General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsTexas Knows How to Handle Armed Protesters
https://dfw.cbslocal.com/2020/05/07/arrests-swat-team-armed-protesters-texas-bar-owner-reopens/In Odessa, TX, a woman who owns a bar decided to "OPEN" in the face of a prohibition of bars being open in that state. Apparently, her decision inspired a group of gun-toters to show up and support her decision by parading around in their "tactical" gear and carrying their firearms.
Not so fast, boys! Someone called the cops, and the SWAT team showed up. They're armed, too, apparently. They gave the order, and the Proud Boys doing the protesting laid down their arms and put their hands behind their backs to be arrested. They apparently weren't in the mood for a shootout with a SWAT team.
You can see a video of this at the link above.
It seems to me that the approach taken by the police in that town is the appropriate one for such armed protesters who are protesting protective measure to limit the spread of COVID-19. The overgrown boys doing the protesting don't really seem to be that committed to their cause.
Just send out the SWAT team and let them disarm the morons and arrest them for whatever laws they're breaking. Some are probably convicted felons who aren't even allowed to possess firearms. Do this in a few cases and publicize it, and maybe the Proud Boys will reconsider their protests. They don't appear to really be brave men with guns. They don't really appear to be much of anything but a rabble in the first place.
That'd be great!
3Hotdogs
(12,439 posts)and plastic rocket launchers.
They aren't afraid to face real guns in defense of their liberties.
Do ya really need a sarcasm?
MineralMan
(146,338 posts)at the end of the barrel. They are part of a costume, making the carriers little more than cosplay girls in Japan.
Ferrets are Cool
(21,110 posts)cosplayers now.
soldierant
(6,938 posts)know how to research, and they know how to biuild costumes, and they know how to work at it, and it shows. Whay would anyone use them as icons of ignorance? Frivolous, maybe. Ignorant, not so much.
Brainfodder
(6,423 posts)PatSeg
(47,649 posts)Carrying them is a good way to get shot by police who have been known to shoot people for using a cell phone.
Harker
(14,056 posts)or for just moving at all.
marble falls
(57,353 posts)Ligyron
(7,639 posts)marble falls
(57,353 posts)Harker
(14,056 posts)Having a firearm or a cellphone aren't needed in order to be shot.
PatSeg
(47,649 posts)Evidently there is something really dangerous about waistbands.
Harker
(14,056 posts)It's also clear that one can be lying on the floor, both hands in plain view, crying and begging not to be shot... and still get shot.
PatSeg
(47,649 posts)A real threat, no doubt.
PatSeg
(47,649 posts)Even in the back.
As for anyone tempted to brandish about any weapons, they should consider that they don't know what kind of cops they will encounter or what kind of mood they are in. You could be the last straw on a really bad shift.
Traildogbob
(8,834 posts)PatSeg
(47,649 posts)That one was more heartbreaking than most. That cop didn't hesitate for a second. Jumped out of his car and shot that poor kid. How on earth do you live with yourself after shooting a kid? As a mother, I can't imagine what these kids' mothers go through everyday when their children are out of the house.
tazkcmo
(7,303 posts)Believe the kid is only 3/5 human.
And that calls to question the actual humanity of any cop who can shoot a kid without hesitation. I wouldn't even give him as much as 3/5 human.
Downtown Hound
(12,618 posts)A vehicle specifically designed to withstand IED strikes in Iraq. It's built like a tank within a tank. The minute the idiots saw that, they threw down their guns and surrendered. Their puny little AR-15's would have bounced off of it like nerf balls. Which pretty much backs up everything we liberals have always said about them: they like to talk big, but ultimately, they have no stomach for real civil war. And they also don't stand a chance. They have no armored vehicles, no air support, no artillery, no anti-armor, and only limited small arms. A real military would make mincemeat of them in minutes.
Which means that we've allowed them to turn our streets and our schools into killing zones for NOTHING. They have neither the stomach nor the capability of defending anybody from "government tyranny."
MineralMan
(146,338 posts)They inspire terror in the population, making their carriers terrorists.
However, when the SWAT team shows up, all of that Proud Boy bravado is abandoned instantly. They are cowards, really, using their weapons only to intimidate. When push comes to shove, their hands are in the air, and then behind their backs to be cuffed.
