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Man carries AR-15 in JCPenny store

Updated: 1/19 9:23 am | Published: 1/17 9:32 pm

Reported by: Noah Bond

"It was just something you don’t see everyday and I wanted to catch it and be able to share it with other people,” -Cindy Yorgason

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AR-15 information

RIVERDALE, Utah (ABC 4 News) – Cindy Yorgason took a picture of a man with an AR-15 strapped to his back inside a JCPenny store in Riverdale. The AR-15 stands for ArmaLite rifle, according to the National Shooting Sports Foundation website.

The picture was taken Wednesday about four hours after President Obama called for a renewed ban on assault weapons.

“He had the AR swung over his shoulder. He had a hand gun in a holster on his right hip, and he had extra clips on his belt as well,” Yorgason said.

Other customers were pointing and making all sorts of faces in reaction to the gunman. "It was just something you don’t see everyday and I wanted to catch it and be able to share it with other people,” Yorgason said.

It’s legal to open carry a gun in Utah, but it must be unloaded and it must take two actions to fire.

Yorgason posted two pictures on her Facebook page. They generated over 100 comments. The majority of responders dislike the man displaying a large gun on his back in a public store.

Shanna Matheson wrote, "Wow. This does seem a bit excessive. I grew up around guns and have no problem with people owning them for hunting but what is the point of this?"

Matt Pasley wrote, "Not necessary in my opinion but I do find it AMAZING that the gun just didn't go off and create a massacre."

Samuel Moore responded, "They government certainly carries assault rifles at the airports and major train stations, protest rallies, Kent State etc . . ?. ."

The pictures are going viral because the image is striking a nerve with U.S. citizens once again as they debate what is right and what is wrong with gun laws in America.

Calls to the National Rifle Association and JCPenny's media relations were not returned before this story was posted online.

CORRECTION: "The AR in "AR-15 rifle stands for ArmaLite rifle, after the company that developed it in the 1950s. "AR" does NOT stand for "assault rifle" or "automatic rifle." AR-15-style rifles are NOT 'assault weapons' or 'assault rifles.' An assault rifle is fully automatic - a machine gun. Automatic firearms have been severely restricted from civilian ownership since 1934," according to the National Shooting Sports Foundation website.

For more information about the AR-15 click on the attached link.

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guns, riverdale, jcpenny

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The views expressed here do not necessarily represent those of ABC4

Shay H - 2/4/2013 11:52 AM

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I think it was amazing that it didn`t just go off and create a massacre... WHAT? Guns are a kind of tool whoever you are. They have a thing called a safety, that prevents them from firing, even if they are loaded, have a round in the chamber and the trigger is pulled. The gun will not fire unless it is taken off safety and the trigger is then pulled, though some may fire if they are dropped or damaged and then dropped. Creating a massacre takes skill, the ability to select a target,aim, and then pull the trigger while the rifle is precisely aligned with the target these things are what a human contributes to a gun massacre. The gun just does its job, liberating the force contained in a chemical mix to drive a small projectile at supersonic speeds in a direct line that is predictable enough it can be used to hit a precise point in space and carry its enormous energy to that point. Thus a gun operated by a skilled human hand can stop a charging lion, kill a terrorist before he knows the law has caught up to him, put food on the table, or defend a grandmother from assault by a far more muscled foe. Guns don`t fire of their own accord, and for one to create a massacre, a mass killing, without human intervention is impossible. Gund are a tool of force, like a chainsaw. Used correctly they can be a great good, used incorrectly they can perpetrate great evil. The intention of the user is the difference.

