Another man arrested for a gun at Batman- a valid permit holder

[sparky]

http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/08/09/13198412-lawyer-explains-why-he-brought-gun-to-batman-showing?lite

Apparently he didn't get the memo that concealed means concealed though.

Quoted from article below.
By NBCConnecticut.com
New Haven Police responded to Criterion-Bow Tie Cinemas at 86 Temple St. after receiving a call reporting a man with a gun inside theater one or two.

According to police, an usher said at least three patrons inside the theater saw that Hwang had a holster with a gun in it and alerted theater staff, who then called police.

Police entered Theater 1 and asked the patrons to raise their hands and file out of the theater. As they exited, they were patted down and escorted outside.

The officers identified Hwang as the suspect, drew their weapons and ordered him to put his hands up.

According to police, Hwang remained in his seat using his cell phone and did not comply with the officers' commands.

Hwang said he was cooperative and followed all directions from police.

Police acted well and were professional and understanding when they found that he had a valid permit to carry the weapon, he said.

Police said they took Hwang into custody by force and officers were then able to remove the loaded handgun from his waistband at the small of his back, police said.

More at link above.

[cckyle]

I wonder what resisting arrest looked like in this case? Hwang said he was cooperative, but police said he had to forcibly arrested.  Also I wonder if people actually saw a handgun, or just printing??  The article doesn't say exactly.  Couldn't charge him with anything regarding the firearm.  But they didn't want to do all that work and not charge the guy with anything.  He'll think twice before he carries a gun for personal protection again. 

Funny though in the video, a permit holder legally carries a handgun for self defense, a swat team locked and loaded storms in and the lady in the video thinks the man with a handgun in the small of his back was putting everyone in the theater in danger.  She had a swat team, police with ar15's all dressed in black yelling at her to put her hands up, yet the man with a handgun strapped to his back for personal protection talking on his cell phone is the real danger. 

Sad thing is of course this gets the negative attention from the media.  I don't know what the owner(s) of this particular theaters stance on guns is, but likely if he/she was on the fence about posting no carry signs, he/she isn't anymore. 

What would you guys do if it was your theater in this case and customers were coming up to you concerned because they saw a man with a gun in the theater?  Would you call the cops?  Would you ask him to leave?  Would you investigate and maybe tell him if he is a permit holder to keep the gun concealed so people won't freak?  Would you tell the customers that it is legal for people to keep and bear arms? 

[gibbs459]

I think… Do to the way the media has instilled fear into the uneducated public about firearms, business owners over react in most cases. They get a cop on the phone too soon. They scream GUN and the Calvary comes running with too little information to handle the situation properly.
I think a better way to handle the situation would be… Have management request the gentleman to accompany them out of the theater to another room to discuss a personal matter. This gets them away from the general public, easing the panic. Discuss the company policy with the customer.  Act accordingly to company policy. If they refuse to comply, then call in the law. There is no reason to make a huge seen in most cases. Most carriers will thank you for the discretion.
Worst case at least you removed them from the general population before they commit a crime. May save lives.
Common sense solves most problems. Unfortunately common sense barely exists in the world anymore.
IMO

[HuskerXDM]

I think… Do to the way the media has instilled fear into the uneducated public about firearms, business owners over react in most cases. They get a cop on the phone too soon. They scream GUN and the Calvary comes running with too little information to handle the situation properly.
I think a better way to handle the situation would be… Have management request the gentleman to accompany them out of the theater to another room to discuss a personal matter. This gets them away from the general public, easing the panic. Discuss the company policy with the customer.  Act accordingly to company policy. If they refuse to comply, then call in the law. There is no reason to make a huge seen in most cases. Most carriers will thank you for the discretion.
Worst case at least you removed them from the general population before they commit a crime. May save lives.
Common sense solves most problems. Unfortunately common sense barely exists in the world anymore.
IMO

Yes but on TV this is where the bloodbath begins, and like it or not, that's what John Q Public is thinking when he sees a gun.  So they call the police with not enough information and let the police charge in thinking the worst.

IF common sense were to prevail, there could be a lot of education happening out there.

[gibbs459]

The question asked was this.

