Road rage + concealed carry asshole = "terroristic threat."

[Robb]

I think this is an absurd hole in the law being filled with "terroristic threat" because many states lack a specific law against threatening people with firearms.

This CCW holder (not mentioned that he held a carry permit, but since it's PA and there were no gun charges, he had to have one) illustrates the point:

A DuBois man will stand trial for allegedly pulling a gun on a driver and his children in DuBois July 11.

Scott V. Moldenhauer, 43, 12 Murtland Ave., DuBois, is charged with three counts of assault, making terroristic threats, three counts of recklessly endangering another person, four counts of disorderly conduct and four counts of harassment.

After a preliminary hearing Friday, District Judge Patrick Ford ruled that sufficient evidence exists to send the charges to the Clearfield County Court of Common Pleas for further disposition. Additional charges of terroristic threats, harassment and disorderly conduct were dismissed. He is free on $10,000, unsecured bail.

The first witness was the driver, Timothy Runyon, 38, DuBois, who was driving with his two children when he made a turn onto Spring Avenue from Main Street.

It is a narrow street, he said, and when he saw another car coming up the street, he said the driver threw his arms up in the air. He backed up to let him pass. As the car approached, the driver, identified as Moldenhauer, rolled down his window. Runyon did also and the two exchanged “words” before Moldenhauer pulled a gun and pointed it “right at me,” then asked “do you have a problem now?”

Read More: http://www.thecourierexpress.com/news/local/article_8fe1bd92-0e46-11e3-a78a-001a4bcf887a.html

[hlthe2b]

1. Seems to me to meet the definition of terrorizing...

Before 911, that term had a far more generic definition and one I think surely applies when a gun is brandished to threaten a man and his kids.

[Robb]

3. True enough.

But I know several states have "criminal threatening with a firearm" as an option that carries less baggage, and has less wiggle room.

Note in the article how the witnesses are compelled to testify as to the level of fear they felt; "threatening" I think is easier to make than "terrorized."

[liberal N proud]

2. Terrorism - The act of inflicting terror upon others.

Check!

[wild bird]

4. He terrorized the family,

so those charges should not have been dismissed.
What an asshole.

[Robb]

5. That's the thing, they had farther to go to get there.

Criminal threatening with a firearm would be a lot easier to make stick, IMO. This could be another avenue for national legislation... who could argue against a federal law that makes threatening someone with a firearm against the law?

[wild bird]

6. I'm all for that,

and make the penalties very harsh.

But you and I and the man in the moon know damn good and well who would argue against it,.
The NRA and their lackey's in congress.

[doc03]

7. So if the other party was also nuts and pulled a gun and if one of the

two ended up dead the shooter would get off for standing his gound. Sort of like
Dodge City on the old Gunsmoke series.