BANGOR (NEWS CENTER Maine) -- There was nothing illegal about the armed and masked man who paraded around the Fourth of July celebration in Bangor. But the fear he created was real, and police had to deal with it.
The consequences of that man's actions inspired Lt. Tim Cotton to use his platform as a blogger on the Bangor Police Department's Facebook page to share his thoughts about the rights and responsibilities of Mainers to openly carry firearms.
That right was legally exercised by the unnamed man at the center of the story. Cotton described how he walked among families wearing a helmet like a medieval knight, an American flag slung over his shoulders like a cape and a pistol at his hip.
"Separately, maybe each cog in his costume gear was a good idea.," Cotton said. "Considered together, viewing the totality of the circumstances, I would deem it a poor choice."
Police were compelled to confront the man after getting several frightened calls. Cotton said, "We found him. We spoke to him, He meant no harm. He did suddenly understand why some folks might become concerned for their children’s safety. He was a pleasant man, with no illegal intentions."
But in light of recent mass shootings across the country, Cotton said he understood the protective instinct of parents, and the responsibility of police to ensure their safety. He also shared his perspective as someone who carries a gun for work.
"If you have a weapon, and are determined to carry it for your personal reasons (which I don’t need to know, so I’m not asking)- please use common sense," Cotton urged, "think about other people who don’t understand your needs, and think about how they might perceive your activity."
Cotton's message struck a chord with a country embroiled in a heated public debate about the causes of and responses to gun violence. Within a day of posting his thoughts, the comment section swelled with more than 1,000 responses. Many came from communities and states far from Bangor.