Reader: James Mapes deserves an apology after arrest for taking gun into theater

By Michael Roberts Fri., Aug. 10 2012 at 10:27 AM

James Mapes.

Yesterday, we updated the story of James Mapes, who was arrested for bringing a gun into a Thornton movie house a week after the Aurora theater shooting. Initial charges have been dismissed against Mapes, but the Adams County district attorney is now looking into the case. One reader thinks that should be followed by an "I'm sorry."

James writes:

Mapes did nothing illegal or wrong. He was in lawful possession of a handgun. The municipal code that he was arrested for violating does not even consider a handgun to be a dangerous weapon. the terms are clearly defined in the code. A handgun is classified in a separate definition as a "handgun", not a "dangerous weapon" which is essentially a catchall for other weapons not specifically defined.
The only way Mapes would have committed a crime was if he was a juvenile in possession of a handgun, if he was a parolee, or if he had drawn and brandished the handgun in a threatening manner.

It was a bad arrest and an overreaction in the wake of Aurora. Mapes deserves an apology at the very least.

For more memorable takes, visit our Comment of the Day archive.

Tags:

arrest, gun, James Mapes, movie theater, Thornton

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Juan_Leg topcommenter

I could have done w/o the television interviews...

The guy looks like he just left a tractor pull

or a WWF match.

You know, "Canned beer Mother Fucker ! "

" Buy the 30 pack ! "

He's like 'Larry the Cable Guy's' clone....

DonkeyHotay topcommenter

When the reader comprehends the difference between "illegal" and "wrong" -- and perhaps plain stupid -- then and only then should he be trusted to possess a firearm.

ykelly

@DonkeyHotay Please define, "illegal," "wrong," and "plain stupid," in the DonkeyHotay unabridged dictionary. Mr. Mapes did nothing "illegal," "wrong," or "plain stupid." Everything he did was absolutely correct and that fact is reinforced because he had previously done the exact same thing, in the same location, on a number of occasions without any consequences. He met the acid test and history shows that his actions were perfectly acceptable, and not ""wrong" or "illegal."

The crux of the matter is how long after an event like that in Aurora must a law abiding citizen wait before carrying a firearm, either open or concealed, into a location where he/she has a legal right to do so? Is it a day, a week, a month, ad infinitum? The quandary is further exacerbated when another event like that in Minnesota crops up on the heels of the Aurora tragedy, which further extends the undefined waiting period.

Mr. Mapes carried an effective device (firearm) for self protection into a theater, which, based on recent events, is a dangerous place to be, so he certainly wasn't "plain stupid." Further, he choose a method to carry the device based on previous experience in the same location and, if you know anything about quickly retrieving a weapon from concealment you will recognize that open-carry makes for much faster retrieval, especially when your body is undergoing a life-threatening situation where gross motor skills replace those allowing more precise actions.

The answer to the entire quandary is that there is no waiting period if you seriously desire to maximize your chance of survival. Public emotions which deter a person from optimizing their ability to reduce severe bodily injury, or death, are secondary, and the individual must maximize their ability to survive - at all times. Mr. Mapes did exactly what he felt was necessary, at the right time, and his civil liberties were significantly, and reprehensibly, violated when carrying out a fully legal and previously supported decision.

DonkeyHotay topcommenter

@ykelly HipTip -- just because you "can" do something, doesn't mean you "must" do it ... or that you must do it right now.

Case in point -- http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2012/07/23/cop-shoots-son-dead-after-mistaking-him-for-intruder/

Was it "legal" for this cowardly homicidal gun-nut to shoot blindly at an unknown intruder? -- some jurisdictions say yes.

Was it the right thing to do, being that he killed his OWN SON by mistake?

Only the most depraved knuckle-dragging gun loons would assert that it wasn't the WRONG thing to do, "legal" or not.

Stay scared, gun loons, and keep your precious pistols polished and ready to fire.

DonkeyHotay topcommenter

@ykelly

Man accidently shoots self in Nevada theater

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/story/2012-08-15/movie-shooting-Nevada/57062366/1

ykelly

@DonkeyHotay

Since July 30, 2012, you have made many comments on this subject. The first severely lacked a logical basis, and the rest trended in a downward spiral. With each statement your opinion lost credibility. The biggest loss was suffered by those individuals who support your conviction, and are now burdened with the negative stigma you have attached to their argument. For the sake of all of us, please consider engaging your brain before moving forward with irrational and nebulous statements.