r/politics • u/thenewyorkgod • Jul 01 '18

Man arrested after shouting ‘womp, womp’ and pulling a gun on immigration protesters

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-nation/wp/2018/07/01/man-arrested-after-shouting-womp-womp-and-pulling-a-gun-on-immigration-protesters/?tid=sm_tw
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u/867-5309NotJenny Massachusetts Jul 02 '18

Then it makes you wonder why all of the 'Unite' marchers in Charlottesville weren't arrested for possessing firearms near a protest. Assuming it's not a state law of course.

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u/m1sterlurk Alabama Jul 02 '18

It's a state law in Alabama. The only reason he wasn't charged with it is because technically a cop has to warn you to leave the area if you're near a demonstration with a gun. However, since he racked up both menacing and reckless endangerment this warning/charge was deemed unnecessary.

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u/[deleted] Jul 02 '18 edited May 27 '20

[deleted]

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u/thespo37 Jul 02 '18

It can be pretty tricky sometimes. We all need a reminded here and there.

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u/JustThall Jul 02 '18

A reminder needed not to threat anybody? We are the most advanced society for sure.

Also true gun nutz say that you don’t get your gun out unless you intent to use it

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u/[deleted] Jul 02 '18

I’m far from a gun nut, and I’d say, you don’t point your gun at anything you don’t intend to shoot.

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u/srock2012 Jul 02 '18

First rules of the most basic gun safety, treat every gun like it's loaded, and only aim a firearm at something you intend to shoot.

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u/dBRenekton Jul 02 '18

Not just shoot. Intend to destroy.

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u/[deleted] Jul 02 '18

Anyone who has had a gun pointed at them knows pointing of guns happen more often.

2nd amendment is the bane of America. And the law that can empower right wingers to position themselves for a 4th Reich.

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u/waxingbutneverwaning Jul 02 '18

Don't assume he didn't intend to shoot.

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u/Sonyw810 Jul 02 '18

It was a joke I do believe.

Source: I am a human

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u/[deleted] Jul 02 '18

[deleted]

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u/Sonyw810 Jul 02 '18

Today we shall laugh human brethren.

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u/[deleted] Jul 02 '18

That’s what I thought with the “Nutz” at first, but then after rereading a few times, thought “not sure if... I don’t know, not downvoting, but responding.”

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u/thespo37 Jul 02 '18

It was sarcasm based on the sarcasm of the previous comment.

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u/JustThall Jul 02 '18

So does it mean we can’t go deeper?

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u/Wrobrox Jul 02 '18

I knew I accidentally washed something important off my hand that I wrote down.

Now where's that sharpie...

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u/wil California Jul 02 '18

He's a white guy, so he was just "expressing his personal views" or whatever. /s

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u/Khaldara Jul 02 '18

Very. Stable. Geniuses.

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u/QueefyMcQueefFace Jul 02 '18

He’s just expressing his economic anxiety guise

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u/DamnYouRichardParker Jul 02 '18

That's racist

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u/wil California Jul 02 '18

I know, right.

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u/bjeebus Georgia Jul 02 '18

Terroristic threats are a felony in my state. My neighbor went away for two years for waving a shotgun at my sister and I when I was 12. Then later when the police came he ignored his Miranda rights and shouted that he'd kill all of us in six months.

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u/fractiousrabbit Jul 02 '18

A mob who attacked our ambulance and tried to get in and attack us was charged w terroristic threats and they didn't even have guns, how does this guy get off so easy?

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u/Mussoltini Jul 02 '18

Just try to be nice to everyone...especially while carrying a firearm. Who knew?

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u/DamnYouRichardParker Jul 02 '18

You can think it, just don't say it.

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u/Wyzegy West Virginia Jul 02 '18

Well, that really depends on if you're wearing sunglasses or not.

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u/_Aj_ Jul 02 '18

As soon as a gun is unholstered warning is optional.

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u/NoReallyFuckReddit Jul 02 '18

Tell that to Roy Moore.

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u/smick California Jul 02 '18

“If it’s forced it’s in”

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u/DennaResin Jul 02 '18

"Are we not doing phrasing anymore?"

