Decorated Vet Disarmed and Arrested in TX while Carrying Rifle on Boy Scout Hike

[Tinman507]

In Texas no less. We're doomed.

http://www.guns.com/2013/04/16/decorated-military-veteran-disarmed-and-arrested-in-tx-while-carrying-rifle-on-boy-scout-hike/

[muggsy]

I think it's just a case of an ill trained officer over stepping his bounds.

[yqtszhj]

Not that I necessarily agree with what the police did but the guy with the rifle could have handled the situation better.

[wyntrout]

There are cops and there are cops. This cop didn't look like a rookie, but he was sure poorly trained and completely oblivious to a citizen's rights and "proper" procedures. This smacks too much of the bully-boy cops in New Orleans after Katrina.

This is a good example of the type that feels he is a law unto himself... he has a badge and a gun and can do what he wants... and not surprisingly, his buds closed ranks and stood WITH him rather than taking him aside and questioning his lack of judgment. I'm sure the lawyer will get the department's attention with the lawsuit.

Wynn:(

[TheTman]

I wish he would have used his hand to hand combat on that jerk police officer and whupped his ass good. There is too much of this bullshit making up laws on the spot type thing going on. I respect our "good" police, but some these numbnuts have now businesss with a badge and gun.

[Armybrat]

Hey Tinman - sorry I didn't see your thread here before I posted the same story three hours later in the main forum:

http://www.kahrtalk.com/showthread.php?t=18639


:o


But it's kinda funny to see Muggsy's different responses in both threads. :D;)

[wyntrout]

"To Protect and Serve" is a frequent motto on the sides of Police cars, but too often they aren't the super polite Adam-12 types. I've never run into the bully-boy type because I haven't been doing much to attract attention and I'm always polite and respectful when dealing with anyone, especially police officers. Since 1987 I've had one ticket... a few years ago in Kentucky... doing 77 in a 70 zone and the cop was really concerned if I was in LE... asked me several times if I was sure that I wasn't LE. I tried to explain that the Florida Sheriffs' Association Youth Ranch license plate was for the charity and I was an Honorary member of the FSA, but not LE... $142 ticket. I'm always truthful and will tell them how fast I was going if they ask. Back in early '87 I did just that and got a warning... I WAS a little low on my reply, but I was just starting out and accelerating when my radar detector went off. That was during the 55 MPH national speed limit and I thought I was doing 72 or so... he said 75 or higher... don't recall exactly.

I'm a procrastinator, but I'm always in a hurry to get where I'm going. I respect LEOs and wouldn't hesitate to come to their aid any time.

Wynn:)

[Bad Cheese]

Older country Cops have a way of doing things by the seat of the pants instead of by protocol, they get lazy and assume that what they have gotten away with for years will fly all the time. Citizens should know the laws by rule and page number in case they have to school a confused cop, but not all cops are like this.

[KoolBreeze]

It's wander it ended as peacefully as it did. The situation could have easily escalated with the officer grabbing and trying to forceably take the rifle from the guy. What a utterly stupid thing for the officer to do and it could have easily gotten someone killed. I can understand the officer wanting to have a chat with the guy and maybe even disarming him if he felt threatened by the rifle but don't try and do it by grabbing the rifle. Wow.

[knkali]

Its a mixed bag. The guy with the AR could have been better and the cop could have been better. I can see it from both sides. The cop wants to go home in one piece and the guy wants to live in a free country. You tube is full of this type of senario. Crack a cold one and see for yourself. I keep going back and forth where I stand with it.

[muggsy]

It's wander it ended as peacefully as it did. The situation could have easily escalated with the officer grabbing and trying to forceably take the rifle from the guy. What a utterly stupid thing for the officer to do and it could have easily gotten someone killed. I can understand the officer wanting to have a chat with the guy and maybe even disarming him if he felt threatened by the rifle but don't try and do it by grabbing the rifle. Wow.

He had backup.

[7shot]

Both parties in question handled it badly. The guy for carrying a rifle in the open, whether legal or not, was just plan bad judgement. What did you expect the officer to do. Now the cop was just a jerk in all manor of the word, very unprofessional.

