Posted on 08/09/2012 6:04:41 PM PDT by marktwain
A 46-year old man and a licensed attorney was arrested Tuesday night in New Haven after police say he brought a loaded gun concealed in his waistband into a screening of "The Dark Knight Rises."
Sung H. Hwang's lawyer Hugh Keefe told the Associated Press today that his client's arrest at Criterion-Bow Tie Cinemas at 86 Temple St., where he was found with a loaded gun in his waistband, was "baseless." Hwang is a well-known lawyer in New Haven and heads the Law Offices of Sung-Ho Hwang LLC at 1 Audobon St., New Haven. He is also an officer with the New Haven Bar Association.
Hwang was charged with breach of peace and interfering with police. He was released last night on a promise to appear in court.
Keefe told the AP that his client had a right to carry his gun into the movie theater – Hwang has a valid state of Connecticut permit to carry a pistol.
An earlier Associated Press article stated that Hwang is a Branford resident but New Haven Police maintain that he is a New Haven resident. Hartman said it is possible that he could have an additional home in Branford. That has not been confirmed by Patch.
Following a press conference Wednesday at Hwang's law firm, the New Haven mayor's office and New Haven Police Department held a press conference at 4 p.m. on the steps of City Hall at 165 Church St., New Haven, regarding the incident.
In a statement, Hwang said he does not normally carry his weapon but did so for personal protection. Hwang stated that he lives in New Haven near the theater and he planned to walk home when the movie he was hoping to see, "The Dark Knight Rises," let out at 1 a.m. For safety, he brought his weapon, said Hwang.
Last night, just after 10 p.m., New Haven Police responded to the Criterion-Bow Tie Cinemas in New Haven on a report of a male inside the theater with a loaded handgun, which they state, was not concealed. Theater management reported the suspicious person to be located in either theater 1 or 2.
Within minutes, police were able to locate Hwang in theater 1 where about one dozen patrons were waiting for the Batman film “The Dark Knight Rises” to begin.
“The theater house lights were illuminated as officers entered,” the police press release states. “Patrons were told to raise their hands and file from the theater. As they exited they were patted down and escorted outside.”
Officers then identified the suspect as Hwang who was described as having “a gun in his waistband on his back,” that was not concealed. Hwang did not move from his seat, proceeded to use his cell phone and would not cooperate with police, the statement read.
Hwang was handcuffed and removed from the theater. He was then arrested.
"I have a special conceal holster that goes under my pants and the shirt covers the holster," Hwang wrote in his statement. "There is no posting at Criterion [that] states that weapons are not permitted. As far as the law is concerned, I have a right to carry there," he added.
Tensions have been high surrounding screens of "The Dark Knight Rises" since a mass shooting at a premiere of “The Dark Knight Rises” at a theater in Aurora, CO, last month.
Hwang commended the theater-goers for being concerned and alerting the authorities and noted: "I understand that we are in a state of heightened security since the incident at Colorado a couple of months ago. I really feel for the victims and I pray for their family members."
In his statement, Hwang said he was within his rights to carry his gun into the theater.
"I was cooperative and followed all the directions of the police," he stated. "I think that the second amendment is crucially important to protect. When baseless breach of peace and interfering charges are brought against people that have a right to carry, it really threatens our constitution right to bear arms." Related Topics: New Haven Police, Second Amendment, Sung H. Hwang, and dark knight rises shooting Was Hwang within his rights to carry his gun into the theater? Tell us in the comments.
Not many comments at the site, just one anti-gun spammer which refers to any anti-freedom rant. Pro-freedom comments would be a good idea.
“Lawyers tend to know the law better than police.”
—
What a surprise !
Very odd convergence of events. It was a screening of Dark Knight Rises. He says the gun was concealed, they claim it wasn’t. They probably violated his rights. He ends up being a lawyer...
Soon to be a much richer lawyer, I would imagine.
Police Chief Dean Esserman, who was on scene late Tuesday, thanked the citizen who brought his fears to the attention of the manager and for the manager who called 911.
"New Haven police are remarkable," Esserman said.
"Their response was prompt and it was clear to everyone that I spoke to that their discipline was notable," Esserman.
Oh, those police are remarkable alright. They're going to cost the city a nice chunk of change. BTW, the guy they arrested is the president-elect of the New Haven Bar Association. LOL.
New Haven Register article here
Hmmm...wonder if carrying a gun could become like yelling Fire in a crowded movie theater.
If the gun wasn’t concealed, then why did they have to pat down everyone? It was likely that someone called it in, hoping that someone would get caught.
This is not a good place for your gun for concealed carry.
It makes sitting down uncomfortable. When seated the gun becomes very difficult to access in a hurry. If knocked down on your back in an altercation the weapon is pinned between you and the ground.
People who carry in this position frequently remove the weapon before sitting and place it elsewhere on their person making it obvious to those near them that they are carrying. If one bends over the weapon can become visible. After bending over or getting up from a seated position the shirt covering the weapon can hitch up on the weapon making it visible.
I don’t recommend carrying in this position.
I agree. I would suspect that if they could see the gun (doubtful) they could have described the individual and they wouldn’t have had to pat them all down.
There’s a creepy thought. I wonder how many false alarms like that have been called in since the shooting?
My amex card:
Kel-tec .380 w/hollow points, made in FL, guaranteed for life.
Don’t even know it’s in your pocket.
Oh please. We all know that weenie guns like the .380, .38, and 9mm are completely and totally worthless as a manstopper and if you don't carry a .40 or .45, you might as well bend over during an attack and yell "kill me." < /s >
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