Cosplaying "Gunmen" Arrested At Ottawa Comic Convention

[Strazdas]

As for what law they broke, probably the same one where screaming ''BOMB'' in a theater is illegal.

except that it is not. it is completely legal to scream anything in a theater. its rude and will cause a lot of confusion, but you do not actually break a law by screaming "bomb".

 

[CrystalShadow]

OK, seriously though, what kind of idiot carries something like that openly and doesn't expect trouble?

I have a sword, which, let's be honest here, is considerably less threatening than a gun, just for basic practical reasons. You do not however walk around in public with it and not expect there to be any problems.

I've carried it with me plenty of times (taking it somewhere. Travelling), but I have a bag for it. Quite a challenge because bags that size are hard to come by. But I knew the kind of problems that would result if I carry it openly.

It is in no way illegal to have it (well, it is in the state I just moved to. Not sure what to do about that yet, since it's currently in storage in another country), but that doesn't mean you can carry it around openly.

And yes, I know these are toy guns. But that doesn't change anything, and depending on what they look like, the same issues apply.

Remember, it's not the actual threat that counts, it's that you appear to be threatening...

And as for cosplay, weapons are always something to be cautious with.

I've at times flirted with cosplaying characters which use swords, but while it would make it more authentic in some ways, I'd definitely think twice about taking even a fake sword, let alone my real one...

 

[Excludos]

As for what law they broke, probably the same one where screaming ''BOMB'' in a theater is illegal.

except that it is not. it is completely legal to scream anything in a theater. its rude and will cause a lot of confusion, but you do not actually break a law by screaming "bomb".

You do realize there are laws against simply disrupting the peace, right? Most likely you'd just get thrown out, but it would in fact actually be fine-able.

 

[Shiftygiant]

Idiotic overeaction befit of scared toddlers without any sense of reason.
I don't care if there was a shootout on the very spot they stood, this is just pathetic.

So if two men in camouflage welding guns are walking through the streets mere months after a shooting at the parliament buildings it's idiotic to arrest them?

The idiots are the two people who thought that carrying guns (Which the police had no way of knowing were real or not) and dressing like paramilitary wouldn't get them arrested or attract attention, especially outside a building full of people in an area that was on lock down following the shootings. But no, I guess arresting two people holding real looking weapons in public following a shooting still fresh in the public memory is a pathetic and dumb way to handle the situation.

 

[Albino Boo]

As for what law they broke, probably the same one where screaming ''BOMB'' in a theater is illegal.

except that it is not. it is completely legal to scream anything in a theater. its rude and will cause a lot of confusion, but you do not actually break a law by screaming "bomb".

You are yet again factually incorrect

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shouting_fire_in_a_crowded_theater

 

[Albino Boo]

Yeah because when in you fear for life you are looking out window 50 meters away you can clearly see the detail of the weapon. Wearing combat gear and carrying anything that vaguely looks like a firearm in front of public building is just plain stupid. Not just in the wake of the Parliament hill shooting but events in Paris and Brussels means that those morons are lucky to be alive.

I carry a real pistol concealed carry AND open carry because it's legal where I live and I have the appropriate documentation. I have had the cops called on me twice at this point because, how did you say it... "For being stupid morons and scaring the carp out of 1000s of people by not thinking." But because I did nothing illegal and I know what's expected of me I've walked away with my pistol and my life every time. Best one was there was a smug looking couple that was watching as the cops talked to me and when they gave me my gun back and wished me good day they look appalled and said the cops HAD to arrest me or take my gun because THEY were scared. The cops asked what I had done to scare them and they answered, "He has a gun." To which the cops replied, "So do I. Are you afraid of me?" and then they explained I had done nothing wrong and walked off. It was quite satisfying. Perhaps people need to grow a pair and understand that someone carrying something is not the same as being threatening, hum?

But as for your actual points, what little there was, the people probably saw the silhouette of a gun and made an assumption. "Toy" guns (be them actual toys, airsoft, ext) are supposed to have an orange tip to alleviate confusion. While I'm all for being safe instead of sorry, we really do need to know more to make an informed decision. What laws did they supposedly break? Why the harsh reaction once the situation was understood (I mean confiscating the car, really...)? To simply say they were at fault and deserved everything they got is just as asinine as saying they were completely in the right. I hope you see the irony of that.

Internet lawyer versus the the real lawyers, I know who wins

 

[Albino Boo]

Ummm, excuse the rather stupid question, but since carrying them is the stupid approach, what's the smart way to get the toy guns from the parking lot to the convention? Portals? Bag of Holding? How!?

OT: OK, a fine I can definitely get behind. Arresting them and taking away their toys - even though I think it's a tad overkill - is also understandable. But impounding their car? What possible reason is there for that? Oh no, they broke municipal bylaws and had toy guns. Quick, take all their stuff! And for anyone going to use the bomb card, watch the first video - the linked one is part 2 - there was a K9 unit sniffing out the entire parking lot.

