Man arrested for (legally) open carrying AK47, scaring people.

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So you would be out walking the street carrying an AK-clone with no goal in mind?

You guys are dodging this question and still spluttering about rights because, I think, you are unable to articulate an answer that would make any kind of sense. I've already stipulated that it is a right and legal. Now I'm interested in why.
 
Wow, this thread got hostile! I had a feeling this would happen.

Kinda sad really.....We all support the 2nd, we all are entitled to our opinions on here whether you agree with them or not. We have enough anti-gun enemies out in the world lets not fight amongst each other, I see that way too much on THR.

Sorry had to say something, I'm done with this thread its going nowhere good.
 
Well Regulated nailed it better than any other..."Exercising his constitutional rights, including the right to free expression."

What more needs saying? Answer me this, and a simple yes or no will suffice...

Does an American have a Constitutional right to express his support of the 2nd amendment by carrying his AK?
 
So you would be out walking the street carrying an AK-clone with no goal in mind?

You guys are dodging this question and still spluttering about rights because, I think, you are unable to articulate an answer that would make any kind of sense. I've already stipulated that it is a right and legal. Now I'm interested in why.
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You don't know what the Second Ammendment is about?

Taking your view on the Second, what is your justification for just speaking your opinion? What do you hope to accomplish?
 
If I saw somebody walking down my street (I live in a 12 sq. mile city, POP. 70,000) with battle rifle, or a sword, or some other weapon, openly, I would probably call the cops. I have never been to Mobile, I guess it could be less urban, but I always thought Mobile was a decently built up city.

If it was a more suburban/ suburban-rural area and somebody was on their property (think bigger than a quarter acre with a house), I could see them carrying a rifle- but certain things are reasons for concern and walking up and down a city street with an uncased rifle, particularly a battle rifle, doesn't sound right to me.

In Connexticut, there is, to my knowledge, no law that bars the open carrying of a handgun. However, it's made very clear that open carrying in public, especially if someone becomes freightened and calls the police, is grounds for permit revocation and arrest for a disorderly conduct type charge.
 
We all support the 2nd, we all are entitled to our opinions on here whether you agree with them or not. We have enough anti-gun enemies out in the world lets not fight amongst each other, I see that way too much on here.
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Well, as has been often mentioned at other times, there are antis who go on gun boards merely to stir the pot and such. There are several such possibilities in this thread, though I won't make any lists like that.
 
You guys are dodging this question and still spluttering about rights because, I think, you are unable to articulate an answer that would make any kind of sense. I've already stipulated that it is a right and legal. Now I'm interested in why.
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I understand your question, and I didn't answer the "why" portion because I don't believe there needs to be a "why." It may be circular logic, but "why" would I carry an AK down the street? Because it is my right.

I am a Second Amendment Absolutist of the highest order, and honestly feel that there does not need to be a reason for exercising that right.
 
Hmm.. Let's try this.. you see a gang of youths walking down the street armed with baseball bats, chains, knives, and clubs. Do you become concerned, or do you simply say, "Hmm.. how nice a gang of youths with weapons.. nice to see young people practicing their 2nd Amendment rights"

EDIT: I would also like to know how many people here carry a loaded AK-47 around their city and neighboorhood? And I'm not talking about country areas out in the stix.. how many people walk around populated resedential neighboorhoods or city streets with an AK-47 slung over their shoulder? How many people here would walk through Downtown Atlanta with an AK?
 
So much for common sense in discussion. This thread too will soon close.
 
How did those that reported the incident know the rifle was loaded? Not that it matters, it is his legal right, he doesn't need anyone's signature of approval.
 
Hey, why don't you tell me again that it's your right? I already said that I'll agree that it's your right and it's legal. See, I can tell you why I want to exercise my freedom of speech: I do so because I want to change people's opinions or because I want them to explain their positions in such a way that I can understand them. Okay, you have your second ammendment right to keep and bear arms. Now explain why you think it is desirable to exercise it in this specific way.
 
"Does an American have a Constitutional right to express his support of the 2nd amendment by carrying his AK?"

Not if he's acting hinky in public, and I'll still wager folding money that the guy was behaving oddly/suspiciously/downright bizarrely. I'm willing to trust the witnesses and the cops who were there and actually saw him. If the guy gets a ticket he can present his side of it. Ain't America great?


To the poster who asked if I do, or would, carry an AK in public, nope, it's against the law in certain Virginia cities. Loaded that is, and the report said his was loaded. I don't walk around with hundred dollar bills hanging out of my pockets tempting the thieves either. Prudence.

" on or about his person on any public street, road, alley, sidewalk, public right-of-way, or in any public park or any other place of whatever nature that is open to the public in the Cities of Alexandria, Chesapeake, Fairfax, Falls Church, Newport News, Norfolk, Richmond, or Virginia Beach or in the Counties of Arlington, Fairfax, Henrico, Loudoun, or Prince William."

__________________
From the gun law excerpts on the State Police site:

§ 18.2-287.4. Carrying loaded firearms in public areas prohibited; penalty.

