# Miss. police: Open carry laws kept us from arresting shotgun-toting man who terrorized shoppers. **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [June 23, 2015, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/miss-police-open-carry-laws-kept-us-from-arresting-shotgun-toting-man-who-terrorized-shoppers/723257 "2015-06-23T16:41:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2015, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/miss-police-open-carry-laws-kept-us-from-arresting-shotgun-toting-man-who-terrorized-shoppers/723257/81 "2015-06-24T01:13:33Z")
The vid of the police chief’s press conference is widely available on the web. ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2015, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/miss-police-open-carry-laws-kept-us-from-arresting-shotgun-toting-man-who-terrorized-shoppers/723257/82 "2015-06-24T02:17:48Z")
I’m a carry advocate but I draw the line at unholstered handguns, or long guns that are not either cased or slung and muzzle-capped. In Minnesota this guy’s actions would probably constitute 5th-degree assault. [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BIPCn-aYMoM) ---
**Author:** ![doorhinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2015, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/miss-police-open-carry-laws-kept-us-from-arresting-shotgun-toting-man-who-terrorized-shoppers/723257/83 "2015-06-24T03:05:03Z")
> [@davidm](#): > > I’ve posted two sources now, one a local Biloxi TV station. They both tell the same story. Do you have another source saying something different? I suppose it’s reassuring that the two sources say the same thing, while both exclude so many other, possibly, interesting facts. I would prefer that the police release the 9-1-1 recordings. It would be interesting to hear why the Police Chief decided to roll SWAT. Maybe the Chief could explain why he searched the Walmart after the non-law breakers had already left the store? Should I assume they were looking for bombs? ---
**Author:** ![steronz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steronz/32/11765_2.png) [@steronz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steronz)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2015, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/miss-police-open-carry-laws-kept-us-from-arresting-shotgun-toting-man-who-terrorized-shoppers/723257/84 "2015-06-24T03:06:43Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > I suppose it’s reassuring that the two sources say the same thing, while both exclude so many other, possibly, interesting facts. I would prefer that the police release the 9-1-1 recordings. It would be interesting to hear why the Police Chief decided to roll SWAT. Maybe the Chief could explain why he searched the Walmart after the non-law breakers had already left the store? Should I assume they were looking for bombs? Perhaps he was Benghazi? ---
**Author:** ![doorhinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2015, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/miss-police-open-carry-laws-kept-us-from-arresting-shotgun-toting-man-who-terrorized-shoppers/723257/85 "2015-06-24T03:12:54Z")
> [@steronz](#): > > Perhaps he was Benghazi? Ben and Shirley Ghazi? Was that the names of the two heavily-armed individuals wandering around Wallyworld? Or where they the people who notified 9-1-1 that Muslim/Christian/athiest terrorists were buying slim jims? ---
**Author:** ![steronz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steronz/32/11765_2.png) [@steronz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steronz)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2015, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/miss-police-open-carry-laws-kept-us-from-arresting-shotgun-toting-man-who-terrorized-shoppers/723257/86 "2015-06-24T03:18:08Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > Ben and Shirley Ghazi? Was that the names of the two heavily-armed individuals wandering around Wallyworld? Or where they the people who notified 9-1-1 that Muslim/Christian/athiest terrorists were buying slim jims? Good question. Have you considered Benghazi? ---
**Author:** ![Onomatopoeia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/onomatopoeia/32/4145_2.png) [@Onomatopoeia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Onomatopoeia)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2015, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/miss-police-open-carry-laws-kept-us-from-arresting-shotgun-toting-man-who-terrorized-shoppers/723257/87 "2015-06-24T03:25:21Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > Before I read any more of this thread, I will submit that I’d bet $$ that the Walmart Shotgun Asshole is white. I can’t imagine a black fellow getting away with that for long. > I’ll read the thread now, and comment again If I should. Of course he was white. A black man would have been shot dead on the spot. ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2015, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/miss-police-open-carry-laws-kept-us-from-arresting-shotgun-toting-man-who-terrorized-shoppers/723257/88 "2015-06-24T03:51:58Z")
> [@Ethilrist](#): > > Makes it difficult to carry the weapon you’re buying to the cash register, or from there to the door. I worked at Walmart several years ago, though, so far as I’m aware, their policies haven’t changed. Any time that I saw someone purchasing rifles or ammo, a member of management would be present for the transaction. Upon completion of the transaction, the manager would always retain physical possession of the rifle until the manager and customer were both out in the parking lot. Now, I admit that this measure does very little to make the store safer. I mean, the guy could just walk right back in and start shooting. But that was the way that gun sales were handled when I worked there. ---
**Author:** ![doorhinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2015, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/miss-police-open-carry-laws-kept-us-from-arresting-shotgun-toting-man-who-terrorized-shoppers/723257/89 "2015-06-24T04:07:13Z")
> [@steronz](#): > > Good question. Have you considered Benghazi? Have you considered sea kelp? ---
**Author:** ![Robert163](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/4af34b/32.png) [@Robert163](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robert163)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2015, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/miss-police-open-carry-laws-kept-us-from-arresting-shotgun-toting-man-who-terrorized-shoppers/723257/90 "2015-06-24T04:11:15Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > Have you considered sea kelp? My assessment of you, doorhinge, is that you are either: 1- A made up persona trolling this board 2- Someone who will say pretty much anything to further/defend a far right agenda Maybe I am wrong. I hope that I am wrong. I am interested in your response to this post. Maybe you were busy and didn’t see it. I hope that you don’t respond by stating “we don’t have all the facts”. If you have an actual response I would be intrigued to hear it. [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=18462556&postcount=73](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=18462556&postcount=73) ---
