Man arrested for bringing gun into Thornton movie theater

[Byte Stryke]

Maybe if you start carrying them EMPTY it'll be OK....

[Bailey Guns]

I challenge you to go to a local theater. Where-ever you are- and OC. I'll bet money you won't. Not some little local "smiths" grocery no one has ever heard of. On the other hand, Pleasant Grove, Utah is not a suburb of Denver, CO where 70-some people were shot at a local theater last week. Don't really know what goes on in your neck of the woods.

Challenge all you want.

I don't smoke. Never have, never will. But there have been several cities, even the state, enacting smoking bans...even on private property. Even though I'm a non-smoker I still supported the right of a business owner to allow smoking in their establishments, on their private property. Didn't mean I had to run over there and light up a cigarette.

I don't hunt any longer. I got to the point where it bothered me to kill an animal. But I still support the rights of those who do hunt. It doesn't mean I have to go out, get a tag and shoot an animal.

Your "challenge" is simply ridiculous. I don't OC anywhere because I choose to carry concealed everywhere. Just because I support Mapes' actions doesn't mean I have to run out into the world and mimic his actions.

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.

This isn't about me or you. It's about a man arrested by police and having his legally possessed private property confiscated because he chose to exercise a legal right in a manner in which you, and some others, disapprove. It's unfortunate you believe a man doing nothing wrong makes you uncomfortable.

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.

In one breath you say you're not calling for laws to change. In the next you say, again, how he deserved what he got because he's stupid. You say you don't want the law changed but you think it's OK the police ignored the law and arrested this man for not violating a law because some people are upset about what happened in an unrelated incident. That's pretty lame. What happened in Aurora is bad all the way around for pretty much everyone...involved or not. Telling jokes to victims or their surviving family members about a movie theater shooting would be inappropriate and is an example of a time when self-policing my 1st amendment right to tell a tasteless joke would be a good idea. Giving up my rights of self-protection to make you, and them, feel better or less afraid is not something I'd be willing to do and, apparently, neither was Mapes.

You throw the words "stupid", "dumb", "retarded" and "idiot" around a lot just because someone did something, perfectly legal, that you would not have done. I wonder how many things you do that some people would consider to be "stupid", "dumb", "retarded" and "idiotic" that you think it's perfectly OK to do?

Mapes, and many of us who agree with him, don't exercise our rights to make you or anyone else feel good or safe or comfortable in your world. We do it to make us feel good and safe and comfortable in our world.

[Whistler]

I want to know how many of you guys who support OC at the theater man will go and do the exact same thing this weekend? You know- in order to show you are good guys and not weak-kneed roll-over wanna-be gun rights activists. Come on- how about a head count?

If I decide to go to the theater and I CHOOSE to carry open I will. The key here is my choice, that's what rights are about. Caving to pressure to carry if/when/where & how I want to is/was the entire point and I'm no more likely to OC in response to your "challenge" than I am not to in response to another's opinion of political correctness.

I disagree with your opinion that I need to change my behavior in reaction to an emotional response from either side and resent the implication I would be irresponsible not to. I almost always CC and I have my own reasons for doing so not in reaction to any outside influence, to make any point, to be politically correct or to make you like me.

I respect your right to choose not to OC but if you think that protects our rights in any way you are mistaken. The concession (and it is a concession) to forgo OC for an undetermined period of time will not be perceived in any positive light by anti-gun opposition and if possible will be used in support of their position to further restrict my choices based on emotion and their view of the world.

I'm not saying they won't over-react to OC but I am saying it is more about exploiting the emotion to further their cause than any real danger. It seems to be working eh?

My rights my choices. I won't put my guns down to make the anti-gun crowd happy and I damn sure won't put them down to make them happy because you think it's the "responsible thing to do". Conversely I don't see an opportunity to further or protect our rights and while I think OC to "make a point" or for any other legal reason is perfectly fine, it's not my choice because I don't think either position helps (or hurts) anyone. Consequently it is my choice to continue to behave in exactly the same fashion as before and to make the decisions I deem to be correct free from the opinions of either extreme. Damn I love America!

[Bailey Guns]

Under that line of reasoning ("If you really support it you'd go do it") - If I were a pregnant female and supported another woman's right to have an abortion I'd need to have an abortion to prove my support. It makes no sense.

[hghclsswhitetrsh]

Just to clarify I support the right right to OC, I however prefer to CC.

[tmckay2]

Again, stop spasing out. No one is calling for the law to be changed or to never oc ever again. If people start talking getting rid of oc I am sure all of us will be there to defend that right. This is about individuals who are fully able to use rational thought when making decisions and the idea that they should use this rational thought to not stir the pot or frighten the locals until things cool down. Do I think the guy should be thrown in prison? No! He was within the law. But to not expect a negative reaction by doing such a thing is plain stupid. If you absolutely have to oc in a theater then have some decency and wait a while. It's been hardly over a week. He had every right to do what he did, no one is disputing that. But exercising a right that everyone knows is going to offend and frighten a lot of people right now isn't smart and it shows no consideration for other people. I think we can all hold off on having to show the world all the rights we have in order to let people grieve and give them time to heal. I have no problem with people oc anywhere else right now and tensions wouldn't be as high in a grocery store compared to a theater. You are a complete bafoon if you don't expect a negative reaction by carrying a visible gun into a theater a week after a massacre happened across town. Again, it's common sense.

