Updated: Man Faces Brandishing Charge for Allegedly Displaying Gun

Does the individual in question have a CPL?

I would hate to "assume" this, but if one did, then "brandishing", and it's legal definition, seem to be relevant.

Also, "the other side" of the story seems to be relevant, as well.

Seems clear the court, or a jury, will decide the true facts.

I'm not one to get into social media being a judge and jury. There is too much political posturing on social media.

I'm a Livonia resident, and I think our courts are fair.

I support OC. However, I am a little leery of "open carry" in Livonia for myself. I truly do not have the time, or money, to fight in court. And somewhere I'd believe this would be required. I feel the same about this in Detroit, where I also spend quite a bit of time.

Regardless, I agree with your comments about Richardville and Snyder. I've seen some of your other comments regarding Snyder's position on guns.

It is quite clear to me that Snyder is now, and has been, anti-gun. Not just because of your comments, but as a result of Snyder's actual actions and statements, and political meddling and changes to, pro-gun bills.

Appreciate your time and effort on these issues. I am a MOC member, just not active.

I find it hard to believe that the manager made that up off the top of his head. This guy screwed up, plain and simple.

Ponkey pled guilty. Case closed.

I always open carry at K-Mart, Meijer's and Walmart's mostly in the Warren stores. I've never had an incident at the pharmacy, groceries or dry goods. I've open carried at their stores in other cities with no problems.

If the man opened his vest and pointed to his pistol and made an implied threat to the manager, he's lucky he just had to pay the fine and lose his CPL.

If it is true, he's not a person I'd want representing the gun community with an irresponsible attitude like that.

Let's start with the "facts". I put quotes there in case I am ridiculed for interpreting comments representing known information or opinions in the media.

The man in question was arrested. He was accused of brandishing.

The laws in every state are wide and deep. To the OC crowd I would think that the definition of the word is more important than the law that uses it. Laws are constantly in motion because we are taxed to pay for other citizens who are in power to do just that. Change laws. We all should be careful of getting caught up in the sideline debates regarding who supported particular legislation and what their motive may be.

By definition did this guy brandish? He may be a jerk. That is opinion. The store manager may have overreacted. That is opinion.

My opinion is that the discussion should be about an imminent threat to the store manager or other patrons. If the gun was not a factor, say if the man was just very aggressive, obnoxious and very large, would this even be discussed?

We live amongst jerks. Some, regrettably carry. However, some are predators, thus one of many reasons for the Second Ammendment. For the same reason laws are strict on personal defense, you just cannot shoot somebody in the face because you feel threatened, you also cannot claim that someone threatened you just because of the presence of a firearm or another tool that can do bodily harm.

To be a bit silly, but to establish this point, if I put a number of knives in my cart and then went to the meat department and escalated some dialogue to the store manager about how to cut meat and pointed at the knives and did truly think about slicing up said manager with his product but then left and paid for the merchandise, would this even be discussed?

Such as the OC movement does provoke logical thought, the discussion should focus on if the sight of a potentially harmful object is the issue, or if a real and substantial threat was imminent.

Again, if the opinion of the store manager outweighs not only logic but reasonable doubt, that is the issue and there should be evidence to support a conviction including the fact that Brandishing did occur by definition.

This is one of those, "he said, she said," you had to be there moments. It won't be resolved here. I will continue to open carry where ever I go.

In the past week I have had encounters with five policemen who noticed that I was carrying and couldn't have cared less. I stopped and chatted with four of them at the last MOC dinner at the National Coney Island on Mack Avenue. I was toting my Springfield 1911, cocked and locked. The other encounter was at Panera's on Southfield Road in Lathrup Village. I was standing in line and as he walked by he glanced at my Ruger SP-101 and didn't bat an eye.