RamacubMay 14, 2024
Rama

I’m not usually one to make “call out” posts…and I certainly don’t do it about conventions, especially ones I don’t attend.

However…

1. The person with the prop gun at FWA on Sunday was damn lucky he didn’t trigger a police response with their action. It would have been bad enough had the police descended on the convention…would have been worse if a police officer saw them and deemed them an immediate threat to the public and tried to neutralize them.

2. They were probably just as lucky they didn’t set off some other gun toting person at the con…looking to be a hero…who didn’t have the training that a police officer has.

3. The convention itself was damn lucky this person’s action didn’t set off a mass panic event that injured attendees.

About a year ago, MFF did a table top exercise with leadership that involved a mass shooting at the convention. Seeing these pictures, frankly, makes me sick.

FWA needs to make sure something like this doesn’t happen again.

May 14, 2024 at 5:55pmWeb
Show threadNexJqlMay 14, 2024
@Ramalion it's been pointed out to me that the situation took place in the hotel lobby, which is not part of con space, apparently.
Show threadRamaMay 14, 2024

@NexJql that’s a bit of a grey area, jurisdiction wise…but really doesn’t affect any of the points I posted. It was a stupid act by a person at their convention that could have spiraled out of control quickly and tragically.

If their only defense on it is that “well, it happened in a public area of the hotel, so we can’t do anything” that’s horrible technicality to rest on.

Show threadNexJqlMay 14, 2024
@Ramalion I 100% agree an am surprised hotel security (or APD) didn't step in. Tbh, that's rather unsettling.
Show threadJeremyMay 15, 2024

@Ramalion Something that has occurred to me on hearing this story, and an analog to the KC parade shooting. The Kansas City Chiefs parade shooting had 2 main shooters who were firing at each other in anger, however 12 people actually pulled guns, 6 of them actually fired their guns. Of the ones who fired, only 3 I think so far were charged with unlawful acts involving their guns. That means at least nine people lawfully pulled or fired their guns at the parade.

That's the kind of situation that could have occurred.

They still don't actually know who was hit by the original shooters who were firing at each other, and who was hit by the other four people shooting.