The title of this piece is now much more relevant compared to the way the article is actually presented.– Ed.
As police in Upper Darby, Pa., search for more young people involved in last week’s flash mob, more adults are thinking about arming themselves with guns.
People are talking about how afraid they are of being caught in the path one of these flash mobs while they’re out minding their own business, and they want to be ready.
Law enforcement officials say it’s a nightmare in the making because ordinary, private citizens are getting gun permits.
“We have people now that are fearful and carrying guns because of children. How sad is that?” Upper Darby police Captain George Rhoades said.
He said it’s all legal.
“It’s all self-defense,” Rhoades said.
He says about 10 to 20 applications are processed every week in Upper Darby.
Rhoades says with that many people “carrying” and the violent actions of these flash mobs, the worst is bound to happen.
“Now we have this mentality, ‘I’m not going to retreat. I’m not going to call 9-1-1. I’m going to be a vigilante and take care of the problem myself,'” he said.
That means flash mob children could be dead, and the would-be victims may have the right, but Rhoades is appealing to everybody to think twice.
“Everybody’s got a gun permit. Everybody’s got a cell phone. Depends upon which one you wanna pull out,” he said.
The dozen or so kids caught in last Thursday’s Upper Darby flash mob are now facing conspiracy, retail theft and more charges. The youngest is 11-years-old.
“What’s surprising with this group, they don’t have criminal records. This is their first interaction with law enforcement,” Rhoades said.
Fox 29 News spoke with a number of private citizens off camera who say they used to keep their gun only inside their home, but now they are strapped every day, just about everywhere they go.
Police all told Fox 29 you’d be surprised to know who’s packing. (Related story here)