Yesterday (6/3/2014) at about 7:30PM, approximately 40 minutes after a man was slammed into the fountain, a man entered the square, walked past myself and a few others, then lifted his shirt to display what appeared to be a glock pistol, pointed to it with his hand which was very close to it, and then came back later (still armed) and sat on the gazebo steps nearby the group who saw his exhibit.
Rich managed to catch this display on video despite his camera being mechanically defective (it keeps zooming in).
I posted pictures of this man to Facebook and was soon contacted by a source that told me he is Craig A Faulkner, a member of Stop Free Keene and son of Dorrie O’Meara. (Note the ear on photos below).
I have no problem with people carrying tools for self-defense, but I feel that the display was an attempt to intimidate and threaten the people at the square with violence and not for his defense.
The following pictures show further evidence he might not be a peaceful-minded person.
Ok … so? You people rail about the freedom to carry firearms. What difference does it make who he is? No one who is a member of Free Keene owns a firearm?
*whoosh*
I’m kind of curious what Jay had responded to me with and then decided to delete. Must not have been very nice.
I can’t speak for Free Keene but…I do consider myself a responsible firearm owner who carries 99.9% of the time and a dedicated self-defense advocate. I have never uncovered a concealed weapon as a threat or to intimidate anyone – to do so would be irresponsible, would make others feel that I’m a threat and quite possibly escalate into something I would not want to be involved in. Do you consider flashing a deadly weapon to be an appropriate move in a tense environment?
And if he was open-carrying (legal in NH) … would that be any different?
Open carry is a matter of choice – and yes, I personally would feel less uncomfortable by someone showed up open carrying than someone who made an uncovering gesture. I’d be hesitant to make this a firearms rights issue and more inclined to see it as a threat. That’s a threatening move, pure and simple – no different than if I lift my shirt, put my hand in a ready position and prepare to draw on someone.
You see a threatening move … others see him adjusting his shirt. It’s a subjective interpretation.
Was it provocative? Sure, I guess I would agree with that. I wouldn’t call it a threat, however. My impression of Free Keene is that they are prone to hyperbole on a frequent basis, so calling it a “threat” is a bit much.
If they felt threatened, then why didn’t they dial 911?
Like I said I can’t speak for Free Keene or anyone that was there. I personally wouldn’t have called 911 either (God knows how long that would take for someone to arrive – that’s why I carry) – I would have moved to a heightened state of readiness, put myself in a position to move for cover and prepare to draw – and that’s exactly the response you don’t want in any public place – from me or anyone else there. There should be no one advocating the use of deadly force anywhere, let alone in a crowded public gathering.… Read more »
“Heightened state of readiness” ? “Prepare to draw” ? Sorry – I have to chuckle at that. I find it rather amusing when civilians talk like they’re members of SWAT or Seal Team 6.
And, btw: I would have dialed 911 if I felt threatened and got my ass out of the general area, Rambo.
I don’t pretend to be anything I’m not – and what I am is a veteran who trains regularly with other veterans and take the responsibility of carrying a deadly weapon very seriously. If anyone were faced with a threatening gesture in a tense situation and they were armed I hope they’d take the same steps – I just spelled them out; illustrating that flashing a gun can provoke responses you don’t want or (in this guy’s case) didn’t anticipate. Flashing a firearm in a tense situation is much more wannabe than being responsible.
I’m a veteran as well (retired Marine), but I know enough to call for help and get myself out of a situation as quickly as possible. I’m not going to seek cover and draw my firearm unless I am absolutely left with no other choice.
The guy was not a threat, so dial it back about 10 notches.
No need to dial it back – I’m just offering an opinion on your original question about the freedom to carry firearms. My opinion is simply that if someone in a tense situation (a fight had already broke out, someone had already been badly injured – 3 broken vertebrae and hospitalized, etc) flashing a sidearm is as you said a provocative gesture they may provoke others in ways they didn’t expect. Semper Fi from an Army guy.
Ok, fair enough. At least you’re not a wing-wiper. 🙂
Speaking as a professional firearms instructor, I can tell you for a fact that bot of those quoted phrases are standard terminology in any basic-level firearms course. They are certainly not limited to “operators.”
Speaking as a former DI and firearms instructor … I can tell you for a fact that you’re not teaching civilians how to maintain a heightened state of readiness and to draw a firearm in a basic-level firearms course.
