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I thought pointing a gun at somebody was legally "Assault w/ a Deadly Weapon" (Original Post) AZ8theist Jun 2020 OP
Missouri is a whackadoodle wingnut gun state aeromanKC Jun 2020 #1
Agreed. AZ8theist Jun 2020 #3
They'd have been shot on the lawn within minutes. StarfishSaver Jun 2020 #28
Have to look at the whole private property thing maybe? jmg257 Jun 2020 #2
Some fella posted on twitter Alliepoo Jun 2020 #9
Maybe - very confusing thing with a gate etc. jmg257 Jun 2020 #12
The people they pointed the guns at were not on their property. coti Jun 2020 #22
With red state gun laws, it doesn't matter where the protesters were. Blue_true Jun 2020 #26
Why aren't they in jail? The headline says it all: "Rich, white..." sop Jun 2020 #4
+1 uponit7771 Jun 2020 #7
Is "rich white" a jailable offense? Hangingon Jun 2020 #15
No, but brandishing a gun at someone should be, Crunchy Frog Jun 2020 #19
Obviously not. It's a "get out of jail free" card StarfishSaver Jun 2020 #31
That woman, in particular, pointed her gun at specific people with her finger on the trigger RockRaven Jun 2020 #5
I expect that the husband has a gun license but I would like to know if she did Bev54 Jun 2020 #13
There is no license required in most states. GulfCoast66 Jun 2020 #29
And anyone in that crowd who happened to be armed could have legally shot them in self-defense coti Jun 2020 #23
I believe that is was assault with a firearm and Chainfire Jun 2020 #6
If this happened in San Diego they'd be dead. maveric Jun 2020 #8
It's Brandishing. It's a crime. maxsolomon Jun 2020 #10
Exactly. The old Gungeoneers even considered Trayvon Martin's murder a DGU. Hoyt Jun 2020 #14
I am a gun owner. PTWB Jun 2020 #27
Almost every Democrat I know owns a gun. GulfCoast66 Jun 2020 #32
I own several (not near 25). PTWB Jun 2020 #35
Same here. Tools. Dangerous tools if used incorrectly as seen in the video. GulfCoast66 Jun 2020 #37
You as well. Enjoy your natural and ethically harvested meat! PTWB Jun 2020 #39
So the protesters invaded a white safe space? guillaumeb Jun 2020 #11
In Missouri pointing a gun at someone in a threatening manner is unlawful Major Nikon Jun 2020 #16
Is it possible to point a gun at someone in a manner... 3catwoman3 Jun 2020 #17
Perhaps if they were an idiot Major Nikon Jun 2020 #24
Yes, backward with a finger on the trigger sanatanadharma Jun 2020 #33
it's ok if it's white people doing it to black people JI7 Jun 2020 #18
The law is never that simple hack89 Jun 2020 #20
Brandishing nsd Jun 2020 #21
In states with Stand Your Ground it is not. Blue_true Jun 2020 #25
Couple's actions are being investigated by local Circuit Attorney Kaleva Jun 2020 #30
Investigations and even charges are made in Florida, then killers invoke Blue_true Jun 2020 #34
In most states the protesters could have legally shot them dead. GulfCoast66 Jun 2020 #36
There's a lesson for the gun nuts here Major Nikon Jun 2020 #38
Strangely, the website for McCloseky Law Center seems to be off-line. TomSlick Jun 2020 #40

AZ8theist

(5,339 posts)
3. Agreed.
Mon Jun 29, 2020, 06:48 PM
Jun 2020

But I just figured they are "fine people" because they are rich white folks. If they were black, they'd be dead by now.

Alliepoo

(2,196 posts)
9. Some fella posted on twitter
Mon Jun 29, 2020, 07:14 PM
Jun 2020

That the neighborhood is open to pedestrian traffic but not open to cars. The sidewalks are public. I wish I could post his data here in DU but can’t do it with my phone.

coti

(4,612 posts)
22. The people they pointed the guns at were not on their property.
Mon Jun 29, 2020, 09:04 PM
Jun 2020

Nor did the protestors present any kind of threat.

There was no justification for what they did. They should be indicted.

Blue_true

(31,261 posts)
26. With red state gun laws, it doesn't matter where the protesters were.
Mon Jun 29, 2020, 09:13 PM
Jun 2020

One of those people could have shot a protester dead in the street and stood a good chance of walking free under Missouri law. Same here in Florida.

 

StarfishSaver

(18,486 posts)
31. Obviously not. It's a "get out of jail free" card
Mon Jun 29, 2020, 09:18 PM
Jun 2020

Or more accurately, "Brandish a Gun Without Getting Arrested Card"

RockRaven

(14,784 posts)
5. That woman, in particular, pointed her gun at specific people with her finger on the trigger
Mon Jun 29, 2020, 06:49 PM
Jun 2020

That is outrageously irresponsible and dangerous. If she weren't rich and white it would have gotten her killed by cops.

GulfCoast66

(11,949 posts)
29. There is no license required in most states.
Mon Jun 29, 2020, 09:16 PM
Jun 2020

Including Missouri. You just go buy a gun. With a 3 day waiting period unless you have a concealed carry permit. Then you can do cash and carry.

coti

(4,612 posts)
23. And anyone in that crowd who happened to be armed could have legally shot them in self-defense
Mon Jun 29, 2020, 09:05 PM
Jun 2020

as long as they were pointing the guns at the crowd.

