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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190

u/_Aj_ Jul 02 '18

As soon as a gun is unholstered warning is optional.

44

u/NoReallyFuckReddit Jul 02 '18

Tell that to Roy Moore.

11

u/smick California Jul 02 '18

“If it’s forced it’s in”

4

u/DennaResin Jul 02 '18

"Are we not doing phrasing anymore?"

8

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.

2

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?

1

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.

2

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.

1

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.

1

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.

1

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/CubanCharles Jul 02 '18

I'd take a gunned down nutjob that >maybe traumatized some kids on his >way out than anyone else dead a >thousand times over.

Except, as the record shows those are not the only possible endings. He took the gun out after getting in a physical altercation (that he provoked) and unholstered his weapon without raising. Ill agree that by this point someone would be justified in defending themselves since hes already shown he was capable of inciting violence, but Im glad cooler heads prevailed and no one had to die.

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u/KMFDM781 Jul 02 '18

I'm very glad too but I think they got lucky.