Posted on 06/06/2012 11:30:18 AM PDT by marktwain
SMITHFIELD - When a Caswell Street woman whipped out a rifle during a fight outside her home, she committed an unusual crime, according to police.
Tandra Shernette “Tan” Staton, 23, of 502 Caswell St., Smithfield, was arrested Monday and charged with going armed to the terror of the public. The North Carolina law makes it illegal to carry guns or other “dangerous and unusual weapons” for the purpose of terrifying others and to go about on public highways in a manner to cause terror to others.
Staton’s arrest came after what Police Lt. Keith Powell called a “large fight” around 9:30 p.m. near the intersection of Caswell and North Fifth streets. During the brawl, investigators think Staton – a clerk at the Family Dollar on South Third Street – pulled a .22-caliber rifle from her car and pointed it at people in the crowd.
Most of the fighters ran off when police arrived, so Staton was the only person charged in the incident. “Everybody dispersed, and no one would cooperate as far as the fight,” Powell said.
Police say it is unclear whether Staton was involved in the fight, and she faces no other charges related to the event. Staton was taken to the Johnston County jail and released after posting a $1,000 bond. She’s due in court June 20.
Police say they seldom charge anyone with “going armed to the terror of the public.” The law has created confusion and drawn criticism from gun-rights activists, who say it could be misinterpreted to target people who carry guns in public for protection. North Carolina law is unclear on whether “open carry” of weapons is legal in the state.
A gun-law brochure distributed by the N.C. Attorney General’s Office is also unclear on what merits the charge. It says residents and visitors in the state “are cautioned as to the areas they frequent with firearms” but offers no specifics.
“...going armed to the terror of the public.”
That could be a real serious problem for CCW/CHL permit holders.
The lady should be charged with ‘doing the leo’s job for them’. The perps are just lucky she didn’t ping a few of them off to Treyvon’s party. If what I’ve read so far is the extent of the sotry, the Lady should be awarded a medal for communnity service!
The lady should be charged with ‘doing the leo’s job for them’. The perps are just lucky she didn’t ping a few of them off to Treyvon’s party. If what I’ve read so far is the extent of the story, the Lady should be awarded a medal for communnity service!
The part of the story that perplexes me (not) is that the other involved parties (the antagonists) dispersed when police arrived. There is no mention of race here so we all know what that means, don't we.
Unless this girl was drunk or drugged up, I'm inclined to think the police put a bullshit charge on her.
b) Brandishing the firearm seemed to stop the fight. I approve of that.
/johnny
No one who loves reason could work in our governments today. The urge to vomit would be non-stop.
Trumped up charge, IMHO.
More here than meets the eye for sure. I’m always suspicious about ‘crowds’ and events-leading-up-to that are ignored, especially about race.
Carry enough mags to ‘splat and gat’ and then book it.
The Uniformed Donut Eaters are just mad because a woman, with just a .22 in her hand, dispersed a “large fight”.
I say one Donut Eater should be fired and his/her/its salary for the rest of this year be given to the lady who broke up hte fight.
Citizens doing the PolicePerson’s job should receive the PolicePerson’s pay.
So I guess it would have been better had she just let them splatter each others brains all over the place.
Perfect.
Not to be outdone by our northern neighbors, a woman was recently charged with having testicles (hanging behind her truck).
Those stupid metal testes hanging from some idiot’s vehicle must be a statement to the tiny size of the driver’s organic ones.
Problem with that is, each firearm has a ballistics report on file w/ feds, from mfgr, according to my ffl and leos I know, so they’ll find the owner, eventually. Booking the scene will add another charge to it all, but if you stay, you’ll get *Zimmermanned*. Damed if you do and damned if you don’t, these days, I guess. Best to have your Atty’s & Bail Bondsman’s numbers real handy.
I always carry 2 extra mags of .45cal ACP 230gr HP/FMJ mixed mags, in this:
http://www.usgalco.com/HolsterPG3.asp?ProductID=2053&GunID=173
I seriously, seriously don’t believe what your FFL IS telling you.
When I bought my 3 Kimber 1911 .45s and 1 Glock G32 .357SIG, there was a document w/ each stating that they’d been test-fired. Of the long-guns, I can’t remember.
I just got an email back from my FFL saying that I misunderstood what he said; the certified test-firing (doc and empty casing enclosed w/ each handgun) was by mfgr and NOT kept on-file by any gov’t agency, for any purpose he knew of. FFL discarded doc/casing.
MY ERROR, Gaffer.
I’ve also emailed the 2 ret’d state police LEOs whom I thought confirmed what I’d said, and am waiting for their replies. This is one case I certainly don’t mind being proven wrong, and freely admit my error.t remember.
I just got an email back from my FFL saying that I misunderstood what he said; the certified test-firing (doc and empty casing enclosed w/ each handgun) was by mfgr and NOT kept on-file by any gov
Sorry about that messy & confusing post; I don’t know what happened...
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