Brain Scientist Allegedly Points AR-15 At Women In Airport, Says He Was Exercising His Second Amendment Rights
An Arizona man pointed an AR-15 rifle at a mother and her teenage daughter inside one of the busiest terminals at Sky Harbor International Airport on Friday, according to police. Peter Nathan Steinmetz, 54, a brain scientist with Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix, said he was exercising his Second Amendment rights.
According to its website, Steinmetz is director of the neural engineering program at Barrow Neurological Institute.
Court documents state that Steinmetz was seen on Level 3 ordering coffee at a Starbucks while carrying in plain view a rifle over his right shoulder.
“It certainly was concerning to other passengers at the airport, not knowing why this individual was walking around with an assault rifle slung over his arm,” Phoenix Police Sgt. Steve Martos said.
However, Martos noted that guns are not restricted in that area of the airport. Police told the Phoenix New Times that, in general, it’s not illegal to carry a semi-automatic rifle into an airport terminal. In this case, the problem was “the way he was carrying it,” Martos said.
CBS 5 AZ reports, “Steinmetz then walked to the east end of the Level 3 terminal, where he stopped in front of the B gates and then proceeded to an area where people wait for passengers, court paperwork stated.”
Steinmetz “proceeded to remove the Stag Arm AR-15 from his right shoulder, thus causing the muzzle to face two victims sitting to the right,” documents say.
A mother and her 17-year-old daughter told officers “they felt in fear of their safety when the rifle was pointed in their direction.”
Officers approached Steinmetz, and he said he was at Sky Harbor only to buy a cup of coffee.
“I know he probably wasn’t doing it intentionally (pointing the gun at the mother and daughter),” one woman said who heard about the incident. “It’s probably traumatizing to those who were just here.”
According to Martos, Steinmetz has brought a weapon to the airport before.
Officers questioned him just last November when he picked his wife up from Sky Harbor armed with an assault rifle.
Martos said just a few days earlier, a TSA agent was shot to death by a gunman at Los Angeles International Airport.
According to Martos, Steinmetz told officers he was exercising his right to bear arms.
“I know that he does have the right to do that,” said Julie Sanchez. “But I just feel he has other ways, other options, to prove his point.”
CBS 5 AZ reports, “Steinmetz faces two counts of disorderly conduct with a weapon and is out of jail on $5,000 bond.”
Steinmetz has been ordered to surrender his weapons and will be back in court on Thursday.
The medical center where Steinmetz is employed responded:
“We can confirm that Peter Steinmetz is employed as a researcher with St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center. We are aware of the situation and are taking it very seriously. At present this issue is being handled by Human Resources and our policy is not to comment on HR matters.”
Watch courtesy of KPHO:
One commenter at KPHO writes, “The doctor did not point the weapon at the woman he just move it off his back and there was a crazy lady who wanted attention why the doc had the rifle of course working at barrows which will not stand by him they will fire him they have no guts for there people.” [sic]
Which blatantly disregards the public’s right to feel safe when a weapon is pointing at another person. .
Image: Phoenix News Times.
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By: Anomaly100
160 responses to Brain Scientist Allegedly Points AR-15 At Women In Airport, Says He Was Exercising His Second Amendment Rights
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vinceNYC July 29th, 2014 at 13:39
I read this somewhere……..I am legally allowed to pass gas in a crowded elevator but I DON’T because it would make others uncomfortable…….yes you are legally allowed to open carry in parts of the airport but WHY WOULD YOU if you knew it made folks uncomfortable…….HUGE difference between reponsible gun ownership and these outliers with open carry organizations
vinceNYC July 29th, 2014 at 13:39
I read this somewhere……..I am legally allowed to pass gas in a crowded elevator but I DON’T because it would make others uncomfortable…….yes you are legally allowed to open carry in parts of the airport but WHY WOULD YOU if you knew it made folks uncomfortable…….HUGE difference between reponsible gun ownership and these outliers with open carry organizations
Herb Sarge Phelps July 29th, 2014 at 14:04
Here is the part that is extremely scary about him, he is obviously well educated but he had no remorse or felt any wrong doing because he pointed his gun at some women which is why he was arrested. In court he was told he was released on bond and could have NO weapons. He replied, “what does NO weapons mean?”. This is supposedly a well educated smart man being this stupid, and it is because of NRA and Flea Party propaganda is saturating the market as Nazi propaganda did in 30s Germany.
Herb Sarge Phelps July 29th, 2014 at 14:04
Here is the part that is extremely scary about him, he is obviously well educated but he had no remorse or felt any wrong doing because he pointed his gun at some women which is why he was arrested. In court he was told he was released on bond and could have NO weapons. He replied, “what does NO weapons mean?”. This is supposedly a well educated smart man being this stupid, and it is because of NRA and Flea Party propaganda is saturating the market as Nazi propaganda did in 30s Germany.
Jay Dub July 29th, 2014 at 14:24
This is what is scary… the fact that he didn’t know how to handle the weapon. If he pointed it at ANYONE for ANY length of time, he’s an idiot and should have those privileges taken away. FOREVER!
And the NRA (a PAC for the gun and ammo manufacturer’s) will support him to the end!
Jay Dub July 29th, 2014 at 14:24
This is what is scary… the fact that he didn’t know how to handle the weapon. If he pointed it at ANYONE for ANY length of time, he’s an idiot and should have those privileges taken away. FOREVER!
And the NRA (a PAC for the gun and ammo manufacturer’s) will support him to the end!
Bunya July 29th, 2014 at 14:41
Why would anybody carry a cumbersome military style weapon in an airport? I’m not sure about other airports, but I know O’Hare has armed cops all over the place, so it can’t be for personal protection.
