Why would a man hang around in a mall parking lot,

[pnwmom]

smoking a cigarette, and repeatedly "handle" a shotgun? And hold it over his head?

"A man with a shotgun was arrested Friday afternoon after a Northgate Mall shopper found his behavior alarming.

"The man, who wore a cowboy hat, a white shirt and khaki pants, walked to his Ford Explorer with the shotgun and put it in the vehicle, police spokeswoman Renee Witt said. He then lingered outside the vehicle smoking a cigarette and at times handled the gun in the Explorer, police said."

Read more: http://www.seattlepi.com/local/article/Man-with-shotgun-cowboy-hat-detained-at-4448157.php#ixzz2REUymONt

"According to the Seattle Police Department, a man wearing a cowboy hat and holding what appeared to be a shotgun or rifle over his head was spotted standing next to his car in the parking lot on the west side of the mall around 12:30 p.m.

"The man then got into his car and sat there with the door open, according to police."

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Man-with-shotgun-arrested-at-Northgate-Mall-203819641.html


Was he just trying to get attention? Was he hoping to scare somebody?

A couple facts: the parking law is on private property.

Washington state law says:

http://apps.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=9.41.270

RCW 9.41.270
Weapons apparently capable of producing bodily harm — Unlawful carrying or handling — Penalty — Exceptions.

(1) It shall be unlawful for any person to carry, exhibit, display, or draw any firearm, dagger, sword, knife or other cutting or stabbing instrument, club, or any other weapon apparently capable of producing bodily harm, in a manner, under circumstances, and at a time and place that either manifests an intent to intimidate another or that warrants alarm for the safety of other persons.

[onehandle]

1. Overcompensation? nt

[JI7]

2. white shirt and khaki pants

that's supposed to be suspicious according to freepers

[arely staircase]

24. +1 nt

[alcibiades_mystery]

3. Cowboy Dan's a major player in the cowboy scene

He goes to the Northgate Mall drinks and gets mean
He drove the parking lot, fired his shotgun in the sky
And says, "God if I have to die you will have to die"
Well, Cowboy Dan's a major player in the cowboy scene
He goes the the Northgate Mall drinks and gets mean
I didn't move to the city, the city moved to me
And he wants out desperately-a-ey a-ey...

[pnwmom]

5. Mystery solved.

[WinkyDink]

26. That? Is AWESOME.

[alcibiades_mystery]

28. Well

[upaloopa]

4. I don't understand what "handling the gun in the explorer"

means. There doesn't seem to be a way to shoot something unless he had both hands on the gun which I can't visualize from the post.

[pnwmom]

6. I didn't either. But "holding . . . a shotgun or rifle over his head" seems pretty clear.

[onethatcares]

10. just maybe, the LEO on scene

couldn't figure out how to spell "fondling"?

[UnrepentantLiberal]

13. I thought was describing lewd behavior.

[longship]

31. You don't want to know.

It's one of those too much information situations.

Please don't ask again.

[bowens43]

7. There's a reason they're called gun nuts......

[jberryhill]

8. Well, where would you prefer he do it?

There you are, driving down the road and you get the urge to have a smoke. So, you pull into the mall parking lot and light up. Well, now that you have a few minutes on your hands, what better time to take out your shotgun and make sure it is clean and ready to go.

[pnwmom]

18. And what better place for taking it out and holding it over your head? n/t

[jberryhill]

30. Maybe his wife won't let him do it at home

So, there you are.

[Journeyman]

9. Handled his "gun" inside the vehicle. . .

I find myself remembering old cadences chanted while we marched in formation:

"This is my weapon, this is my gun; this is for shooting, this is for fun."

Puts a whole new perspective on what he was doing in that Explorer.

[justhanginon]

21. Omigod did that bring back memories. A long time ago. n/t

[muriel_volestrangler]

11. For the hunting opportunities, of course

The Buck Stops Here: Pa. hunter charged with shooting deer from Walmart parking lot

They say you can get almost anything at Walmart. But the Pennsylvania Game Commission says one deer hunter took it too far.

Arcangelo Bianco Jr. is charged with reckless endangerment and hunting law violations for allegedly shooting across a highway to kill a 10-point buck he spotted in a Walmart parking lot last November.

According to CBS Pittsburgh, Bianco had been shopping at the store about 30 miles east of Pittsburgh, and then saw the deer in the parking lot.

The charging documents state that when the buck ran around a corner of the store, Bianco hopped out of his truck, gun in hand, and "began firing multiple rounds at the deer."

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504083_162-57576670-504083/the-buck-stops-here-pa-hunter-charged-with-shooting-deer-from-walmart-parking-lot/

[pnwmom]

15. Another idiot. n/t

[Tikki]

12. And RCW 9.41.270 should add: and exhibitionism by proxy...

Tikki

[pnwmom]

14. Is that supposed to mean something? n/t

[Tikki]

20. Definition...

Exhibitionism: is the act of exposing in a public or semi-public context those parts that are not normally exposed.



Tikki

[pnwmom]

23. I understood the meaning of the words separately.

But until you spelled it out, I didn't understand the meaning of the full phrase . . . .

Thanks. I agree.

[gateley]

17. Thanks -- I didn't THINK it was okay to do that here!

[Skittles]

16. he was whacking his gun off

[pnwmom]

19. LOL

Yes, that would explain it.

[bushisanidiot]

22. Gun nut who is seeking attention because he thinks he's being oppressed

It reminds me of the kid in a back seat of their parents car who puts his hand in front of his siblings face and proclaims: "I'm not touching you! I'm not touching you!"

[Dash87]

25. Contemplating suicide? It's a possibility.

[Incitatus]

29. My guess is contemplating murder

but that could be it too.

[geckosfeet]

27. Some people are just ignorant of the local laws. His behavior was clearly unusual.

I get jittery when I pass hunters while out for for walk.

[ellenfl]

32. is 'shotgun' a euphemism? eom

[Baitball Blogger]

33. I think they're pushing the limits.

[arely staircase]

34. what was his excuse?

waiting on the gunsmith in the mall to open? still doesn't justify waiving it around. but did he have any kind of excuse, lame as it may be?

[Electric Monk]

35. It's Obama's fault, of course

(do I need this?)