Man shopping with Assault Rifle Strapped to his Back at Utah J.C. Penney

To tell the truth I muchly prefer the public is armed with assault rifles than concealable weapons. Why is there talk of banning assault rifles anyway, shouldnt the talk be on banning the criminals weapon, concealable guns?

Maybe an subsonic cartridge for civillian use could be issued, that has a range and penetration similiary to that of a pistol, so that when you use your rifle in home defense the bullet does not go through the whole trailerpark. Maybe it could be made a felony to use military grade cartridges for defense, so that military grade ammo is still avaible but can only be used at the range or to fend off an foreign invasion or take down a corrupt government.

reply to post by JonPrice


This reminds me of a YouTube clip when a guy does gun safety tips and fast draw demos. Everything was fine until
he blew a hole in his leg.

This is totally irresponsible behavior. And the fact that this guy made the decision to parade around with a potential disaster strapped to his back, for no other reason than he felt like it, doesn't inspire confidence in me that he is a responsible gun owner. Imagine a store full of people slinging around guns. Do you feel save? If you do, welcome to fantasy land, where real things don't happen.

Originally posted by sonnny1
I say the mans prepared for anything.

edit on 18-1-2013 by sonnny1 because: (no reason given)

Prepared to get shot by a cop, maybe.

Just as a side note, and there's no "race card" attempt here, but what do you think would be the reaction if this guy was a minority instead of a white man?

This guy has the right Idea, but he's doing it all wrong. Here is what I see wrong with it.

1. Only an idiot carries a presumably loaded rifle across his back. The reason I say presumably loaded is a. It has the magazine inserted. b. Since he's carrying it in such a fashion and "sweeping" everybody on his right side lets me think that it's got one chambered.

2. Even if it does not have a round chambered, chambering a round into an AR-15 takes one motion: racking back the charging lever. Once that is done, flip the switch from safe to fire and it's ready to rock and roll. Since he doesn't even have a hand on the strap, I'd assume he didn't think about it very much.

3. Removing a rifle from somebody carrying as such is as simple as walking up, cutting his strap and taking it.

4. When standing armed watch in the military with a similar gun (M-4 carbine), you carry it in front of you to A. Make it easier to bring to firing position if necessary. B. Keeping it in your field of vision to prevent tampering.

So, let's assume that he has it in condition 3 (magazine inserted, no round in chamber, safety on). I've already stated how easy it would be to take the weapon from him and I've already stated how easy it is to make the weapon condition 1 (Round in chamber, safety off). I personally, as out of shape as I am, could remove the weapon from him, make condition one and shoot him, or just bash him over the head with it before he could draw his sidearm.

People like this guy are gonna bring about stricter gun control, with their own stupidity.

reply to post by seabag


I thought it was a fantastic, rhetorical question and I thought your answer was less than candid, which is putting it nicely.

Because, really, if you would have no concerns about that guy, outfitted like that, walking into the mall where your family was, why even carry a gun yourself...you know, since you feel so safe and have such faith in your fellow citizens?

Originally posted by Merinda
To tell the truth I muchly prefer the public is armed with assault rifles than concealable weapons. Why is there talk of banning assault rifles anyway, shouldnt the talk be on banning the criminals weapon, concealable guns?

Maybe an subsonic cartridge for civillian use could be issued, that has a range and penetration similiary to that of a pistol, so that when you use your rifle in home defense the bullet does not go through the whole trailerpark. Maybe it could be made a felony to use military grade cartridges for defense, so that military grade ammo is still avaible but can only be used at the range or to fend off an foreign invasion or take down a corrupt government.

Or maybe we should just stop over regulating and micromanaging law abiding citizens.

When will the do-gooders stop trying to protect us from ourselves? When will they see this for what it is - a ploy by TPTB to strip Americans of their fundamental right to keep and bear arms?

reply to post by eriktheawful

not only do i agree with your statement, but THIS ...

I'd rather see people with weapons out in the open (slung on their back or holstered), than for them to be CCW to tell you the truth so I at least know who is armed or not.
But that's just my opinion.

i couldn't agree more.

open carry for all and CCW for those who desire a permit to do so.

when i read that same question, my first thought was, i'd thank him for his service ... then probably strike up a conversation about his tattoo.

reply to post by kosmicjack

why even carry a gun yourself

so long as we're fantasizing about "what if"s ... what if he needed backup and i was the only other customer carrying ?
should i grab my family and run too ?

reply to post by kosmicjack

I thought it was a fantastic, rhetorical question and I thought your answer was less than candid, which is putting it nicely.

Because, really, if you would have no concerns about that guy, outfitted like that, walking into the mall where your family was, why even carry a gun yourself...you know, since you feel so safe and have such faith in your fellow citizens?

I thought it was a bit silly, to be honest. But let’s move along.

It wouldn’t seem alarming because, in that state and others, people are free to do that, so it’s not out of the ordinary. If that happened in California I’d be suspicious.

I also wouldn’t feel concerned because we are all capable of looking at someone and seeing what their intent is. A guy typically isn’t going to walk in with a gun on his back if he intends on using it. I also didn’t see military style clothing (like many of the recent shooters wore) or any mask or 20 magazines. You just have to use your head and not be so scared of people.

Oh, and I carry a gun, so if he even attempted to take that thing off his back and load it he’d be doing so bleeding and laying on his back.

Originally posted by Cuervo

Just as a side note, and there's no "race card" attempt here, but what do you think would be the reaction if this guy was a minority instead of a white man?