John David Peer July 30th, 2014 at 00:48
It’s not for protection, it’s their idea of trying to normalize guns in public, and to make their statement about open carry.
I don’t agree with their form of “demonstration”, but I am content to call it what it is, and not make hysterical statements about “trying to scare” people.
Tell me, how many people have they harmed with these dumb tactics?
If it were the 1960s and it was the African-American activists that were appearing armed as a protest/demonstration, would your reactions be the same?
Really?
Bunya July 29th, 2014 at 14:41
Why would anybody carry a cumbersome military style weapon in an airport? I’m not sure about other airports, but I know O’Hare has armed cops all over the place, so it can’t be for personal protection.
John David Peer July 30th, 2014 at 00:48
It’s not for protection, it’s their idea of trying to normalize guns in public, and to make their statement about open carry.
I don’t agree with their form of “demonstration”, but I am content to call it what it is, and not make hysterical statements about “trying to scare” people.
Tell me, how many people have they harmed with these dumb tactics?
If it were the 1960s and it was the African-American activists that were appearing armed as a protest/demonstration, would your reactions be the same?
Really?
Debra July 29th, 2014 at 15:14
He was doing it for no other reason other than to gain attention. Unfortunately for him, it was not the kind of attention he figured?? What an idiot. If your whole purpose is to flaunt your so called right and to frighten others, then I hope they taze your dumb ass.
Debra July 29th, 2014 at 15:14
He was doing it for no other reason other than to gain attention. Unfortunately for him, it was not the kind of attention he figured?? What an idiot. If your whole purpose is to flaunt your so called right and to frighten others, then I hope they taze your dumb ass.
William Johnson July 29th, 2014 at 20:30
I sincerely hope his employer does the right thing and sends him for psychiatric care and counseling.
William Johnson July 29th, 2014 at 20:30
I sincerely hope his employer does the right thing and sends him for psychiatric care and counseling.
Wingsfan81 July 29th, 2014 at 20:47
Who drives to a busy airport, parks, walks to the terminal, walks in with an AR15 JUST to get a cup of coffee? He was there to scare people and nothing more. It probably makes him feel like a big man to see how many people he can scare. No coffee shops outside the airport?
Wingsfan81 July 29th, 2014 at 20:47
Who drives to a busy airport, parks, walks to the terminal, walks in with an AR15 JUST to get a cup of coffee? He was there to scare people and nothing more. It probably makes him feel like a big man to see how many people he can scare. No coffee shops outside the airport?
Glenna Jones-Kachtik July 29th, 2014 at 23:22
Seriously???? WTF??? So it isn’t illegal to carry a gun into an airport in plain sight? What is the world coming to??? Exercising his 2nd Amendment rights? I remember a time not too long ago when someone showing up at an airport with an AR15 slung over their shoulder or pointing it at people would have been cause to arrest them…but this is OK now?
Glenna Jones-Kachtik July 29th, 2014 at 23:22
Seriously???? WTF??? So it isn’t illegal to carry a gun into an airport in plain sight? What is the world coming to??? Exercising his 2nd Amendment rights? I remember a time not too long ago when someone showing up at an airport with an AR15 slung over their shoulder or pointing it at people would have been cause to arrest them…but this is OK now?
John David Peer July 30th, 2014 at 00:42
I do not support these open-carry advocates in their tactics. But whichever way one stands on the subject, surely we can agree that the headline is bad journalism at best, and prevarication at worst.
What he did was “sweep” a bystander with the barrel, which,if the firearm is secured, is not a danger.
He no more “pointed” the firearm in the true sense than I could say your car was “coming right at me!”, as you made a left turn. At one point, technically, it was.
If this is the best you folks can do, your point is lost.
Hyperbole gets no support from intelligent readers…
John David Peer July 30th, 2014 at 00:42
I do not support these open-carry advocates in their tactics. But whichever way one stands on the subject, surely we can agree that the headline is bad journalism at best, and prevarication at worst.
What he did was “sweep” a bystander with the barrel, which,if the firearm is secured, is not a danger.
He no more “pointed” the firearm in the true sense than I could say your car was “coming right at me!”, as you made a left turn. At one point, technically, it was.
If this is the best you folks can do, your point is lost.
Hyperbole gets no support from intelligent readers…
Obewon July 30th, 2014 at 01:14
The NRA and the law says: Never point a weapon at anything you don’t intend to shoot and always assume any weapon is loaded, especially a semi-automatic assault Rifle! Surrendering all of his weapons under the judicial restraining order leaves one less irresponsible gun nut that Gabby Giffords and Arizonans no longer have to worry about.
Mom’s Demand Action for Gun Sense in America against pointing an AR-15 rifle at a mother and her teenage daughter. http://www.MomsDemandAction.org/category/in-the-news/
Obewon July 30th, 2014 at 01:14
The NRA and the law says: Never point a weapon at anything you don’t intend to shoot and always assume any weapon is loaded, especially a semi-automatic assault Rifle! Surrendering all of his weapons under the judicial restraining order leaves one less irresponsible gun nut that Gabby Giffords and Arizonans, no longer have to worry about.
Mom’s Demand Action for Gun Sense in America against pointing an AR-15 rifle at a mother and her teenage daughter. http://www.MomsDemandAction.org/category/in-the-news/ The paranoid now has plenty of unarmed time for baby steps to gather enough courage to buy himself a cup coffee, without crapping in his pants for being unarmed in an airport full of armed and better trained Police, Sheriffs, Federal Marshals and TSA officers!