Posted on 04/26/2013 7:05:36 AM PDT by LibWhacker
CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- A man who walks around his neighborhood with a rifle strapped to his back says he is not a threat to harm anyone, but some neighbors fear he is an incident of vigilante justice waiting to happen.
John Schultz, 19, also wears a bullet-proof vest, carries ammunition and has a knife in a holster as he walks through Walnut Creek, which is off Sunset Road in north Charlotte.
The gun is his grandfather’s 303 British Enfield from WWII.
His walks cause double-takes as well as safety concerns for some. Schultz says others thank him and wave at him.
He says his walks are for exercise and picking up garbage, but also for looking out for his neighbors.
"It's nothing to do with the body armor, it's the person,” Schultz said. “Yes, it just so happens to be there."
“It’s a problem and a concern,” said neighbor Vanessa Aidara.
She says the rifle scares her and scares her kids to the point they won’t play in the yard.
"He could be good without the rifle. The rifle is what scares everybody because why do you need a rifle to pick up trash, get a trash bag,” Aidara said.
Schultz says he's spotted peeping toms and potential burglars in backyards while on his walks, which include in nearby woods, but not on private property.
"I won't brandish a firearm or anything, I won't chase somebody around. I will ask them to stop,” Schultz said.
"Let the police take care of that, not you,” said Aidara.
Aidara says she called police the first time she saw Schultz walking down the street.
“I had a panic attack, didn’t know what was going on,” she said.
She fears Schultz could be an incident of vigilante justice waiting to happen, or someone could target him for violence because he is armed.
"He could get hurt,” Aidara said.
"She's not really wanted to talk to me,” Schultz said.
If she did, Schultz says Aidara would feel different.
He's from a military family, hates garbage, loves his neighborhood and says he isn't looking for a fight.
Aidara wants the rifle-strapped neighborhood walks to stop.
Schutlz’s answer is no.
Police say Schultz isn't breaking any laws because he's not pointing the gun at anyone or threatening anyone with it.
Further evidence of the pussification of America...
“...and has a knife in a holster”
knife holster, aka a SHEATH
Wow. Aidara (and others like her) are a serious danger to society. She needs professional help. Phobias can be overcome with treatment.
Power hungry politicians use people like Aidara to pass laws to take control of all of our lives.
My bud owns a local gas/quickstop in AZ. He’s always open carry armed. I harass him how shocked and offended offended I am and threaten to take my money elsewhere all the time ;)
He says that maybe 1 in 1000 will see his gun and do a 180 and he will live without their business just fine.
This pathetic woman can move.
“She fears someone could target him for violence because he is armed. He could get hurt, Aidara said”
Ah yes, the old “were taking away you rights for your own good” trick. An oldie but a goodie.
Having said that, it is a little odd to be walking a neighborhood with a rifle.
“Police say Schultz isn’t breaking any laws because he’s not pointing the gun at anyone or threatening anyone with it.”
In that case this Aidara woman needs to STFU!
Media’s way to otherize gun owners. Kid is a weirdo.
He’s well within his rights, but I’m sorry, after watching that video - that is one odd duck.
If I lived there I would join him, first I would have to go out on the lake and mount a recovery operation.
Damn... that neighborhood looks empty... does he have friends?
Does he carry a long gun and wear armor in residential areas?
She fears Schultz could be an incident of vigilante justice waiting to happen, or someone could target him for violence because he is armed.>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
We need more like him. IN every neighborhood across the nation. And BTW,from the photo I can see thats not a full military version of the Lee Enfield British .303 cal, its forstock has been cut down and the gun converted to a sport hunting version.The foresight has also been changed.
otherize???
Somebody didn’t get enough hugs and attention...
Google “Aidara” and see what you think afterwards.. you can also scan Vanessa Aidara....
Actuality he’s considering it. I don’t see the problem in Obama’s new America (now that it’s complete with flashmobs and terror attacks,) with doing just that, do you?
Hahaha! Thanks 4 saying what i wss thinking... that being said, i appreciate quirkiness...
When I was a kid you seldom saw young men; teens to say 25 out hiking around that didn’t have a rifle and a knife. Of course few people lived around us so we knew who all of them were. I wonder why she doesn’t just talk to him, get a feel for what kind of guy he is before getting all wound up about it. It astonishes me how much this country has changed in not so many years.
When the Columbine school shooting happened I told my kids that when I went to high school nearly every boy had rifles in their truck in the parking lot- yet no school shootings. Imagine that, all those rifles just sitting in those racks in the back window of pickups- none of them shot anyone.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.