Vikings CB Chris Cook arrested for brandishing handgun (1 Viewer)

[Donnybrook]

Vikings CB Chris Cook arrested for brandishing handgun

Minnesota Vikings cornerback Chris Cook was arrested Saturday night in his hometown of Lynchburg, Va., for brandishing a handgun during a fight, according to WSET-TV.

Lynchburg Police Department officials told the television station that Cook, 24, was involved in a fight with another man at about 5:30 p.m. ET when he pulled the gun. Cook was arrested shortly thereafter.

Cook, a 2010 second-round pick out of Virginia, played in only six games last season while recovering from a knee injury. He recorded 21 tackles and two passes defended.

Read more: http://aol.sportingn...n#ixzz1GYrwTftH

 

[Carolina Hustler]

Why was he arrested? Aren't guns supposed to be for defending yourself?

 

[Chimp Magnet]

Why was he arrested? Aren't guns supposed to be for defending yourself?

Depends on whether or not he had a permit to carry. Or how the gun was used upon removing it from it's hiding spot.

 

[Sabertooth]

Why do you assume he used it to defend himself?

 

[Carolina Hustler]

Why was he arrested? Aren't guns supposed to be for defending yourself?

Depends on whether or not he had a permit to carry. Or how the gun was used upon removing it from it's hiding spot.

Well since he was arrested for 'brandishing', rather than assault, or carrying without a permit, I just assume he had a permit, and that the weapon was not used.If all he did was show the guy he had been fighting with a gun, I'm not sure whats wrong with that. Maybe there is a law that specifically refers to this, but from my perspective, I'd like to know I'm allowed to use a gun when I need it.

 

[Carolina Hustler]

Why do you assume he used it to defend himself?

He was arrested for brandishing a weapon... So it wasn't used... Hand guns are primarily used for defense. He obviously didn't use it, so it couldn't have been offensive, there was no assault... How better would you describe it?Unless you were carrying illegally, or unless you've pulled a weapon without provocation, why would it be an arrestable offense to show someone you've been fighting with a weapon without actually using it on them?Typically, showing someone a weapon in that situation is warning them if they don't back off, you'll use it.. Which is basically defending yourself.. And I'm sure that's how it will be described in court..

 

[AngryPatriot]

'... couldn't have been offensive.." C'mon now.

That's not how it works although it can vary between states. You can go to prison for just showing that you have a weapon in certain situations- like if it is not an imminent danger life threatening situation. It gets complicated. A fight is a fight, pulling out a deadly weapon moves it to a different level.

Could he have run away? etc... I don't know the details but you better be sure it's a life threatening last resort situation and be fully ready to take a life if you pull out a handgun. Generally you have around 20 seconds to make that decision.

 

[Kitrick Taylor]

2010 is a pretty good looking draft class for the Vikings.

Everson Griffen arrested twice in 3 days last month, and now Chris Cook arrested for brandishing a weapon.

 

[Kitrick Taylor]

Why do you assume he used it to defend himself?

He was arrested for brandishing a weapon... So it wasn't used... Hand guns are primarily used for defense. He obviously didn't use it, so it couldn't have been offensive, there was no assault... How better would you describe it?Unless you were carrying illegally, or unless you've pulled a weapon without provocation, why would it be an arrestable offense to show someone you've been fighting with a weapon without actually using it on them?

Typically, showing someone a weapon in that situation is warning them if they don't back off, you'll use it.. Which is basically defending yourself.. And I'm sure that's how it will be described in court..

I think you've seen too many westerns. Pulling a gun during a fight is going to get you arrested, and it absolutely should.

 

[Carolina Hustler]

Why do you assume he used it to defend himself?

He was arrested for brandishing a weapon... So it wasn't used... Hand guns are primarily used for defense. He obviously didn't use it, so it couldn't have been offensive, there was no assault... How better would you describe it?Unless you were carrying illegally, or unless you've pulled a weapon without provocation, why would it be an arrestable offense to show someone you've been fighting with a weapon without actually using it on them?

Typically, showing someone a weapon in that situation is warning them if they don't back off, you'll use it.. Which is basically defending yourself.. And I'm sure that's how it will be described in court..

