Unspoken Threats

[sunnystarr]

After reading about Fuller's arrest for taking a picture of a Tea Party leader at a town hall meeting while mumbling "you're dead" and the arrest of a Republican candidate who posted "threats" on her FaceBook page: "Someday Boooooom while your setting in your offices," read a second. "And you know I won't even be the one pulling the trigger," said another ...

I thought about all the non-verbal threats by people openly brandishing their guns in a political setting. Why wouldn't this be considered a threat? If someone wearing a gun hears something they don't like and puts their hand to their pistol, isn't that a threat as well?

Guns are meant to intimidate - to threaten. To let others know ... don't mess with me or I can shoot you. Guns in a public setting have only one purpose ... to kill or injure another person. A death threat!

[baldguy]

1. K&R

[ProgressiveProfessor]

2. Logic Fail: Exercising a right is not a threat

Open carry in public is legal in a lot of place, surprisingly even in California. It is not brandishing or threatening and can not legitimately be described as meant intimidate.

[Bigmack]

4. When I carry... I carry concealed..

the assclowns with their large hand-cannons strapped openly on their hips are brandishing. Their purpose is to exercise their right, but it's foremost purpose is to be in people's faces. Look at the weapons, the holsters, and their body postures.... brandishing.

[slackmaster]

10. The term "brandishing" has a specific legal definition that varies from place to place

Generally it doesn't cover simply wearing or carrying a weapon.

YMMV

[petronius]

16. In CA, I assume it's CPC 417 - which seems like it could be more broadly interpreted

than I would have guessed.

"Every person who, except in self-defense, in the presence of
any other person, draws or exhibits any firearm, whether loaded or
unloaded, in a rude, angry, or threatening manner..."

I don't see "exhibits" defined in the section, but it seems like it could reasonably include any act - touching the firearm or even changing posture - that is designed to call attention to it...

[ProgressiveProfessor]

14. Clearly preferrred practice, if its allowed

And that is the problem. Try and get a concealed carry permit in most parts of California...

[The Magistrate]

5. Quite Often, Sir, It Is Certainly Intended To Intimidate

You know that perfectly well, of course.

[Recursion]

7. I do not wish for windows into men's souls

To quote Elizabeth I.

Were people who quite loudly openly carried at rallies in 2008 trying to intimidate, trying to annoy, or making the point that they had that right by exercising it?

[Hello_Kitty]

13. I was at some of those rallies in Arizona. I'd say all of the above.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

15. Sometimes

In some places it is very hard to get CCWs. The result is open carry.

[svsuman23]

3. I have to disagree..

You said "Guns are meant to intimidate - to threaten. To let others know ... don't mess with me or I can shoot you. Guns in a public setting have only one purpose ... to kill or injure another person. A death threat!"


When I carry in public, I DON'T want anyone to know I have a gun. Because I don't plan on using it, but I have it in case someone threatens MY life so I can defend myself. It is not a "death threat" to anyone when I carry my gun.


The problem comes when you get someone who doesn't care who carries a gun.

[sunnystarr]

6. I addressed those who were "openly brandishing guns"

and that this was an unspoken threat.

However, I don't believe that anyone should be able to attend a political rally with a gun, concealed or open. You can't carry one a plane, or go into a courthouse or school with a gun. Political events shouldn't be an exception.

While the right to bear arms is protected, the law certainly limit this in certain places. Political events should be part of that limitation.

[svsuman23]

9. how many people DO carry to political events and nothing happens?

Should we govern and make laws because of actions of few people?

[sunnystarr]

11. Sorry hun but your logic is flawed ...

Our laws are made for the actions of a few all the time. How many people murder others? How many people rape others? As a percentage of our population?

[socialist_n_TN]

8. Yep, I agree with you about the OPEN carry of a handgun.............

at a political event. That's an attempt at intimidation. And I'm not sure WHAT I'd do if someone put their hand on a gun while having an argument with me. There's a good possibility that I would consider that a threat to my life and act accordingly.

Concealed carry isn't an attempt at intimidation IMO, simply because you don't know it's there.

[DCKit]

12. When did they take Bill'O, Limbaugh and Beck into custody?

RT did a segment this a.m. with taped outtakes of their various, ugly rants over the years.

Had I said anything in public even approaching the level of violence they advocate against Democrats and, especially our President, the very least I could expect would be a rigorous mental health assay.