Posted on 07/28/2012 3:52:19 AM PDT by marktwain
HANOVER, Pa. (WHTM) -
Pennsylvania law allows adults who can legally own a firearm to openly carry in most public places, but not everyone may agree with a man who chose to wear his pistol to a showing of "The Dark Knight Rises."
The manager of Hanover's R/C Theatre, Kim Underwood, says she called police Monday evening after she was notified that a movie-goer had a handgun tucked into his belt.
She said she thought it was best to notify authorities given the killings of 12 people in Aurora, Colorado during the movie's midnight opening last week.
"They handled it accordingly after the movie was over. He was very cool about it," Underwood said of the 27-year-old gun owner.
There wasn't much to handle. Pennsylvania law allows open carry in businesses, although not everyone agrees it's a good idea.
"I support people's rights to carry guns and what have you, but a movie theater is another story," movie-goer Santo Musotto said.
The gun owner, who we will not identify, told abc27 News that exercising his Second Amendment right is simply part of his routine.
(Excerpt) Read more at abc27.com ...
Too bad no one was carrying in Aurora.
The 27 y/o may disagree with those leftists on self-defense and firearms, but he will defend to the death their ability to go to a movie safely despite their stupid beliefs.
Where in his statement does he say that? He's only carrying to protect himself wherever he goes, even against the opinions of theater managers. It is not within his purview to be engaged in protecting others, except perhaps those within his party for whom he is responsible.
And how come the theater manager knew he was carrying? If you have a CCDW in my state, the law is that it is to be concealed and not printing through your clothing that you are armed. I believe that is also still true in PA, for I have concurrently held a license there for many years.
This kid was demonstrating extremely poor judgment and prejudicial to the interests of other carriers, in view of the current furor.
“how come the theater manager knew he was carrying?”
OPEN carry.
Re-read the article. Open carry = legal. First sentence.
I think a business owner should have the right to say whether they will permit firearms on their property, and to face the consequences. Any patrons can choose to patronize that business, or not. If they do not permit firearms, and G-d forbid an Aurora-like incident occurs, they can expect to be sued.
I don't consider 27 years old "a kid", and I don't agree with you that people should not open carry where it is legal. I admire those who open carry, because it helps everyone get used to it. But it takes courage, and willingness to be hassled at best, and maybe even stopped for hours by police and have your firearm confiscated.
Perfectly stated.
Not only any business, but any “public” gathering place.
Because another moviewatcher saw that it was tucked in his belt and reported it.
There is a difference between private property and government property. We can try to influence policies on government property, but we may not prevail. But property owners should be the decision-makers of policies on their own property. Of course, that liberty has been drastically abridged by government. It’s getting to where private property owners have the right to all the liability and taxes, and very little decision-making on their own property.
One thing that bugs me is the confusing use of the term “public”. Strictly speaking, that should only be used for government property, and it would be better to call that what it is: “government property”. Calling private property “public” is allowing the leftists to control the dialog.
You are right. I did not thoroughly read the original article. But let me say that if, then, he was carrying open, that in the mindset of the moment he may well institute a local theater policy not against those who open carry, but also against those who are licensed to carry concealed.
In PA, it is a relatively simple thing to do to obtain a CCDW for any PA resident, or for a resident of an adjoining state licensed in his own state. If you decide to open carry, you can expect to be stopped and questioned (harassed) by local police to show that you are not a person prohibited.
This kid, whatever his point, is still exhibiting poor judgment in advancing the interests of other carriers.(IMHO)
For example, people always say “public schools”. I always say “government schools”. The term public schools is a weasel term, trying to make people feel like it’s “the citizen’s” schools. Say it like it is.
I sincerely doubt an open carry gun owner would tuck a gun into his belt. It’s an excellent way to shoot the ole pecker off. Instead I think he may have had an inside holster which made it look like it was tucked in.
Well, the government would love you -- they don't have to regulate your freedoms away, you will give them up voluntarily!
And again, he's not a kid. When does he become a young adult, 35?
I wonder why a movie theater is “another story”.
Damn straight, and the government should have absolutely no jurisdiction within the confines of private property unless a crime has been committed.
We can try to influence policies on government property, but we may not prevail.
First of all, there shouldn't be much "government property". Secondly, we shouldn't have to influence it...the Constitution or various state constitutions should be black-and-white/cut-and-dried on "governmental rights".
One thing that bugs me is the confusing use of the term “public”. Strictly speaking, that should only be used for government property
The RATs passed no smoking laws here in Maine that referred to "public places" but meant in addition to all businesses it pertained to private restaurants, bars and veterans clubs.
Although I appreciate smoke-free buildings, as far as I'm concerned they went way beyond their Constitutional authority in implementing these bans.
aurora theater was a Gun-Free zone....
too bad the Bozo the Clown shooter did not follow the law...
gun free zones only put law abiding citizens in jeopardy.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.