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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsMan Legally Stalks Children's Baseball Game: 'I've Got A Gun & There's Nothing You Can Do About It'
Parents at a Forysth County park abruptly stopped a children's baseball game after growing suspicions of the behavior of a man carrying a gun in a waist holster Tuesday night.
"He's just walking around [saying] 'See my gun? Look, I got a gun and there's nothing you can do about it.' He knew he was frightening people. He knew exactly what he was doing," said parent Karen Rabb.
Rabb told Channel 2s Tom Regan the parents grew so alarmed that they brought the game to a halt when the man declined a request that he leave a parking lot overlooking the baseball field.
He scared people to the point where we stopped the game, took the kids out of the dugout and behind the dugout, and kind of hunkered down, Rabb said.
Park users flooded 911 with 22 calls about the man. Forysth County deputies questioned the man, and found that he had a permit for the handgun. Authorities said since the man made no verbal threats or gestures, they could neither arrest him nor ask him to leave the park.
http://m.wsbtv.com/news/news/local/man-gun-causes-scare-during-childrens-baseball-gam/nfhJS/
Hoyt
(54,770 posts)Gun toting yahoos at a kid's ball game.
Response to Hoyt (Reply #1)
Name removed Message auto-removed
CAG
(1,820 posts)at the children's baseball game needed to be packin' heat. That would've calmed the situation down.
louis-t
(23,292 posts)go intimidate people whenever and wherever he feels like it just so he can feel empowered. If anyone challenges him, he can shoot and say he felt threatened. These people really do just want to shoot someone, don't they?
mountain grammy
(26,620 posts)SummerSnow
(12,608 posts)an argument would have started and he would have started shooting. He was itching to pull that trigger.
etherealtruth
(22,165 posts)Electric Monk
(13,869 posts)edited to add a comment from another thread on this:
they are like "flashers"
The purpose is to see the response they get - fear etc. If this guy can cause an uproar at a kids baseball game it has made his day. He has POWER!!!
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024877418#post15
Response to Electric Monk (Reply #4)
Post removed
Electric Monk
(13,869 posts)(hint: the only thing ironic about that song by Alanis Morissette is that there's nothing ironic mentioned in it)
Fred Sanders
(23,946 posts)parents and children. Why does he not go to a police station?
tblue37
(65,340 posts)could claim to feel really, really threatened by his obviously belligerent stance--with predictable consequences.
arcane1
(38,613 posts)Duckhunter935
(16,974 posts)like 4 times now is not enough
I will say it again, this guy is an idiot that makes 99.9% of gun owners look bad. He got the reaction he was looking for. If people ignored him he would just go away.
Throd
(7,208 posts)I support the Second Amendment, but this jackass is just a sad, sad loser who is hurting his own "cause".
Duckhunter935
(16,974 posts)the stupid penis reference, I agree with your point.
Cirque du So-What
(25,932 posts)that remaining silent is the worst thing people can do. These assholes *want* us to give up and remain silent.
Duckhunter935
(16,974 posts)he got exactly what he was looking for. He made the news and is now a celebrity. Same thing goes for publicizing the names of mass shooters.
arcane1
(38,613 posts)Cirque du So-What
(25,932 posts)Goading an armed individual who - by all appearances - has serious mental problems? Funny, but the article doesn't mention any sort of behavior from those present. Not one instance. It makes for a nice armchair fantasy, but in real life, most people would exercise a modicum of discretion in a situation like that.
arcane1
(38,613 posts)As it stands, he's emboldened. A little public humiliation might make him think twice about trying to frighten children.
MohRokTah
(15,429 posts)Because what you advocate could have led directly to just such a response to being mocked.
Instead, the parents took the adult course and called 911 to allow law enforcement to handle the threat.
arcane1
(38,613 posts)Give me a fucking break
What exactly did calling 911 accomplish? Nothing.
MohRokTah
(15,429 posts)ANY time some yahoo is walking around taunting people with a gun, there is the potential for death.
Cirque du So-What
(25,932 posts)but nothing about this dickheimer's behavior suggests rationality. You never know when a deranged person will fucking snap from something no worse than public ridicule. Same goes for road rage, to which I do not respond anymore after a friend was shot six times by a deranged road-rager.
Voice for Peace
(13,141 posts)sorry about your friend.
