Showing a gun without justification to use it is a CRIME. It is called "brandishing". Only recently have some jurisdictions begun to consider allowing the showing of a firearm as a means to ward off an attack.
If you get into a verbal confrontation with somebody at a theater, as described in this case, and respond by putting a gun in your lap that others can see, you're heading to jail. The cops won't be laughing as you claim when a physical assault takes place.
You are spinning yourself silly. You are claiming that throwing popcorn was assault - and therefore grounds for escalation to lethal force - yet state that a lesser, non-lethal action - brandishment - should have been avoided because it would have been a crime? I imagine the criminal penalty for brandishment is a LOT lower than that for murder 2.
That, quite frankly, is one of the dumbest lines of debate I have ever seen on FR.
In hindsight, if the shooter who is now on suicide watch, having killed another white male American, an unarmed fellow Navy veteran and a young father, could choose whether
1) to take his chances with the legal system for brandishing or
2) for his present second degree murder rap and a jury trial unless he pleads out,
which do you think he would choose?
What conceivable principle could he stand for if he still chose the murder -- "cain't nobody thoe no popcorn in mah faice an git awuay widdit"?
“Showing a gun without justification to use it is a CRIME. It is called “brandishing”. Only recently have some jurisdictions begun to consider allowing the showing of a firearm as a means to ward off an attack.”
You’re an excellent example of someone who’s committed to a theory, and will double down endlessly despite being clearly wrong. You remind me of many global warming supporters...
As a CCW holder, there is no problem with “brandishing” your weapon if you have just cause to draw it and potentially shoot someone. For instance, if you see a man beating a woman on the sidewalk, it is perfectly permissible to draw your weapon and warn the man to stop or he’ll be shot. If he stops, it’s fine to hold him at gunpoint until the police arrive. You will not be in any trouble. and there is CERTAINLY no requirement to shoot him rather than warning him first. You should look into the myriad of accounts where simply exhibiting a weapon defused the situation...
I really, really hope you are not a CCW holder given your general cluelessness in this area.