Police ticket man who wore gun in store

[yorketransport]

It's all about perception. Some customer at Albertson's spots a guy with a gun on his hip and "perceives" him as a threat. Whether or not that's actually the case, I feel like the Police are a customer service based organization. They need to respond the the perception of the customer, who in this scenario was the person who call 911.

Now, my personal opinion is that the whiny moron who called the cops should get smacked on the back of the head and told to shut up. If he felt threatened by the man with the gun, why not just walk away. It's the same thing I tell my kids. If you don't like it, don't be a part of it. But, and it's a BIG but, if it's illegal, tell someone about it. As we all know though, open carry is perfectly legal. The idiot should have just walked away.

If the cops had only ticketed the man, I'd be mad at them for writing the ticket. It would be a pain for the gentleman who got the ticket, but it will certainly be thrown out and he wouldn't have to pay it. But to hear that they confiscated the gun as well, I'm seriously ticked off. Now this is going to become a big ordeal that will cost everyone more money and time than any of them should have to spend on this issue. I imagine a lawsuit for wrongfull confiscation of the gun, lost income from time off work to fight the ticket, "punitive damages", and who knows what else, will be coming shortly.  All of this is going to cost the victim time and money, and the Police Dept time and money. It's a waste of EVERYONE's time and money.

All of this because some whiny little baby, who doesn't know the local laws, "perceived" this man as a threat. He should have walked up and thanked the armed citizen for openly carrying and there by publicly proclaiming "Not on my watch!"

Andrew

[Wile E. Hunter]

I think you're right, that the police need to respond to the perception of a person calling in a complaint, or concern, but once the determination is made that no law had been broken, they should've informed the person that called 911 of the law.

[Axle]

Sadly, most officers are trained only on how to collect revenue from motorists. They need to train them on a citizens rights.

Perhaps a document called 'the constitution' would be a good start.

[Curly]

 
All the crazy Pelosi that is going on these days is going to drive me insane.........  I may have to stop reading the news for a few days to try to bring my blood pressure down...

[Diehard0123]

That law says: “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.”

This situation is utterly stupid!  If they guy was walking around with his hand on the gun that would be different.  Law enforcement are trained that they do not walk around with their hand on their service weapon for this reason, same with playing with hand cuffs such as ratcheting them or twirling them on their finger.  If the law was as the Vancouver PD interprates it then we would all be in violation of the law when we go into the woods with a rifle to hunt.  The Antis would have a field day with this.  All they would need to do is call 911 when ever they see a hunter in the field and say that they are intimidated.  If I go out and play a game of baseball and someone feels that my baseball bat is intimidating then the same rule would apply.  If I had the same bat in my hand while confronting some punk and slapping the barrel of the bat into my palm then that would be consided intimidation.

[Wacenturion]

Interesting..........a scumbag breaks the law, cop subdues him with force, and in doing so hits him.....bad...cop was wrong...criminal has rights....sues...gets off whatever.  Then a law abiding citizen carrying in an open carry state does nothing but obey the law and exercises his right and he gets a ticket and property confiscated, and in the process is treated like a criminal in front of folks.

Something is really wrong with this equation.....the officer and that department need a good lesson from a good attorney, like in a law suit for wrongful whatever and damages.  Cop needs leave without pay and someone to teach him the law.

[huntnphool]

I have a feeling Workman just got the topic for his next article.

[boneaddict]

according to that law i should have been ticketed the other day.  I walked into walmart becasue I broke my ax.  I then walked through the store with it.  My mood could have easily been interpreted as annoyed.

[duckaholic]

it not just the cop but Sgt. Greg Raquer is just as guilty if you ask me.

“Most responsible people don’t display their firearm in public".


and it says "Officers explained the law" what book were they trained out of? because apparently they  don't know the laws them self, i don't know what u would call a cop that dose such a thing because he sure is not a "law enforcement" officer you have to know the law to enforce it at least i thought that is how things worked

[high country]

I believe the law uses the term display as a verb, a verb shows action, there was no action so therefore, no intent. I would have to argue that I am not displaying my gun, but carrying my gun.

[Thenewguy]

Ridiculous, we should have a march on capital hill with everyone open carrying. That would get some attention!

[shoot-em-dead]

I wonder when they are going to confiscate my leatherman. It is on my hip at all times.

[corktex]

Alarm was unwarranted,detainment and citation was unwarranted,confiscation was unwarranted!! Polite explanation of the law,to the complaintant was warranted,perhaps this is yet another test of the concept of what is and is not warranted! Perhaps the officers wish to challenge the law just to placate local sentiment? Perhaps common sense is not all that common!

[h2ofowlr]

I witnessed a guy open carrying in Anacortes in a deli last week.  He didn't look to be a cop of any sort and didn't have a badge.  Just a citizen supporting his right to carry.  I wish more would do it.

[Deep Forks]

  The man's wife stated on the (open carry forum) that she was also carrying and since she was wearing a jacket the LEO's didn't ticket her and gave her weapon back.  She also said they had hired an attorney and he told them not to comment further and any info could be sent to him.  I didn't know about the open carry organization, but now that I do, I will join, it seems worthwhile.