Cirque du So-What
(25,932 posts)My friend lived. He was hit by shots from a .22 pistol, and although one of the bullets hit a lung, he was able to exit the vehicle and attract the attention of a passing motorist, who whisked him straightaway to the hospital two miles up the road. The perpetrator was caught and was sentenced to 20 years, then died in prison.
Crunchy Frog
(26,579 posts)siligut
(12,272 posts)Fear is so basic and instinctive. Now power hungry manipulative people have legislated us into a world were we will either hold our tongues or fear for our lives.
Protection from resistance or judgement while acting an idiot may be the strategy behind the gun culture our 'Christian' nation is trending toward.
snooper2
(30,151 posts)Anybody live in the area?
Arrange a DU Meetup at that exact same park (the games are held same time every weekend)
Confront the asshole, mock him, laugh at him- posting on random message board isn't going to get anything accomplished on this subject FYI
ucrdem
(15,512 posts)At the moment GD hosts have determined that this story is really big news and therefore permissible in GD. The duplicate threads are unfortunate but the GD statement of purpose is different from LBN's and doesn't prohibit duplicate posts. Thus every thread has to be judged solely by whether the OP violates the GD SOP. If it doesn't, hosts are not authorized to lock it, although juries can hide any post deemed to be in violation of DU community standards, including OPs. So GD hosts are mindful of all SOP alerts that have been sent.
Duckhunter935
(16,974 posts)Crunchy Frog
(26,579 posts)Trash thread is your friend, if you don't like a particular topic.
Simply ignoring someone is not an option for most people when he's behaving in a threatening manner with a gun, while in the presence of small children.
You might have trouble comprehending that if you're not a parent.
Duckhunter935
(16,974 posts)Just pointing out the number of dupes
Crunchy Frog
(26,579 posts)I don't suppose you remember all the threads that were posted here about Woody Allen and the sex abuse allegations do you? Probably didn't get out of the Gungeon for that.
Duckhunter935
(16,974 posts)Most of my posts are in GD unlike a certain host in bansalot that 63% of his posts are in the Gungeon and that is his favorite group.
Hoyt
(54,770 posts)Hopefully the message will get to gun fanciers that you are becoming undesirable in the public commons when armed. Rather than whine about it, start acting responsibily and encourage fellow gun fanciers to do the same.
ManiacJoe
(10,136 posts)Thus we do not accept your broad-bush fallacy, and we will continue to shun this idiot just as you are doing.
Electric Monk
(13,869 posts)Does that make any more sense than what you posted?
SwankyXomb
(2,030 posts)how else will they earn their nickels?
Duckhunter935
(16,974 posts)I should heed my own advice, Thank you.
99Forever
(14,524 posts)Got ANY evidence at all about that 99.9% figure? Or did you pull it out of thin air or elsewhere? And no sir, when jerks are going into public venues, where there is absolutely NO FUCKING REASON TO BE ARMED, other than cowardliness, it will not be "ignored."
Duckhunter935
(16,974 posts)several million permit holders, and how many idiots like this? maybe a dozen in the last couple of years. Nothing like painting your fellow democrats with that broad brush.
99Forever
(14,524 posts)Just more anecdotal blah, blah blah.
This cowardly creep sounds like most every "responsible, law-abiding gun owner" I've ever known, but I don't call it evidence. It's an observation. See the difference, gunfan?
Duckhunter935
(16,974 posts)It appears you are losing the facts of the case. It is pure numbers and the numbers are with me as far as responsible gun owners. Even quite a few here on DU. There are over a hundred million out here that do not act like this idiot, safely secure our weapons, have no issues with UBC and sensible firearms laws.
99Forever
(14,524 posts)Considering it seems defending guns and promoting more gunz*gunz*gunz is the subject you spend an inordinate amount of your time here doing, I guess I must have missed something.
Perhaps you will now explain to how you manage to know the all of the activities of "over a hundred million out here" well enough to say for certain what they ALL actually do?
Duckhunter935
(16,974 posts)They are like my car or a tool. I can enjoy using them for it intended purpose in aa safe and responsible way. Just like I do not drink and drive. But no I am not a fan of guns.
Please post where I defend and or promote guns. Please, since you made the accusation. I am sure you will find hundreds of them.
I just go by the crime reports and that even with more weapons available they are being used less in crime.
http://www.bjs.gov/content/pub/pdf/htus8008.pdf#page=27
99Forever
(14,524 posts)Duckhunter935
(16,974 posts)since it is true
joeglow3
(6,228 posts)Your showing here was pretty embarrassing.