This whole thing smacks of overzealotry on the police's part, which isn't surprising given recent events. You see it all the time after shootings: the police gotta look tough and in charge, so the next few unfortunates get hit hard.

Yeah because they don't make bags long enough to carry weapons in, thats because people always carry weapons without covers on them.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Deluxe-Gun-Bag-Black-2-Strap-Rifle-Carry-Case-Gun-Slip-Padded-/271732385832
carrying that in normal street clothes no one would have given a second look

 

[jklinders]

As for what law they broke, probably the same one where screaming ''BOMB'' in a theater is illegal.

except that it is not. it is completely legal to scream anything in a theater. its rude and will cause a lot of confusion, but you do not actually break a law by screaming "bomb".

I would have disagree here depending on the outcome and intent. If it causes a panic and people are injured then at the very least you would be looking at a charge of criminal mischief causing harm. Freedom of speech protection ends when that speech is directly responsible for people getting hurt.

 

[Ushiromiya Battler]

As for what law they broke, probably the same one where screaming ''BOMB'' in a theater is illegal.

except that it is not. it is completely legal to scream anything in a theater. its rude and will cause a lot of confusion, but you do not actually break a law by screaming "bomb".

Oh, so they've changed that then? As it was in fact illegal at some point.

 

[Quellist]

Weapons confiscated? Yeah I can understand that...
$270 fine? That's pushing it a bit but okay.
Vehicle impounded? What possible justification do they have to do that?

For being stupid morons and scaring the carp out of 1000s of people by not thinking.

QFT. Seriously, how the flying fuck did they ever think this was going to end well? The only answer is they simply didn't think at all.

 

[BeerTent]

For those wondering...

Yes, up here, it's illegal to carry replica firearms, or something that could be conceived as a gun, real or not, unless it is painstakingly easy to tell that it is indeed not a real gun. For example, a paintball gun without a hopper can easily pass as a threat.

It's all about panic. If you saw my gun, you might not be able to tell it's a paintball marker. You have to think, "What would the average person think"? If it's, "That looks like a firearm." Then don't take your gun out.

How does one get around such a thing? A case. Duh. Carry your markers/props/toys in a friggen case. You can't tell what's in a case, and people looking at it will just think it's just a funky lookin' suitcase.

 

[Sanunes]

Except airsoft guns (with a specific FPS range) don't count as replica firearms here. Also this isn't really that surprising, we have quite a few unpleasant people in the police force here that probably wanted to try and look like they were helping the community for once by swarming the pair and taking everything. Bet those two had fun walking back to wherever they came from.

According to the RCMP page I linked if they look too realistic they are still classified as replica firearms, so without knowing what they looked it that might be what happened.

 

[Ishigami]

Yeah because when in you fear for life you are looking out window 50 meters away you can clearly see the detail of the weapon.

Mind telling me where in my comment I blamed the people calling the police? Oh right I didn't.

Wearing combat gear and carrying anything that vaguely looks like a firearm in front of public building is just plain stupid. Not just in the wake of the Parliament hill shooting but events in Paris and Brussels means that those morons are lucky to be alive.

Sounds like you are from the USA where it is alright to kill children with toy guns?


In civilized countries the police usually verifies the situation before opening fire...

Like I said checking them up? Yes very much to be expected. Outright arresting them? For that we need more information than what was given in this news.

 

[Albino Boo]

Yeah because when in you fear for life you are looking out window 50 meters away you can clearly see the detail of the weapon.

Mind telling me where in my comment I blamed the people calling the police? Oh right I didn't.

Wearing combat gear and carrying anything that vaguely looks like a firearm in front of public building is just plain stupid. Not just in the wake of the Parliament hill shooting but events in Paris and Brussels means that those morons are lucky to be alive.

Sounds like you are from the USA where it is alright to kill children with toy guns?


In civilized countries the police usually verifies the situation before opening fire...

Like I said checking them up? Yes very much to be expected. Outright arresting them? For that we need more information than what was given in this news.

If you are too lazy to even look at my profile that isn't my problem . If you run around in public with anything the looks like a gun you are a full blown retard and only losing their car and $250 is bloody lucky. Hint I live country6 where the police are not routinely armed and gun licensing is one of the most restrictive in the world.

 

[FogHornG36]

Free speech covers how you dress, its not just what comes out of your mouth. I would only understand this if their toy guns didn't have the legally required orange tip, people get shot waving toy guns around without the orange tip to show everyone its a toy.

Then again this is Canada were laws are different, so my understanding of "Freedom" might be different.

 

[Scarim Coral]

Did the convection had a rule beforehand when it come to cosplay weapons althought I pretty sure all convection usually have one.