I think you've seen too many westerns. Pulling a gun during a fight is going to get you arrested, and it absolutely should.

Why? What other reason to have/carry a gun? Other than to defend yourself? If I was in a fight, and someone showed me a gun, that would stop the fight rather quickly I think..

 

[Carolina Hustler]

http://www.macsfootballblog.com/2011/03/vikings-cb-chris-cook-denies.html

Monday, March 14, 2011

Vikings CB Chris Cook Denies Brandishing a Handgun

Minnesota Vikings cornerback Chris Cook was arrested in Lynchburg, Virginia on Saturday on suspicion of brandishing a handgun during a fight with another man.

Cook tells Jeremy Fowler of the Pioneer Press that the incident did not get violent, and did not involve the threat of weapon use.

"He lives two houses down from me, we got into an argument, but nobody did anything," said Cook from his Lynchburg home. "I told him I wasn't going to fight him. He was just trying to provoke me. There was no gun involved at all."

According to Cook, who has a license to carry a concealed weapon, the neighbor through one of Cook's family members called the police on his brother, and had threatened to punch the 34th overall pick of the 2010 NFL Draft.

"Naturally I screamed back," Cook said. "I was mad for a second, and I talked to him face-to-face. But nothing else came out of it. It was a misunderstanding."

Maybe jumping to conclusions a bit here by a few of you...I still think that laws made to harshly convict criminals are improperly used in legitimate situations. And upon doing a little research, I find that often to be the case in situations where guns are involved.

 

[Donnybrook]

http://www.macsfootb...ook-denies.html

Monday, March 14, 2011

Vikings CB Chris Cook Denies Brandishing a Handgun

Minnesota Vikings cornerback Chris Cook was arrested in Lynchburg, Virginia on Saturday on suspicion of brandishing a handgun during a fight with another man.

Cook tells Jeremy Fowler of the Pioneer Press that the incident did not get violent, and did not involve the threat of weapon use.

"He lives two houses down from me, we got into an argument, but nobody did anything," said Cook from his Lynchburg home. "I told him I wasn't going to fight him. He was just trying to provoke me. There was no gun involved at all."

According to Cook, who has a license to carry a concealed weapon, the neighbor through one of Cook's family members called the police on his brother, and had threatened to punch the 34th overall pick of the 2010 NFL Draft.

"Naturally I screamed back," Cook said. "I was mad for a second, and I talked to him face-to-face. But nothing else came out of it. It was a misunderstanding."

Maybe a jumping to conclusions a bit here by a few of you...I still think that laws made to harshly convict criminals are improperly used in legitimate situations. And upon doing a little research, I find that often to be the case in situations where guns are involved.

I was just about to post an update. This and the fact that Everson Griffen offense got plead down to a misdemeaner - the Vikings might be still able to salvage something from last years draft class.

 

[Carolina Hustler]

http://www.startribune.com/sports/vikings/blogs/117935519.html?elr=KArksLckD8EQDUoaEyqyP4OW3ckUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUgOy9cP3DieyckcUsI

More on Cook's legal situation

Posted by Chip Scoggins

Last update: March 14, 2011 - 10:45 AM

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We had a chance to talk to Capt. Ryan Zuidema of the Lychburg, Va. police department on Monday morning. Zuidema provided a few more details about the arrest of Vikings cornerback Chris Cook for allegedly brandishing a handgun during an argument with a neighbor on Saturday evening.

"Virginia works a little bit different than a lot of states in that private citizens in Virginia can go in front of a magistrate and actually swear out a criminal warrant against another citizen and in essence that's what happened in this situation," Zuidema said. "Basically the information that we know is there was some type of verbal argument between Mr. Cook and this other gentleman and that gentleman went in front of a magistrate here and swore out an arrest warrant against Mr. Cook, which our officers then served on Mr. Cook."

Zuidema said in Virginia individuals who are arrested also are charged at the same time so Cook was charged with brandishing a firearm. Zuidema said Cook will have a court date to determine if he will be tried or if the charges are dismissed.

"Some states you're arrested basically on suspicion of something and then a D.A. will determine if there's enough to formally charge them," he said. "In Virginia, when you're arrested you're actually charged. He has been charged with brandishing a firearm. Obviously the Commonwealth attorney will still review the case. But he will have a court date that he'll go to either way and they'll make a determination by the attorneys."