Response to joeglow3 (Reply #123)
Duckhunter935 This message was self-deleted by its author.
tblue37
(65,340 posts)GeorgeGist
(25,320 posts)Duckhunter935
(16,974 posts)lillypaddle
(9,580 posts)If your child were at that ball park, would you really just ignore him?
Blue Owl
(50,356 posts)CANDO
(2,068 posts)They reacted by calling 911...this is good because its Georgia and shows even in the deep red states people are uncomfortable with these deranged assholes exposing themselves in such a way.
Iris
(15,653 posts)Glitterati
(3,182 posts)Don't feel bad for these people. I live here.
Because they got EXACTLY what the hell they asked for.
This county votes 90% Republican EVERY election. The May primary has not one single Dem on the ballot. They are huge supporters of Nathan Deal and absolutely love, love, love this gun bill he just signed.
These are nothing but NIMBY teapublicans.
The woman in that story is on the local facebook page saying how she agrees with the Governor.........except in her backyard, that is.
And, she admits she has a carry permit!!!!!!
Textbook "be careful what you wish for."
Xithras
(16,191 posts)With or without a gun, Menacing is a crime in most states. Deliberately speaking or acting in a way that puts people in fear of imminent physical injury usually qualifies.
He was showing off his gun and taunting people with it. He was deliberately inciting fear. That's a criminal act in and of itself.
pipoman
(16,038 posts)"He was showing off his gun and taunting people with it. He was deliberately inciting fear."
One can't be charged with a crime while acting within the law. If fireworks are legal to deploy on the 4th of July, you can't be cited for disturbing the peace while shooting them off on the 4th of July. Our criminal system works that way.
Xithras
(16,191 posts)I have a CCW. I can carry a handgun anywhere I want in the state of California. What if I walked up to a stranger and started saying "I have a gun. It's under my jacket and there is nothing you can do about it. I have a gun right next to your kids and it is perfectly legal. I have a gun, does that make you nervous?"
The gun is actually irrelevant to menacing charges. Menacing charges can be filed when you deliberately stoke peoples fears and lead them to believe that you are about to commit a crime, even when you don't actually have any intention of committing the crime. This guy created an atmosphere of fear, deliberately, and with the intent to be disruptive. He could have had a rock and it would have been "menacing". The gun is simply the tool he had when he committed the crime.
When I went through my CCW class, we spent several hours simply discussing the various legal situations that people need to be aware of when they're armed. Menacing was one of the topics we spent a bit of time on, because it's something that has bit a lot of CCW holders...many have mistakenly believe that "intimidation" is legal if you don't directly threaten or pull the weapon. Simply displaying its presence in an attempt to intimidate others qualifies as menacing in California and many other states (it's also an automatic CCW revocation in most California counties).
pipoman
(16,038 posts)The punctuation doesn't indicate that as a direct quote, nor does the statement of the police support him saying that...is there any report of him actually being quoted?
I believe from what I have read that the state met you are talking about is the characterization of his actions by the witness being quoted.
Nevernose
(13,081 posts)"Would the behavior in question make a reasonable person afraid?" In this case, judging by the 22 different 911 calls, I'd guess that at least one of them was reasonable.
It's perfectly legal to own a gun. It is not perfectly legal to intentionally frighten people with it, and a gun doesn't necessarily have to be pointed at someone for them to have a reasonable fear.
pipoman
(16,038 posts)The law could be changed. You can't charge someone in a bar with public drunkenness.
kcr
(15,315 posts)What law says it's legal to threaten people with guns?
pipoman
(16,038 posts)"You can't charge someone in a bar with public drunkenness."
Hate to tell you this, but that happens ALL THE TIME. A quick Google on the subject turned up hundreds of stories about people arrested or cited for public intoxication inside a bar.
It is legal to carry a firearm openly in some states. It is not legal to menace people or cause a panic with one. If this guy really went down there to "make a point", he should be in a jail cell. It's illegal to deliberately intimidate people and make them fear for their safety.
FWIW, the most important word in that last sentence is "deliberately". There is a line between simply carrying a firearm and unintentionally making people scared or nervous, and deliberately brandishing or demonstrating the firearms presence in a way intended to scare people. This guy did the latter.