Chainfire

(17,308 posts)
6. I believe that is was assault with a firearm and
Mon Jun 29, 2020, 06:51 PM
Jun 2020

that anyone who had the guns pointed at them could have fired upon the couple and had a valid claim to self defense.

maxsolomon

(32,992 posts)
10. It's Brandishing. It's a crime.
Mon Jun 29, 2020, 07:15 PM
Jun 2020

Back in the days when we argued on DU about Gun Rights, this would have been chalked up by Gunners as a successful DGU (Defensive Gun Use).

For a while, NRA-popular gunners like John Lott were asserting in academic papers that DGUs happened 100s of 1,000s of times a year in America, and that accounted for our low crime rates.

They actually seem to happen on the order of a couple thousand, of which many are, like this incident, crimes in and of themselves.

 

PTWB

(4,131 posts)
27. I am a gun owner.
Mon Jun 29, 2020, 09:14 PM
Jun 2020

I think we need far more gun owners on the left. It is dangerous to let the right wingers flex the second amendment exclusively.

But this case is obviously anything but defensive. They chose to arm themselves, exit their home, instigate a confrontation with people who were merely passing by and then claim to be the victims.

I would be surprised if they don’t end up charged criminally unless there is more to the story. And I very much doubt there is more to the story.

GulfCoast66

(11,949 posts)
32. Almost every Democrat I know owns a gun.
Mon Jun 29, 2020, 09:21 PM
Jun 2020

Not 25 of them. And they don’t define us as people or Americans. Mine are for hunting.

And are locked up when not being used.

 

PTWB

(4,131 posts)
35. I own several (not near 25).
Mon Jun 29, 2020, 09:26 PM
Jun 2020

I consider them tools and each is well suited for a specific task. They’re also all locked away when not in use.

GulfCoast66

(11,949 posts)
37. Same here. Tools. Dangerous tools if used incorrectly as seen in the video.
Mon Jun 29, 2020, 09:41 PM
Jun 2020

None of mine hold more than 5 rounds except ironically my fathers old .22 Squirrel gun which holds more.

We enjoy natural game which is the healthiest meat available.

Although we now have places here in Central Florida where I can buy beef, poultry and pork that is not factory raised. It is more expensive but that means we eat more meat free meals.

These gun nuts are something we will have to deal with for the next 50 years. We really need registration. In my opinion. Others may disagree.

Have a nice evening.

Major Nikon

(36,814 posts)
16. In Missouri pointing a gun at someone in a threatening manner is unlawful
Mon Jun 29, 2020, 08:30 PM
Jun 2020

Notice after the fact the lawyers through their lawyer issued a statement that they had been threatened. A news crew filmed about 10 minutes and nobody threatened them. So if they had pointed a gun at a particular person that had indeed threatened them with violence they might have a case, but they are on video doing the opposite to multiple people who posed zero threat to them. A separate charge could be filed for each instance and it can rise to a felony.

If this weren’t anywhere but crazyland they would be facing serious prison time. But they are white in a gun nut state pointing their guns at POC, so naturally they will get off with nothing.

If there’s any vestiges of the gungeon who think this is an act of self defense, consider what would have happened if a person who got a gun pointed at them and was not a threat had pulled out their own gun and dispatched the woman. Would THAT be self defense?

Major Nikon

(36,814 posts)
24. Perhaps if they were an idiot
Mon Jun 29, 2020, 09:08 PM
Jun 2020

Kinda like how the husband points precious at his wife.

Here is the law:
https://law.justia.com/codes/missouri/2005/t38/5710000030.html

Here is the exception under the above law:
https://law.justia.com/codes/missouri/2015/title-xxxviii/chapter-563/section-563.031/

From the way I read it, since no protestor was inside their home, they have the burden of proving they were threatened by anyone they pointed a gun at. Won’t be easy to do with video of most of it. So even if one person threatened them which they claim, that isn’t going to help them much with everyone else who didn’t.


Blue_true

(31,261 posts)
25. In states with Stand Your Ground it is not.
Mon Jun 29, 2020, 09:09 PM
Jun 2020

In Florida, a person can call you a name in a shopping center parking lot, if you take one step toward him or even don't retreat, he can take a gun and shoot you dead and have a chance of facing no consequence at all. I think that rabid republican Missouri his a similar law. One of those people could have walked into the street with a gun and if a protester approached, shot the protester dead and have expected no consequences.

Blue_true

(31,261 posts)
34. Investigations and even charges are made in Florida, then killers invoke
Mon Jun 29, 2020, 09:23 PM
Jun 2020

"Stand Your Ground" and if it isn't clear that you were sprinting away for you life as they squared up to shoot you dead, they walk free.

We need to systematically remove every republican from public office, if we can't do that, at least make them an inconsequential minority.

GulfCoast66

(11,949 posts)
36. In most states the protesters could have legally shot them dead.
Mon Jun 29, 2020, 09:32 PM
Jun 2020

They are lucky the protesters were not there for violence and were not armed.

If you aim a gun at someone it is reasonable for that person to feel their life is at risk.

The way they both had their fingers on the trigger, a huge violation of rudimentary firearm safety, it is lucky one of them did not shoot the other one. Their privilege has made them think they are immune from the consequences of their actions.

Major Nikon

(36,814 posts)
38. There's a lesson for the gun nuts here
Mon Jun 29, 2020, 09:50 PM
Jun 2020

The “shoot first” NRA written legislation they so revere is going to bite them on the ass should protesters decide to start arming themselves. Their shitstain Proud Boy heroes aren’t going to be so brave facing armed opposition.

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