Police shut down Ore. bridge, detain 13 bearded men
PORTLAND, Ore. – Portland police shut down the Burnside Bridge and detained 13 bearded men who said they were headed to a photo shoot to raise money for breast cancer research Wednesday evening.
According to spokesman Robert King, police received a report that a man on the bridge had an assault rifle. Officers shut down the bridge just after 7:30 p.m. while they investigated.
Police found 13 bearded men, many of whom wore military style uniforms. One of the men had an assault rifle, King said. They were taken to the Central Precinct.
It's unclear if the assault rifle was loaded.
Several of the men told KATU News they were on their way to take a photo under the "Portland, Oregon" sign near the Burnside Bridge to raise money for breast cancer research. The men said the photo was going to be part of a Beards for Breasts calendar.
"It's from Seattle," said Jedediah Aacker. "This girl, Sugar June, does it. She puts together a calendar for all the beard clubs around the nation. Beards for breasts."
Someone called police when they saw one of the men holding a rifle on the bridge.
"We were wearing camo gear and stuff walking up to do the shoot and sure enough police show up, boom, arrested us," said Aacker.
"We were just a bunch of dudes walking across the bridge wearing camo getting rad."
King said two of the men were arrested and charged with disorderly conduct for handling the rifle. It's unclear if any of the other men were charged with a crime.
The men told KATU there were 10 of them. Police said 13 were detained.
The bridge was opened at around 8:15.
"We didn't mean to shake up the community or shut down the Burnside Bridge," said Matthew Jenkins. "Just trying to save boobs, you know?"
If Jedediah Aaker looks familiar, it's because he's in a video for a certain TV show that parodies eccentric Portlanders.
Portland is liable to be sued over this. They broke no law. Nothing illegal about handling a gun in public.
A gun had nothin to do with my wifes cacer treatment, its case,or fund raising. We who have quns have to use our brains. This is not a good tine to pull gun stunts, it only hurts our caus
 Heck these fellows ae likeable and were not doing too much wrong except for the gun. BeReal these men are no doubt all ladies men and no doubt have good wives and girlfriends. I would prefer one of these bearded men as a son in law instead of the creep my daughter married who works as a store clerk/worker.
 Portland was the last place I'd pick to pack a rifle for a photoshoot too.
 My wife loves my beard as.....she prefers it..
Ladies, don't let any of these guys have access to your boobs. They are not the kind of men you want in your lives. They are losers. No need for them to were 'camo'; attire or bring guns...that was just to get attention...and they did. Losers.
As much as I'm real particular about our 2nd Amendment I just can't get past the idea that this was really stupid on the part of the citizens who thought it a good idea to go into the seedier area of downtown Portland flashing what appears to be an assault rifle; right at a natural vantage point for a shooter to start plugging away. I would think it much more perilous that the behavior not be interdicted by police than what has apparently transpired there. Do I question the Disorderly Conduct charges on the two? Sure I do, but I don't know exactly what transpired there, nor do I know if those two guys had reasons that they are not to handle firearms. Don't know if they had alcohol on their breath.Â
"It is unclear if the assault rifle was loaded" ...really?... It either WAS or WASN'T...no gray areas there. Also, I just love how the KOMO intern "reporter" assumes it was an "assault rifle".  I'm beginning to hate that buzz-phrase, especially when the sheeple that use it usually don't know what TF they are talking about.
Or the more accurate headline. "Portland police initiate procedures for a six figure settlement to be paid by the tax payers."
Its a Grimm day: Blutbaden running amok! Â
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Where's Monroe?
Thirteen guys and one gun would make me wonder but not panic. Most cops ASSESS and then decide. This is a bunch of knee jerk nonsense.
I am a gun owner and own assault rifles but I sure don't display them in public. It would strike fear in people.
What is disorderly conduct for handling a rifle???  What is the definition of assault rifle??? I thought an assault rifle was a selective fire weapon that can go fully or burst mode?Â
So basically, they arrested eleven men for having beards and wearing camos and two for exercising their second amendment rights? Â Sounds like grounds for false arrest.
 @Tim Lane Are you sure it's legal to brandish any weapon let alone an assault rifle on a busy city street in Portland? I kinda doubt it.
 @Hountoof  @Tim Lane Well since open carry is still legal in Oregon, as long as it is not loaded, you sir are wrong.
Is the guy second from right an interloper? Â I see no beard on him.
It's one of those shadow beards - half there. LOL
 @Elaine2 Must be like horseshoes - 'close' counts!
Idiots.....the cops should have just taken them out.
why do they remind me of that scene in that Portlandia clip (the ninties are alive) where the biker "dude" joins the parade with his beard, jacket and speedo?
These guys must've been so drunk/high that they realized this is what they wanted to do since they clearly missed the ZZ Top convention.