I have a CCW. I also have a kid in little league. If this guy had showed up at my kids game and deliberately attempted to intimidate the kids and crowd, we'd have had a real problem. It has nothing to do with being "anti-gun", and everything to do with being "anti-thug".
pipoman
(16,038 posts)The fireworks example above is better. Something which is expressly legal can't be prosecuted under another statute. According to the police:
"Authorities said since the man made no verbal threats or gestures, they could neither arrest him nor ask him to leave the park."
I'm not sure where this idea came from. ..
"deliberately attempted to intimidate the kids and crowd, we'd have had a real problem."
Not saying it didn't happen, not according to the police statement.
WorseBeforeBetter
(11,441 posts)God bless America!
Glitterati
(3,182 posts)She just doesn't want it in her back yard. NIMBY teapublican.
WorseBeforeBetter
(11,441 posts)you reap what you sow, lady. I feel really bad for kids growing up in this loony gun culture.
pipoman
(16,038 posts)Trying to make a point and bring public attention to what just happened in Georgia.
Crunchy Frog
(26,579 posts)Democracyinkind
(4,015 posts)jwirr
(39,215 posts)day. Unfortunately I doubt he has any.
pipoman
(16,038 posts)jwirr
(39,215 posts)RandySF
(58,798 posts)In a sane world, the police would have carted him away and the game would have resumed. Instead, they canceled the game to accomodate his "rights".
BlancheSplanchnik
(20,219 posts)jwirr
(39,215 posts)Tierra_y_Libertad
(50,414 posts)McCamy Taylor
(19,240 posts)Concealed carry I can understand, but open carry seems like a terrorist threat.
pipoman
(16,038 posts)Hoyt
(54,770 posts)former9thward
(31,997 posts)Hoyt
(54,770 posts)former9thward
(31,997 posts)Which is why you did not answer the question. I am a rights fancier not an Authoritarian.
Hoyt
(54,770 posts)former9thward
(31,997 posts)Come on, you know you want to do it...
Hoyt
(54,770 posts)Response to Hoyt (Reply #119)
Post removed
LittleBlue
(10,362 posts)What a loser.
Crunchy Frog
(26,579 posts)The mother herself was apparently a vocal supporter of the new law while spouting off on Facebook. Not so happy now that it's come back to bite her in the butt.
Lex
(34,108 posts)turns out to feel not-so-great. I wonder why these people are incapable of thinking that far ahead.
MannyGoldstein
(34,589 posts)that I live in a state where this would never happen. If some nut showed up, the cops would figure out a way to make him go away, likely in cuffs.
Hoyt
(54,770 posts)into the 1970s. A good number of the old inbreds still live there, and worship their guns.
Lex
(34,108 posts)openly carrying the gun?
Hoyt
(54,770 posts)done so by the time they arrived. That's prime Tbag real estate.
Glitterati
(3,182 posts)she's just a NIMBY teapublican.
Lex
(34,108 posts)Glitterati
(3,182 posts)They all are around here.
They elected the sheriff. No way in hell he steps into this time bomb.
Agony
(2,605 posts)not supporting the constitution and all... sheesh
My country is a joke.
Skittles
(153,160 posts)Last edited Sun Apr 27, 2014, 06:54 PM - Edit history (1)
HERE IS AN EXAMPLE (George Zimmerman was another)
I can understand concealed carry, especially for people who need that kind of protection. But open carry at a kid's game ? WTF.
Spitfire of ATJ
(32,723 posts)SwankyXomb
(2,030 posts)and that guy wouldn't be menacing anyone any more. Hard to shoot with a crushed gun hand.
Spitfire of ATJ
(32,723 posts)I wonder if this asshat thought all the people playing baseball were a bunch of Liberal wimps.
Duckhunter935
(16,974 posts)I will assume you would wait until the knucklehead does something threatening other than just carrying a firearm.
Just live with the consequences.
Spitfire of ATJ
(32,723 posts)He was being an asshole.
ManiacJoe
(10,136 posts)Which is probably fortunate for a large fraction of the population.
Spitfire of ATJ
(32,723 posts)SummerSnow
(12,608 posts)tblue37
(65,340 posts)Iggo
(47,552 posts)pangaia
(24,324 posts)n2doc
(47,953 posts)Glitterati
(3,182 posts)Sadly, this incident won't change a thing. Teapublicans simply don't understand hiprocisy.
SummerSnow
(12,608 posts)Nothing is impossible with that group.
