Going to “Batman” armed, Ohio man arrested
There’s a story in Cleveland.com that’s linked in the LA Times about 37-year-old Scott A. Smith who was arrested in Ohio for bringing a scary-ass Glock to the movies to see the new Batman movie. And then he sat in the back of the theater, as if he was scared of being shot or something. I wonder why he’d think that?
Anyway, he didn’t have a license to carry a concealed weapon, so I’m glad they picked him up. I want people who are trained properly and certified to carry concealed weapons, not everyone. But this is the part of the story that caught my eye from the LA Times;
Scott A. Smith, 37, of North Ridgeville allegedly packed a bag with a loaded 9-millimeter Glock, extra ammunition clips and four knives for his trip to the movie theater, according to Cleveland.com.
A search of Smith’s home following his arrest turned up additional weapons, according to another report on Cleveland.com. That report said those items included eight rifles and handguns as well as “survivalist’s gear” such as gas masks and bulletproof vests. The site additionally said that Smith was believed to have spent some time in the military.
So, all of the elements for a crazy-assed shooter at the theater were there; he owned a Glock and he is a veteran, because Glocks are the chosen weapon of spree shooter veterans. Eight rifles and guns at home means nothing. But the fact that he had a Glock just proves he was plotting something dastardly. And let’s not even talk about his use of
“extra ammunition clips”.
“What concerns us is where he was sitting in the theater,” Arcuri was quoted as saying. “If he chose to do something there, all his potential victims were in front of him and he had an advantage over them.”
It also gave him a tactical advantage over a shooter at the front of the theater, like Holmes in Colorado. He’d be close to the exits and he doesn’t have to worry about who’s behind him. And Holmes came in the emergency exits and faced the crowd when he started his spree. Smith worried the crew at the theater because he got there a half-hour early…I think there’s a household around these parts here which calls that “in Seavey time”.
While I agree that Smith should be arrested for carrying a concealed weapon without a CCW license, the rest of that story is just bullshit. If the LA Times is scared of every veteran who owns eight or more firearms, sits in the back of the room and arrives everywhere a half-hour early, they’re surrounded.
Category: Guns
No-one should need government permission to exercise a Constitutional Right. So, no, I don’t believe “permits” should be required.
And yes, the rest of the story is crap.
I read that story, and my only thought was “…four knives? Why four knives??”
I am one of those veteran glock owning multiple rifle having citizens. Be aware
I’m curious what kind of knives were they. Where they the “scary” K-bar or Swiss Army?
#3
REPORTED!
Well the 2nd Amendment kind is the thing that makes it ok for him to carry…no permit or training required beyond that. I am a huge, huge fan of responsible gun ownership and training, but not so much my government regulating it.
I only own 7 firearms currently, does that mean I have to buy another, to get on the radar of the LAT? And, sorry, but when I go out, I carry and I always sit in the back at theaters, and I sit with my back to the wall at a restaurant, coffee shop and the like.
I have more than 4 knives in my kitchen. I just don’t take them to theaters with me.
Also, Smith was in the military “for a very short time”. Whatever that means. Did he enlist, then get booted? I couldn’t find any criminal record for him.
@8; I realy don’t understand why he would need 4 knives in a theater. I was just curious what kind they where. Sorry if I was misleading.
Anyone else find it a bit odd that they decided it was appropriate to search his home for a concealed carry violation? Or is that just me being paranoid? Serious question by the way, not flippant conspiracy theory. I’m a bit fuzzy on what they need to search a home.
AK, there’s very likely a whole lot not being said about this whole thing. Unless he gave a consent to search, which I can’t fathom anyone doing.
Hmm… Could be. I want to say something more but I won’t as I don’t know enough about what actually went on. Still something to keep an eye on.
Crimony, I hope “they” don’t ever inventory my home (knives, ammo, guns, axes, “tactical” gear and former Marine oh my!)
I’ve had a CCW for….8 years or so now, and am fairly well trained with everything up to and including close range gunfighting, sighted/point shooting, force continium, and many others and continue to train on a regular basis. I CCW because I have the training, ability, and determination to use these things in what I believe to be my responsibility and mandate to protect myself, my family and the innocent when possible.
I believe this responsiblity doesn’t stop when my family and I leave our front door either, and while I am a law abiding, responsbile citizen, I can understand those who think the same way and happen to live in an area where that’s simply not allowed.
In fact I doggone sympathize with them. Maybe, this man’s one of them.
But four knives? 🙂
Now I’ll play devil’s advocate. The guy may or may not have been a nutjob, but his actions lean toward making people think he was going to do something. He showed up way early to the theater; he was carrying a satchel with him (the gun, knives, mags, etc.) He sat in the back of the theater. All of these are signs of “I are be up to no good.” And he wasn’t. At the very least, he meant to scare the living shit out of a lot of people. The gun and mags were loaded. Which one of you would have liked to end up seated in front of this doofus in that theater? Not me!
“Smith worried the crew at the theater because he got there a half-hour early”
If that is the only reason he was suspicious then the cops are going to have their job cut out for them when the next “Twilight” premiers. In my opinion it was the bag not the early arrival, or a combination of both, that caused the suspicion.
the media assclowns can make a candy bar seem like a turd..or a turd seem like a candy bar…all depending on what point they’re trying to make….
C’mon, why even go the theater in first place? If your that freaked out about your safety – stay the f*ck home. Watch it when it comes out on Blu ray in couple months – the viewing experience is just much better on a big high def TV/home theater. No guns, people coughing on back of your neck, kids squawking on cell phones, over priced food, and crying babies. Also, make a latrine run at your convienience – thats important.
totally pathetic this is why gun owners get such a bad rap because of deuche bags like this and holmes
I arrive everywhere early, always sit towards the back of a room with a wall behind me so I can watch the door and everyone else and have a hell of a lot more firepower than that guy. This makes me pretty normal among Vets I’ve talked with.
although I must say I carry 2 pocket knives, one on each side but rolling around with 4 in a bag is a tad odd. Maybe he’s one of the few, fabled Recon Seal Marines
I’m with Devtun. Get the DVD or get Netflix, stay home, watch in comfort and low cost. And you aren’t limited to the stuff at the counters. The head is a few feet away, you can stop the show at any point. Popcorn in a 2 lb. bag costs about $2.26 and your Whirlypop popper will crank out as much as you want, and there’s NO greasy fake butter-flavor on the popcorn. Besides, whooping cough is spiking and nobody wants that.
This is the third truly weird incident in less than a month. I said that the Oak Creek, WI, incident looked like a copycat crime and this looks the same to me. Unfortunately, I feel there may be more to come.