Quote:

Man arrested after bringing gun into Thornton movie theater
A 48-year-old man who was arrested Sunday night at a Thornton movie theater where he wore a holstered weapon said he was simply exercising his right to bear arms.

James G. Mapes was arrested at about 10:15 p.m. Sunday at the Cinebarre Movie Theater, 1001 N. Grant St., after he openly carried a handgun into the theater, Thornton police said in a media release.

"The subject's possession of the firearm caused alarm to the theater staff and fellow movie patrons," police said in the release.

Mapes, during a telephone interview on Monday morning, said he's lived in the metro area for nine years and he's gone to movies at Cinebarre dozens of times carrying a "full-sized pistol" both openly and concealed. The

Northglenn resident said he's had a concealed weapons permit, issued by Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office, since 2003.

"I was a threat to no one, I didn't threaten anybody," Mapes said of his armed theater attendance.

Mapes said he carries his handgun frequently, including on trips to the local grocery stores.

"I've had no problems in the past," Mapes said. "I've never had police take my gun from me in the nine years I've had the permit."

In the wake of the July 20 theater shooting in Aurora that left 12 people dead and 58 wounded, someone called Thornton police on Sunday night to alert them about Mapes and his side arm.

Officers responded, "evacuating several theaters as a precautionary measure," police said.

Mapes was in a darkened theater, he said, about 15 minutes into viewing "The Watch," when the lights came on and the show stopped. He said a woman sitting nearby took a cell phone call and then said aloud that someone in the movie complex was seen carrying a gun.

'That's probably me," Mapes recalled responding.

He said he got up from his seat and headed out of the theater when he heard officers in the lobby giving commands to movie patrons.

"I walked out there and just put my hands out" away from the holstered weapon, Mapes said.

Mapes was disarmed, handcuffed and arrested.

"The subject's possession of the firearm caused alarm to the theater staff and fellow movie patrons," police said.

He was booked on suspicion of "possession of a dangerous weapon," in violation of municipal ordinance 38-237, police said.

Mapes was issued a summons and released.

Investigators confiscated the gun as evidence in the case.

"This case is under review by our city prosecutor," said Matt Barnes, a Thornton Police Department spokesman, on Monday.

"We are an open carry state," Barnes said. "We look at the open carry law and how it relates to this incident. He felt he was exercising his right to bear arms in an open carry state, and we are currently reviewing that with our prosecutors."

Quote:

Guns in Cookeville theater disrupt 'Batman' movie
Posted: Jul 28, 2012 1:37 PM MDT Updated: July 28, 2012 06:22 PM
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. -

A showing of the new Batman movie was briefly disrupted last week in Cookeville after a man entered the theater with a gun.

Cookeville Police Sgt. James Harris told the Herald-Citizen in Cookeville the film was stopped briefly around 9 p.m. Thursday

A theater worker at the Carmike Highland Cinemas 12 located on South Jefferson Avenue called police after seeing the man walk into the theater where the Batman movie was about to start.

The movie theater has a policy in place that bans guns from the property.

"Of course, it was dark and we couldn't see very well, and the theater employee made the decision to stop the movie," Harris told the power.

Once the lights were turned on, officers asked who in the theater had a gun carry permit.

Three men stood up and police discovered all three were carrying a weapon.

Sgt. Harris then told the three men that theater policy does not allow weapons inside and he asked them to return their guns to their vehicles.

"No one argued, everyone was cooperative and the audience was quiet and calm," Sgt. Harris said.

Sgt. Harris told the Herald-Citizen that once the men put their guns in their vehicles, the movie resumed.

*The Herald-Citizen contributed to this report.

Quote:

He was booked on suspicion of "possession of a dangerous weapon,"
...
"We are an open carry state," Barnes said.

Quote:

"...it's now legal to openly carry a firearm in a national park that I hike in frequently. If I actually chose to do so I would be arrested within 30 minutes of starting my hike with some bull**** charge because some soccer mom freaked out. If you can't exercise your rights without being arrested for obeying the law, then you don't actually have any rights."

