Once upon a time, I would have vigorously agreed. Now that the police and military are the ones that want to have that monopoly, I worry very much.

@Holysocks now we have the military, the police, and armed citizen supremacists.

@avron
Which is why I fear them. I haven't been guilty of a crime since the 90's, but they have found me guilty of something by gunpoint because they were bored and I happened to be out of state. Multiple times.

@Bobsuruncle updated news. It appears they will be charging him with something: [ozarksfirst.com]

@bigpawbullets

Are you calling me an "anti-gun wingnut with my head in the sand"? My middle finger is twitching.

The off-duty fireman didn't stop anyone. He apparently didn't act until the manager had enough time to be notified and go pull the fire alarm. All he did was raise the tension in an already tense situation by adding another weapon.
As has been stated many times, they're very lucky not to have been shot.

Additional update:
Apparently it's illegal in Missouri to use a gun in a threatening manner. Will the off-duty fireman be charged? (for being a fool maybe?)

@LiterateHiker
Nah... I'd never call you anything disparaging.
Again, one never knows the real story unless you witness the event with your own eyes. Plenty of interpretations to feed both our mythologies.

I live in the Springfield area so it was all over the news. The "good guy with a gun" didn't stop anyone. He approached the man outside Walmart, and essentially told him to put his hands up. The gunman smiled (I saw the video) and complied. This idiot (gunman) went in the front door and walked out the back door. I seriously doubt the gun even had any bullets in it.

As I mentioned, Missouri is an open carry state. Being in riot gear carrying as assault weapon isn't against the law. Unless he verbally threatened someone, or pointed the gun at someone, he can't be charged with anything.

@kiramea but he should be able to be charged. He knew damn well he'd cause a panic. If it's illegal to shout fire in a theater, this to should be illegal. To me, they're both stupid.

Addition: I was reading a news story of this that included this note:

Missouri allows open carry of firearms, with a critical exception: It’s illegal to display a firearm in an “angry or threatening manner.” Does walking into a store in a chain that’s recently experienced a mass shooting carrying the equipment for a mass shooting count as threatening?

@RichCC
Boy! I'd sure say so!!!

@RichCC I watched an interview with a political analyst last night. His belief is that he can't be charged with anything unless he verbally threatened someone or pointed the gun at someone. Being in full riot gear with an assault weapon apparently isn't menacing enough.