You don’t tug on Superman’s cape, you don’t spit into the wind, you don’t pull the mask off the ol’ lone Ranger, and you don’t joke about stealing a kid’s Halloween candy.
A 10-year-old Aiken trick-or-treater pulled a gun on a woman who said she would take his candy on Halloween.
According to a police incident report, the 28-year-old victim told authorities she recognized some boys from her neighborhood while they were trick or treating near Schroeder and George streets around 6:30 p.m. and jokingly told them she would take their candy.
One 10-year-old in the group of approximately 10 juveniles responded with “no you’re not …” and then pointed a 9mm handgun at her.
I think if all the kid had was a bag of DOTS or taffy, this is a complete overreaction on the kid’s part. If he had those bite-sized Musketeers, no sense taking chances.
November 1, 2011 at 7:00 pm
It's important to mention the guns weren't loaded—although the kids still had the magazines (!).
I'm all for the 2nd Amendment, but multiple people's heads are in need of a severe thumping when 10-year-olds have guns. From this story, those heads belong to the parents, the grandfather, and arguably the cops for just sending the kids home.
I would've charged 'em with concealed-carry violation—even in Arizona, where you don't need a separate CCW license, you have to be over 18.
November 1, 2011 at 8:02 pm
She'd have to pry that Snickers from my cold, dead hands.
November 2, 2011 at 11:32 am
Everybody is shocked about the kid's behavior…I'm really upset that this 28 yo bully is being touted as the victim. She claims she was "joking" but also says that she recognized the kids…maybe they recognized her, too, as that mean lady who is always harassing them.
November 2, 2011 at 2:41 pm
@Blackrep: no sense taking chances. @Sophia, if the child is charged with carrying a concealed weapon, the woman ought to be charged with attempted theft.
November 3, 2011 at 12:36 am
@Anonymous, except that the kid actually was carrying a firearm. Concealed. And was not a CCW-permit holder. I'm not certain if the weapon being loaded affects that, but the kid had the magazine on his person.
I'm sorry, is it confusing to you that it's against the law for 10-year-olds to pack heat?
It's not against the law to jokingly say you're going to take a kid's candy. Guess what? It is against the law to draw a weapon on someone without a damn good reason, and the only reason those little brats weren't charged with aggravated assault was the gun wasn't loaded.
@Michelle, there's not a word in the article to support your interpretation. Why are you making up improbable scenarios without the slightest bit of factual evidence?
Here's something that I didn't just make up: if you draw a gun on another person, you better damn well be in immediate peril of life and limb. In some jurisdictions, whether the gun is loaded or not doesn't actually effect the legal status of drawing it, since the mere sight of a gun is tantamount to a death-threat. People have been robbed and even raped by perps armed only with unloaded guns.
But no, let's all just keep pretending it was "boys being boys".
November 3, 2011 at 1:39 am
Whoa! Bad kids, gotcha. Not saying I'm happy with kids carrying guns, even unloaded ones. But I know my 11 year old son would take someone seriously if they "joked" they were going to steal his candy. Adults think they're being funny, but they're not. I hope this woman grew up a bit for her experience.