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Active Duty Soldier Illegally Disarmed and Arrested

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blankslate said:
Regardless of what you think, he could have started by giving the LEO a reasonable answer. "I'm carrying in case a wild animal approaches." Instead he gave "What does it matter?" sorry but that could be seen as confrontational. He act no better than the officer. If he answered in a more approachable manner and the officer still acted the way he did I'd be much less critical of him, but he acted like an ass as well.

The way he carried on after the camera started recording indicates that he was looking for a confrontation. He gets no sympathy and it's obvious that you'd side with him even if he started beating the officer.

There's no use debating you about the video.
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No, there's not - because you're basically saying the cop is excused because the citizen didn't feel like talking to him and basically didn't immediately play nice with the cop.

He's a cop. He's supposed to uphold the law. He's not supposed to get surly with people who aren't in the mood to talk. He's not supposed to grab at someone. He's not supposed to slam someone on the hood of his cruiser when they act surprised at being grabbed (or worse, having their gun grabbed.)

What the guy said doesn't matter, it's inconsequential, since he didn't say "I'm going to gun you down, mr cop"
 
John Conner said:
You know what pisses me off? People that say they outta respect the cop, but no one respects a war veteran.
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Like I said he carried himself no better than the cop did. If he had done so I'd have been much less critical of him, he might've headed off a confrontation by just answering the officer's question in a different manner.

From the youtube post maybe that didn't serve his purpose.
 
RampantAndroid said:
No, there's not - because you're basically saying the cop is excused because the citizen didn't feel like talking to him and basically didn't immediately play nice with the cop.
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No I'm saying that he could have answered in a way so as to answer the question. Instead he seems to want to provoke the LEO. Unless he wants to have something to video tape why not just answer.

RampantAndroid said:
He's a cop. He's supposed to uphold the law. He's not supposed to get surly with people who aren't in the mood to talk. He's not supposed to grab at someone. He's not supposed to slam someone on the hood of his cruiser when they act surprised at being grabbed (or worse, having their gun grabbed.)

What the guy said doesn't matter, it's inconsequential, since he didn't say "I'm going to gun you down, mr cop"
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What the guy said did matter. Because he could've answered in a way that made him look much better in light of the video and kept a calm voice. Then he would've looked much better than the officer overall. He acted no better. And got his jackpot video to post on youtube to provoke knee-jerk reactions from forum posters like you.
 
His answer was pretty smug and probably what set the cop off. Need to see dash cam to see what exactly transpired.
 
John Conner said:
You know what pisses me off? People that say they outta respect the cop, but no one respects a war veteran.
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The guy was not in uniform so how would the cops know that?

Also there are many different versions of veterans ranging from reservists to lifers so some get more than others but the problem is many think they are entitled to respect by saying you should call them sir because they served.
 
blankslate said:
No I'm saying that he could have answered in a way so as to answer the question. Instead he seems to want to provoke the LEO. Unless he wants to have something to video tape why not just answer.
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Look on youtube for the open carry videos. They all start rolling the film BEFORE the cops show. I think it's really clear when they want a confrontation. This to me seems to be a "oh sod off" type response.

blankslate said:
What the guy said did matter. Because he could've answered in a way that made him look much better in light of the video and kept a calm voice. Then he would've looked much better than the officer overall. He acted no better. And got his jackpot video to post on youtube to provoke knee-jerk reactions from forum posters like you.
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And that's an excuse for a cop to go off? I'm sorry - I don't agree. I hold cops to a higher standard than a citizen. They are there to uphold the law. They're there to protect other people. Maybe I'm jaded because I live in Seattle and the cops here are so absolutely awful (Seattle PD, Redmond PD, Bellevue PD being the worst offenders roughly in that order) but I think cops should absolutely be dealt with if they do not keep their cool even when someone isn't polite to them. I'm specifically avoiding saying whether the guy carrying his rifle was right or wrong, because I don't see how that matters. What happened is the cop reacted to "I'm not breaking the law" by getting physical. No orders given, no warnings, no directives. The proper response was something along the lines of "Would you mind telling me why you're carrying a rifle. Some people are concerned."
 
respect.jpg
 
John Conner said:
You know what pisses me off? People that say they outta respect the cop, but no one respects a war veteran.
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I'll respect someone who earns / diserves respect. If this veteran murdered someone do they deserve respect just because they're a veteran? Stupid thinking.

RampantAndroid said:
Look on youtube for the open carry videos. They all start rolling the film BEFORE the cops show. I think it's really clear when they want a confrontation. This to me seems to be a "oh sod off" type response.



