Valley View Mall in LOCK DOWN

[Everett113]

Are people really that terified of us

http://www.wdbj7.com/news/wdbj7-securit ... 1331.story

[OakRidgeStars]

Do people actually O.C. in Roanoke?

[Everett113]

Yes.... My son-in-law and I do. I have my carry permit but he does not. We ave OCed quite alot. I have not had a problem as of yet. The lead in this story is.... Man carrying a gun..... There has been no threat made. I understand from another station that the mall will not reopen tonight. The call came inat 5:00pm and at 8:00 they haven't found a gun man yet. Mall locked down for what???

[VBshooter]

Everett113 wrote;

Mall locked down for what???

Ignorance? stupidity? over reacting? plain old being dumbasses?
Definitely sounds like someone went a bit over the top for this especially when no gunman was found,

[OakRidgeStars]

I'm sure Gecko45 and the rest of the mall tactical response team will keep us safe from open carriers

I bet the businesses in the mall don't mind losing a night's revenue.

[zephyp]

Well, to be fair the article says video shows him carrying something long a black...and the article doesnt mention what kind of gun the man was carrying...if I were in a mall and carrying I believe I might be motivated to think seriously about drawing on someone walking through carrying any kind of long gun unless it was slung or cased or anyone with pistol in hand...and, I cant think of any indoor mall that serves as host for a gun store...strip malls yes.

My guess after reading the article again and the comments is that this was a bogus report. Two people reported the incident and the guy was never found. Could have been someone CCing who exposed themselves for a brief moment. Had there truly been someone traipsing around with a long gun - slung or otherwise - there would be videos of people running and screaming I'm sure...

[Reverenddel]

You know? I'm glad (most) gun owners are not prone to over reaction...

There would be quite a few bullet holes in walls.

People are generally NOT observant from the perspective of what goes on around them, and make LOUSY witnesses to crime. Shutting a mall down based on two people's conjecture seems a bit overkill.

[Kreutz]

Do people actually O.C. in Roanoke?

I've yet to see it.

[Jakeiscrazy]

Well, to be fair the article says video shows him carrying something long a black...and the article doesnt mention what kind of gun the man was carrying...if I were in a mall and carrying I believe I might be motivated to think seriously about drawing on someone walking through carrying any kind of long gun unless it was slung or cased or anyone with pistol in hand...and, I cant think of any indoor mall that serves as host for a gun store...strip malls yes.

My guess after reading the article again and the comments is that this was a bogus report. Two people reported the incident and the guy was never found. Could have been someone CCing who exposed themselves for a brief moment. Had there truly been someone traipsing around with a long gun - slung or otherwise - there would be videos of people running and screaming I'm sure...

Yeah doesn't look like an OCer to me but I don't even know if I would call the object a gun for sure.

[smltooner]

The "suspect" saw himself on the news and called police.
He was carrying a UMBRELLA.
I think a couple of people need to have their eyes examined.

[zephyp]

The "suspect" saw himself on the news and called police.
He was carrying a UMBRELLA.
I think a couple of people need to have their eyes examined.

Not just their eyes...

Had I been the "suspect" I believe I would have found a pay phone and made up a real entrancing eye witness account...

[OakRidgeStars]

That belongs in the gun phobia hall of fame

[gunderwood]

The "suspect" saw himself on the news and called police.
He was carrying a UMBRELLA.
I think a couple of people need to have their eyes examined.

[dorminWS]

I agree with all of that..................... It's beyond ridiculous. But consider what has driven it to the point of the ridiculous.

Look at the other side of it. Say you're HMFIC of the Roanoke police. You get this report. Is one of the first things that pops into your head the Va Tech massacre? If not, SOMEBODY in your orbit will bring it up. I almost guarantee that. You remember there was a shooting early that was apparently a boy-girl thing with the assailant having fled but the same crazy them went to a building full of kids and started hosing them down with hot lead. And careers were ruined and huge lawsuits were filed because they didn't shut down a major university and empty the campus of 25,000-30,000 students. Was it reasonable to hold them to that standard? It was, perhaps in hindsight. But to tell the truth, the chances are about 95% that if I'd been in charge that morning at Tech, I'd have made the same assumption the Tech Authorities did, and handled it much the same. There's always some know-it-all armchair quarterback with 20-20 hindsight who’s going to come along behind you and accuse you of being a negligent idiot in a case like that. The world seems to have lost the concept that there can be any misadventure that was unavoidable; it must always be someone’s fault, blame must be assigned, and of course, some lawyer must collect 1/3 of a fat negligence award as his fee. In the meantime it can be sensationalized by the media to generate THEIR earnings.