**Author:** ![steronz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steronz/32/11765_2.png) [@steronz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steronz)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2015, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/miss-police-open-carry-laws-kept-us-from-arresting-shotgun-toting-man-who-terrorized-shoppers/723257/91 "2015-06-24T04:14:19Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > Have you considered sea kelp? No. There is only Benghazi. ---
**Author:** ![doorhinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2015, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/miss-police-open-carry-laws-kept-us-from-arresting-shotgun-toting-man-who-terrorized-shoppers/723257/92 "2015-06-24T04:28:53Z")
> [@Robert163](#): > > My assessment of you, doorhinge, is that you are either: > > 1- A made up persona trolling this board > 2- Someone who will say pretty much anything to further/defend a far right agenda > > Maybe I am wrong… (post shortened) Your assessment of me? That seems rather personal, don’t you think? Why would you want to spend your time attacking the other poster rather than attacking the other poster’s arguments? ---
**Author:** ![Robert163](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/4af34b/32.png) [@Robert163](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robert163)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2015, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/miss-police-open-carry-laws-kept-us-from-arresting-shotgun-toting-man-who-terrorized-shoppers/723257/93 "2015-06-24T04:47:52Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > (post shortened) > > Your assessment of me? That seems rather personal, don’t you think? Why would you want to spend your time attacking the other poster rather than attacking the other poster’s arguments? You neglected to answer the questions put forth in that post. I wonder why??? ---
**Author:** ![steronz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steronz/32/11765_2.png) [@steronz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steronz)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2015, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/miss-police-open-carry-laws-kept-us-from-arresting-shotgun-toting-man-who-terrorized-shoppers/723257/94 "2015-06-24T05:03:27Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > (post shortened) > > Your assessment of me? That seems rather personal, don’t you think? Why would you want to spend your time attacking the other poster rather than attacking the other poster’s arguments? Right, especially when we should be spending our time Benghazi ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2015, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/miss-police-open-carry-laws-kept-us-from-arresting-shotgun-toting-man-who-terrorized-shoppers/723257/95 "2015-06-24T05:07:04Z")
[Cyborg from future starts to load shotgun in store] Gun store clerk: You can’t do that. Cyborg: Wrong. _…because it’s in the Constitution!.._ ---
**Author:** ![Robert163](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/4af34b/32.png) [@Robert163](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robert163)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2015, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/miss-police-open-carry-laws-kept-us-from-arresting-shotgun-toting-man-who-terrorized-shoppers/723257/96 "2015-06-24T05:09:58Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > [Cyborg from future starts to load shotgun in store] > > Gun store clerk: You can’t do that. > > Cyborg: Wrong. > _…because it’s in the Constitution!.._ LOL ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2015, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/miss-police-open-carry-laws-kept-us-from-arresting-shotgun-toting-man-who-terrorized-shoppers/723257/97 "2015-06-24T05:17:56Z")
> [@Onomatopoeia](#): > > Of course he was white. A black man would have been shot dead on the spot. [John Crawford III](http://www.cnn.com/2014/12/16/justice/walmart-shooting-john-crawford/) in an open carry state who was carrying a toy gun from a Walmart shelf. ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2015, 9:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/miss-police-open-carry-laws-kept-us-from-arresting-shotgun-toting-man-who-terrorized-shoppers/723257/98 "2015-06-24T09:42:43Z")
> [@Robert163](#): > > My assessment of you, doorhinge, is that you are either: > > 1- A made up persona trolling this board > 2- Someone who will say pretty much anything to further/defend a far right agenda > > Maybe I am wrong. I hope that I am wrong. I am interested in your response to this post. Maybe you were busy and didn’t see it. I hope that you don’t respond by stating “we don’t have all the facts”. If you have an actual response I would be intrigued to hear it. > > [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=18462556&postcount=73](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=18462556&postcount=73) Calling someone a troll - even sideways - is against the rules, Robert. Warning issued, please don’t do so again. ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2015, 9:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/miss-police-open-carry-laws-kept-us-from-arresting-shotgun-toting-man-who-terrorized-shoppers/723257/99 "2015-06-24T09:44:53Z")
> [@Robert163](#): > > My assessment of you, doorhinge, is that you are either: > > 1- A made up persona trolling this board > 2- Someone who will say pretty much anything to further/defend a far right agenda Your “assessment” of your opponent is not relevant to this thread. Leave the personal remarks (and accusations of trolling) for The BBQ Pit. = = = **steronz** and **doorhinge** , most of your recent posts have been little more than snide one-liners that are doing nothing to promote the discussion. Knock it off. [/Moderating] ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2015, 10:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/miss-police-open-carry-laws-kept-us-from-arresting-shotgun-toting-man-who-terrorized-shoppers/723257/100 "2015-06-24T10:10:14Z")
> [@Clawdio](#): > > What fact or piece of data could possibly come out where both of the following are true: > > 1. No one was threatened > 2. Evacuating the store and calling the police was warranted. > > I cannot think of any possible scenario that would make these two statements jive. Seriously, I can’t even make something up. People obviously felt threatened, enough to were the police representative felt that calling the police and evacuating the store were “appropriate”. It works if you consider two different definitions of “threatened”. 1. “No one was threatened” likely simply means that the gun-toter didn’t actually point the gun at anyone. 2. “Evacuating the store and calling the police was warranted” because frankly by the time the guy \*\*does \*\* choose to point the loaded shotgun at people (if he does so choose - and there’s no way to know whether he will), it’s probably too late to call the police. So no one was actively threatened but they certainly _felt_ threatened, and with great justification IMHO. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/miss-police-open-carry-laws-kept-us-from-arresting-shotgun-toting-man-who-terrorized-shoppers/723257.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/miss-police-open-carry-laws-kept-us-from-arresting-shotgun-toting-man-who-terrorized-shoppers/723257.md?page=6)