And that's an excuse for a cop to go off? I'm sorry - I don't agree. I hold cops to a higher standard than a citizen. They are there to uphold the law. They're there to protect other people. Maybe I'm jaded because I live in Seattle and the cops here are so absolutely awful (Seattle PD, Redmond PD, Bellevue PD being the worst offenders roughly in that order) but I think cops should absolutely be dealt with if they do not keep their cool even when someone isn't polite to them. I'm specifically avoiding saying whether the guy carrying his rifle was right or wrong, because I don't see how that matters. What happened is the cop reacted to "I'm not breaking the law" by getting physical. No orders given, no warnings, no directives. The proper response was something along the lines of "Would you mind telling me why you're carrying a rifle. Some people are concerned."
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First off a cop is a citizen as well. They don't deserve different treatment just because of the job they do, just higher scrutiny. How would this guy have reacted if just some joe schmoe off the street was concerned and asked him? No way to know for sure.

Biggest problem a lot of people with this attitude bring the table is the assume the cop's intentions. Just because they're a cop doesn't mean they are determined to get around your rights. They're (*most - no way I can speak for all - just basing opinion on videos like these*) trying to figure out what's going on - quit getting so defensive.
 
Sometimes I find it hard not to sound confrontational when answering certain questions from a cop, such as; where you coming from, where you going, whats under the blanket, ever been arrested, etc. Even politely refusing to answer sets most cops off. Oh, and the guy in the OP is an idiot. I would imagine his company commander will want a word with him.
 
John Conner said:
You know what pisses me off? People that say they outta respect the cop, but no one respects a war veteran.
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A Police Officer is a figure of authority. A war veteran is someone who is no longer serving and it's not as though people, even veterans, do things that aren't worthy of respect.

I might respect what he has done in the past but I have zero respect for him for what he's doing now.
 
JulesMaximus said:
A Police Officer is a figure of authority. A war veteran is someone who is no longer serving and it's not as though people, even veterans, do things that aren't worthy of respect.

I might respect what he has done in the past but I have zero respect for him for what he's doing now.
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I am a veteran myself but have always been mystified by the idea that being a veteran, per se, entitles someone to more respect or deference. I think it's arguable that the pendulum has swung too far in reaction to the maltreatment of some Vietnam veterans. Now there seems to be an expectation that all veterans need to be treated like God's perfect angels.

Certainly veterans who have been injured physically or psychologically deserve treatment and compassion, and anyone who has put his ass on the line deserves a measure of appreciation, but I do not buy the idea that being a veteran makes a person any more or less likely to be right than anyone else.
 
John Conner said:
You know what pisses me off? People that say they outta respect the cop, but no one respects a war veteran.
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So what should happen if the cop is a war veteran too? Does his authority as an officer of the law and veteran status trump a person who is only a war veteran?

The fact of the matter is said veteran tried to push the law to make a point/statment and was arrested for being an idiot. Ignorance of the law is not a viable excuse.
 
The guy did nothing wrong. It is not illegal to carry a rifle. The police over steeped themselves here when trying to take the rifle away. I seen two comments, one on YouTube and one on a news article saying that they were cops and what they did was WRONG!
 
Oldgamer said:
I live in Texas, and I can tell you if you are walking around with an assault rifle attached to you like that the police will stop you and take it from you and check to see if you are licensed to carry,
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What are you talking about? There's no license for carrying a rifle. There is no law stating you can't openly carry a long gun in Texas, it falls under the Disorderly Conduct statues HOWEVER the statute is open to interpretation ...

Sec. 42.01. DISORDERLY CONDUCT

(a)(8) displays a firearm or other deadly weapon in a public place in a manner calculated to alarm;
(d) An offense under this section is a Class C misdemeanor unless committed under Subsection (a)(7) or (a)(8), in which event it is a Class B misdemeanor.
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So technically if you are walking down the street with your AR slung over your shoulder, and not doing anything that construes a threatening manner then you are fine. Simply having a rifle slung is not threatening, no matter how many little ninnies cry about it.
 
cop deserves 1 week leave without pay at a min.
guy should get some cash for unlawful arrest (maybe 5k or so).
kid should get some cash for emotional damage.
 
Cattlegod said:
cop deserves 1 week leave without pay at a min.
guy should get some cash for unlawful arrest (maybe 5k or so).
kid should get some cash for emotional damage.
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In general you can't recover for suffering emotional distress as a result of seeing something happen where you are not yourself the victim of maltreatment. I don't believe the kid could possibly have a claim. In this instance I think that's just, in that the biggest cause of any emotional distress was his father's juvenile and paranoid behavior.
 
