Soldier Goes to Mall with AR-15 to have Picture Taken

[howdy]

A Fort Bragg Soldier entered a Mall (according to him) with an AR-15 to have his picture taken with the rifle:

http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/crime/for ... ar-AAcv2M8" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[PBratton]

Planning fail...

[Texsquatch]

One article I read said he had "magazines for ammunition" but didn't say he actually had ammunition or loaded mags. None of the articles mentioned a loaded firearm. I'm sure in their haste to get this posted, they weren't worried about all the details.

Either way, if this guy is telling the truth, he may want to reconsider his plans.

[C-dub]

I saw this yesterday somewhere and wondered how naive that guy had to be to not think that was going to be a problem.

I also looked to see if NC had open carry or not. They do with few restrictions, but it's the one they charged him with that is kind of an all encompassing thing.

http://nccriminallaw.sog.unc.edu/going- ... he-people/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Elements

A person guilty of this offense

(1) arms himself or herself with an unusual and dangerous weapon

(2) for the purpose of terrifying others and

(3) goes about on public highways

(4) in a manner to cause terror to the people.

I think he will probably be acquitted if they even follow through with the whole thing because he clearly did not intend to terrify others and that part is required. I predict that the charges will either be dropped, or lowered, but it will cost him a bit and he still has to deal with his CO.

However, a bigger problem for the state of NC that I see is that their supreme court has affirmed that any firearm is deemed unusual.

[Jim Beaux]

Well he got what he came for, via a mugshot!

[MechAg94]

Even wrapping a towel over it would have helped.