Silly Little Boys!
iluvtennis
(19,882 posts)These folks are domestic terrorists.
definition of terrorism: the unlawful use of intimidation and/or violence, especially against civilians, in the pursuit of political aims.
eggplant
(3,915 posts)It covers this exact thing, although convincing a jury...
sarisataka
(18,821 posts)That's what police everywhere across the country need.
When there are protestors getting out of hand and crossing the line the cops can roll out the tanks and put them back in order. The people need to remember protests must but peaceful. If they can't keep peaceful there will be consequences.
I'm sure the military has lots of extra vehicles and weapons they are not using. Why not give it to the police to help maintain civil order?
SCantiGOP
(13,874 posts)There was a program started in Bush Admin to let police forces buy excess military gear and equipment.
My suburban county got some kind of heavily armored vehicle like you would see in urban battles at the height of the Iraq war. They caught so much crap after they parked it at a Country Music festival with about 1,500 attendees that the County Council votes to return it.
Sheriff tried to argue that he needed it in case of a large scale insurrection. Like what could happen if they ran out of nachos at the Hillbilly festival.
sarisataka
(18,821 posts)And also recall a time when DU was against it. I believe it was way back in 2019 that people believed the police were over armed and that they had no need for military equipment. It was said back then such vehicles and weapons belonged on the battlefield, not US streets.
It was also put forth that arming police with machine guns was excessive. Although I do not believe for a millisecond that the Texas police actually had a .50 cal machine gun mounted on their vehicle.
GoneOffShore
(17,342 posts)Or even the Police Municipale.
sarisataka
(18,821 posts)I wonder what the person was wanted for?
GoneOffShore
(17,342 posts)LanternWaste
(37,748 posts)You may want to place relevant qualifiers in your rather wide-open premise rather than relying on ablative absolutes...
sarisataka
(18,821 posts)To a post on the internet.
47of74
(18,470 posts)Because these weapons would likely be used against the kind of people Branch Trumpvidians want to see hurt and not armed domestic terrorists like we saw in Michigan.
There are plenty of kluxers in law enforcement who want to put minorities in their place and would love to do so with heavy military equipment.
AllaN01Bear
(18,534 posts)and everything you said.
roamer65
(36,747 posts)MineralMan
(146,338 posts)The Proud Boys are not Brave Boys. They are simply Armed Boys.
quickesst
(6,283 posts)This is a microcosm of what will happen to any so-called armed rebellion by trumpers or anyone else. Just as in this case, they will fold like a bad deck of cards.
gordianot
(15,247 posts)There are quite a few right right wing terrorist in prison that bought into Trump and his line of BS. When the take the leap get arrested sent to prison they are promptly abandoned and forgotten if they are not already dead.
quickesst
(6,283 posts).... but in my opinion, they are also cowards. Just as in the case of the OP, when confronted with an equal or greater force you will see who they truly are.
SCantiGOP
(13,874 posts)Blue lives matter, never arrest cops for shooting disobedient black agitators or The fascist police are arresting us for lawful protesting?
argyl
(3,064 posts)Progressive Jones
(6,011 posts)keithbvadu2
(36,962 posts)It is somewhat vague because sometimes these tough guys are just brandishing their weapons in intimidation.
The inclusion of bullets sometimes makes the difference of legal protest or not.
The police would have to figure the tough guys are fully armed and confront them accordingly.
That part about bullets is seldom addressed.
marble falls
(57,353 posts)keithbvadu2
(36,962 posts)Yep. That's about as much information as we get from the participants.
progressoid
(50,000 posts)47of74
(18,470 posts)When they handle minority protesters with the same level of discretion then Ill say Texas knows how to handle them.
ironflange
(7,781 posts)ooky
(8,930 posts)A collection of stupid people.
marble falls
(57,353 posts)calimary
(81,527 posts)Actually, they look good in that pose. Hands up, surrounded by the police who are about to take them into fucking CUSTODY!
Fla Dem
(23,785 posts)BrightKnight
(3,567 posts)marble falls
(57,353 posts)Six or eight weeks after the divorce, my father took a few shots with .380 at a car my mom and a male neighbor from high school and were in. He got arrested in the parking lot of a police station he'd followed them into. Three months in county and all the judge said - "Next marriage take care of business at home."