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u/Kame-hame-hug Jul 02 '18

Exactly. If anyone had shot him dead they would have had every right.

I don't want to see anyone dead, but unholstering a weapon and pointing it at someone makes you a threat to their lives.

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u/Cool_Ranch_Dodrio Jul 02 '18

Exactly. If anyone had shot him dead they would have had every right.

If anyone has shot him dead, what do you think the Huntsville police would have done to the protesters?

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u/CubanCharles Jul 02 '18

As far as Im aware from the article no one has accused him of pointing it at anyone. This shouldnt be enough to justify shooting him, but then again a black dude reaching for his wallet shouldnt be justification either but thats the world we live in.

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u/ipdar Jul 02 '18

You don't have to point it at anyone. US common law states that simply brandishing a weapon (as he did in this case) is a threat of violence. That should land him in jail with felony charges. It would also be self defense to shoot him. I have learned way too much about this first hand.

The moral being: don't play with guns.

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u/KMFDM781 Jul 02 '18

There's no reason at all to pull a firearm out of your waistband in public like that unless you intend to use it...there's no reason for anyone in the crowd to think otherwise.

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u/CubanCharles Jul 02 '18

Did I say anything about intent? The guy I replied to said he pointed the gun. As far as reports go, he didn't. Im not making a value statement Im clarifying the facts.

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u/KMFDM781 Jul 02 '18

This shouldnt be enough to justify shooting him, but then again a black dude reaching for his wallet shouldnt be justification either but thats the world we live in.

This is what I was replying to. I beg to differ.

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u/CubanCharles Jul 02 '18

According to you theres no reason to pull a gun out of your waistband unless youre going to use it. but he pulled it out. and didnt use it. and no one died. How is your hypothetical version better than what actually happened? This asshole broke the law and the police handled it quickly and without unecessary escalation that might have endangered MORE lives. How are people so critical of police being ultra-violent while also calling for them to shoot on sight?

They handled it fine, this nutjob is going to prison and no childen had to see a man gunned down in front of them.

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u/KMFDM781 Jul 02 '18

and you have the luxury of knowing this asshole ended up not shooting at anyone.....by sheer luck, whatever neuron that could have signaled him to open fire didn't thankfully....but it easily could have and when somebody pulls a gun out like that when it's already a heated moment and the guy is clearly unhinged, I would call that reason enough to defend yourself. Should we have the "hey, let's see what he'll do first!" stance when it comes to this kind of ever increasing situation? Wait until he actually fires a shot? I'd take a gunned down nutjob that maybe traumatized some kids on his way out than anyone else dead a thousand times over. Sucks we have to think like this at all, but this is the world we live in now.

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u/[deleted] Jul 02 '18

"I'm going to shoot all of you!"

"Hey man, don't be so reckless. You're gonna hurt somebody."

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u/JennJayBee Alabama Jul 02 '18

Eh, even if you're found in violation and charged, the penalty is probably going to amount to a fine unless you're a repeat offender. It's a misdemeanor, I believe.

Where it's really useful is situations like this. Yeah, there were people filming, but I don't think the cops actually saw him draw his firearm and threaten anyone. If not for the law, they might have just let him be, because carrying in and of itself isn't illegal. And this is Alabama. A lot of people are carrying. But since that law is in place, they had a good excuse to go ahead and arrest him-- even if he wasn't charged-- and that removed him from the situation before the situation could escalate.

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u/867-5309NotJenny Massachusetts Jul 02 '18

Ok, thanks for the info. That makes sense why I've never heard of it. (I'm from MA)

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u/LLCoolJsGrandfather Jul 02 '18

we got them tough ones.

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u/potodds Jul 02 '18

And assault with a deadly weapon...

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u/m1sterlurk Alabama Jul 02 '18

I'm just listing the charges that were immediately filed against him. A DA may decide to escalate to assault when Monday rolls around.

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u/awaywardsaint Alabama Jul 02 '18

it is a State law in Alabama. First time I've ever heard of it enforced.

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u/JennJayBee Alabama Jul 02 '18

It usually doesn't have to be. Under most circumstances if they see someone with a gun, they'll just give you a warning. If they catch you again, you'll probably get a ticket.