So this whole story is based on one of Cook's neighbor going down to the magistrate to swear out an arrest warrant against Cook. After getting into a verbal confrontation.

3 thoughts:

- Without a threat of physical violence (which there may or may not have been) there is no reason to pull a gun.

- If there was a threat of immediate physical violence, in my opinion, you should be within your rights to use a gun to deter or subdue an attacker.

- This is only based upon his neighbors testimony and it sounds like there is a good chance nothing comes of this. a) the neighbor could be lieing, or b) there may not be enough evidence to convict, or c) Cook can probably fix this problem financially and the neighbor will drop charges.

 

[Carolina Hustler]

Why do you assume he used it to defend himself?

He was arrested for brandishing a weapon... So it wasn't used... Hand guns are primarily used for defense. He obviously didn't use it, so it couldn't have been offensive, there was no assault... How better would you describe it?Unless you were carrying illegally, or unless you've pulled a weapon without provocation, why would it be an arrestable offense to show someone you've been fighting with a weapon without actually using it on them?

Typically, showing someone a weapon in that situation is warning them if they don't back off, you'll use it.. Which is basically defending yourself.. And I'm sure that's how it will be described in court..

I think you've seen too many westerns. Pulling a gun during a fight is going to get you arrested, and it absolutely should.

If you were legally carrying a handgun and someone was kicking your 'rear-end', would you pull it? I'm not saying Cook was getting his 'rear-end' kicked, at this point it doesn't seem like this was anything other than a verbal confrontation, but hypothetically..

Should you be arrested for pulling a gun to stop someone from kicking your 'rear-end'? Laws vary between states, and I most likely won't agree with the law for every circumstance, but my question is based on what makes sense. If you're a law biding citizen, with a legal right to carry, you should be able to use that weapon to subdue or deter violence aimed at you or a loved one. Just my personal opinion...

 

[gandalas]

I tell you what...I have a concealed carry license, and if someone starts hitting me for some reason or another, then I just may pull my gun out to get them to back off.

Now shooting said gun is another story, but there was nothing in the OP that indicated that was the case.

 

[Carolina Hustler]

I tell you what...I have a concealed carry license, and if someone starts hitting me for some reason or another, then I just may pull my gun out to get them to back off.

Now shooting said gun is another story, but there was nothing in the OP that indicated that was the case.

In the classes you took in order to get your concealed carry permit, did they tell you anything that would make you think you can be arrested for pulling out, or showing your gun during a fight or confrontation?What does brandishing mean otherwise?

Some posters above seem to think you should be arrested for pulling a gun during a fight. Doesn't make much sense to me, where might this idea be coming from?

I have no idea what the law is, or what they call "brandishing", or why it might be illegal...

 

[Carolina Hustler]

Why do you assume he used it to defend himself?

He was arrested for brandishing a weapon... So it wasn't used... Hand guns are primarily used for defense. He obviously didn't use it, so it couldn't have been offensive, there was no assault... How better would you describe it?Unless you were carrying illegally, or unless you've pulled a weapon without provocation, why would it be an arrestable offense to show someone you've been fighting with a weapon without actually using it on them?

Typically, showing someone a weapon in that situation is warning them if they don't back off, you'll use it.. Which is basically defending yourself.. And I'm sure that's how it will be described in court..

I think you've seen too many westerns. Pulling a gun during a fight is going to get you arrested, and it absolutely should.

After a little research, turns out this is incorrect.The allegation that you are flashing/pulling a firearm without provocation, can/will get you arrested...

And a fight that includes an actual physical altercation, and a firearm, with trigger a "take them all in and let the court figure it out" mentality from most law enforcement officers, unless it is unquestionably clear at the scene that the gun possessor was only defending himself. Which is usually hard to prove on the scene unless the other person is going to admit it...

And now that I've thought about it, I actually witnessed something along these lines at myrtle beach one year when I was on spring break. A guy and his girlfriend were being harassed and surrounded by a rowdy bunch of thugs, the guy pulled out a gun to back them off, when the police arrived they checked his documents/permits etc and let him go. The thugs were arrested based on several eye witness testimonies..