lawyers...

[tmckay2]

[sarcasm]Yeah, you're right. What else can we give up to make non-gun owners feel more comfortable?[/sarcasm]

Stupid, dumb, idiot, retarded gun owners.

You really think its a good idea to waltz into a movie theater with open carry a week or so after one of the worst massacres in US history which happened just down the road? Give me a break, this isn't about the law or changing the rules forever this is about using the brain god gave you. If you absolutely can't go to the movies without showing your heat then wait until things cool down. Just because you have a right to do something doesn't mean you get to throw all common sense out the window and not expect bad things to happen. The vast majority of citizens know nothing about guns or about the laws regarding guns. They do know 70 people were shot a little over a week ago in a theater. Hell even I would have a hard time focusing on te movie if I saw that. I don't know that guy, maybe he's as crazy as Holmes. Had it happened a month ago I would have thought nothing of it, but this event has even me a bit on edge of people with guns that I don't know.

It's not like we are calling for the laws to change or for this guy to be unjustly prosecuted for acting within the law. However, if you play stupid games you win stupid prizes. People in this area, and even the country, are goin to need some time to heal from this tragedy. Gun owners can use their brain and be thoughtful in their actions, especially during this time. Shit like this just makes fun owners look like people who only care about their right to bear arms and nothing else, basically playing right into the liberal fear mongrring anti gun crowds hands.

[Ashton]

Poor judgement IMHO.

[tmckay2]

Sure I'll give you an example. Westboro baptist church. They hae a god given right to free speech. Exercising that at a funeral of a dead soldier with the mourning family standing right there MIGHT be a poor time to exercise such a right. It isn't illegal, but it is insensitive. If they then showed shock at how others reacted to them, such as some here are in shock people had a problem with this guy open carrying in a theater a week after a massacre at a theater, then I would say to them as i say here, use common sense and decency. Sometimes that means sucking it up ad not exercising a right out of respect for others until the appropriate time. FYI, there are thousands of other examples of times we have rights but show poor judgement by exercising them at certain times and places. Doesn't mean he's wrong and should thus be put in jail, it just means he's an idiot for what he did, whether it's in his right or not.

I've read all the responses and comments in this thread. I am really saddened, though not too surprised, by those who think Mapes acted inappropriately.

It's legal to do what he did, regardless of whether or not anyone believes he used poor judgment or discretion. The only reason this incident happened is because someone freaked out at the sight of a gun. A legal gun. A holstered gun. A safe gun. A gun carried by a man who was, by all accounts, not acting any differently than any of the other moviegoers with the exception that he chose to take responsibility for his own safety and was exercising a Constitutional right.

For those who think he used poor judgment then please tell me: at what point does exercising a God-given right constitute using poor judgment? At what point should we choose not to protect ourselves for fear of offending others? Because those are the only two arguments I've seen. I'd really like to know how much liberty I need to sacrifice in order for some of you to feel comfortable.

It brings to mind the old argument hashed and re-hashed right on this forum from those who would have more strict, government mandated training standards in place for issuance of a concealed handgun permit. Their only argument is they "feel" the need for people to have more training. They "feel" unsafe knowing there are people in the wild carrying concealed handguns who only have a minimal amount of training. No one has yet been able to produce a tangible, verifiable argument that the standards in place put anyone in real danger.

Well, for whatever it's worth, I don't think the guy did anything wrong. As a matter of fact, I commend him for taking responsibility for his own safety. I commend him for exercising his second amendment rights and refuse to condemn him for any perceived lack of proper discretion or judgment.

Furthermore, any condemnation from me will be directed towards the Thornton PD officers involved for violating this man's freedom. It's appalling to think they had to fabricate a charge in order to arrest this man. It's more appalling that the city attorney hasn't put this no-brainer to bed and had the PD issue a statement that no charges will be filed and Mapes' (illegally) confiscated and legally possessed property with be returned to him forthwith.

In the words of Ricky Ricardo... "Thornton! You got some 'splaining to do."

[tmckay2]

Here's another. Days after 911 a group of Muslim men now in prayer right before boarding the flight an right in front of everyone. Within their right, yes. Good idea? No. If they are then surprised when people are frightened I say again, common sense. It's a beautiful thing.

[sneakerd]

I completely agree with tmckay2.

[00tec]

Hey, if you guys want to lay down and give up your rights for the sake of being PC, go right ahead. I will not.