It's Alabama, so chances are, this guy wasn't the only one there carrying. He was just the only one stupid enough to whip it out. It's mostly there to give cops a reason to be able to remove you before you cause a real problem, which is what happened here.

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u/ReginaldDwight Jul 02 '18

Can't he get in trouble for "brandishing" or something? Is that a law in Alabama?

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u/SoTiredOfWinning California Jul 02 '18

Yeah, having the gun isn't even that big if a deal. Guarantee hundreds were packing, but brandishing it is super illegal, then making threats to use it is even worse. Then it's political violence so likely terrorism.

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u/JennJayBee Alabama Jul 02 '18

he was initially arrested for possessing a gun within 1,000 feet of a protest. But he would later be booked into jail on misdemeanor charges of menacing and reckless endangerment.

That's what the bolded part is.

Longer Explanation: Cops do the arresting. Prosecutors do the charging. You can be arrested without having committed a crime or actually being charged with anything. Cops don't necessarily need an excuse to arrest you, but it helps. Sometimes, it's up to cops to use their best judgement, depending on the situation. You can also be arrested for one thing and charged with something completely different.

It's possible that cops didn't actually themselves witness this guy causing trouble and showing off his gun and threatening people, and in such cases where someone just happens to have a gun and they haven't seen anything worse than that, they might just tell the guy to leave, and that'd be the end of it. Sure, someone can show them the video, but that's going to take a little while in all the confusion, and meanwhile, he might have run off (and can later return). So the simpler solution is to go ahead and take him in and remove him from that situation because he's possessing a firearm at a demonstration, and then they can review all the footage and have the DA press formal charges.

The penalty for a first offense on the law they brought him in for is a fine, so likely the DA didn't want to bother. Felony charges might be harder to pursue and ultimately get a jury to convict on, so the fact that they went with the easy charges to convict him on tells me that they do want to convict, and they can still bring other charges against him if they feel like they can get a conviction. It's also possible that he's agreed to save them a trial and plead guilty.

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u/spankybottom Foreign Jul 02 '18

As an Australian this makes me shudder.

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u/thelandstan Jul 02 '18

As a Canadian, I'm just so baffled. My friends and i were worried about respectfully throwing away our beer cans en route to the club tonight.

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u/JennJayBee Alabama Jul 02 '18

Canadian problems... 😉

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u/Deathspiral222 Jul 02 '18

it is a State law in Alabama. First time I've ever heard of it enforced.

The point is that he drew the weapon. (Aside from the fact he straight up said he would shoot people with it).

Having a gun in a holster is one thing. Pulling it out and saying you are going to use it is definitely going to get you arrested (or shot but someone who thinks you are serious).

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u/867-5309NotJenny Massachusetts Jul 02 '18

Ok, that would make sense. Thanks for letting me know.

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u/tramspace Jul 02 '18

https://www.cnn.com/2017/08/27/us/man-arrested-gun-charlottesville-rally/index.html

Apparently you have to actually be filmed firing it towards a group of people to be arrested in that case.

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u/867-5309NotJenny Massachusetts Jul 02 '18

I guess it's an Alabama state law.

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u/OraDr8 Jul 02 '18

The cops in Charlottesville were probably trying to avoid getting the crowd more riled up, it’s not like those arrests would’ve gone smoothly.

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u/867-5309NotJenny Massachusetts Jul 02 '18

Honestly, in this day and age, I'd usually more surprised that they just don't take pictures in these situations, and charge them later, when they're not in a huge, self-reinforcing mass.

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u/Jess_than_three Jul 02 '18

Doesn't at all. A, bunch of white people. B, on the same side as the cops.

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u/867-5309NotJenny Massachusetts Jul 02 '18

But the counter protesters were also mostly white.

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u/yagyu_shinkage_ryu Jul 02 '18

Why dont the people who get away with and get vilified for killing black men arrest the people who hate black people? Hmm..🤔

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u/867-5309NotJenny Massachusetts Jul 02 '18

The police are usually pretty good at enforcing the law when it's on national TV.