Sorry to come across as a stirrer. I happened on this site through the Utah concealed carry site. The only thread that isn't about "post whores" or "is this site legit" or "what are your mods" or any others that don't really apply to me is this one. I am not trying to cause problems. Just trying to defend OC from going away anywhere. First it goes, then the "assault rifles" or anything that looks like one, then my handgun. Ugly road we head down when we roll over, even if only for a minute. Doesn't take much to lose what we aren't willing to constantly and consistently defend. It is much easier when we restrict it ourselves for them to relinquish us of them. I understand the sensitive situation there. How could we not?

[tmckay2]

He did get what he deserved. He won't go to prison or even be fined. It's a bunch of liberals who don't know the law. The guys defense is simple even the worst lawyer can get him out of any trouble. Again, no one said he should go to jail, but being arrested isn't surprising. Cops and others aren't goon to be taking any risks right now an I don't completely blame them. This isn't about the law. No one ete is talking about changing the oc law, no one in the country is talking about changing the oc law. If they were, we would all be in agreement. In fact, doing things like this at a high stress time very well may get people talking about taking away oc. No one EVER said he didn't have a right to do it we said he is stupid for doin it just like lots of people use free speech, free expression of religion and lots of other rights at the completely wrong time or place! Stop talking about the law and having a panic attack, no one is disputing the law at all. Just because you CAN do something doesn't mean you should. Thi isn't like lifting weights where if you take a few weeks off your right dwindles away. We really don't need gun owners acting irresponsibly right now. The only argument I've seen in his defense is that it's his right and he needs to exercise it. What kind of stupid argument is that? Do you say the same when WBC protests? Or Muslims go out of their way to show they are Muslim on an airplane? Of course we all agree they have those rights and would never support taking then away, yet we all criticize them because they show no tact or consideration for others. Flaunting rights anytime you want will get you trouble, no doubt about it. I never said people should refrain from oc anywhere but right now in theaters is just plain stupid an in my opinion he was trying to get a reaction.

Challenge all you want.

I don't smoke. Never have, never will. But there have been several cities, even the state, enacting smoking bans...even on private property. Even though I'm a non-smoker I still supported the right of a business owner to allow smoking in their establishments, on their private property. Didn't mean I had to run over there and light up a cigarette.

I don't hunt any longer. I got to the point where it bothered me to kill an animal. But I still support the rights of those who do hunt. It doesn't mean I have to go out, get a tag and shoot an animal.

Your "challenge" is simply ridiculous. I don't OC anywhere because I choose to carry concealed everywhere. Just because I support Mapes' actions doesn't mean I have to run out into the world and mimic his actions.



This isn't about me or you. It's about a man arrested by police and having his legally possessed private property confiscated because he chose to exercise a legal right in a manner in which you, and some others, disapprove. It's unfortunate you believe a man doing nothing wrong makes you uncomfortable.



In one breath you say you're not calling for laws to change. In the next you say, again, how he deserved what he got because he's stupid. You say you don't want the law changed but you think it's OK the police ignored the law and arrested this man for not violating a law because some people are upset about what happened in an unrelated incident. That's pretty lame. What happened in Aurora is bad all the way around for pretty much everyone...involved or not. Telling jokes to victims or their surviving family members about a movie theater shooting would be inappropriate and is an example of a time when self-policing my 1st amendment right to tell a tasteless joke would be a good idea. Giving up my rights of self-protection to make you, and them, feel better or less afraid is not something I'd be willing to do and, apparently, neither was Mapes.

You throw the words "stupid", "dumb", "retarded" and "idiot" around a lot just because someone did something, perfectly legal, that you would not have done. I wonder how many things you do that some people would consider to be "stupid", "dumb", "retarded" and "idiotic" that you think it's perfectly OK to do?

Mapes, and many of us who agree with him, don't exercise our rights to make you or anyone else feel good or safe or comfortable in your world. We do it to make us feel good and safe and comfortable in our world.

[sneakerd]

Opinions seem to run about 50/50 here. As to Bailey's statements that my challenge is ridiculous- I disagree. The supporters of Mapes posting here, from Byte Stryke to O2H2(?) all say they are OCers and will all continue to OC as that is their right, Mapes did nothing wrong, etc. My point and MCkay's point all along is simply that he went out looking for trouble- and he found it- and anyone who purposely goes out looking for trouble deserves whatever they get. By "issuing the challenge", and of course I'll get no verifiable takers, I'm confirming that most- if not all- of my fellow forum members are smarter than Mapes. I support OC whenever an individual feels it's necessary, as long as it is their right where they choose to do it. In return the OCer has to realize that the act may bring them unwarranted and unwanted attention. I also still think that most do it simply to make a statement, and not because they actually NEED to. I'll bet most people here who regularly OC also have a CCW.

[kanekutter05]

This quote is more about being a man than this particular situation, but I think the spirit of it is where those of us who see nothing wrong with Mapes actions are coming from:

"You must let your strength show up...Many men have actually been afraid to let our strength show up because the world doesn't have a place for it. Fine. The world's screwed up. Let people feel the weight of who you are and let them deal with it. "

-John Eldredge in Wild At Heart

[10mm-man]

I'm still waiting for the local headcount of people who will OC at a theater around here this coming weekend to show their support for Thornton OC man. Don't think I'm going to get any takers.

I must of missed something tried to read back but can't find it? What is your point in calling people out? Is it a challenge to those who support OC or was it
to particular individuals? And once again; what do you intend to prove?