Posted on 06/01/2007 1:26:08 PM PDT by em2vn
POST FALLS Zach Doty typically wears a tie and dress shirt to church. But lately, a new accessory of his is raising alarm in Post Falls.
After turning 18 last month, the Post Falls teenager began strapping a loaded 9 mm Glock 19 handgun to his belt every day. He totes it in full view to Bible studies, the public library, city parks and neighborhood stores and on walks around town.
His 15-year-old brother, Stephen, has joined him, carrying a loaded Ruger .22-caliber rifle slung over his shoulder.
The brothers, who are home-schooled, say they're flexing their Second Amendment right, which allows citizens to bear arms. They say they're protecting themselves and others, deterring crime and making a statement about constitutional freedoms.
"If you don't exercise a right, eventually it will go away," Zach Doty said last week, a handgun tucked in a holster on his hip. "I'd like to raise people's awareness that it's a right, and I hope to encourage others to exercise that right."
The brothers are stirring up concern about citizen safety and gun responsibility.
Residents have alerted police and complained to the city. Police officers have stopped the boys on several occasions in the past six weeks.
And city officials say the brothers' action may lead to restrictions on carrying weapons on public property within city limits. At this time, the city doesn't have an ordinance that prohibits firearms in most public buildings.
"It obviously has created some controversy in the community.
We are fielding a significant number of calls from concerned citizens about how we're going to react to this and how we're going to ensure their safety is upheld," Post Falls City Administrator Eric Keck said. "It really is a matter of defining things very carefully and balancing maintaining one's rights and what has become the norm of society. It's something we're really going to have to examine."
I do have a bit of a problem with a 15 year old carrying arms without adult supervision. Just from a legal standpoint, anyone under 18 is not an adult and generally can’t be held legally responsible for their actions. The “charged as an adult” exceptions are in cases where there was a very serious crime, with obvious criminal intent, and usually a long juvenile rap sheet as well. “I forgot to make sure it wasn’t loaded” or “I forgot to consider the backstop” don’t get you charged as an adult (nor should they). The right can reasonably be curtailed for a minor or mentally deficient person who cannot be held to the accompanying responsibilities.
Sorry, but this IS a test.
City officials will ultimately decide on these kids right to walk down the street locked and loaded.
Or the public’s right to safety.
That's an easy one: EVERY gun is ALWAYS loaded.
First rule my kid was taught.
yup.
It’s the North Dakota of today.
Virtually every truck outside of a Metro Area has a gun in it. Usually in the passenger seat.
(And we don’t have many Metro Areas.)
I think in the country like I did would be great, but I am thinking more the mall or church. I just don’t think my parents would have accepted that. My kids will not carry them around like that either. Although they do hunt. We are from Pennsylvania after all. First Day of Hunting is a holy day here. lol.
Oh, there a .45 in mine right now. Here in Newer Fallujah (Memphis TN) its required!
And to think that as a kid we boarded the bus with our rifles from the rifle team. We cleaned them at home.
I am thinking more the mall or church
I would agree in the sense that it may be bad ettiquette, especially in church- But I have worn a sidearm into stores/malls on numerous occasions. Particularly during hunting season.
-Bruce
Then my childhood towns would have shocked you. We all had guns, our military fathers had guns, and summer was get on your bike and go plinking season. Ammo cost was our only discouragement.
Funny you mention military. I am in almost 20 years and we cannot carry one around on base at all. Don’t have one in your car either. Sound crazy??? It is amazing that is for sure.
I remember, in Mass of all places, I used to bring my rifle to High School so I could go hunting Bambi in NH and Vermont over the Thanksgiving Holiday, LOL.
Exactly.
“If you don’t know your rights, you don’t have any.”
I agree on the first part, but open carry is limited to a significant minority of states.
When I was a kid we’d walk around with rifles, no problem. The fact that these boys are getting such a hassle is proof of the unending wussification of America.
A federal court would not hear this case. The second amendment protects against federal infringement, not state infringement.
If they can take them away, that means they can give them back. But you said our rights were given to us by God.
Our rights are inherent. We the people decide which of these rights we will protect and to what extent.
I understand what you are saying. Some of these “When we were kids” folks are being a bit disingenuous.
It was not uncommon to me and my friends walking down the street with rifles in the ‘80s in Louisiana, or any other kid for that matter. It was obvious we were going “hunting” for something. It was not uncommon for teenagers to have gun racks, complete with guns, in their trucks at the high school parking lot. That’s what they are made for.
I would have been quite unique, to say the least, to see a kid packing a sidearm at church or the local pizza place. I would not have trusted such a person even though I owned and frequently used numerous guns. Why would I not have trusted this person? It was blatantly out of the norm of accepted behavior in our little society. Just because you can do a thing does not mean you SHOULD do it.
That's right. That's the attitude today -- if it's legal I can do it and don't you dare criticize me or impose your standards on me.
“How so? It’s legal.”
That’s right. That’s the attitude today —
Yep, by that philosophy abortions should be encouraged. They are legal, after all.
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