Open Carry Group In Virginia Marches In Predominately Black Neighborood, Alarmed Residents Call Police

Over the weekend members of The Right To Bear Arms-Richmond unnerved residents by marching with long guns through Creighton Court, a predominantly African-American area. The police were called by neighbors witnessing the event and at least 6 officers responded.

 

Jason Spitzer of the Open Carry group was wearing a body camera and he informed the responding officers that he was recording as the officers asked to examine the long guns and handguns.

The officers informed the group that long guns could not be carried loaded in the City of Richmond.

Officers asked one of the group’s members, Reggie Bowles, if his AR-15 “pistol” was loaded, Bowles, the black member of the group, disagreed with the officer that the weapon was a long gun and said was not subject to the law.

The officer told Bowles that it looked like a long gun and was subject to inspection.

 Jason on the right flashing gang signs, yo

In the video, which was uploaded on Facebook, the officers are heard asking the group if they “could possibly understand why residents of the Creighton Court community would be concerned seeing men with long guns when police officers don’t even carry long guns in that community.”

Reggie’s “pistol”

“You walk around with guns like that and you should know that people could take it the wrong way.”

“We are getting calls about you guys,” the officer added.

Spitzer said he’s educating the public on their rights, saying he was exercising his First Amendment rights. The officer quickly corrected him, saying that he’s exercising his Second Amendment rights. Someone can be heard yelling out, “Second Amendment, you idiot, not the First!” to Spitzer.

Bowles, a 25-year-old stocker for PetSmart, recently added “III” to the end of his name on Facebook indicating that he considers himself a “Three Percenter”.

Recently, Bowles  built what he describes as an AR-15 “pistol”, although that classification has been debated by other gun enthusiasts.  Bowles claims it is not a long gun due to the absence of a hard stock.

In the City of Richmond a long gun cannot be openly carried while loaded. He claims that his AR-15 “pistol” can be carried loaded as it is not a rifle.

Creighton Court is a predominantly African American housing area.

This group of Open Carry activists was seen demonstrating with a pro-Confederate group of “flaggers” in Richmond earlier this summer.

Nothing says outreach to the black community like a Confederate flag. Previously, members of this group went to a protest in support of Ferguson and Michael Brown. The only problem is that they could not remember the slain teenager’s name. First they said, “Chris Brown” then when a man at the protest explained that was not his name, Spitzer said, “Well I know his last name is Ferguson.”

Their next “freedom” march is planned for October 4th.

To recap: This group is out to educate the public on: Michael Ferguson, First Amendment rights  and the debatable legalities of an AR-15 “pistol.”

One of Reggie’s Facebook friends, Eric, writes:

I’m all for the right to carry, which I do daily as I was robbed and kidnapped back in 1998. I have a gun on me at all times, but I don’t feel the need to let everyone know. There is no reason to do that and all y’all are doing is looking like some thugs/militants. You need to understand that you’re going about it all the wrong way. If you want to educate, then get a few tables and signs and post up at the same location every week and let those wanting to be educated come to you. Don’t go in the hood where the police already have issues to deal with. They’re having to waste their time on y’all when they could be using their valuable time assisting with other things of much more importance.

Big thanks to my source whose anonymity will be respected here.

All photos were circulated on social media by the group, thereby making them fair use.

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