If it was really an "assault rifle" with selective fire, and full automatic, then they'd be up on federal charges. If it was (more likely) an AR-15, which is a semi-automatic rifle. Of course this distinction doesn't fit the media agenda. Waving it around and pointing it at people would certainly be illegal. But if these guys were walking around carrying an unloaded semi-automatic rifle, then that's legal to just carry around over your shoulder. Doesn't mean showing up there with it was the smartest move in the book.
Hint:Â Assault rifles will not cure or prevent breast cancer.
 @glynes The sales from the calenders would.
I see a lot of people saying that "just carrying the rifle isn't reason to call the cops"...and yet I have to wonder what they would have done if they had seen the guy wearing the combat gear, caring the rifle into the theater's side door. Would they just assume it was a stunt as part of the movie?
And what would be their story (excuse) AFTER the shootings?
@OrcasThunder -  That is a very good point.Â
With increased public shootings over the past decade, people have good cause to be concerned when they see someone openly carrying a weapon in public.Â
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If the men had an open carry permit there should have been no problem, but with the kooks running around with access to guns these days I can see why the cops were being very cautious.
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I don't think they all should have all been dragged to the princinct, though. Why not send a cop to escort them to the photo shoot if they doubted the truth of their story? Just thinking aloud now. Hmm.
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 @Smokin Bear I don't think that a rifle requires a permit.
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And perhaps THEY could have checked in with the cops to let them know they planned the shoot...
 @Elaine2 This is true - and it may well be that they WANTED this to happen, for the free publicity...
In which case they should be billed for the time the police wasted on this event...
IF they had checked in with the cops first, we wouldn't have had this sensationalism story and the most interesting conversations. :)
 @Smokin Bear No such thing as an open carry permit. It is legal just like there is no lifted truck permit it is just legal.
And to be clear, I'm not talking here about these guys and their rifle, just your assertion that open carry is a gray area. There are cities in Oregon that restrict open (pistol) carry. Check out opencarry.org and handgun.us for more info.
@Smokin Bear It is not a gray area in WA and OR. Open carry is legal. That means you can carry a loaded pistol on your body, providing it is visible and isn't concealed. It is illegal to carry around a loaded rifle. It is illegal to point a fierarm at someone or display it in a threatening manner (brandishing), loaded or not. I don't know where you get your info. Handgun.us has a lot of helpful info. That said, there are places where open carry is going to attract attention, upset people, and you'll get some questions. Something being legal doesn't mean it is smart or prudent in every situation.
@KittySmasher
Some states license open carry. Oregon and Washington fall into a grey area of Anomalous carry:
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"Categories of law
Today in the United States, the laws vary from state to state regarding open carry of firearms. The categories are defined as follows:
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Permissive open carry states
A state has passed full preemption of all firearms laws. They permit open carry to all non-prohibited citizens without permit or license. Open carry is lawful on foot and in a motor vehicle.
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Licensed open carry states
A state has passed full preemption of all firearms laws. They permit open carry of a handgun to all non-prohibited citizens once they have been issued a permit or license. Open carry of a handgun is lawful on foot and in a motor vehicle.
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Anomalous open carry states
In these states, open carry of a handgun is generally lawful, but the state may lack preemption or there may be other significant restrictions. The limitations and/or lack of pre-emption may mean that certain areas of these states are, in their judicial system and law enforcement societies, not very friendly towards the practice, although this is not true in all of these states.
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Non-permissive open carry states
In these states, open carry of a handgun is not lawful, or is only lawful under such a limited set of circumstances that public carry is prohibited. Such limited circumstances may include when hunting, or while traveling to/from hunting locations, while on property controlled by the person carrying, or for lawful self-defense.
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Rural open carry states
In these states, open carry is generally permitted only in unincorporated areas of counties where population densities are below statutorily-defined thresholds, and local authorities have enacted ordinances permitting open carry in such jurisdictions. (California):
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 @OrcasThunder They weren't entering a theater and thirteen guys with one gun doesn't sound like a bunch of terrorists to me.
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How about we just go with ALL people are suspect, eh?
 @WARevolution Well, if they are carrying a rifle into somewhere the might provide a good position for a sniper to do serious damage to people, yes - perhaps we SHOULD consider then potential suspects.
If someone tried to carry a sniper's rifle with scope - and a loaded ammo belt -Â up to the top of the Space Needle, would you REALLY feel comfortable riding up the elevator with him -and a group of kids? Would you try to stop the elevator operator from calling his supervisor?
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And how do you identify a "terrorist"? Many of the US serial shooters wore suits or casual clothing.
 @WARevolution "But when a president proclaims himself a permanent position"
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And you accuse ME of using "what ifs"?
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That's not going to happen...
Well, Willard never.
I'm not so sure about his VP pick...
 @OrcasThunder {Chuckle}..... That's 'can't win'.