It shall be unlawful for any person to carry a loaded (a) semi-automatic center-fire rifle or pistol that expels single or multiple projectiles by action of an explosion of a combustible material and is equipped at the time of the offense with a magazine that will hold more than 20 rounds of ammunition or designed by the manufacturer to accommodate a silencer or equipped with a folding stock or (b) shotgun with a magazine that will hold more than seven rounds of the longest ammunition for which it is chambered on or about his person on any public street, road, alley, sidewalk, public right-of-way, or in any public park or any other place of whatever nature that is open to the public in the Cities of Alexandria, Chesapeake, Fairfax, Falls Church, Newport News, Norfolk, Richmond, or Virginia Beach or in the Counties of Arlington, Fairfax, Henrico, Loudoun, or Prince William.

The provisions of this section shall not apply to law-enforcement officers, licensed security guards, military personnel in the performance of their lawful duties, or any person having a valid concealed handgun permit or to any person actually engaged in lawful hunting or lawful recreational shooting activities at an established shooting range or shooting contest. Any person violating the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.
 
Hey, why don't you tell me again that it's your right? I already said that I'll agree that it's your right and it's legal. See, I can tell you why I want to exercise my freedom of speech: I do so because I want to change people's opinions or because I want them to explain their positions in such a way that I can understand them. Okay, you have your second ammendment right to keep and bear arms. Now explain why you think it is desirable to exercise it in this specific way.
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Exercising my 2nd Amendment Right is in and of itself desirable. That's my answer.

Perhaps that was this man's entire reason for walking down the street with an AK. Maybe he just wanted to exercise his rights.

Listen, I'm honestly not trying to be argumentative here. I don't think we're at odds philosophically either, we're just asking and answering the same question on different planes.

You want me to give you an answer along the lines of "I was carrying an AK down the street because I wanted to do X" and my personal "X" is "to exercise my rights as a citizen of this country."
 
Just so everyone knows...Springhill is a very desirable area of Mobile. Think of your own towns version of were the "rich people" live, and thats our Springhill.

The residents tend to be high income and very conservative. I would think walking down the street in this neighborhood with a loaded, mag in, AK would get lots of calls to the police. This isn't a hunting area, no shooting ranges nearby, no gun show there, etc.

Prudence dictates that if you need to transport any long gun via pedestrian mode, use a basic long gun cover. I would think that would avoid this issue all together.
 
I was writing this post just as the moderator was closing the last thread on the topic lastnight. Shocking...it applies yet again, here, tonight.

Well, this is worse than ugly; it has become fully unprofessional.

Koh-man!! Gentleman, back to your corners...

I feel like I'm a TKD ref again.

Remember, no hitting below the belt, and attack the idea, not the person. When the bell rings, come out fighting...the system...not each other.

Si-jak!!
 
crazed_ss
Hmm.. Let's try this.. you see a gang of youths walking down the street armed with baseball bats, chains, knives, and clubs. Do you become concerned, or do you simply say, "Hmm.. how nice a gang of youths with weapons.. nice to see young people practicing their 2nd Amendment rights"

EDIT: I would also like to know how many people here carry a loaded AK-47 around their city and neighboorhood? And I'm not talking about country areas out in the stix.. how many people walk around populated resedential neighboorhoods or city streets with an AK-47 slung over their shoulder? How many people here would walk through Downtown Atlanta with an AK?
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I'll answer. Not a single one of us. At least the ones with any common sense.


Doc
So much for common sense in discussion.
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Common sense in discussion is directly related to common sense in the neighborhood. If you walk around with an AK over your shoulder in a neighborhood, your common sense has departed you. Just as it has here.
 
Have any of you ever heard of the "slippery slope" argument?

It's fine for you that this guy's been arrested...

But tomorrow, it's going to be you, and you're going to have a permit for that handgun, but it's going to be taken away, because someone thinks carrying a handgun is disorderly conduct. Enjoy your warm bath froggy.
 
Common sense in discussion is directly related to common sense in the neighborhood. If you walk around with an AK over your shoulder in a neighborhood, your common sense has departed you. Just as it has here.
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What Marshall said!
 
Well….Say I see a scantily dressed woman (but within the legal definition of decency) walking through my neighborhood. This is not a common sight. Now is she a hooker? If she is just walking by I would say no. If she is stopping cars on the street I would most likely call the cops to check things out. Even then she might simply be asking for directions. If so, the cops shouldn’t trump up a charge just because the neighbors don’t like the way she looks.

I see someone carrying an uncased rifle. Again, this is not a common sight. Is he a miscreant intent on doing harm? If he is simply walking by I would say no. If his demeanor, dress, or whatever arouses suspicion then call the cops and let them check him out. Yet again, if he is doing nothing wrong the cops shouldn’t trump up a charge simply because the neighbors don’t like it.

I realize that a hooker isn’t going to kill someone like a nut with a rifle. I really don’t need anyone pointing this out to me. I’m talking about our right as citizens. If we allow our rights to be dictated by the whims and opinions of the neighbors, be it guns, mode of dress, speech, or whatever, things would be considerably more unpleasant than they already are. I really don’t like having to get permission from my neighbors to exercise ANY of my rights.
 
I will attack the idea. Outside of emergencies, open carrying a rifle in an urban neighborhood by non LE where such a thing is extremely out of the ordinary may be legal but is stupid. Are you the ultimate champion of the RKBA or are you a survivor? If you want to convert some fence sitters or anti’s, I think there are better methods. If you just want to yell to the world “look at me”, go to a karaoke bar.
 
Okay, since we have gone down the road far enough where folks are banging on their own chests about constitutional rights, etc. etc. etc., which is heuristically interesting and all, does anyone actually have any followup information on this matter as to how it is playing out?
 
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