Troy Teen Arrested for Carrying Rifle: What People are Saying
Troy High senior Sean Michael Combs, 18, was arrested Friday in downtown Birmingham after he was found carrying a loaded M1 Garand rifle.
Troy High School senior Sean Michael Combs, 18, was arrested Friday while he walked through downtown Birmingham openly carrying a loaded M1 Garand rifle.
Lia Grabowski
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Here's what people are saying about Sean Michael Combs, the 18-year-old Troy High School senior who was arrested Friday for walking through downtown Birmingham with a loaded M1 Garand rifle.
A witness to the incident says Combs has done nothing wrong and "was in his legal right" to carry the weapon as he walked. Combs is scheduled to be arraigned May 2 on charges of disturbing the peace, brandishing a weapon and obstructing an investigation.
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Milan Chonich
10:53 am on Wednesday, April 18, 2012
This young mans actions demonstrate that he is free to use poor judgement!
M. Chonich
Martin513
2:23 pm on Wednesday, April 18, 2012
He should have been arrested, just like an 18 year old drinking beer or a 13 driving a car. He wasn't arrested for having the gun, he was arrested for not being able to prove that we was allowed to carry. When I was a teenager, my father said without your ID, you can't prove who you are.
GambitofTroy
5:37 pm on Thursday, April 19, 2012
Except that he was of legal age to carry a gun openly. Your statement is incorrect. Yes he should have provided ID when asked and everything would have been ok.
Unknown Poster
5:38 pm on Thursday, April 19, 2012
Lets see:
18 and drinking beer- illegal because there is a law that says you have to be 21
13 and driving a car - illegal because there is a law that says you have to be 16 and have a valid drivers liscense.
18 and carrying a rifle- legal as the the US and Michigan Constitution state that he has the right to bear arms and at 18 can legally purchase a firearm.
Arrested for not showing ID - illegal as Michigan is not a right to ID state. You do not have to show ID unless the police can articulate reasonable suspicion. He produced his ID after they stated they needed his ID to verify his age.
Just because you don't approve or agree with something does not make it illegal.
Calan
5:38 pm on Thursday, April 19, 2012
Martin,
The problem is, I don't think they can require ID from someone openly carrying a firearm... I think the moments when they can demand an ID and you have to give it to them is very narrow and very definitive.
Its kind of a catch-22 ... Can you arrest someone simply because they look too young when you can't actually demand their ID for carrying a gun openly?
Maybe what we should be focusing on, is why legally you need more identification to vote then you do to walk around town openly carrying a firearm...