Virginia Police arrest "sword-wielding man" for wearing make-up.

[ChristianAnarchist]

Okay. I'll pass your good advice on to my 14 yr old granddaughter. If you see someone threatening you with a sword while you walk to school just go kick em in the balls. Whatever you do...DO NOT CALL THE POLICE....because they will shoot you.

Your an idiot.

The idiots are the ones who call the goons...

[h=1]Police mistakenly shoot 911 caller during manhunt[/h]http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/11/12/police-mistakenly-shoot-911-caller-manhunt/18901533/

 

[Ender]

The story could obviously use a bit of context. Was there a purpose for his appearance and sword? Was he on his way to a play? A masquerade ball? Making a movie? Or was he purposely trying to terrify people like the "creepy clown" thing. If the later, I say beat him with a baseball bat and run him over for good measures. My right not to be terrorized trumps his right to be creepy.

Are you familiar with the creepy clown thing? Certainly would like to know more of the story though.

Everybody knows who the Joker is- most people would think it's cool. And you do NOT have a right not to be terrorized- nothing TRUMPS someone else's right to use make up; you DO have a right not to be assaulted- only then do you have a right to carry on with the baseball bat.

 

[Suzanimal]

So your okay with, say, someone brandishing a gun or a sword threatening to kill someone as long as they don't actually kill them? People have a right to terrorize others as long as they don't shoot or cut their heads off with said weapon? Okee dokee.

That escalated quickly.

He wasn't brandishing the sword and he didn't threaten to kill anyone. From what I gathered, he was just walking around in a costume and someone got scared and called the police. If I saw that guy, I'd probably think he was a weirdo and steer clear but I certainly wouldn't consider beating him with a bat.

 

[kpitcher]

According to Virginia Code 18.2-422, "It shall be unlawful for any person over 16 years of age, with the intent to conceal his identity, wear any mask, hood, or other device, whereby a substantial portion of the face is hidden or covered, so as to conceal the identity of the wearer, to be or appear in any public place, or upon any private property in this Commonwealth, without first having obtained from the owner or tenant thereof consent to do so in writing."

What's substantial? If someone is sick and wears a surgical mask would that land them in jail? I hope no one ever wears a scarf when it's cold!

It would seem like first amendment people would show up with anonymous / guy fawkes masks to protest this.

 

[opal]

Not that it was ever on the list but Virginia is now even more officially OFF the list of places to property hunt

 

[phill4paul]

That escalated quickly.

He wasn't brandishing the sword and he didn't threaten to kill anyone. From what I gathered, he was just walking around in a costume and someone got scared and called the police. If I saw that guy, I'd probably think he was a weirdo and steer clear but I certainly wouldn't consider beating him with a bat.

Would you consider beating him with a Batman? He was dressed like the Joker.

 

[PatriotOne]

That escalated quickly.

He wasn't brandishing the sword and he didn't threaten to kill anyone. From what I gathered, he was just walking around in a costume and someone got scared and called the police. If I saw that guy, I'd probably think he was a weirdo and steer clear but I certainly wouldn't consider beating him with a bat.

We were just talking hypothetical scenario's at that point....not this particular guy...especially since the article itself lacked any context to what said weirdo was doing.

 

[Weston White]

I think this is all taken out of context, and points to the ever-expanding abuses of statutory context and the ineptness of law enforcement personnel that have no business proactively enforcing such statutes on behalf of the state and which lack corpus delicti.

In this instance, we have the qualifier "intent to conceal his identity," so is one by merely wearing a mask or excessive makeup raise to the level of intending their identity or would it not require more context such as in premeditation to commit a crime or to provide false information to law enforcement personnel when questioned? If police arrived and said give me your ID and what is your name and he gave the proper information, was he intending to conceal his identity?

Otherwise, if we apply this statute literally, then surely all street performers, clowns, street corner costumed sign advertisers, adult costume parties, etc., have a valid lawsuit under the I and XIV Amendments.

 

[AZJoe]

So your okay with, say, someone brandishing a gun or a sword threatening to kill someone as long as they don't actually kill them? People have a right to terrorize others as long as they don't shoot or cut their heads off with said weapon? Okee dokee.

This has got to win the prize for the most absurd argument. Not one of those things occurred per the story. They did not arrest, charge or accuse him of any of that. They arrested him and charged him with a felony for "wearing a mask in public."

Saying its Ok to arrest people for wearing a mask because people should not be able to commit some other crime like terrorize or threaten is like saying you should not be able to own a gun because people should not be able to blow up buildings, or people who smoke should be charged with felonies because people should not be able to commit arson. These are ridiculously absurd disconnects.

 

[AZJoe]

Sharia code, Virginia style.

Felony to wear mask in Public? Halloween must be a field day for the cops.

They certainly aren't clowning around in Virginia. No clowns allowed.

Thank goodness we have the Virginia police to uphold the Mask Law.

Thank god our our government is over in the middle east fighting for our freedoms like this.

 

[ChristianAnarchist]

These are ridiculously absurd disconnects.

The quintessential definition of goonerment...

 

[Suzanimal]

He identifies as The Joker.

Man arrested for dressing up as 'The Joker' says he's not dangerous

A Virginia man arrested for dressing up as his favorite comic book villain appeared in court on Monday proclaiming his innocence.

Jeremy Putman is out of jail, but for now, he is barred from wearing face paint that some in the community and the Winchester Police Department found to be rather disturbing.

Putman is not your typical 31-year-old. He fancies himself as a real-life Joker and has many Joker-themed tattoos.

"I thought why just be a fan when I can be the actual person,” Putman said. “But not like a lunatic like he is. But more of a funny type."

FOX 5 met with Putman after his arraignment on a charge of wearing a mask in public.

“I'm a very big fan of Batman, and the Joker is like one of the big deals of all,” he said. “Everyone likes the Joker." (apparently not)

..

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2017/04/1...ssing-up-as-joker-says-hes-not-dangerous.html