Blue Owl
(50,356 posts)n/t
dilby
(2,273 posts)The guy is trash but if he was a criminal wanting to kill a bunch of kids he would not be openly carrying.
ManiacJoe
(10,136 posts)This instance just happen to make the news.
The Straight Story
(48,121 posts)They see something, they get scared, and react. What they would rather have is a law that makes them feel good. Let's see how it works:
"You can't carry a gun anywhere because if I see it I am scared. Unless you are a cop, government employee, wealthy, etc." Ok - poof! We make it illegal.
Some lady wants to shoot someone and suddenly decides 'Well...damn. It is illegal to carry my gun in the open so I suppose I will just not do it'.
Is this guy just a jack ass? Yep. He deserves ridicule.
Will people on the left react just like people on the right do to blacks, muslims, women, people on welfare, etc and use this to try to make all gun owners look bad?
Yep. Because the idea of bias and stereotypes is embraced and used by both to foment fear and hate of others (and yet both sides seem to think the idea of doing that is wrong...but there, and here, it is).
Hoyt
(54,770 posts)in acquiring/carrying them.
Brigid
(17,621 posts)If I see somebody carrying a gun in a place where there is simply no need for it, I'm leaving. I know -- I've seen me do it.
seabeyond
(110,159 posts)protect them. pretty shitty thing to say. my only thought is you cannot be a parent.
hack89
(39,171 posts)Look, I do not support open carry - scaring and upsetting people is wrong. But this notion that the world just got more dangerous because people can carry guns in the open is nonsense. If this guy had his gun concealed, would he be less a threat?
seabeyond
(110,159 posts)making sure people know and see the gun and people have no recourse what so ever. from the article it sounded like there was a real intent for the man to intimidate the public with that gun.
yes. i would place that experience as more dangerous than a person that has a gun, concealed, and sittin watching a game.
a person that is saying hey all, look, i have a gun and can take you all down in a moment and there is not a damn thing you all can do, has a problem.
and yes, i also get the concept that people are walking around with guns and we are clueless. and that we all can potentially be victims of the unknown guns.
hack89
(39,171 posts)when I see a guy open carrying in public I walk the other way - ensuring that the chance of something bad happening is zero.
The guy who carries a concealed weapon into a public place with the intent to kill has something wrong with him too. The difference is that you cannot see him coming until it is too late.
seabeyond
(110,159 posts)the opportunity to take it seriously and protect themselves.
the poster i replied to said the parents were over reacting. i said with kids, in a situation like this, a parent is going to be protective of children.
yes. seeing the gun allows a person the opportunity to make choices. even if that choice is an "overreaction" in some peoples views.
that was the point of my reply.
the rest on carrying, not. concealed, not. observed, not. wasnt what i addressed
hack89
(39,171 posts)chrisa
(4,524 posts)In that context, it's threatening. It's not a normal thing to do.
I suspect the guy in the story was enjoying the fact that others were afraid of him. He's another wacko gun fetishist that would probably love it if someone confronted him so that he could shoot and claim self-defense.
Skittles
(153,160 posts)Last edited Mon Apr 28, 2014, 06:19 AM - Edit history (1)
and he is ARMED - F*** that
workinclasszero
(28,270 posts)And your kids as well. You can thank the republican party, teabaggers, and the fucking NRA for it!
Hoyt
(54,770 posts)Paladin
(28,254 posts)taught_me_patience
(5,477 posts)And would really bring out the DU gun supporters that would bend themselves into pretzels to justify it...
HockeyMom
(14,337 posts)The local police where we live will take citizens on patrol with them. My husband went on it once. The call was at an apartment building where one tenant was playing loud music. Their next door neighbor went to their apartment and told them to shut off the music. The man then opened his jacket to show them his gun although he did not actually SAY anything threatening to them.
The party people called the police on him and the gun owner (had CCW) was told that what he did was a crime and he could have been arrested for showing that gun to his neighbors. He was using it in a manner to instill fear in another person.
Vashta Nerada
(3,922 posts)Paladin
(28,254 posts)About the worst thing our resident Gun Enthusiasts are willing to accuse this guy of is rudeness.
Vashta Nerada
(3,922 posts)"this guy did nothing wrong".
That thread is full of ugliness.
SirRevolutionary
(579 posts)Too bad he wasn't vaping an ecig. Then the cops could have slapped him with a hefty fine and sent him on his way and the game could have gone on.