THE RIGHT TO CARRY: STUPID IS AS STUPID DOES

Beaumont, Texas man complains that his right to carry was violated when cops confiscated the AR-15 he was carrying around in a mall and charged him with Disorderly Conduct

Bob Walsh says: Is Texas becoming warm and fuzzy? In days gone by, when dinosaurs roamed the earth, it was legally permissible to carry an unconcealed, loaded handgun in California. However, in some large metropolitan areas, notably SF and LA, if you did so you would be arrested for disturbing the peace and your gun would be seized. You would then have to sue to get it back, and it would often be lost or badly damaged by the time you got it back. You expect that sort of thing in the Peoples Republic of California, but not in Texas.

No Bob, Texas is not becoming warm and fuzzy, but stupid is as stupid does. Nowadays, you don’t go into a mall carrying an AR-15 what with all the recent mass shootings. I can understand why the mall patrons were terrified and why the cops took his toy away from him. This case has nothing to do with the right to carry. It has everything to do with common sense, something stupid Mr. Poe apparently does not have.

Bob, let me assure you that unlike anti-gun California, Texas remains a very gun friendly state.

MAN WHO CARRIED AR-15 ON HIS BACK INSIDE MALL SAYS CHARGES NOT WARRANTED

By Agustin Garfias

12 News
January 3, 2014

BEAUMONT - A Beaumont store owner charged with disorderly conduct insists he never broke the law and was just exercising his second amendment rights.

On Dec. 28, Derek Poe stopped by GameStop in Parkdale Mall before going to the store he owns in the mall, Golden Triangle Tactical. While at GameStop, he was stopped by police officers and the AR-15 that was slung around his back was seized.

Poe says he was just exercising his right to open carry a long rifle.

Police have charged him with disorderly conduct because he displayed a firearm “In a manner calculated to alarm.”

Poe disagrees saying his rifle was facing barrel down on his back and his hands weren’t even on the gun.

“It was clearly obvious I didn’t have criminal intent. I had a drink in one hand and a bag in the other. I didn’t commit a crime. I legally carried a long arm in Texas,” Poe said.

Detectives say witnesses gave statements that they were “terrified” and “thought they were going to die.”

An Open Carry Freedom Walk is scheduled for Jan. 18 in the Gander Mountain parking lot. The event was planned before Poe was stopped in the mall with his firearm.