Armed Man On Calif. Overpass Surrenders

Flag-Waving Masked Man Shut Down Highway In Apparent War Protest; No Shots Fired

(AP)  A masked gunman waving an American flag and a handgun on a freeway overpass surrendered to police Monday after forcing a traffic shutdown for hours.

The unidentified man gave himself up at midmorning and was taken into custody by police.

The man, wearing a ski mask and brown fatigues, had the flag in one hand and the gun in the other when officers arrived on the Highway 101's La Cumbre Avenue overpass just after 7:10 a.m., said police Sgt. Lorenzo Duarte.

No shots were fired. A police special weapons and tactics team and a crisis negotiation team used a bullhorn to communicate with the man. Nearly three hours into the siege he put the handgun on the ground and he later walked backward to police officers.

As for the man's motive, Duarte said, "The reason appears to be anti-war, but I don't know the specifics."

The freeway, a major route along the California coast, was shut down and the Highway Patrol reported at 10 a.m. that traffic was backed up at least three miles in each direction.

Motorists stuck on the freeway got out of their vehicles and chatted or waved at media helicopters. The freeway was reopened after the man's arrest.

Santa Barbara is 90 miles northwest of Los Angeles.

[caliengineer]

Our gun rights are the only thing preventing big government from totally controlling our lives.

[displeased]

Let me guess...this person isn''t quite right in the head. But I''m sure it''s the gun''s fault. If we take his gun away, then he''ll be normal and harmless, right?

[yale49]

taking the gun away won''t make him sane but.........it may keep someone alive.

[gop_will_win]

Sounds like some liberals.

[gramto8]

Let me guess...this person isn''''t quite right in the head. But I''''m sure it''''s the gun''''s fault. If we take his gun away, then he''''ll be normal and harmless, right?

Posted by Displeased at 01:47 PM : Nov 03, 2008

No, he would be neither normal nor harmless. He just wouldn''t be armed with a lethal weapon with which he could take out innocent people.

I do not agree that all guns are bad. That thought is just so much mularkey and needs to go to the compost pile. I do believe that assault weapons, automatic weapons, and weapons that can be converted to automatic should be banned. I also believe that people should have to have their background checked and have a minimum of 5 days waiting period before they can purchase a gun after they apply.

[rightbehind]

I am in favor of second amendment rights. This is for all of those that believe Big Government is bad. You might not like what they replace it with. I prefer the United States. For a fact the first thing our soldiers done when we invaded Iraq was to seize weapons. If they really believed that it was good for a people to bear arms they would have let them keep their weapons. These are facts. Just do a search for weapons seized in Iraq. The point is don''t follow blindly. What you think is "right" may be the "w"rong path. If the candidate doesn''t fit the expected. They are more than likely the right choice.

[displeased]

I do believe that assault weapons, automatic weapons, and weapons that can be converted to automatic should be banned. I also believe that people should have to have their background checked and have a minimum of 5 days waiting period before they can purchase a gun after they apply.
Posted by gramto8

I agree with your conditions except I would add the removal of gun shows and definitely the loophole of purchasing guns there. My sarcasm was directed towards people who believe we should remove ALL guns.

[displeased]

I agree with your conditions except I would add the removal of gun shows and definitely the loophole of purchasing guns there. My sarcasm was directed towards people who believe we should remove ALL guns.
Posted by Displeased

And towards the people who don''t think mental illness is a serious problem in this country...

[excoachken]

Has anybody, anywhere else, seen Todd Palin today?

[demwatcher]

Reports are he was another anti-war left-wingnut.

He takes his gun and waves it around, blocking traffic and harassing the lives of hundreds if not thousands of people.

Had to of been a Liberal. Just like all the major violent rioters in America for the past fifty years.

Heard that Obama wants to make him a part of his armed Civilian National Security Force. A dictator needs nuts like that in his personal army.

[notfooled]

"Duarte says the man appeared to have an anti-war sentiment."

I can understand how someone would become so desperate to make a statement against the war for profit brought to America by our bought and paid for criminal leaders who are supporting this ongoing genocide.

It''s frightening to think a patriot has to take such extreme measures to draw attention in an attempt to stop what he obviously believes is wrong.

Many will label this fellow a nutjob, and maybe he is. But the vast majority of Americans now realize how powerless we are to stop the Bush/Cheney crime syndicate and their paid henchman in Washington.

[myopinion381]

Sounds like some liberals. Posted by gop_will_win at 01:53 PM

Is that all you can refer to on posts? It''s getting old hearing the same old c.r.a.p!

[aztecdakota]

How come? No one attacks honorably? Like with a sword, or a bow and arrow? Everyone has to have a bomb or a gun or wrapped in explosives, whatever happened to HONOR????

[nownthen-2009]

What did he do that illegal? the story doesn''t say why he was arrested. Is it illegal to have a gun in CA? A gun in plain sight, just waving a gun is not a threat,Is waving a flag illegal? Wearing a mask outside in public?
VOTE FOR NO INCUMBENTS!

[nownthen-2009]

What did he do that illegal? the story doesn''t say why he was arrested. Is it illegal to have a gun in CA? A gun in plain sight, just waving a gun is not a threat,Is waving a flag illegal? Wearing a mask outside in public?
VOTE FOR NO INCUMBENTS!

[slim1h2o]

Probably a suspect in the shooting deaths 5 homeless people in L.A.

[slim1h2o]

I have already indicated as such Nancy.

A little slow at the switch?


LOL....

[usclimey]

Who knows, maybe this is just a low abiding well regulated militia guy acting on his second amendment right to remove a tyrranical government.