Man who pulled gun on crowd of BLM protestors found guilty - Polidicks

[QUOTE]PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — A judge has convicted the man who pulled a gun on a crowd of people during a Black Lives Matter rally outside the Multnomah County Justice Center. The crowd was never threatening Michael Strickland, police and prosecutors have maintained. Many of the people in the crowd had their hands raised, and when Strickland pulled his gun, fled the area in panic. Although no rounds were fired during the incident involving Strickland, police determined that he had access to more than 120 rounds that were in magazines in his pockets. [/QUOTE] [URL="http://koin.com/2017/02/12/man-who-pulled-gun-on-crowd-guilty/"]Source[/URL] [editline]14th February 2017[/editline] Video of the incident: [video=youtube;FH7aTp8DsVI]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FH7aTp8DsVI&feature=youtu.be[/video]

Yeah, I'm not agreeing with this. I've seen video footage of this incident and he was getting followed by thugs being very purposefully intimidating and antagonistic.

[QUOTE=Bertie;51818873]Yeah, I'm not agreeing with this. I've seen video footage of this incident and he was getting followed by thugs being very purposefully intimidating and antagonistic.[/QUOTE] so it's okay to pull a gun and threaten multiple people's lives just because they are following you?

[QUOTE]police determined that he had access to more than 120 rounds that were in magazines in his pockets[/QUOTE] Hahaha, what the fuck? Most I'd ever consider taking is around 40-50, spread over three magazines. Did this guy have a bunch of Glock 30-rounders stuffed down his pants?

[QUOTE=NixNax123;51818881]so it's okay to pull a gun and threaten multiple people's lives just because they are following you?[/QUOTE] When they're being clearly, deliberately antagonistic? Acting threatening towards him? You bet. Dude had a valid reason to be afraid. In the end he didn't hurt anybody, and the whole thing could've been stopped if the entire fucking protest didn't follow him with their phones out like moth to flame.

[QUOTE=Bertie;51818898]When they're being clearly, deliberately antagonistic? Acting threatening towards him? You bet. Dude had a valid reason to be afraid. In the end he didn't hurt anybody, and the whole thing could've been stopped if the entire fucking protest didn't follow him with their phones out like moth to flame.[/QUOTE] I mean, they weren't really acting as if they were going to hurt him. If a couple of scary-looking people walking towards you is enough for you to pull out your gun and brandish it like that then you probably shouldn't be carrying in the first place.

[QUOTE=NixNax123;51818881]so it's okay to pull a gun and threaten multiple people's lives just because they are following you?[/QUOTE] he didn't shoot anyone, so I'd say the situation was handled very well from both sides.

[QUOTE=NixNax123;51818881]so it's okay to pull a gun and threaten multiple people's lives just because they are following you?[/QUOTE] I can't remember the specifics from when this happened but if they were advancing and being super threatening before he pulled his gun then yeah it might be understandable an angry mob is nothing to trifle with- though granted if he fired he would've been DEAD.

[QUOTE=Bertie;51818898]When they're being clearly, deliberately antagonistic? Acting threatening towards him? You bet. Dude had a valid reason to be afraid. In the end he didn't hurt anybody, and the whole thing could've been stopped if the entire fucking protest didn't follow him with their phones out like moth to flame.[/QUOTE] Did he have reason to believe that he was in immediate danger? Like, gun to his face, crowd charging him, shit like that?

This is one of those cases that is basically 50-50. You may get a judge who sees it the way he saw it and rule in your favor, and you may not. He didn't Personally I don't think he did anything wrong, other than he should've kept the gun pointed down. He felt threatened, there was a crowd of loud people all around him and in his face and he was backing up, and that's before he pulled the gun, but on the other hand, if there's an escape route, you don't need to pull a gun, and he could have run

[QUOTE=NixNax123;51818881]so it's okay to pull a gun and threaten multiple people's lives just because they are following you?[/QUOTE] Yes. Intent is a key factor here, since there was no active hostility or aggression pointed towards the convicted guy, he was in the wrong this time. Now, had they directly threatened to harm him and [I]then[/I] follow him around and get in his face, it would be a different story. I also wouldn't buy any of his self defense claims as a journalist, considering he was carrying over 100 rounds of live ammunition on him. Journalists are supposed to be unarmed as they are part of a protected class of citizen, even in wartime scenarios or situations. He's got 10 counts of a class D felony, 10 counts of a class B misdemeanor, and 10 counts of what I am assuming is a class A misdemeanor, since menacing in this case is likely second degree. With that in mind, he's looking at a probable minimum of 3 years in prison.

Note: he was found guilty of ten counts of "unlawful use of a weapon" (a felony), ten counts of "menacing" (a misdemeanor), and one count of disorderly conduct in the second degree (a misdemeanor). I'm not sure where the ten counts stuff comes from. [url=https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/bills_laws/Pages/ORS.aspx]A link to Oregon state laws[/url], the relevant sections are 166.220, 163.190, and 166.025.