When he got out they gave him the pistol back.
Who you are, who know and who your lawyer is makes a huge difference.
I would not be surprised at all if in the end if its all reduced to disorderly and suspended sentences. I think it'll all hinge on who owns the bar and if somebody's son was arrested. They'll probably get their weapons back unless the Sheriff takes a hankering to some.
Welcome to Texas, where cowboys drink beer and throw the bottles.
RT Atlanta
(2,517 posts)I would feel in imminent fear of immediate bodily harm and this is the way to get this in check IMO.
When I was at a target in Atlanta last year, there was this old white dude (note: he'd have fit in well with the folks in the pic) that was just walking around merrily shopping with a goddamned pistol strapped to his hip since GA is an 'open carry' (read: "a declaration that I have a small penis and black guys scare me" . I felt threatened and got the manager involved telling her how threatened I felt with my kids with me (because I did feel that way).
Fucking gun assholes - so glad to read about this.
BrightKnight
(3,567 posts)Last edited Sun May 10, 2020, 03:37 PM - Edit history (1)
You do not want to violate the few gun laws that TX has. Also, I think it makes the punishment for any other crime much worse. Committing ANY crime with a gun in TX is a very bad idea.
marble falls
(57,353 posts)they may not be in too tight a jam. Particularly if the right last names were in the mix.
From the story:
The bar owner says she spoke with the Sheriffs Office prior to the protest and that they told her everything would be fine as long as men with guns are not seen on the property. Out of respect for law enforcement, she says she confined the men to an area in the back, which is her private property.
According to the Odessa American, six men carrying assault rifles were arrested and charged with felony unlawfully carrying a weapon on a licensed premise and a bystander was arrested for interfering with the duties of a peace officer.
Ellison was arrested and charged with violation of emergency management plan. She was later released on a $500 bond.
Personally I think they ought to be disarmed and their homes searched and their weapons melted. But that won't happen.
Aristus
(66,478 posts)Especially in light of the fact that the official state dance of Texas is prancing around with a loaded weapon.
I prefer the Cotton-Eyed Joe, myself. But the NRA won't subsidize it...
Ligyron
(7,639 posts)Figures...
Because you know what people like this have in common with tornadoes?
Sooner or later they both end up in trailer parks.
Leith
(7,813 posts)I read a thread here about how armed thugs are "protesting" a grocery store and threatening employees who request that they wear masks. For some strange, damn reason, the grocery store stayed open which, IMNSHO, was absolutely wrong.
It is wonderful to hear that these criminal terrorists get what they deserve.
BobTheSubgenius
(11,572 posts)Isn`t `He needed killin` still a valid defense in Texas?
Oh, yeah. Not to mention...they are very fine people.
jmowreader
(50,567 posts)Yer Honor, I was skeert for my life still does the trick.
bucolic_frolic
(43,364 posts)noneof_theabove
(410 posts)does a good job.
rip of a chain of blanks and get on the loudspeaker that live ammo in next
watch them crap their titty-whities running for the woods
BrightKnight
(3,567 posts)marlakay
(11,514 posts)Wants to see that episode.
joewicker_TX
(73 posts)These idiots staged a protest at the sheriff's house....buuuut it was the wrong house 🤣🤣🤣. On a more serious note, these "responsible gun owners" are now making anonymous threats against law enforcement and threatening to "shoot up the city" if the charges aren't dropped. Typical West Odessa douchebaggery. And FYI its a shit hole bar that caters to meth heads 🙄🙄🙄
MineralMan
(146,338 posts)joewicker_TX
(73 posts)47of74
(18,470 posts)Such as when some kluxer in a police uniform uses excessive force against an unarmed minority.
When the boot is on the other foot not so much.
The Wizard
(12,552 posts)folded like a cheap suit. I wonder how they'd react to an artillery barrage.
McCamy Taylor
(19,240 posts)NBachers
(17,149 posts)Marcuse
(7,530 posts)Ahpook
(2,751 posts)Stop playing GI Joe as overgrown children
Upthevibe
(8,083 posts)rownesheck
(2,343 posts)I'm glad I read this! This totally made my day!!!