Men with assault rifles walk through Portland, 'educate' public

[Hum]

Two men seen walking down a Portland street armed with assault rifles told police they were exercising their Second Amendment rights and hoping to educate the public on gun rights.

Several calls were made to 911 on Wednesday afternoon, with alarmed residents reporting two men with guns strapped to their backs walking through the area of Southeast Seventh Avenue and Spokane Street in Portland's Sellwood neighborhood.

When police arrived on the scene, they found two 22-year-old men carrying rifles openly on their backs. The two were also holding valid concealed handgun licenses in Oregon, according to Fox affiliate KPTV.

The men reportedly told officers that they were seeking to educate onlookers about their Second Amendment rights.

"Exercising my rights with a rifle to try to decrease the demonizing of peacefully exercising your rights in public," one of the men, who declined to release his full name, told the station.

Officers said carrying firearms openly is legal in Oregon and carrying a concealed gun is legal with a valid license, according to the station. But doing one or both may generate 911 calls and possibly tie up resources that are needed for a real emergency.

One of the men told the station that he hoped people would approach him and talk to him, instead of calling police.

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[Lord Method Man]

People out in public not violating any laws, story at 11?

[Hum]

Men seen with rifles, shot by hicks. :p Story at 10 ...

[SupportGeek]

Two men seen walking down a Portland street armed with assault rifles told police they were exercising their Second Amendment rights and hoping to educate the public on gun rights.

Several calls were made to 911 on Wednesday afternoon, with alarmed residents reporting two men with guns strapped to their backs walking through the area of Southeast Seventh Avenue and Spokane Street in Portland's Sellwood neighborhood.

When police arrived on the scene, they found two 22-year-old men carrying rifles openly on their backs. The two were also holding valid concealed handgun licenses in Oregon, according to Fox affiliate KPTV.

The men reportedly told officers that they were seeking to educate onlookers about their Second Amendment rights.

"Exercising my rights with a rifle to try to decrease the demonizing of peacefully exercising your rights in public," one of the men, who declined to release his full name, told the station.

Officers said carrying firearms openly is legal in Oregon and carrying a concealed gun is legal with a valid license, according to the station. But doing one or both may generate 911 calls and possibly tie up resources that are needed for a real emergency.

One of the men told the station that he hoped people would approach him and talk to him, instead of calling police.

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Then the public needs to educate themselves better about what is a legal act and what is not, so that they dont call 911 for no reason.

Those that called to report these guys need to be charged with unlawful use of the 911 services, its for reporting emergencies, not to spam dial because you are scared.

I see the media still doesnt know what an "Assault rifle" is and still tries to label AR-15's as such, idiots.

[Hardcore Til I Die]

"One of the men told the station that he hoped people would approach him and talk to him, instead of calling police."

He's openly carrying a rifle.. I doubt many would go and talk to him. Idiot.

[Detection]

Stories like this make me love the UK more and more each one I read

[Wyn6]

Then the public needs to educate themselves better about what is a legal act and what is not, so that they dont call 911 for no reason.

Those that called to report these guys need to be charged with unlawful use of the 911 services, its for reporting emergencies, not to spam dial because you are scared.

I see the media still doesnt know what an "Assault rifle" is and still tries to label AR-15's as such, idiots.

That's a bit excessive, charging people with unlawfully calling 911. Regardless if it's legal or not, two heavily armed individuals tromping up and down the street is an alarming sight to most of the self-preservation inclined. Just because it may be lawful to do so, it's highly uncommon thus will set off red flags for many.

Who knows what or why these guys are doing this. It may have been a precursor to another massacre. So, it's better to contact the police before and let them find out what's going on as opposed to after 20 or so people are dead and wonder why it happened.

[Rippleman]

i don't care what the pro-gunners say, any pro-gunner would have been concerned too. I am willing to bet all I own even that any pro-gunner, if walking with their children, would have went in the opposite direction of these 2 gunners. If you say you wouldn't have, I know you are lying.

[Kalint]

Men seen with rifles, shot by hicks. :p Story at 10 ...

Hicks in Oregon?

[Hardcore Til I Die]

Stories like this make me love the UK more and more each one I read

Same here.

America: where it's illegal to drive above the posted speed limit but you can openly walk around carrying a gun, which can kill people in an instant.

[Dane]

i don't care what the pro-gunners say, any pro-gunner would have been concerned too. I am willing to bet all I own even that any pro-gunner, if walking with their children, would have went in the opposite direction of these 2 gunners. If you say you wouldn't have, I know you are lying.

LOL!!!! I would not have been worried at all. Were the rifles hung over their shoulder? If so then I wouldn't have given a single ****. If they were low and ready I would have cared.