Those are basic skills taught in any basic-level firearms course. It’s really sad that you try and pretend to a higher level of skill than you actually have, so you have to try and claim that basic skills are actually advanced, so you can pretend that /you/ are advanced. Most folks who carry in NH don’t get any formal training, at all, and do just fine. Paying attentiong to your surroundings and drawing a pistol are simple enough skills that folks can even self-teach them. I obviously prefer it when folks get training, but if they don’t, it’s no big… Read more »
LOL … ok – whatever. Look up the NRA basic skills course. You don’t teach beginners how to draw a firearm from a holster and prepare to shoot when they are just learning about firearm safety and hot to shoot – that comes later in more advanced courses.
Maybe you are a “professional firearms instructor” … but you’re not a very good one, apparently.
If I recall correctly, the NRA only offers one course that is not basic: Defensive Pistol. All other NRA courses are basic, including both PPIH and PPOH, both of which include drawing a pistol. “Apparently,” you have no clue what you’re talking about, and have just demonstrated that. I’m guessing you took “Basic Pistol,” decided for yourself that you were an instructor, and imagine that anything beyond that is automatically “advanced” so that you can feel important about your mediocre skills. If you’re local, go take some courses at Sig, if you want to see what an “advanced” course is… Read more »
So when you guys carry firearms it’s a “deterrent,” when someone who joined SFK 20 HOURS AGO carries a firearm it’s a threat? When are you ever going to live by the same standards you set for others?
The ANTI-Free Keene people and that scumbag Dorrie O’Meara are 1000 times more of a threat to Keene and its peaceful citizens. That punk from last night should be in jail.
Doesn’t look like he has that in a holster. Looks like it’s just jammed in the back of his pants. One of the most reckless possible ways to carry a handgun. But a favorite of street thugs. That, /alone/ would make his behaviour troubling.
Agreed – the ass carry. Anything other than a properly fit and concealed holster (assuming you’re not open carrying) is asking for trouble – either startling someone or losing control of the firearm. I’ve recommended this short article to a few friends who started carrying concealed – this appears to violate a few of these.
http://www.usacarry.com/10-things-not-to-do-carrying-concealed/
Please do not hit your children. It only teaches them that violence and threats of violence are acceptable.
If carrying firearms is meant to be a deterrent, then how are you supposed to deter somebody from coming up close to and invading your personal space (and maybe sticking a camera in your face) if the person you feel threatened by doesn’t see the gun first? You see him as a threat, I see him as being an individual who is telling you to keep your distance and leave him in peace. It’s all just point of view. People should be able to walk through the park without being accosted with cameras and having their image up on youtube… Read more »
If you want your firearm to be a deterrent all the time, then you openly carry it. If you only want it to be a deterrent if someone has attacked you and you need to stop them, then you carry it concealed. Starting with it concealed and /specifically/ uncovering it (not just accidentally revealing it, or uncovering it as a part of removing a garment, like a jacket or such – specifically flashing the gun, itself) is a threat. Yes, he’s saying, “keep your distance.” You are quite correct on that. But he’s not /only/ saying that. He’s saying, “keep… Read more »
As I have repeatedly said, I do not support Stop Free Keene and their obsession over chalking bans. The leaders of that group are far too tyrannical and authoritarian, in my opinion. And I HAVE seen Free Keene supporters brandishing firearms in the past. As I said, it’s in the eye of the beholder whether or not you feel threatened or not. Either you’re okay with people carrying guns in public, or you aren’t. Don’t be wishy washy about it. Calling it threatening to notice a person with a gun in his pants as he’s walking away from you is… Read more »
Carrying a gun and threatening with a gun are two different things. Just like, “I’m going to go talk to my buddy Brandon about the best way to handle this” is not a threat, but, “I’m going to go talk to my lawyer about the best way to handle this” is a threat. Both refer to the same individual, but only one inherently threatens legal action.
Please do tell us about these Free Keene supporters who “brandish” firearms.
It’s not a threat, you’re a douchebag, and the Free Keene assclowns are reaping what they have sown. I think I’ve covered everything here.
Solid proof aggressive mother breeds thug son. Learn peace before its too late
My family will be vacationing in Keene in October this year, staying at the Lane Hotel. I see this video, this kid, and will not be going to Pedraza’s Mexican Restaurant (which was our plan for margaritas and food, all 9 of us). I will not give one dollar to a family that is this irresponsible. No a single peso. Sorry Faulkner-Omeara family.
LoL … liar. Don’t you have something better to do?
Wise choice. Politics aside, the one and only time I’ve ever eaten at Pedraza’s was at Pumpkin Fest and the food SUCKED. Never again. Go to Margaritas instead.
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