What would you guys do if it was your theater in this case and customers were coming up to you concerned because they saw a man with a gun in the theater?  Would you call the cops?  Would you ask him to leave?  Would you investigate and maybe tell him if he is a permit holder to keep the gun concealed so people won't freak?  Would you tell the customers that it is legal for people to keep and bear arms? 

That is why I answered the way I did. Like I said.

"Do to the way the media has instilled fear into the uneducated public about firearms, business owners over react in most cases.They get a cop on the phone too soon. They scream GUN and the Calvary comes running with too little information to handle the situation properly. I think a better way to handle the situation would be…"

"Common sense solves most problems. Unfortunately common sense barely exists in the world anymore."

[whatsit]

So, here's another question: would you, as a business owner, approach the legal carrier and request that he conceal it? I think it's pretty well established that sheeple panic and call the cops too quickly ("there's a man with a gun at the theater!"). That just ruins everyone's night. I bet that theater had to issue some refunds and may have lost some business because the cops showed up and made people think there was something dangerous going on at their theater.

I know a lot of people here have expressed a deep respect for property owners' rights. So, let's get even more hypothetical:
What if the legal carrier refused to conceal because he "has a right to carry any way he wants to." Or, "I'm just flexing my 2A muscles." Or even, "I don't have a CHP; I always open carry." Would you ask him to leave? If he refused to leave, would you call the cops then?

I guess my point in asking this is: as a recently reformed sheeple, myself, I have a decent understanding of where these people are coming from. As a sheeple, I'm uneducated about guns and gun laws. Also, I don't know the carrier's intent and, having no way to defend myself, I must rely on the good (albeit inaccurate) feeling that the absence of guns increases my level of safety. Thus, my choice to not arm myself is not wrong. I may not even be anti-gun -- I'm just easily frightened when my normal environment is changed up by someone carrying one in a place I'm not used to seeing it.

I even found myself staring at police officers' guns on more than one occasion because weapons seemed so out of the ordinary. (actually, I still do this, but now it's to figure out what kind of gun it is ). Anyway, I just want to bring another point of view. I hear a lot of people (especially on other forums) saying things like "I dont' care, I have a right and the sheeple can just suck it." Or, "my rights aren't overridden by other people's good or bad feelings." Our civilization is built upon respect for others.

I have the right to free speech, but if I stand up in the middle of a movie and start preaching the gospel, I'll probably be asked to leave. I might even be arrested for disturbing the peace -- in an extreme case. I think there's a time and place; dictated by respect for others, that I should exercise my right(s). Open carrying in a theater after a mass shooting in a theater may not have been a great time to choose to exercise the open carry right. This isn't a perfect example, but I hope you get what I'm saying.

Anyway, flame on and let me have it!

[gibbs459]

If I was the business owner. I would most likely either, ask them to leave to disarm and return or conceal it better. My point was to do this as discretely as possible.  In most cases explaining you have had some complaints, and you are just trying to calm people’s concerns will encourage them to comply. Maybe even offer a refund and a ticket for a future viewing. Yes, there are those who will tell you just to stick it. At this point, yes I would ask them to leave. Maybe even offer a refund on the way out the door if, I was feeling generous. Businesses can refuse service. If they are causing a disturbance it would be justified. If they still do not comply, request removal by law enforcement. 

When calling the law thoroughly explain the situation. Don’t say I have a guy with a gun. And then I guess, hope for the smallest seen possible. It’s in the cops hands now.

Maybe I’m wrong but it seems to make sense to me.  There are ways to handle things without causing a panic. The hard part would be keeping your cool if they get belligerent. That attitude just pisses me off. It makes all gun owners look bad in the public eye.

[whatsit]

I agree. Discretion would certainly go a long way. I think it would be appreciated by the legal carrier and would go a long way in keeping people calm.

[HuskerXDM]

The question asked was this.



That is why I answered the way I did. Like I said.

"Do to the way the media has instilled fear into the uneducated public about firearms, business owners over react in most cases.They get a cop on the phone too soon. They scream GUN and the Calvary comes running with too little information to handle the situation properly. I think a better way to handle the situation would be…"

"Common sense solves most problems. Unfortunately common sense barely exists in the world anymore."

I wasn't trying to disagree, in fact I didn't read the post above yours.  I was thinking you were talking about best-case scenario in a I-wish-these-things-could-happen-like-this sort of way, and I was making a social commentary more than anything else.  Hope there are no hard feelings.