[knkali]

I thought this LEO handled the situation better.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NSoGwQvMLK0

[tv_racin_fan]

Both parties in question handled it badly. The guy for carrying a rifle in the open, whether legal or not, was just plan bad judgement. What did you expect the officer to do. Now the cop was just a jerk in all manor of the word, very unprofessional.

Was he supposed to attempt to carry it concealed? Or just rely on a handgun for defense against the animals in the area?

Personally if I was walking in bear country I would want a long gun on my shoulder.

[willwork4guns]

So... you shouldn't do things you're allowed to do? I have to disagree with you 7shot. Weather dangerous animals or not, it's his right under the law. I don't get it, change the law if you don't like it. I expect the officer to do his job.

[7shot]

Im not disagreeing about his right to open carry a rifle.

I question how rural out in the country was he. The law in Texas says you can open carry a rifle in a rural areas, which means minimal population and not city limits. They don't disclose this in the article. He was busted hiking not far from a road. And it was a city cop not a state trooper. City cops aren't patrolling out in the country. This is where I'm questioning his common sense. Then he was confrontational right from the beginning which prompted the cop to become an a-hole too.

[tv_racin_fan]

Im not disagreeing about his right to open carry a rifle.

I question how rural out in the country was he. The law in Texas says you can open carry a rifle in a rural areas, which means minimal population and not city limits. They don't disclose this in the article. He was busted hiking not far from a road. And it was a city cop not a state trooper. City cops aren't patrolling out in the country. This is where I'm questioning his common sense. Then he was confrontational right from the beginning which prompted the cop to become an a-hole too.

Apparently it was rural enough that it was legal for him to open carry the rifle. The cop seemed to think it was only wrong for him to do so because someone had gotten scared and called in. He didn't care to tell the person who called what the law was, only to come take the rifle from the guy who was legally carrying it. They were hiking along the road and had the camera to document the hike.

After Grisham met the officer, he then asked Grisham what he was doing with his rifle. Grisham replied calmly, “Does it matter, officer? Am I breaking the law?”

That is confrontational?

Might be a good thing for the officer that the son was not armed as well...

[Glock23]

Grisham replied calmly, “Does it matter, officer? Am I breaking the law?”

That is confrontational?

It's the same as saying "It's none of your business" or "Your question is irrelevant." It's avoiding the question for the sake of being yet another a$$hole on video who wants to prove that he knows his rights.

The smart, and much more polite thing to do would have been to simply answer the question.

[chrish]

It's the same as saying "It's none of your business" or "Your question is irrelevant." It's avoiding the question for the sake of being yet another a$$hole on video who wants to prove that he knows his rights.

The smart, and much more polite thing to do would have been to simply answer the question.

Exactly! Pretty annoyed that this guy is being hailed as some sort of gun rights hero and showered w/ free guns at the NRA convention. Utterly stupid.

Be polite, even if the other party is not. Answer the questions. If they choose to take your weapon illegally or worse arrest you then get a badge number and file a law suit. It would further the cause much better than this type of behavior.

I hope this story dies and we can stop hearing about it. It's a non-story. 2 idiots on the side of the road.

[7shot]

ditto....

[tv_racin_fan]

It's the same as saying "It's none of your business" or "Your question is irrelevant." It's avoiding the question for the sake of being yet another a$$hole on video who wants to prove that he knows his rights.

The smart, and much more polite thing to do would have been to simply answer the question.

From my perspective it should have been quite obvious what the "guys" were doing. They were walking down the road, they had on some gear for a bit of a hike.

It seems the officer was already in a bit of a huff since they didn't "stop" when he first TOLD them to. Seems the officer did not comprehend that with the HIKE their elevated breathing and the pulse pounding in their ears could keep them from hearing him.

I would agree they should have just answered his questions and then been allowed to go on about their business since what they were doing is LEGAL. The thing is you do not get to hear the tone of voice used by the officer on his initial approach as that hasn't been posted. Reportedly the officer did not politely ask the guy for his rifle he grabbed for it.

NOW you might be the sort of guy that is nice and polite to the guy who just tried to rip the rifle off of you. I don't see it that way at all.