sueandjp - 1/31/2013 9:33 AM

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are you people out of your mind, either that or you are so into yourself that you have no concerns on how it affects anyone else. so you would be alright with me walking around your house all day like this. You would just tell your children don't worry kids he's just exercising his 2nd amendment. anyone that walks into a J C Penny or any store like this has a problem. Check his profile and tell me that you would still like this if your wife or children sent you this picture and told you they were standing behind this man. I wonder if our forefathers would have written the 2nd amendment the same way. You people with the 2nd amendment. I guess we have no rights at all. Did I miss were our forefathers said that if you don't like the 2nd amendment then leave this country. (We gun owners can do anything we want too and if you don't like it to bad.) where is our rights. You say tough you just have to put up with good and bad people walking around in stores with weapons hanging all over them. thinking of other people not just myself

cuda426 - 1/30/2013 1:46 PM

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This man is doing no more then exercising his 2nd amendment rights and there is nothing wrong with want he is doing he is also making a statement by his actions proving that guns are not dangerous in the hands of law abiding gun owners. What I do have a problem with is the TV station news castors repeatedly calling the rifle an "ASSAULT RIFLE" this rifle is has is NOT an assault rifle to be a true assault rifle it must the ability to fire at a fully automatic rate so before you report the news get your facts straight.

justsomeguy - 1/21/2013 8:23 PM

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you can take your aussie ass back and go bang a kangaroo. Us americans like defending ourselves. Keep in mind... When SECONDS count, the police are only MINUTES away. And personally, I'd rather have a gun in my hand over a cop on the phone. The day the U.S. gubermint decides to knock on my door expecting me to give them up, will the the day there is a hell of a shootout in Baton Rouge Louisiana. I'm pretty sure that as a former United States Marine Scout Sniper, I've got a alot more training than some punk with a badge, mediocre trained Law Enforcement Officer. My wife is also a former marine, so I can confidently stand next to her when she grabs her firearms.

gyanveeto - 1/21/2013 12:27 PM

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In Australia a few years ago we a a massacre in Tasmania the then Prime Minister John Howard banned all guns, yes banned them every one had to hand in their guns no it or buts. The only people who have guns are the farmers and gun clubs all guns have to be kept and locked at the gun club and all guns have to be registered. The only people who manage to have a gun are the extreme criminals e.g. drugs criminals and they only kill each other (good). I feel and know most people are emotionally unstable and one never knows when some thing is going to be triggered in an emotional state. Ban all guns and change the god dam amendment if it is going to cause to much fuss. Do any of you want more school children in mass murder situations.??

Joe1938 - 1/21/2013 11:03 AM

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If every public place we went to had a guy like this, we would be a lot safer. I have just made a trip to Arizona and saw open carry. This was very comforting when I saw it in a public place; On the street, in restaurants, other businesses. I feel uneasy in a place where the gun free symbol is displayed because that is where a lot of innocent people get shot.

nmgene - 1/20/2013 10:42 PM

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dsloma you are an idiot. The more guns the less crime, that is an FBI statistic. I can carry concealed or not it is legal and a constitutional right. There are no ifs ands buts or excepts in the Second Amendment. All gun control laws are unconstitutional. Full Automatics should be available to all with out permits being required. It is also an unconstitutional law.

mbmshooter - 1/20/2013 11:07 AM

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dmsloma, I agree with you that folks with mental illness should be evaluated to determine if they are capable of SAFELY own a firearm. I'm guessing most people who support the Second Amendment would agree with that. That you chose to openly have the police remove your dad's firearms collection was your RIGHT...your FREEDOM of CHOICE. I hope you now post a "Gun Free House" sign on your front lawn so your neighbors can feel safer. However, I and all other Americans also have FREEDOM of CHOICE. We have the RIGHT to own, and in many places, carry firearms to protect ourselves and our loved ones. By the way, I choose NOT to hunt animals! Many of my friends do hunt using archery or firearm and I support THEIR choice.

justsomeguy - 1/20/2013 10:55 AM

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beautiful. if more people would do this, there would be less shootings nationwide. its educated/resonsible gun owners like that that deserve a pat on the back. If I would have seen this myself, I think I would have bought him lunch.

bhhltf - 1/20/2013 9:32 AM

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Attorney General Eric Holder once told an audience that the people needed to be conditioned to hate guns, just as smoking was demonized so people would quit smoking. As a state senator, Obama stated that he didn't think that private citizens should own guns, so now when he says he believes in the 2nd Amendment he is lying. Throughout his entire political career his actions have been anti-gun, so his words mean nothing. It is all part of the left's agenda to disarm the people, giving the government complete control.

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