[QUOTE=Carlito;51818901]I mean, they weren't really acting as if they were going to hurt him. If a couple of scary-looking people walking towards you is enough for you to pull out your gun and brandish it like that then you probably shouldn't be carrying in the first place.[/QUOTE] Right at the start you see them converging on him, one of the dudes closest to him being stopped by a guy behind him. At least a dozen people already going towards him - most in a non-hostile fashion, but some are. He over-reacts a bit and pulls out the gun, completely understandable in my eyes considering everyone walking towards him like this in an already tense environment, and he puts it right back in no more than 2 seconds later. Then, instead of the whole thing ending, people kept following and even at one point shoving him. I'd say there was mutual aggravation going on throughout.

[QUOTE=Bertie;51818948]Right at the start you see them converging on him, one of the dudes closest to him being stopped by a guy behind him. At least a dozen people already going towards him - most in a non-hostile fashion, but some are. He over-reacts a bit and pulls out the gun, completely understandable in my eyes considering everyone walking towards him like this in an already tense environment, and he puts it right back in no more than 2 seconds later. Then, instead of the whole thing ending, people kept following and even at one point shoving him. I'd say there was mutual aggravation going on throughout.[/QUOTE] You forgot the bit where he pointed the gun at the crowd and swept across the crowd with his fucking gun pointed at them.

I think he might have felt scared and threatened, I get that. I also think that he pointed a firearm into a crowd of people. I don't think the conviction is unjustified.

[QUOTE=Bertie;51818948]Right at the start you see them converging on him, one of the dudes closest to him being stopped by a guy behind him. At least a dozen people already going towards him - most in a non-hostile fashion, but some are. He over-reacts a bit and pulls out the gun, completely understandable in my eyes considering everyone walking towards him like this in an already tense environment, and he puts it right back in no more than 2 seconds later. Then, instead of the whole thing ending, people kept following and even at one point shoving him. I'd say there was mutual aggravation going on throughout.[/QUOTE] He put himself into the situation with an over-abundance of ammunition. It sounds to me like he came there to instigate a fight rather than merely defend himself, or as BANNED USER put it, his actions do not align with the supposed motivations of his presence.

I also get that tensions are high, but fuck the guys trying to start shit with the cameraman. Regardless of whatever the cameraman's politics were I think it's clear he was just trying to keep everyone safe. Lots of good people in that crowd though trying to defuse the situation.

[QUOTE=Carlito;51818988]You forgot the bit where he pointed the gun at the crowd and swept across the crowd with his fucking gun pointed at them.[/QUOTE] That happened after the crowd started converging on him. Dude panicked. It's completely understandable in this situation. It was literally over in 2 seconds, the whole thing with the gun, he didn't even have his finger on the trigger, and I hope to fucking god BANNED USER is completely wrong with his 3 year minimum estimate on what the punishment will be for this event. Slap on the wrist, probation, community work? sure. Prison time? Fucking bollocks. [QUOTE=bitches;51819005]He put himself into the situation with an over-abundance of ammunition. It sounds to me like he came there to instigate a fight rather than merely defend himself, or as BANNED USER put it, his actions do not align with the supposed motivations of his presence.[/QUOTE] What matters is what happened, not how many bullets he had in his pouch. There's no indication whatsoever that I've seen that he was there to instigate anything.

I really think this dude went into it hoping he'd rile up an excuse to shoot somebody

[QUOTE=Bertie;51819022]That happened after the crowd started converging on him. Dude panicked. It's completely understandable in this situation. It was literally over in 2 seconds, the whole thing with the gun, he didn't even have his finger on the trigger, and I hope to fucking god BANNED USER is completely wrong with his 3 year minimum estimate on what the punishment will be for this event. Slap on the wrist, probation, community work? sure. Prison time? Fucking bollocks.[/QUOTE] It still doesn't matter if the crowd was approaching him - when you carry concealed weapons, you're not supposed to brandish them when you feel scared. They're for shooting someone directly threatening your life before they can hurt you. Proceeding to not only pull a gun and then point it at everyone in the crowd is incredibly dangerous behaviour that can easily get people injured or killed.

The only reason to have 100 rounds of ammo on you is if you're expecting to shoot. Its highly likely he was goading them into a fight so he could start shooting them in "self defense". When everyone kept their distance he probably figured he couldn't get away with the self defense excuse

[QUOTE=Carlito;51819033]It still doesn't matter if the crowd was approaching him - when you carry concealed weapons, you're not supposed to brandish them when you feel scared. They're for shooting someone directly threatening your life before they can hurt you. Proceeding to not only pull a gun and then point it at everyone in the crowd is incredibly dangerous behaviour that can easily get people injured or killed.[/QUOTE] I will concede that he wasn't entirely in the right here. However, brandishing your concealed weapon is literally meant for when you feel that your life is threatened, is it not? Is that not what was going on in there, at least clearly in his head? Is it not what you see in the video? Again, it was only a ~2 seconds long event. He practiced trigger discipline throughout, no accidental discharges were going to happen here. This is a dude who in a tense situation panicked and did something dumb but understandable, who didn't hurt anybody or even attempt to hurt anybody at the end of the day, in what way does this guy deserve to go to prison?