Posters here would likely be more understanding and less critical since white guy with gun = angry racists and black guy with gun = oppressed minority guarding against klansmen.

Originally posted by thisguyrighthere

Originally posted by jimmyx

c'mon, you know what i mean, there is a big difference between that, and people shopping in mall or a retail store. i suppose if you and your family went shopping, you would stand at the entrance with your kids and ask each one about if they were in a class and ask about their rifles. plus the mere fact that there were people asking them these questions, meant that they were concerned about what they were seeing, and it wouldn't be the type of concern about how the weather was going to be today. for me, i don't want to go outside my house each day, always trying to determine, in a few crucial seconds, if every armed person i see is dangerous or safe. but, apparently that's the way you want to live.

edit on 19-1-2013 by jimmyx because: (no reason given)

No, I dont know what you mean. My life isnt ruled by irrational fears. A holstered or slung weapon is no threat to anyone.

The questions were the same a group of cyclists get when they end their ride at a bar or sandwich shop. About their bikes, about the ride they just went on, how often they meet, etc...

Nobody was asking "WTF are you doing?"

Instead of carbon wheels and spandex they had metal tubes and cargo pants.

You make judgements everyday all day regarding threats and safety. If you didnt you'd never cross the street. the only reason you think it's a big deal is because you want it to be.

edit on 19-1-2013 by thisguyrighthere because: (no reason given)

ok..so where is the nation, or a large society in the world that walks around with displayed weapons carried by ordinary citizens?...i can think of somalia, and afghanistan off the top of my head, but, i guess you would be perfectly comfortable living there.

Originally posted by VaterOrlaag


I think you're out of your mind.

Thanks.

Ill take that as a complement, coming from you.

Originally posted by VaterOrlaag
You see, I believe in the right

Now you are starting to understand what your rights are. First good step......

Originally posted by VaterOrlaag
I live in reality not in a fantasy land where any Joe Schmo can stop a crime with his gun.

Its his RIGHT to carry ! Just like its your RIGHT not to!

Why cant you understand this basic concept?

Originally posted by VaterOrlaag
Save that for old westerns.

I thought we were talking about reality?

Originally posted by seabag

It wouldn’t seem alarming because, in that state and others, people are free to do that, so it’s not out of the ordinary. If that happened in California I’d be suspicious.

I live in Utah and I can tell you that it is so far out of the ordinary that no one I've talked to, including myself has ever seen anyone in any mall or department store armed like that, ever. Many here were alarmed by the report.

I would bet you that it would be seen as "suspicious" by anyone anywhere, especially in these times. Everywhere except the internet, like here where after the fact with no harm being done here, people can step up and defend this completely asinine and possibly dangerous act.

reply to post by jimmyx

ok..so where is the nation, or a large society in the world that walks around with displayed weapons carried by ordinary citizens?...i can think of somalia, and afghanistan off the top of my head, but, i guess you would be perfectly comfortable living there.

Everyone (well almost everyone) has enough common sense to know that, in light of the current gun debate, this dude was simply exercising his right; HIS RIGHT. There is nothing to be scared of. This is not something even that guy does every day and people like him pose no threat.

reply to post by jimmyx

well, Vermont, GA and FL are 3 states right here in the USA ... what does it matter what other nations do ? oooops, Utah too ... sorry guys, didn't mean to exclude ya

Originally posted by Cuervo


Just as a side note, and there's no "race card" attempt here, but what do you think would be the reaction if this guy was a minority instead of a white man?

Its happened before. Even in more crowded events. Even at an Obama Event.

Originally posted by jimmyx

ok..so where is the nation, or a large society in the world that walks around with displayed weapons carried by ordinary citizens?...i can think of somalia, and afghanistan off the top of my head, but, i guess you would be perfectly comfortable living there.

Ah, reducto ad Somalium

Guess that means you're done?

AR-15+shoe shopping=just how we roll here in Utah.

Hey, in one of our towns it is even illegal for any resident adult *not* to own a firearm. Or maybe it only applies to the head of the household... I forgot. But yeah, that law is on the books.

I think we will definitely end up part of the Sovereign Republic of Texas.

Love my state.

reply to post by ausername

you might want to watch the actual video
the narrative of the camera wielder indicates this is not unusual behavior ... she just recorded it so others could see and realize that this is not abnormal activity in that region.

Originally posted by eriktheawful
Wow....

After reading through this thread, I'm very distressed at the amount of bigotry that I see in it, especially from some members here on ATS that I had considered "enlightened" or were in possession of "critical thinking" before.

I'm afraid my opinion of some of them has dropped quite a bit.

A person has a gun on them in the open and is not LEO or Military = Bad Guy
A person has a gun on them in the open and is not LEO or Military = Bubba The Red Neck
A person has a gun on them in the open and is not LEO or Military = killer getting ready to go on a shooting spree
A person has a gun on them in the open and is not LEO or Military = must be guilty....of something!
A person has a gun on them in the open and is not LEO or Military = low IQ and must be stupid.
A person has a gun on them in the open and is not LEO or Military = must have something mentally wrong with them.

Then there are other statements that just blow my mind:

"I'm Pro 2nd Amendment......but I'm going to judge people on how they use the right, even if they are breaking no laws at all."
"I'm Pro 2nd Amendment.......but people should not be walking around with guns, even if the law allows them to, because it's 'dirty', like sex, should be under one's own roof and behind locked doors!"

Such a good post, and shall I say one that speaks volumes.



You hit the ball out of the park, with this one.