Next time the NRA posts one of these videos. Try not having registered members of the screen actors guild portraying police "trampling our rights". Laughable and a sorry excuse for "activism". This doesn't happen, the NRA and gun nuts want you to think it will happen.

Move along, police are here for our protection, say thank you and be along your way.
 
I don't support the idiot, but at the same time how do you put resisting arrest charges on him? If you saw a cop and ran and he chased you down, that would be resisting arrest, but to lump this fat turd in there too? I think that's crossing the line.

Was he interrupting a cop? I'm not too sure either. I don't see how they stick these misdemeanor charges on him. Could they have just taken him in to cool down with a disorderly conduct charge? And then maybe dropped it and then let it all go? Kinda like the Henry Gates issue?
 
momeNt said:
Next time the NRA posts one of these videos. Try not having registered members of the screen actors guild portraying police "trampling our rights". Laughable and a sorry excuse for "activism". This doesn't happen, the NRA and gun nuts want you to think it will happen.

Move along, police are here for our protection, say thank you and be along your way.
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Come visit Seattle, they'll beat you down for jaywalking. And don't tell me that's BS - there's a reason federal government has threatened to get involved and deal with seattle PD.
 
More concern is the active duty soldier who lost his house because bank improperly forclosed.

I don't see an outpuring level of concern for minority that get their rights violated everyday by the police.

This guy can just go on with his life. That other soldier lost his home.

404 - outrage not found.
 
RampantAndroid said:
Look on youtube for the open carry videos. They all start rolling the film BEFORE the cops show. I think it's really clear when they want a confrontation. This to me seems to be a "oh sod off" type response.
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He spoke in a raised voice throughout the video. If he didn't want a confrontation he shouldn't have given an "awww sod off" answer. If he had answered in a reasonable manner then the officer probably would've given a reasonable response.

RampantAndroid said:
And that's an excuse for a cop to go off? I'm sorry - I don't agree. I hold cops to a higher standard than a citizen. They are there to uphold the law. They're there to protect other people. Maybe I'm jaded because I live in Seattle and the cops here are so absolutely awful (Seattle PD, Redmond PD, Bellevue PD being the worst offenders roughly in that order) but I think cops should absolutely be dealt with if they do not keep their cool even when someone isn't polite to them. I'm specifically avoiding saying whether the guy carrying his rifle was right or wrong, because I don't see how that matters. What happened is the cop reacted to "I'm not breaking the law" by getting physical. No orders given, no warnings, no directives. The proper response was something along the lines of "Would you mind telling me why you're carrying a rifle. Some people are concerned."
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It's no excuse but in the same manner that a police officer would be held to a higher standard so would a member of the military. At least I hope so.

Military members are drug tested and that is most likely the case for police officers as well. So there's at least one instance in common in which both police officers and military members are held to a higher standard than most civilians.

Furthermore, military members as far as I know are still taught "customs and courtesies" and although it's not in the regulations some instructors also broaden the instruction in terms of how you address non military members. This soldier in the tape forgot that training for some reason and it might've helped prevent a confrontation.

For example if he answered the police officer's question with a more polite "I'm carrying my rifle in case we run into a wild animal which is legal in Texas. Is there a problem I don't know about Officer?" instead of "What does it matter? (aw sod off)" the officer might've been much less physical during the encounter and if he wasn't then the military member would be much more in the right than the police.

As it is he raised his voice and probably didn't hear the statement by the officer "Once I find out there's no issue then we're ( going to give it back to you) then you'll be on your way." because he was agitated.

Additionally if he was calmer and composed then the police sgt. who showed up later may have been more neutral. As it was he saw his officer with an agitated person talking loudly at him.

Both the police officer and the soldier should be held to higher standards of conduct. The soldier probably would have walked away from the encounter if he kept his cool, but he didn't
 
If he had a semi auto hunting rifle slung over his shoulder nobody would have reported him and the police would have never bothered him. The fact that he had what most people would consider an assault rifle strapped to his chest and a handgun at his side obviously created this incident. Both sides were at fault in this. The guy was obvioulsy combative and wanted to provoke the LEO who was responding to a concerned citizen report but the LEO could have handled it better.

If this guy was legally carrying a 50 cal sniper rifle or M249 SAW it would have provoked the same results if not worse.
 
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