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 grandfathers 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."
Its a problem and a concern, said neighbor Vanessa Aidara.
She says the rifle scares her and scares her kids to the point they wont 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, didnt 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.
Schutlzs 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.
Another point. Just because of this liberal witch, the next time he gets a traffic ticket or has contact with the police, the computer pops up his record of having been contacted for a potential gun crime. Thus cops will be ‘ready’ to (over) react and if he so much as sneezes, he could meet a bad end.
Is that worth assuaging the fears of a lib whack job? And what of every other person no contacted?
Adaira probably has anxiety attacks when her favorite TV show is preempted.
From the line I pointed out, it sure doesn't sound like that is what you were inferring. in fact, taken at face value, it looked as though you were advocating stopping someone merely for the fact they had a gun on them.
Even if the lady made a complaint, they should have asked her what he had done, other than walk around with a rifle over his shoulder. If she could not come up with anything reasonable, they should have informed her that he was doing nothing illegal and then left him alone.If there was no real concern, then there should have been no reason to stop him.
Even if the LOEs knew he was doing nothing wrong, I understand why they did it at a personal level. The law abiding citizen isn't going to have a problem with a friendly chat on public ground with an LEO. In fact most of us enjoy the interaction. On the other hand the near panicked minority liberal who is afraid of guns is apt to completely come off the tracks if told her fears are un-warrented and left at that. Simple CYA on their part.
I cannot see where you would make that inference. I carry concealed if outside the house (except at work). I am licensed. I support open carry if that's what people prefer.
I have never seen an individual dressed in business attire, wearing a military vest with a rifle strapped over his shoulder walking through a very suburban neighborhood. I advocate talking to him. If it happened in my neighborhood, I would go talk to him. The liberal hysteric that called the police is just that.
I would also go investigate a UFO landing at the neighborhood gazebo and/or a group of clowns fishing in our retention pond.
How would they know it’s a violation or not, if they didn’t check?
She told the cops what? That he walked through the hood with a legal gun in a legal manner? Or did she lie? So what is the exact legal reason for contact unless she told them of a crime?
If they do not know the law they need training, not going and ‘contacting’ someone who does for a legal activity.
What other legal activities should we have happytime with the police for? What other questions that should not ever been asked about a legal activity should we answer?
And lastly, may I see your papers please? No? Why? have you nothing to hide? You post on a right wing forum. It is critical of the government. You may be a danger to Obama. Lets talk in the car or down at the station...comrade.
If he was drunk or under the influence of drugs, which in this case is believable, it would be a violation, or he could be a felon.
Believable based on WHAT!?!?!?
That it’s not normal that one would see people walking around the neighborhood with a vest, ammo, knife and a long gun. Some people, even freepers, may consider eccentric or weird behavior to be a sign of possibly being under the influence of something.
If he had a handgun, I bet no one would have even noticed...and everyone would have been just as safe.
Normal is not the issue. Law is. The Constitution is And where I live it would not raise an eyebrow. He is ‘normal’ here.
Yes, and the law worked. The police responded as they should, and that was that.
Obviously, you don’t live in that neighborhood. Would you expect all the neighborhoods in America to be the same?
Constitutionally speaking? Yes I would. And thats what this is about. Not ‘feelings’ of people unfamiliar with the document.
Don’t people have a constitutional right to contact the police if they see something that they feel is not in the norm?
The norm’ is not the law.
Do you call cops when you see frost in July? That’s not the Norm. Lots of human behaviors like the Folsom Street Fair are not the norm. And legal, though many of us are offended by it.
Now you’re just getting foolish. Bye
Really? The folsom SF is not the norm and legal. It is a perfectly acceptable refutation to your assertion that things out of the norm should get police contact.
If you cannot see that, I am not surprised.
What you “think” is irrelevant. He broke no laws and harmed no one.
That should be the end of it.
LOL - nope! Haven’t for about 7 years, don’t miss it one itty bitty bit. Ever.
After the police responded, it was the end of it
They should have charged the one who called it in with filling a false report. He was committing no crime.
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