Since Alex Pretti was killed by Border Patrol agents in Minneapolis last month, there’s been a lot of debate over the legality and propriety of carrying guns at protests.
I believe that doing so is protected by the Second Amendment, but not every state recognizes that right. And while folks may disagree about whether or not it’s a good idea, I think there’s universal agreement that if you point that firearm at anyone when your life isn’t in danger, you’ve now crossed the line from constitutionally-protected activity into criminal action.
Charges of felony pointing a firearm and misdemeanor battery have been lodged against an Ellettsville man witnesses say aimed a loaded shotgun at people during a Jan. 30 anti-ICE protest in downtown Bloomington.
Footage from a video surveillance camera at the corner of Kirkwood Avenue and Walnut Street confirmed witness accounts of the 2:13 p.m. incident that day.
“It can be seen in the bottom or the video that someone wearing all black, is holding a long gun, consistent with shotgun, and the gun is being held in firing position because it is at shoulder level and held perpendicular to the body and being pointed at the driver’s side of the white van,” a police officer’s report said.
According to Bloomington, Indiana police, the “someone” dressed in black was 42-year-old Ryan D. Hughes, an anti-ICE protester who also allegedly pepper sprayed two others at the protest.
The 47-year-old man behind the wheel told police he feared for his life when a protester, identified as Ryan Hughes, stepped in front of his van, pointed a shotgun in his direction and said, “I’ll f— you up,” according to the affidavit filed in the case.
This doesn’t appear to be a case of Hughes pointing his shotgun at a driver because he thought he was going to be run over, either. Police say the van was only going between 2 and 4 mph, and Hughes actually ran alongside the vehicle after aiming at the driver. In fact, witnesses say that Hughes also aimed his shotgun at a couple of other vehicles as well.
Hughes allegedly admitted to police that he struck the van with the butt of his shotgun, but denies pointing it at the driver or anyone else. Based on the affidavit, it sounds like it’s going to be his word versus surveillance footage and the testimony of several eyewitnesses, and I’m guessing that his public defender is going to be looking for some kind of plea deal before the case goes to trial in May.
Honestly, Hughes should be thanking his lucky stars that he’s only facing criminal charges in this incident. From what the affidavit describes, I think the driver of the van would have been well within his rights to use deadly force to defend himself against Hughes, and any other gun owner present would likely have been justified in shooting Hughes in defense of the driver as well.
We have a First Amendment right to protest and a Second Amendment right to bear arms. Being an aggressive moron who points a loaded gun at someone for no good reason, though, isn’t constitutionally protected activity, and the consequences could easily be fatal.
Editor’s Note: The radical left will stop at nothing to enact their radical gun control agenda and strip us of our Second Amendment rights.
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