Some dude with a rifle strapped to his backpack is self policing a Seattle rally

[freeplessinseattle]

Just saw a live clip on tv, no link yet.

From what I could gather, "Shawn" isn't affiliated with any law enforcement or organization, just calls himself a "prospector" (I think that's the word he used, may be something else) for Peace.

Also a victim of taunts from the crowd, suspicious of his intent. He noted that he isn't "there to hurt nobody", and that his gun is unloaded.

SMH in Seattle

[MannyGoldstein]

1. Oh Goddess.

I can't even imagine?

[pinboy3niner]

2. DUer F4lconF16 was onscene and posted his photo of the open carry guy...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=6605625

[A-Schwarzenegger]

3. Is that legal?

That haircut, I mean.

[freeplessinseattle]

6. Ha! Didn't have that angle on tv, sure completes

the bizarro-ness.

They only showed the top few inches of his lovely lengthy accessory

[pinboy3niner]

7. He's not exactly a paragon of good judgment, is he?

[Electric Monk]

10. The only other place I've seen that haircut was a teen Bjorn Lothbrok on the TV show Vikings

Could be some sort of Aryan thing?

[A-Schwarzenegger]

11. Old Norse ax-do.

[Scootaloo]

12. At least Bjorn's wasn't an excuse for a comb-over

[eShirl]

13. It's like a reverse mullet.

Party in the front, business in the back.

[treestar]

17. lol

[pinboy3niner]

33. He's a social justice protester!

Like his bumper sticker says, "We shall overcomb!"

[A-Schwarzenegger]

35. I can't tell if he's combing or going.

[davidpdx]

14. Glad to see a DUer there catching a glimpse of what is going on

This guy is looking for trouble.

[mopinko]

20. my fave thing about du.

seems one of our own is always in the thick of things to give a first person report.

[pinboy3niner]

39. No matter how many news sources report, it always means more to have one of our own there

It's really a vicarious thrill when a Duer reports. As if we're there, because a DUer is there. DU is onscene!

[quaker bill]

15. wearing his bullet-bait outfit.

If things go badly, law enforcement, of necessity, will target the most dangerous looking first.

[liberal N proud]

26. Yeh, he doesn't stand out!

Sometimes you just advertise everything you are about!

[pinboy3niner]

31. He has special rights

"You have a right to a barber. If you cannot afford a barber, one will be appointed to you."

[Butterbean]

36. Oh that looks safe. (sarcasm tag implied) n/t

[Hoyt]

4. Typical gun goofball. Hope they keep an eye on the yahoo.

[Thinkingabout]

5. When one needs a gun to do their thinking it results in a very low IQ. Desperate

[GP6971]

8. Well, the weapon may be unloaded

but what's in all the military type gear he's carrying?

[Fairgo]

21. I found the costume as creepy as the weapon

It's Travis Bickle.

[Skittles]

9. gun humping nutcase

fuck them all

[treestar]

16. If it's not loaded he's not going to use it

So it's just a prop.

[Paladin]

18. Open carry is still one of the ultimate signs of White Privilege. (nt)

[Skittles]

29. gun humping white privilege

[Paladin]

30. Deliberate public intimidation.

Can you imagine the sort of twisted thinking involved in going out in public like that?

[Skittles]

32. that is what cowards do

that is what gun humping is all about

[flobee1]

19. in that photo

I see a bolt action rifle , peppet spray, a gas mask, and a knife. This guy is there to cause trouble and is ready for the cops to retaliate. If the protesters want things to remain peaceful, they need to make him go home. Yes, his rifle may be unloaded, but are there bullets in one of those pouches? It takes seconds to change an unloaded gun into a loaded gun, he needs to go asap!

[freeplessinseattle]

22. The protestors didn't want him there, but how do

they make him leave? As noted in the OP, he was being taunted by the protestors, but only the cops really have the power to make him leave.

Which they didn't, hence the OP with the pic, titled "This is white privilege"

[flobee1]

24. let him know

As a group, "we know you are not here for a peaceful demonstration. You ARE armed and ready for conflict. You are not welcome here"
make sure everyone around refers to him as officer, because he probably is
I also see 2 people in that photo with cameras, would not suprised me if there are more. Video him, take his picture. If he causes problems, video it, but don't waste a lot of time or effort on this loser.
Keep your eyes on the prize and keep marchin'

[appal_jack]

25. It's actually a semi-auto rifle.

From what I can see, he is carrying an SKS rifle, modified with an aftermarket stock and some form of aftermarket magazine as well. The SKS is probably Chinese (its sling is definitely a Chinese design), but could be Albanian, Romanian, etc. You can see where the bayonet used to be attached near the muzzle.

While I have never used an SKS that takes aftermarket magazines, they don't have the best reputations for reliability. The best of them are modified at the magwell (Chinese SKS 'M' & 'D') to use AK mags, and many of those work OK from what I hear. Or maybe this gun he's carrying has an unmodified receiver with a Tapco or ProMag detachable magazine that is thought of as jam-o-matic in most gun circles.

This is probably more information than most people in this thread really want, but I'm narrating it to let y'all know that yes, there could theoretically be loaded magazines in one of his pouches, and that if so, the rifle could be charged quite quickly (if it didn't jam first) and then fire 20 or more rounds. But I hope that the guy really means no harm, and is more just misguided and clueless than bearing any evil intent. SKS's modified like he is carrying are classic 'Mall Ninja' guns, preferred props of the clueless.

-app

[malaise]

23. Well he's still alive so he must be white

[suffragette]

27. Butts (yep, that's his name according to media) got his 5 minutes of fame with the news crews

Protesters asked him to leave, then he made the interview rounds of the local news stations.

[ileus]

28. Wonder if his SKS is 922r compliant???

[951-Riverside]

34. OH MY GOD!!!!! A GUUUUUUN!!!!!!!! *faints*

...meanwhile in Baltimore

[Exilednight]

38. I find the best way to deal with a person

Like that is to get a group of people to just start laughing at him. He wants people to be scared of him, but he becomes scared when no one takes him serious.