John Crawford Case: It’s Open Carry for Whites and Open Season on Blacks

[decocker 7,198]

John Crawford III was shot in a Wal-Mart after police received a 911 call alerting them that a man with a rifle was walking around the store. Officers arrived on the scene and, after a brief encounter, shot the 22-year-old man, who later died of a gunshot wound to the torso. As we now know, Crawford was holding a Crosman MK-177 air pump rifle—a nonlethal replica air rifle, intended for a child—and sold at the very store where he was shot while carrying it. Much of the focus of the discussions around this case has been on this fact: Why would police shoot a man holding a child’s replica gun in the store that sold it? A fair question, to be sure, but I wish to raise another.

Ohio is an “open carry” state. So even if Crawford were carrying a real, fully loaded rifle, why would that raise any alarms? How could that possibly be a reason to kill him?

I’ll let that marinate for a second while I give you a little background on what open carry actually means. It varies from state to state, but Ohio’s open-carry laws mean an individual can possess a firearm without a permit in most public spaces (including stores) so long as it is fully visible. In fact, in Ohio, you only need a permit if you wish to conceal a handgun. That means if you want to walk around with an AK-47, AR-15 or even a Remington 870 pump-action shotgun, no problem—so long as you don’t conceal it and/or go around threatening people with it.

Which brings me back to John Crawford. He was holding a toy gun in the store that sold it, and even if he were holding an honest-to-goodness rifle loaded with real bullets, he was well within his Ohioan rights to do so. Who was he threatening? We’ve seen open-carry activists all over the country walk around in public and visit major chain stores without so much as a police scolding, let alone a confrontation with police or an actual shooting.

http://www.theroot.com/articles/politics/2014/08/john_crawford_shooting_open_carry_for_whites_open_season_on_blacks.html

[We Keep Receipts 9,238]

I've read this a few days ago, but there was no way I was going to post it here. Thanks for using your privilege.

[JohnR! 5,495]

I've read this a few days ago, but there was no way I was going to post it here. Thanks for using your privilege.

Next time let me know. You can use my WP card any day of the week.

[decocker 7,198]

i would think that a story like this would have all our resident open carry champions a little bit upset.

[We Keep Receipts 9,238]

Next time let me know. You can use my WP card any day of the week.

Thanks, I'll PM you.

i would think that a story like this would have all our resident open carry champions a little bit upset.

Of course not, look at who was shot. I'll give you 3 guesses as to what the party line would be at to why this happened. The only hint I'll give you is crime stats...

[JohnR! 5,495]

Which brings me back to John Crawford. He was holding a toy gun in the store that sold it, and even if he were holding an honest-to-goodness rifle loaded with real bullets, he was well within his Ohioan rights to do so. Who was he threatening?

The most likely explanation is that he was guilty of 'carrying while black'.

[lostinblue 1,989]

From what I read he was on occasion aiming it at people and that is how the call went to the police.

[decocker 7,198]

Thanks, I'll PM you.

Of course not, look at who was shot. I'll give you 3 guesses as to what the party line would be at to why this happened. The only hint I'll give you is crime stats...

considering most believe it is a slippery slope when it comes to our open carry rights being taken away, this murder by police should raise red flags. but yeah, i guess if you automatically consider any black man carrying an air rifle in the same store that sells the damn air rifle to be 'asking for it'..i guess it's hard to see where this will eventually be problematic for the 'safe' sort of open carry folk..

From what I read he was on occasion aiming it at people and that is how the call went to the police.

and there you go.

[JohnR! 5,495]

From what I read he was on occasion aiming it at people and that is how the call went to the police.

I believe the issue his family has is not that the police was called so much as he was shot dead by them. It will be hard to justify the shooting of a man carrying a toy gun. We should all think the police would be equipped to deal with armed individuals, so even if he had a real gun, this would have been a hard sell on a grand jury.

[We Keep Receipts 9,238]

considering most believe it is a slippery slope when it comes to our open carry rights being taken away, this murder by police should raise red flags. but yeah, i guess if you automatically consider any black man carrying an air rifle in the same store that sells the damn air rifle to be 'asking for it'..i guess it's hard to see where this will eventually be problematic for the 'safe' sort of open carry folk..

and there you go.

You have to look at the victim. Remember last year, when right after one of those mass shootings, a guy walked into JC Penny's with an AR strapped to his back? He was able to walk in, buy something, and walk out. I'd never even think about doing this because I'd either get shot or be really close to it.

And as you can see, LIB is already looking for the reason he was shot. So, case closed. If this had been a white guy who was gunned down, there would be more hooplah from that side of the house.

[decocker 7,198]

i just looked him up and yep, he definately looks the part. he's just wearing that black skin without a care in the world..

[lostinblue 1,989]

http://www.whio.com/videos/news/man-who-called-911-in-walmart-shooting-talks-to/vCmptw/

More on the story with interview

NewsCenter 7's Jessica Heffner and Dayton Daily News Reporter Kelli Wynn talked to Ronald Ritchie who called 911 and stayed on the phone through the ordeal that unfolded at the Beavercreek Walmart store. - See more at: http://www.whio.com/videos/news/man-who-called-911-in-walmart-shooting-talks-to/vCmptw/#sthash.MTdCxSpZ.dpuf

NewsCenter 7's Jessica Heffner and Dayton Daily News Reporter Kelli Wynn talked to Ronald Ritchie who called 911 and stayed on the phone through the ordeal that unfolded at the Beavercreek Walmart store. - See more at: http://www.whio.com/videos/news/man-who-called-911-in-walmart-shooting-talks-to/vCmptw/#sthash.MTdCxSpZ.dpuf

Edited August 25, 2014 by lostinblue

[JohnR! 5,495]

He looks dangerous...

i just looked him up and yep, he definately looks the part. he's just wearing that black skin without a care in the world..

[Penny Lane 8,159]

That can't be his kid. People who look like him don't stick around to meet the babies they make. Or so I've read.

[JohnR! 5,495]

You're still missing the point: The police shot a man carrying a toy gun.

http://www.whio.com/videos/news/man-who-called-911-in-walmart-shooting-talks-to/vCmptw/

More on the story with interview

NewsCenter 7's Jessica Heffner and Dayton Daily News Reporter Kelli Wynn talked to Ronald Ritchie who called 911 and stayed on the phone through the ordeal that unfolded at the Beavercreek Walmart store. - See more at: http://www.whio.com/videos/news/man-who-called-911-in-walmart-shooting-talks-to/vCmptw/#sthash.MTdCxSpZ.dpuf

NewsCenter 7's Jessica Heffner and Dayton Daily News Reporter Kelli Wynn talked to Ronald Ritchie who called 911 and stayed on the phone through the ordeal that unfolded at the Beavercreek Walmart store. - See more at: http://www.whio.com/videos/news/man-who-called-911-in-walmart-shooting-talks-to/vCmptw/#sthash.MTdCxSpZ.dpuf