[QUOTE=Bertie;51819022] What matters is what happened, not how many bullets he had in his pouch. There's no indication whatsoever that I've seen that he was there to instigate anything.[/QUOTE] One does not go to a protest with a gun and over a hundred rounds of ammunition if one does not have certain motives.

[QUOTE=Kyle902;51819046]One does not go to a protest with a gun and over a hundred rounds of ammunition if one does not have certain motives.[/QUOTE] Eh. Not necessarily.

[QUOTE=Bertie;51819045]I will concede that he wasn't entirely in the right here. However, brandishing your concealed weapon is literally meant for when you feel that your life is threatened, is it not? Is that not what was going on in there, at least clearly in his head? Is it not what you see in the video? Again, it was only a ~2 seconds long event. He practiced trigger discipline throughout, no accidental discharges were going to happen here. This is a dude who in a tense situation panicked and did something dumb but understandable, who didn't hurt anybody or even attempt to hurt anybody at the end of the day, in what way does this guy deserve to go to prison?[/QUOTE] He wasn't really even the focus of the protestors until he pulled the gun out, as evidenced by the fact that the camera wasn't initially focused on him. He was pretty far away from any protestors who were at the time focused on another individual. [editline]13th February 2017[/editline] [QUOTE=Psychokitten;51819054]Eh. Not necessarily.[/QUOTE] What possible reason would you have to carry 100 rounds on your person? I can understand a loaded gun and a spare magazine for concealed carry, but over 100 rounds is asking for trouble.

[QUOTE=Bertie;51819045]I will concede that he wasn't entirely in the right here. However, brandishing your concealed weapon is literally meant for when you feel that your life is threatened, is it not? Is that not what was going on in there, at least clearly in his head? Is it not what you see in the video? Again, it was only a ~2 seconds long event. He practiced trigger discipline throughout, no accidental discharges were going to happen here. This is a dude who in a tense situation panicked and did something dumb but understandable, who didn't hurt anybody or even attempt to hurt anybody at the end of the day, in what way does this guy deserve to go to prison?[/QUOTE] The reason why he goes to prison is that guns are fucking dangerous and in such a panic he could have easily hurt or killed people. There's a reason why you have to have a squeaky-clean record when you get a permit to carry, and why there's little tolerance for stupid decisions made with a gun - it's a lethal fucking weapon. He probably knew what he was in for if he was irresponsible with his gun when he was in the process of getting his permit, and if he didn't then he only has himself to blame.

[QUOTE=Kyle902;51819046]One does not go to a protest with a gun and over a hundred rounds of ammunition if one does not have certain motives.[/QUOTE] I'd probably take over a hundred of rounds if i expect to be surrounded and beaten by multiple angry antifa/blm protestors

[QUOTE=space1;51819082]I'd probably take over a hundred of rounds if i expect to be surrounded and beaten by multiple angry antifa/blm protestors[/QUOTE] Question: Why put yourself in that situation then? [editline]13th February 2017[/editline] If you think that there will be violence at a protest, why go to the protest? If you think that you'll be in danger, why not remove yourself from the danger? Why try to make things a bigger problem?

[QUOTE=Carlito;51819075]The reason why he goes to prison is that guns are fucking dangerous and in such a panic he could have easily hurt or killed people. There's a reason why you have to have a squeaky-clean record when you get a permit to carry, and why there's little tolerance for stupid decisions made with a gun - it's a lethal fucking weapon. He probably knew what he was in for if he was irresponsible with his gun when he was in the process of getting his permit, and if he didn't then he only has himself to blame.[/QUOTE] Yeah, guns are dangerous, but I have the tiniest bit of empathy to understand that it was a shitty situation and that despite the panic and chaos, he still did not shoot anyone, only had his gun out of the holster for 2 seconds, and never even touched the trigger. This doesn't sound like a man who should go to prison. Revoke his carry license, take away his weapons, make him do some sort of community service. Maybe bar him from going to any further protests. Prison is fucking extreme. [QUOTE=Kyle902;51819058]He wasn't really even the focus of the protestors until he pulled the gun out, as evidenced by the fact that the camera wasn't initially focused on him. He was pretty far away from any protestors who were at the time focused on another individual. [/QUOTE] We must've been seeing a different video. They're all focused on him in the OP.

[QUOTE=space1;51819082]I'd probably take over a hundred of rounds if i expect to be surrounded and beaten by multiple angry antifa/blm protestors[/QUOTE] If you enter a hostile situation that you can just not go to with the expectation that it'll escalate to lethal force then you are by definition not using self defense.