Things did not go very well for this open carry individual in Massachusetts:
Star Wars Stormtrooper arrested outside of elementary school
A Stormtrooper was arrested yesterday outside an elementary school in Lynn, Mass. George Cross, 40, said he "was walking through the neighborhood showing friends" his costume and blaster when the principal spotted him and called police. According to WHDH, Cross was "arraigned on charges of disturbing a school in addition to violating a city ordinance of loitering within 1,000 feet of a school."
Source:
http://boingboing.net/...
Meanwhile this A-Hole wanders through the unsecured part of ATL airport...with a VERY REAL AR-15 and extended round drum mag. Wow.
http://www.nydailynews.com/...
Yes, I know the laws are very different between GA and MA, but the contrast is a little crazy-making.
(from the story above)
>>...In one clip, after a guard tells him he is scaring passengers, Cooley replies: “Well, people’s fear are not my responsibility.” In another, his daughter stands nearby, with her back to the camera, as he argues with a fire marshal.<<
Actually, other people's fears do have a legitimate interest...embodied even in Georgia's vaguely worded Disorderly Conduct statute; the sections that arguably pertain being:
(a) A person commits the offense of disorderly conduct when such person commits any of the following:
(1) Acts in a violent or tumultuous manner toward another person whereby such person is placed in reasonable fear of the safety of such person´s life, limb, or health;
(2) Acts in a violent or tumultuous manner toward another person whereby the property of such person is placed in danger of being damaged or destroyed;
Of course, this individual replies thus:
"People think that if you're simply carrying your firearm, regardless of how you're carrying it, you're a bad person," he told the News Wednesday morning. "But if you're not carrying it in a menacing or threatening manner, it should be no cause for concern for anybody."
I disagree that there IS a "non-threatening" way to openly carry a semiautomatic, multi-round magazine capacity rifle through a densely populated urban area or public place such as an airport.
Texas Law is even more explicit on this point:
Sec. 42.01. DISORDERLY CONDUCT. (a) A person commits an offense if he intentionally or knowingly:
8) displays a firearm or other deadly weapon in a public place in a manner calculated to alarm;
Again, had this happened in Texas, I think this man would be in breach of the above. Because I do not believe there is no safe or reasonable manner that one can carry a semi-auto multi-round capacity mag loaded rifle that will NOT "cause alarm". In rural Texas nobody would bat an eye, perhaps. But at IAH Bush Intercontinental it might (and should be reasonably expected to) go down a little differently.
From the story:
"Jim Cooley is legally allowed to have his rifle in the terminal of the world's busiest airport for passenger traffic, and he told the Daily News he has no concerns about igniting fear in those who see him packing in public."
He is technically in the clear with GA's "Guns everywhere" law, even if he's wrong on some of the particulars, as highlighted by David Waldman aka KagroX yesterday on Daily Kos Radio. But his utter disregard and indifference to inducing fear in his fellow citizens skirts awfully close to still tripping even Georgia's more vaguely worded Disorderly Conduct statute.
Hmmm. Maybe just arrest him for Disorderly Conduct and let himself explain himself to the judge through his lawyer and if it still passes muster, fine, thank you sir, have a nice day, sorry to trouble you. Rather than play "jail house lawyer" on the street with patrol cops.
Takeaway...
Playing fictional character carrying a Fake Toy Blaster -- BAD! ARREST HIM!
Grumpy old white guy with a Real AR-15 -- Loyal Patriot! Carry on, sir!