Even in a simpler time when 2A rights were better respected, a crew of thirteen uniformed men under arms would raise concerns.
The police would have been remiss not to look into it.
Again, the checking part isn’t the problem, it’s the arresting them part and the disorderly conduct charge for exercising their 2A rights part that are the problems.
Perhaps so, but only one man was carrying a rifle.
True, but an arrest based on no violation of law, but on the fears of a hoplophobe should be costly to the individual police officers.
What would a good cop have done?
Asked them where they were going.
Probably found out that it was very near, since they were on foot and not in vehicles.
Decided that their mission was a good idea and offered to have a car follow behind them so as to prevent more stupid 911 panic calls and as their own contribution to the good cause.
And it would have tied up only one cop and one car rather than the large number of cops it takes to haul in and process 13 people.
The cops used terrible judgement.