I open carry my pistol daily from spring to fall. I only had an issue once some guy from New Jersey called the police while I was waiting at a place for my food to be made. The police officer came out said hello to me and told me to have a good day. It's illegal for the police to ask you directly why you are openly carrying. Atleast into state. And they then proceeded to school the guy on being in the wrong for calling 911.

[HSoft]

Just what is the definition of an assault rifle?

[DocM]

i don't care what the pro-gunners say, any pro-gunner would have been concerned too. I am willing to bet all I own even that any pro-gunner, if walking with their children, would have went in the opposite direction of these 2 gunners. If you say you wouldn't have, I know you are lying.

There was a case in a Michigan city where a guy was arrested for carrying his rifle dosn main street - to a gun shop for work.

The problem is that "Open Carry", carrying an exposed weapon, is not illegal in Michigan, nor is it considered "brandishing." He was bailed out, and then about 25 of his fellow citizens marched through town with their weapons - everything from 9mm pistols to M-14's and AR-15's. Quite a parade - men and women.

No one even batted an eye because the citizenry knew the law better than the cops did. Open carry's been legal since the 1940's.

When it got to court the judge tossed the case, then hammered the cops and prosecutor for wasting everyone's time & violating the guys rights.

He's now suing the city and cops for a civil rights violation. He'll win if they don't settle first

[Hum]

Just what is the definition of an assault rifle?

^ The styling ? Fires a lot of rounds per second.

[Dane]

There was a case in a Michigan city where a guy was arrested for carrying his rifle dosn main street - to a gun shop for work.

The problem is that "Open Carry", carrying an exposed weapon, is not illegal in Michigan, nor is it considered "brandishing." He was bailed out, and then about 25 of his fellow citizens marched through town with their weapons - everything from 9mm pistols to M-14's and AR-15's. Quite a parade - men and women.

No one even batted an eye because the citizenry knew the law better than the cops did. Open carry's been legal since the 1940's.

When it got to court the judge tossed the case, then hammered the cops and prosecutor for wasting everyone's time & violating the guys rights.

He's now suing the city and cops for a civil rights violation. He'll win if they don't settle first.

Indeed. Good for him.

I carry a voice recorder just incase some cop doesn't know the law. Ontop of police officer training manual that covers open carry in pa. They all had to take a test on it to be a cop.

Question:

What can a police officer do if someone is openly carrying?

Answer:

Legally, nothing. Nothing more then a mere encounter

And if some cop doesn't know. I will smile because I just won the lottery.

[DocM]

1) selective fire (capable of full automatic firing)

2) GOTO #1

Everything else is shared with many sporting guns, including looks and a large magazine capacity.

[Richteralan]

Those people called 911 are wrong. They should've went to the gun shop and buy assault rifles and carry them around just like those 2.....persons.

[TheLegendOfMart]

Makes me laugh how people feel the need to openly carry a gun around the streets, I'm surprise the star spangled banner wasn't playing, flags flying, fireworks going off, eagles flying by and people saluting in the streets.

If you want a gun fair enough, pointless parading it around in public just to cause a scene.

[Dane]

Makes me laugh how people feel the need to openly carry a gun around the streets, I'm surprise the star spangled banner wasn't player, flags flying, fireworks going off and people saluting in the streets.

If you want a gun fair enough, pointless parading it around in public just to cause a scene.

I don't carry it to cause a scene. I carry it for protection. And in the spring and summer it's easier to open carry. Much easier.

[Crisp]

I wanna buy a rocket launcher. Surely that comes under the right to bear arms?

[Richteralan]

You work for the NRA now? :p

Forgot the /s tag obviously. But you know my stance: let everyone get a gun, even fetuses, and let darwin do the work.

[TheLegendOfMart]

I don't carry it to cause a scene. I carry it for protection. And in the spring and summer it's easier to open carry. Much easier.

Do you regularly get ambushed by gun toting criminals?

I wasn't referencing you though, these idiots walking around streets with rifles on their backs, what do they think was going to happen.

[Richteralan]

I wanna buy a rocket launcher. Surely that comes under the right to bear arms?

Well then I guess I'll need a LAV because it makes my epeen bigger..../s

[Dane]

Do you regularly get ambushed by gun toting criminals?

I wasn't referencing you though, these idiots walking around streets with rifles on their backs, what do they think was going to happen.

Nope and I hope I never have to use it. But if I do then atleast I'll be ready.

The world is not a happy go lucky place.

[Crisp]

Well then I guess I'll need a LAV because it makes my epeen bigger..../s

Then I'll buy an F-35!! I have no reason for one, but IT'S MY RIGHT!!

I could maybe use it for work.

/s