Quote:

"The subject's possession of the firearm caused alarm to the theater staff and fellow movie patrons," police said in the release.

Kay - Men In Black wrote..

People are dumb, panicky dangerous animals and you know it.

Quote:

I'd sit next to the guy. HE ain't the one to worry about he's the only one who came prepared.

Quote:

He was booked on suspicion of "possession of a dangerous weapon,"

Quote:

Sec. 38-237. - Dangerous weapons

(a)

Definitions. The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this section and applicable to this chapter, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this subsection, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:

Air gun means any instrument, toy or weapon commonly known as an air gun, air rifle, pellet gun, BB gun, paint pellet gun, mechanical gun, blowgun, or spring piston operated gun, which requires air to propel a BB, pellet, dart or other projectile, but excluding children's plastic toy guns which shoot or project plastic or rubber darts and excluding gas guns, as defined in subsection 38-239(a).

Artificial knuckles means an object held in the palm of the hand which is designed to increase the impact of a blow from the fist or hand in which it is held.

Bludgeon means any type of mace, club or cudgel made of any material which may have one end loaded and/or that is worn, altered or marked by "gang signs" in such a manner that it is evident the club or cudgel is not intended to be used for its original purpose. The term bludgeon includes, but is not limited to, a police style straight and side-handle batons and collapsible batons.

Bow means a flexible strip of wood or other material bent by a string or other material stretched between its ends for the purpose of launching or propelling an arrow or other projectiles.

Chemical agents means a chemical or partial chemical liquid propelled by means of aerosol or pump devices which by the composition of such liquid temporarily disables by irritation, inflammation or other discomfort. Chemical agents shall include, but are not limited to, "mace" or any "oleoresin capsicum" based compound.

Crossbow means a stocked fired bow that launches or propels an arrow or other projectiles via a trigger mechanism.

Dangerous weapon means any artificial knuckles, bow, crossbow, machine gun, short rifle, or shotgun, knife, nunchaku, spikes, throwing star, as defined in this subsection, or other weapon, device, instrument, material or substance, whether animate or inanimate, which, in the manner it is used, is intended to produce bodily injury.

Firearm means any handgun, automatic, revolver, pistol, rifle, shotgun, or other instrument or device capable of or intended to be capable of discharging bullets, cartridges or other explosive charges, excluding gas guns, as defined in Section 38-239(a).

Handgun means a pistol, revolver, or other firearm of any description, loaded or unloaded, from which any shot, bullet, or other missile can be discharged, the length of the barrel of which, not including any revolving, detachable, or magazine breech, does not exceed twelve inches.

Knife means any dagger, dirk, knife or stiletto with a blade, as measured from the hilt, over three and one-half inches in length, regardless of the manner in which it is used or intended to be used, or any other dangerous instrument capable of inflicting, cutting, stabbing, or tearing wounds and which, in the manner it is used, is intended to produce bodily injury.

Machine gun means any firearm, whatever its size and usual designation, that shoots automatically more than one shot, without manual reloading, by a single function of the trigger.

Nunchaku means an instrument consisting of two or more sticks, clubs, bars or rods to be used as handles, connected by a rope, cord, wire or chain.

Short rifle means a rifle having a barrel less than 16 inches long or an overall length of less than 26 inches.

Short shotgun means a shotgun having a barrel or barrels less than 18 inches long or an overall length of less than 26 inches.

Slingshot means a hand held device manually drawn or held with a band which is attached to arms or attachment points for propelling stones or other projectiles.

Spikes means any device composed of leather or other material which has sharp metal points, regardless of length or width, protruding from the leather and is capable of being worn on or around any part of the human body; but does not include any item used in commonly recognized sporting activities, such as, but not limited to, golf shoes or cleated football or baseball shoes.

Quote:

Three men stood up and police discovered all three were carrying a weapon.

Rjazz117 wrote..

Literally everything can be considered a dangerous weapon, under those terms

Quote:

or other weapon, device, instrument, material or substance, whether animate or inanimate, which, in the manner it is used, is intended to produce bodily injury.