Tasered for openly carrying rifle in Texas

[IRiSH_SpRinG]

That cop had a LOT of patience..the kid is an idiot and makes the rest of us looks bad. If you're going to carry, do it right..and if an officer gives you an ORDER, just follow it and sue later..

Furthermore, how do you take a weapon from someone who states "he isn't doing anything wrong" and won't hand the weapon over? Would you chance grabbing it? What's your life worth?

San Antonio Ordinance Section 21-16 states: “It shall be unlawful for any person, other than duly authorized peace officers, to carry a loaded rifle or shotgun on any public street within the city or in a motor vehicle while the same is being operated on any public street within the city.”

[Cypriss32]

So using your rights granted under the law will get you more restrictions? This is unbelievable thinking. I'm sure next you will say don't take yours guns out to shooting ranges because it might get more restrictions. Flame I don't care, this kind of thinking is dangerous for our triggers.

[butchy_boy]

Umm no. If you follow orders regardless of their legitimacy you are reinforcing their belief that they can do anything and we should automatically accept it.

[cruising7388]

Umm no. If you follow orders regardless of their legitimacy you are reinforcing their belief that they can do anything and we should automatically accept it.

Refusing to following orders from a LEO because you doubt the legitimacy of the order is not a wise thing to do. The legitimacy of the order and the legal consequences for an illegitimate order is something you subseqently hash out in court, not on the street. In many places, resisting an arrest, even an arrest that is subsequently determined to be unwarranted, is a criminal offense in and of itself. It is what it is.

[hvengel]

...Open carrying a rifle or carbine whether loaded or unloaded is a serious risk to the safety of the populace in an urban setting -- ...

Pure BS and clearly this is an anti gun rights position. Constitutional rights are not dependent on population density. After all are religious or free speech rights taken away if you live in a city. Why on earth would you think this it is valid to take away peoples rights because of where they live? My god what is wrong with you?

[tophatjones]

The ramifications of legal open carrying will vary depending on public perception, in other words, culture. This is where 2A supporters have been losing the battle with antis. As long as we are perceived as ignorant and dangerous, we'll never truly have the right to keep and bear as our forefathers intended. We must fight the battle on a much larger/longer scale and show that gun owners are responsible and not to be feared.

I believe open carrying is protected by the 2A but also accept the fact that urban culture is not ready for culture shock. They must be won over gradually. We must patiently and vigilantly educate those who would learn and counter the inane arguments of those who would irrationally defame gun owners.

[Audiojake]

Refusing to following orders from a LEO because you doubt the legitimacy of the order is not a wise thing to do. The legitimacy of the order and the legal consequences for an illegitimate order is something you subseqently hash out in court, not on the street. In many places, resisting an arrest, even an arrest that is subsequently determined to be unwarranted, is a criminal offense in and of itself. It is what it is.

That doesn't mean people should go lock step in agreement with it.

I have refused searches from police officers numerous times.

Every single time they have backed down. When a citizen is willing to exercise RIGHTS. Cops know the score, and back down plenty of times.

But that Cop has too see it in your eyes, you truly have too believe your in the right.

I am willing to die for my rights, cause in the end, why live in a country where you have none.

The fight it in court stuff is not good advice.

Cops have DA,judges,Unions,public money too fight for them.

Stand up for yourself.

Also NEVER EVER NEVER, talk too cops. They are not here too help folks.

That may have been the case 50 years ago. Not now with Guilty till I say your innocent.

My Uncle was LA PD for 30 years, just retired. Told me too never EVER talk or call the police. They are not here too help you.

There job is too enforce laws, keep public order, and put people in jail.

Also remember that Cops have a legal right too protect themselves FROM YOU.

[Mulay El Raisuli]

The ramifications of legal open carrying will vary depending on public perception, in other words, culture. This is where 2A supporters have been losing the battle with antis. As long as we are perceived as ignorant and dangerous, we'll never truly have the right to keep and bear as our forefathers intended. We must fight the battle on a much larger/longer scale and show that gun owners are responsible and not to be feared.

I believe open carrying is protected by the 2A but also accept the fact that urban culture is not ready for culture shock. They must be won over gradually. We must patiently and vigilantly educate those who would learn and counter the inane arguments of those who would irrationally defame gun owners.

The biggest (best) argument for the value Open Carry is that it gets urban culture ready for the shock.


The Raisuli

[gobler]

And this is where you are wrong. City ordinance cannot supersede State law! It is an illegal ordinance and the cops should know this. They had ZERO cause to disarm and stop him. Add to that, things were going peaceably until officer "quick draw" arrived. That young man has every right to exorcise his rights without fear of being molested by LE.

[mtsul]

Police get calls that someone is pointing a rifle at people. Police find person and simply ask him to lay down his rifle so they can talk to him. But no, the kid had to argue and be a jerk. The police have no idea what he is doing or who he is or what he may be intending to do. They have to go off the calls that were placed.

It is easy to judge after the fact. But maybe if the kid did the simple request of just laying down his firearm so they could talk to him things would have turned out differently. But no, he had to act like he did.

Go ahead and flame away, I don't care. If he would have just done as asked, things would have turned out differently.

You are saying LEOs have the power to have me lay down my legally carried arms!
Sorry but no my right to carry shall not be infringed by scared people in bullet proof vest with backup and a hand on there gun, they carry we carry they take a job of higher risk! I applaud them for it! But that does not mean they can brake the law and disarm me.
(I'm speaking about Texas, and my view on th OP)

[92E2]

...I predict the cop who tazed him will get a good "talking to" and be put back on the streets.

It sounds like the officer operating the taser is barking orders at the kid while the taser is still shocking the kid (roll over, put you hands behind your back).

When someone is being tasered, they loose muscle control (but can still speak). The cop operating the taser must have flunked that part of his taser training and should take his training over again.

If they decide in the kid's favor, the kid should get 1 free taser shot to even the score at which time the cop should be instructed to do jumping jacks while the taser is still firing.

[92E2]

You are saying LEOs have the power to have me lay down my legally carried arms!
...

Look at what happened to lawful gun owners in New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina when the US citizens needed their guns the most. These folks were not even carrying in public. Illegal search and seizure.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Q2BXH0JfOc

It was illegal when they did it and they did not voluntarily return the guns afterwards. Later they reassured the public that they would make yet another law to make what was already illegal, illegal. Go figure.

[javalos]

A majority of these police-citizen contacts can end peacefully and without incident, however police simply choose to aggressively pursue the wrong approach. Cops being cops.