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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsTPM: The Case of Mark Hughes, Or Don't Carry at a Protest
As I remarked at the time, my main surprise is that they found a black guy to participate in this experiment. In any case, the racial disparity is obvious. But this is a case where I don't think the racial disparity is the main story. Hughes may have been totally within his legal rights. But his actions were really only barely less stupid than the jackasses who terrorize folks at the local Bennigans or Home Depot by 'legally' walking into a public establishment with an AR-15.
Why do you bring a rifle to a peaceful protest? I get it. You do it as a message of self-assertion and power in the face of dehumanization and powerless. It's still stupid; it's not the right or a safe way to send that message. And much than Hughes, who again was doing something that lots and lots of people are doing these days, this is a good illustration of why these laws are stupid, why the whole idea making society more 'safe' by arming everyone to the teeth is idiotic.
Of course the cops wanted to talk to Hughes. He was at the protest carrying a rifle when a bunch of police officers were gunned down by someone with a rifle. They'd be crazy not to want to talk to him. A witness allegedly reported - wrongly - that she saw him firing or participating in the attack in some way. But that's exactly the kind of misunderstanding that you'd expect in a chaotic situation when someone's shooting people and you see someone carrying the kind of gun doing the shooting.
Civilians openly carrying weapons in civilian spaces is a signal of inherent menace. People talk about the Old West. But the actual Old West had pretty intense regulation of firearms. You weren't allowed to bring them into town or in many cases had to turn them in when you went into the town proper. Ownership of firearms was widespread. But people weren't required to think stupid things about firearms, as people seem to be today. As someone, I can't remember who, said about the Dallas protests, the protests themselves were a good exemplar of a democratic society: civilians peaceably assembling to protest police abuses under the protection of the police themselves. Unlike the imbecile Lt. Gov. of Texas claims, there's nothing remotely contradictory about this. Indeed, it's the essence of democratic society. Introducing civilian firearms into that mix - especially openly brandished for dramatic effect - is simply not compatible with that picture. At a minimum it makes possible potential tragic confusion.
When I heard the Hughes story I felt thankful Hughes hadn't lost his life amidst the chaos and confusion two nights ago. But it was still stupid and irresponsible to be carrying at the protest. More importantly, it's an example of why expansive open carry laws are stupid, illiberal and dangerous. It's not Hughes fault those laws are on the books.
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/the-case-of-mark-hughes
Thinkingabout
(30,058 posts)Law and I feel sure when they passed this law those voting for this never intended for a black man to carry one in open. I do commend this man and his brother locating the police to turn over his gun, much more sensible than Wayne LaPierre would recommend.
LisaL
(44,973 posts)The law doesn't limit open carry to a specific race.
if they could get away with it.
Rose Siding
(32,623 posts)I don't want ANYONE to carry, but if one group can...
This instance was an exception because of the snipers, so it made him tons safer to turn that particular death machine over to cops asap.
LisaL
(44,973 posts)"Pretty Much Anyone In Texas Can Openly Carry A Weapon Of War."
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/texas-gun-laws_us_577fa981e4b01edea78d6db8
RandySF
(58,911 posts)Mr. Hughes had the same legal right to carry his AR-15 to the march as M(s)r. Militia has to carry his/her AR-15 into the local Walmart. But is either action a good idea? I personally do not think so.
liberalmuse
(18,672 posts)It's like legal dick swinging. Most people, even in a society that legalizes open carry, don't, because they it really isn't necessary in most non-war zones.
Skittles
(153,169 posts)apologize? he needs to fuck off
summerschild
(725 posts)I heard him in two different interviews explain that he was exercising his second amendment rights.
What he was doing was exercising his right to be stupid.
malaise
(269,054 posts)and no one stopped them
RandySF
(58,911 posts)Last edited Sun Jul 10, 2016, 01:40 PM - Edit history (1)
BumRushDaShow
(129,096 posts)I.e., "White man with a 'gun' = 'protecting himself'". "Black man with a 'gun' = 'menace II society'".
The list keeps growing longer and longer.