flb_78
Regular Member
I was wondering if there were to be any Trayvon rallies this weekend. Figured it'd be a good time to bust out my "You Lost" sign and walk around across the road while open carrying.
Sounds like a good way to add fuel to a smoldering fire.
While I do not mean it as a personal insult, that does not sound like a responsible thing to do. We as OCers wish to project an image of good solid people, not those that would taunt, gloat or otherwise become part of the problem.
That and emotions can run high on such occasions. Don't want to risk being caught up in something that could have unpleasant/dire consequences.
Couldn't everyday carry, especially in African-American dense population areas, in this state, or any other, be construed as 'gloating' or 'taunting'? I mean, the broadness in the way you word it, makes it sound like we should only exercise our right under the commonwealth's constitution, when not in any portion of a town, city, or otherwise, that is experiencing protests, rallies, or anything else, by Martin supporters; on the basis that it might offend someone, or cause them to attack the carrier.
I'm not much for confrontation, and try to avoid it whenever possible, especially when carrying. However, if I am minding my own business, walking with myself, or friends, or family, through, say, Louisville, on the south-end, and I'm OC'ing, and happen to cross into a portion of the city that is experiencing protests, or rallies in support of Martin... Would that make it fine, and legal, and justifiable for someone from that group, to force an encounter upon me, to take my carrying as a 'taunt' or otherwise, and to attack me for it? Even if I was to carry a big neon yellow sign with big neon red letters that said "Trayvon Martin was such and such insult" while carrying, does that give just cause for the protesters to attack me, and claim that I was 'taunting' them? would I then be in the wrong if I defended myself with due force and stood my ground?
Forgive me if I misunderstood the meaning of your comment, Sir, but does a criminal rioter's mental and emotional state over-ride my right to free speech, free association, self-defense, carrying of a side-arm, and free expression? Sure, it may seem stupid to carry with a sign that says "you lost" in front of a martin rally, but it's awfully stupid to protest a legal decision based on law... But both cases are perfectly legal.
Think you misunderstood and carried my caution to a place not intended. I am not talking about counter protesting a Bloomberg rally or having a picnic in a park.
Going in bad sections of town though - yes I avoid them if possible. I see a volitile situation and respond with in-your-face conduct and I can liken that to participating in road rage. Can't see intentionally going where trouble is likely to find me. In fact doing so, may deprive me of certain protections of the law - becoming part of the problem in Va. means I must retreat as far as possible before using deadly force, negating a SYG defense.
See no reason to have "He was legal" as my epitaph.
Virginia has a 'duty to retreat' policy/law?
I'm too sober to tell if I should make a "Virginia, go home, you're drunk" joke, or a "Could learn a thing or two from your only true successful 'child' (If you personify Virginia, then we're pretty much your eldest son... Don't worry, there's still hope for WVA... >.>)"