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Glasses don't last as long as they used to.
 @OrcasThunder There you go with your "what ifs" again.
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No Orca, I don't wake and think of how to reek havoc. I'm just a patriot that sees the possibilities. Believe it or not I live a fairly carefree life and see no near revolution. But when a president proclaims himself a permanent position I guarantee the patriots of this country will return the leadership to the limits of the Constitution.
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You are so secure in the blanket of lies that the entire leadership wants you under that you are by far a bigger problem than someone that believes in the Constitution.
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Now to my nick, It also breaks down to WA Revolution, as in a revolution against the socialistic system that this state represents.
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Now, will you stop the "what ifs" and slander? Maybe you can tell me why so many left leaning people in this country turn to name calling and belittlement when they can win?
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 @WARevolution Regressive, WAR? Yes. The only reason this country will fall into anarchy is because of people like you - who think that the gun is the only solution, who are incapable of seeing the problems from anyone else's POV, who are anticipating the collapse because it's the only way the know to deal with problems. You probably wake up every day expecting some breakdown in law and order, and spend most of the day working on plans to "fix" it.
"Glad to have your kind around?" Never. And you are nothing like the principled people who formed this nation.
 @OrcasThunder Regressive Orca? No. All my thoughts are now and for the future. When this country falls to anarchy you'll be glad guys like me exist. Oh..... you'll deny it, but without guys like me this country would never have been started.
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If you want to debate me, leave the insults at home.
 @OrcasThunder LOL, You are so full of "what ifs" you could serve in a cabinet position for Obama.
I would have pulled out my own gun and fired back and hoped that there were some others in the crowd with guns as well.
 @Magic 8 Ball I'm talking about if someone had seen him OUTSIDE the theater, BEFORE he opened fire.
Or would you have opened up on him as soon as he stepped through the door - before he fired - even though a lot of people though he was part of the program?
@OrcasThunder @BornAndRaisedInWA @ducati @Magic 8 Ball  PEOPLE IN CARS ON THE BRIDGE
 @Magic 8 Ball If you walk into a bank carrying a rifle, should the bank guards simple ignore you?
So you are saying that people are guilty just by the way they look. Guilty before committing a crime. Guilty for a peaceful assembly. Guilty for having a rifle? That's about as unAmerican as it gets.
 @KittySmasher  @BornAndRaisedInWA  @ducati  @Magic 8 Ball "Not these goofballs getting rad."
And you KNOW this for sure?
Are you people REALLY ready to encourage people to walk around carrying rifles - not knowing if the rifles (or people) are loaded, or having any idea what they intend to do, and if they have the skills needed to do it?
Please, try doing that yourself - walk into a bank with a rifle. Or do you only live through the acts of others?
 @OrcasThunder  @BornAndRaisedInWA  @ducati  @Magic 8 Ball What good is Assault rifle on top of a bridge? Not many people have the skill to hit the broad side of a barn from more than 50 yards so your point is moot. That is the reason why only 12 people were killed in Colorado, he was a terrible shot thank god. Now if you put an accomplished marksman up there with a .300 win mag with some good glass on it that would be a bad day. Not these goofballs getting rad.
 @BornAndRaisedInWA  @ducati  @Magic 8 Ball You still don't get it, do you?
What use is a Glock on top of a bridge when the targets are across the river?
 @OrcasThunder  @ducati  @Magic 8 Ball Please get your facts straight before you comment about guns....a Glock can fire 1200 rounds a minute(fully auto)...while an AR-15(evil black rifle) can fire 800 rounds a minute(fully auto), both have hi capacity magazines available. In semi-auto both fire the same one pull one shot... both are just as deadly in the right(or wrong) hands. Difference being its easier to hid a Glock... Look what happened in Tucson that guy had a Glock.Â
 @ducati  @Magic 8 Ball But...IF one of the people saying it's OK to carry a rifle around while dressed as a ninja had seen him walking from his car to the theater door in that getup, would they have reported him, simply shot at him, or asked to help carry his load?
THAT'S my point! This wasn't a Glock, it was an assault rifle. Being carried onto a bridge at night by a bunch of guys dressed in camo...from the photo of the bridge, it looks like someone who managed to climb to the top of the structure would have had a fairly wide range of targets - homes and businesses.
And they don't see this as anything other than a display of the "right" to walk around armed to the teeth?
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And no Glock is going to fire the number of rounds that rifle did in the time it took to kill 12 people and wound 58.
@OrcasThunder@Magic 8 Ball
I see what you're getting at. However, it's still not a crime to Open Carry. A lot of people Concealed Carry which is perfectly legal with a loaded handgun and a CPL. The bottom line is a Glock 17 with 3 17 round mags in a suit jacket will do just as much damage in a movie theater as an "assault rifle" in the hands of a guy wearing camo pants.