A couple of days ago, members of Open Carry Texas showed up fully armed at a Fort Worth Jack in the Box, causing frightened employees to hide in a freezer and call the police. It's not known if anyone outside called the police as well--but if they did, there's a chance they could find their number plastered all over the Internet. A few weeks ago, the group announced that it would release the phone numbers of anyone who calls the police about their demonstrations.
Arlington Police Lieutenant Chris Cook said residents should not feel too intimidated to report people carrying guns in public places.
"Let us determine what is lawful or unlawful," Lt. Cook said Friday.
But open carry supporters say it's actually gun control activists who use 911 to harass the demonstrators. Tov Henderson of Open Carry Tarrant County blames the group "Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America."
"They're telling their members to lie to 911. To lie to police," Henderson said. "They have told their members to call 911 on us, and say they saw us waving our guns violently."
A spokeswoman for Moms Demand Action told News 8 they do not use 911 to harass.
One of the group's supporters, Brett Sanders, showed this wasn't an idle threat. In early April, he posted audio of a woman calling the Plano Police Department after she was concerned about several Open Carry Texas members walking along the streets of Plano. The video also includes the woman's phone number. You'll have to take my word for it--I'm not linking or embedding it for obvious reasons. Just do a search for "Guns are Scary Open Carry Texas" on YouTube, then flag the video as "bullying."
Freakout Nation reports that Sanders obtained the number via a public information request. One of the commenters said the dispatcher who gave out that number needs a talking-to. I wouldn't go that far--how was he or she supposed to know Sanders would do this. What is beyond dispute, however, is that what Sanders and his buddies are doing is dangerous and unacceptable. The proper term for this is stochastic terrorism. In fact, I'm surprised that Sanders hasn't been brought up on charges of cyberbullying and witness intimidation.
Things like this really hit a raw nerve with me, as I have been a victim of retaliation just for going to the police. Many longtime readers know that my ex-wife retaliated against me for having her son arrested for beating me up by having a girl living with us file false charges that I made her watch X-rated movies. Apparently she realized she would be facing charges of perjury and subornation of perjury if she peddled that story, because she never showed up for court. Had she done so, I would have demanded that she be have the library thrown at her. Sanders and his buddies deserve the same sort of treatment. Intimidating those who disagree with you in this way is WRONG, regardless of whose side you're on.