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.
The dude is a freak. He wouldn’t be walking my neighborhood. Bulletproof vest? Knife “just in case?”.
It pays to advertize ;)
I support being able to carry a gun anywhere, but I also think you are a damn idiot and weirdo if you walk around a neighborhood like that with a rifle on your shoulder. And wearing body armor only makes it weirder.
Anyone that weird deserves suspicion.
I’m not that concerned with ‘is he or isn’t he’
it ain’t anywhere near Earp’s time, hasn’t been for a long time
I would love to have him in my neighborhood. We would all be even safer than we are now.
I was referring to the sporterized aspect. The SMLE and MK IV are two of my favorite guns of all time, but there should be some sort of punishment for sporterizing one of them. Removal of a minor digit comes to mind. ;-)
That’s the thing, they didn’t know if they were or weren’t, they still targeted them.
Yes and the farther we get, the more pussified we get. Thus our current vapors as a society over guns, self protection and criminal justice.
Are you sure you are on the right forum?
There was nothing wrong with what this kid is doing. If anything, he’s helping.
The attitudes against people doing this kind of thing are pretty telling...
one of my favorites
Isn’t if interesting how fast ‘conservatives’ turn to liberal hysterics when someone actually exercizes their gun rights fully?
You’re letting your eyes color what he said. Sure, he’s odd looking....goofy dumbo ears just like that awkward Muslim jackass president we have. Or them funny looking glasses, like Brother Farrakhan or Malcom X wore...so what?
There is nothing he said in the video that is odd, inflamatory or anyone with any legal sense about them that could say he poses a clear danger to anyone. He clearly stated he won’t brandish his weapon or stop anyone. Yeah, he walks funny, so what?
Let’s look at Aidara why don’t we.....carefully chosen “I’m afraids...” that oppressed and scared look.....gimme a break...she’s black and she don’t like a white man asserting his rights and she invited the TV station there for a pity party ....it’s a wonder she didn’t pull the race card.
For that matter, why is it that the only white person in this video is the subject in question? The other three shots of residents were all blacks.
Finally, somebody please tell me where they have verified this man is wearing ARMOR? What I saw was a TAC vest with all kinds of pockets/loops, maybe a place for armor plates, but I will bet you there was not one piece of armor there, maybe even no pocket where you could put one if you could buy it.
Just more alarmist black racist hoopla designed to rehash this Trayvon Martin crap....bark it up another tree!
He is a young male, testing to ensure that the Constitution means what it says, the rule of law applies, and that police cannot arrest someone just because he exercises his rights.
I had a similar thought.
Hhmmm... I’d use the term “disgusting”. Possibly even “despicable”.
It’s one thing if the kid is playing Ricky Rambo and running through his neighbors properties. Doesn’t sound like the case. He’s providing an armed Neighborhood Watch and folks should take his example as a good thing. Coordinate efforts with local law enforcement, etc...
This is what the Founders had in mind for we the Citizens in the unorganized “militia”.
Also, sporting a plate carrier isn’t exactly “body armor”. The armor part would be what was in the carrier. From the one photo, it doesn’t look “thick” enough for it to have plates.
I thought that accident occurred in deep ocean waters. I bet you wished you insured them.
What if he’s got a pointed stick?!
A friend of mine recently bought 40 acres in the country with a nice house on it. I have a great place to shoot and hunt now.
At one gathering at their new residence on a beautiful fall afternoon, one guest commented on how scary it was to hear distant gun shots (neighbors out shooting I presume). The owner (my friend) looked at her and said, “It’s one of the reasons we bought the property. I can shoot and hunt on my own property any time I want. I expect many of my neighbors feel the same way.”
I said simply that the kid is an odd duck.
I stand by that statement.
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.