General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: How to tell if that guy w/ an AR-15 in the grocery store is a gun nut or mass shooter? [View all]Animal Chin
(175 posts)Especially after seeing pictures of that JC Penny guy.
If I'm with my kids, I'm leaving immediately and calling the police (see #3 below).
If I'm not with my kids, here are a few things I've thought about:
1. Create a scene. Run away screaming "Shooter!! He's got a gun! He's going to shoot someone! He's crazy!" Basically, the idea is to try to incite a panic. That sounds bad, but the point is to get the reaction you would get if the guys was really a shooter. If you had everyone stampeding out of the establishment, that will get the attention of the management very quickly and also ostracize the guy carrying the rifle.
2. Mess with the guy. If I'm really sure the guy is not a shooter (if that's possible), follow him around calling him despicable names and making fun of him. Asking why he's such a *ahem* pansy that he needs a rifle to go to JC Pennys. "Too scared to go to the mall unarmed?" If there's any indication he is or was in the armed services, berate that branch of the service as much as possible (I have nothing but respect for military personnel...this is just to get under his skin). Harass and ostracize, but be careful not to put the guy in any fear for his safety (lest he have a reason to shoot you). Also, the way the JC Penny guy was carrying his rifle, the magazine release button was exposed. Easy to walk up behind him, push that button and run. He won't give chase until he picks up his magazine and then won't look too good for a guy with a rifle to be chasing someone unarmed around.
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3. Call the police. Here again, I would attempt to create a reaction closer to what would happen with a real shooter rather than someone just carrying. I would try not to sound calm or unsure ("uh, there's a dude with a rifle strapped on his back" , but rather out of breath and panicked ("there's a crazy guy screaming and waving a gun all over place!" . Don't stay on the line long. Get others to make similar calls. I know lying to the police is wrong (and a crime unto itself), but the goal would be to get the whole SWAT team to show up, guns drawn and pin the guy to the floor.
I suppose this is mostly in-my-head-fantasy and that in reality, I would probably just leave. Option 1 would probably just be me making a fool of myself, option 2 would probably get my ass kicked (or shot), and option 3 would probably get me arrested. But just telling the manager is so unsatisfying. There's got to be some way to humiliate and ostracize these guys and make it clear that even though it may be legal, it's not acceptable. Make it not worth their while.