Think about it that way, and tell me truthfully: What would you have done differently?

[dorminWS]

THEY ORTA CHARGE THAT GUY WITH CARRYING A DANGEROUS WEAPON. HE'S LIABLE TO POKE SOMEBODY'S EYE OUT WITH AN UMBRELLA.

WHAT ELSE?

OH, YEAH! CARRYING A CONCEALED LUNCH.

DUDE WAS PACKIN' AN UNREGISTERED PB&J IN HIS RAINCOAT POCKET.

[Batty67]

Being a VT alum, and given how tragic the massacre was (and still is), although they look like total dumbasses, you sort of have to give them a pass given the proximity to VT (15 minutes or so if I recall). Perhaps this non-event will help everybody relax a bit.

[gunderwood]

I agree with all of that..................... It's beyond ridiculous. But consider what has driven it to the point of the ridiculous.

Look at the other side of it. Say you're HMFIC of the Roanoke police. You get this report. Is one of the first things that pops into your head the Va Tech massacre? If not, SOMEBODY in your orbit will bring it up. I almost guarantee that. You remember there was a shooting early that was apparently a boy-girl thing with the assailant having fled but the same crazy them went to a building full of kids and started hosing them down with hot lead. And careers were ruined and huge lawsuits were filed because they didn't shut down a major university and empty the campus of 25,000-30,000 students. Was it reasonable to hold them to that standard? It was, perhaps in hindsight. But to tell the truth, the chances are about 95% that if I'd been in charge that morning at Tech, I'd have made the same assumption the Tech Authorities did, and handled it much the same. There's always some know-it-all armchair quarterback with 20-20 hindsight who’s going to come along behind you and accuse you of being a negligent idiot in a case like that. The world seems to have lost the concept that there can be any misadventure that was unavoidable; it must always be someone’s fault, blame must be assigned, and of course, some lawyer must collect 1/3 of a fat negligence award as his fee. In the meantime it can be sensationalized by the media to generate THEIR earnings.

Think about it that way, and tell me truthfully: What would you have done differently?

What's ridiculous is the people who called in to report it. LE was just following protocol. Hindsight is always 20/20, but that isn't what is silly. It is the people who are so afraid because of the hype they incorrectly call in a gunman for an umbrella.

The problem with the VT example is that the school (a state funded institution) took away the ability to defend their persons. I don't think they should have the ability to do that, but since they did I think they are liable for the consequences of their actions. Private institutions are different as that is just personal property rules. VT is a public institution funded by our tax dollars.

[Bernie]

How did I miss all of this excitement. Let me get this right. I call in a bomb threat and I do time. I report a man with an umbrella and I am a hero.

The bomb threat may or may not shut the doors .

A lone gunman will.

[Reverenddel]

"The problem with the VT example is that the school (a state funded institution) took away the ability to defend their persons."

That's something I have always questioned... HOW can a public institution be EXEMPT from the law that allows Open, and Concealed Carry? The logic baffles me.

Once more, WHY DOES VCU GET A SPECIAL RIDER ATTACHED TO CHP'S?!?! It states you cannot carry on their campus... well if you've ever been to VCU? It's a patchwork of campus buildings, and city living, and businesses...

(shrugs) I dunno. I've asked before, and all the answers I get sound like "Eugene Trani scares me."

[ShortMan]

I have noticed that most paranoia is directly related to stupidity and ignorance. This is just another story driving the point home.

Also for the above reason I choose to not open carry. Too many people get all crazy. One guy will run screaming and call the police, another will confront me cuz he thinks he needs to prove himself.
Way too many problems, I avoid them.