http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/201...ins-why-he-brought-gun-to-batman-showing?lite New Haven police apprehended a man who brought a loaded handgun into a movie theater during a showing of "The Dark Knight Rises" on Tuesday night. On Wednesday, he said he brought the gun with him to feel safe. Follow @NBCNewsUS Sung Ho Hwang, a 46-year-old attorney from New Haven, was arrested and charged with breach of peace and interfering with police after it was discovered he brought a loaded hand gun into the theater. "I normally do not carry, but I live in downtown New Haven and the movie was getting out at 1 a.m., so I felt that I should protect myself since I was alone," Hwang, who has a valid permit to carry a gun, said during a news conference on Wednesday afternoon. Advertise | AdChoices For more, visit NBCConnecticut.comNew Haven Police responded to Criterion-Bow Tie Cinemas at 86 Temple St. after receiving a call reporting a man with a gun inside theater one or two.According to police, an usher said at least three patrons inside the theater saw that Hwang had a holster with a gun in it and alerted theater staff, who then called police.Police entered Theater 1 and asked the patrons to raise their hands and file out of the theater. As they exited, they were patted down and escorted outside.The officers identified Hwang as the suspect, drew their weapons and ordered him to put his hands up.According to police, Hwang remained in his seat using his cell phone and did not comply with the officers' commands.Hwang said he was cooperative and followed all directions from police. Police acted well and were professional and understanding when they found that he had a valid permit to carry the weapon, he said. Police said they took Hwang into custody by force and officers were then able to remove the loaded handgun from his waistband at the small of his back, police said. Officer David B Hartman, media liaison for New Haven police, told the New Haven Independent that it was a "bad choice" for Hwang to bring the gun to the theater but that it was not illegal itself and the reason he was charged was for being uncooperative. Hwang said he had the right to bring the gun. "There is no posting at Criterion that states that weapons are not permitted," Hwang said. "As far as the law is concerned, I have a right to carry here." Hwang is the president-elect of the New Haven Bar Association, concentrating on immigration law and civil litigation, according to his LinkedIn page. During his news conference, he brought up the second amendment and the right to bear arms. "I think that the Second amendment is crucially important to protect. When baseless breach of peace and interfering charges are brought against people that have a right to carry, it really threatens our constitutional right to bear arms," Hwang said. Advertise | AdChoices Hwang does not think the patrons who alerted theater staff did anything wrong. "If they did suspect that someone had a weapon I would expect them to call the police. If I were in their situation, I would have done the same thing," he said. The real issue is that the city of New Haven is unsafe, he said. "Why do law abiding citizens feel that they need to carry a weapon? Why does New Haven have a crime index of 2, which means that 98 percent of other cities are safer? Why is New Haven considered the murder capital of Connecticut? Those are the real issues here," Hwang said. After the mass shooting at the midnight showing of the "Dark Knight Rises" in Aurora, Colorado, New Haven police increased patrols at the Criterion Cinema, which was the only New Haven theater showing the movie at the time. Nearly 20 New Haven police officers, two sergeants and the chief of police responded to theater On Tuesday. scene. Hwang said he understands that we are in a state of heightened security since the Colorado shooting. "I really feel for the victims and I pray for their family members," Hwang said. Mayor John DeStefano and Police Chief Dean Esserman will hold a news conference outside city hall at 4 p.m. to make a statement about guns in public places.
Concealed means that other people do not see it. In some places having others see that you are carrying is an offense, if you have a CCW permit.
I am not sure about the laws there. But in PA I have a license to carry firearm, as long as I am not in a Class A city that is all I need. Being that the police department came out and said that they are not charging him with a firearm offense makes me think he was within his rights there as well.
PA also allows open carry. I was not there but all it seems that what they are charging him with appears to be not cooperating with their investigation.
Yep, so far that looks like a he said, they said deal. I know what I'd do as the judge barring something we don't yet know.
looks to me like they refuse to allow somebody who's right, to get away with it. And having the incomprehensible laws we have, they can always find something to charge ANYBODY with, if they decide they want to.
They picked the WRONG dude to mess with.... The guy is a Lawyer for Pete's sake, and a Prominent One, at that.... He can sue the A** of them for Violations of His Civil Rights... since the underlying cause for the disturbance was not a valid Violation of the Law. It doesn't matter what they "FEEL" or that there was some unstated underlying "Fear" ... The best thing that Police Chief, and Mayor can do now, is to apologies to the guy and HOPE to God, he will just let it drop. Other wise, it could cost them a few million bucks, in a Civil Settlement. Once they found he had a valid CCW Permit, they should have just STOPPED, and backed off.... and explained to the Theater Operator, to "Post" his place of business. Now THEY, and their Insurance Carrier, are on the hook, and he can file Papers, and Appeals, which he will certainly win, at the State or Federal Level, should he lose at the local Level, for a very long time, and litigation costs can easily SINK a local Town, in a hurry.
Summer shirt. Go ahead, take your seat in a theater with a SoB holster and see if you can avoid printing. The sheep reported it, the management took action, rightly or wrongly, the cops came, took him outside and found he was within his rights. The remaining question, a he said, they said, thing is whether or not he complied with the cops' orders. He will not sue, even tho' he could, and would win. The theater operator should give him free passes for the next year or so to any show he wants to see, and the reporting sheep need training. (Wouldn't hurt for him to find another way to carry and avoid printing, as well as make sitting more comfortable.)
When it comes down to it I am torn on how I feel about these kind of arrests. On the one hand, we now have an example of individuals making a report and a government entity attempting to charge a man after they realize he has done nothing wrong. We can now point to this story as an example of our constitutional rights be tread on. On the other, why do we have to deal with this in the first place...
