Woman cited for carrying shotgun in downtown Longview
Sunday, May 25, 2008 12:31 PM PDT
By The Daily News
Printable version
E-mail this articleLongview police cited and released a Longview woman Friday after they found her standing in front of the U.S. Bank branch at 1452 Hudson Street in Longview with a shotgun.
Police said they held Lauren K. Smith, 27, at gunpoint until she agreed to drop the weapon. She told police that she had been on her way to pawn the shotgun at a Commerce Avenue pawn shop shortly before 5 p.m. when her car broke down. So, Smith said, she began walking up the street with it.
An officer told Smith that "her decision to walk through a bank parking lot on a Friday afternoon with a shotgun was a bad idea, especially given that there have been several armed robberies at banks in the area lately," according to a police report.
Smith apologized, police said, adding that she "had not thought about it."
Smith was cited for disorderly conduct, which carries a $250 fine, and released. The shotgun was handed over to one of Smith's relatives.
redneck wrote on May 25, 2008 10:06 AM:
" There goes the 2nd amendment. The only one's that can carry a firearm is the law and outlaws. "
nickandholly wrote on May 25, 2008 10:57 AM:
" Just so everyone knows. This happened right in front of her daughter. Thank god her daughters uncle drove by and seen what was going on and was able to get her out of the situation. And yah I agree redneck. The police could have seen her walking down Ocean Beach Hwy and they would have done the same thing. I know who Lauren is and I'm pretty sure she wasn't going to rob a bank. She is a skinny little thing and she don't seem that crazy or hard up to me. "
Realist wrote on May 25, 2008 11:35 AM:
" I'm sure Bonnie Parker was a perfectly nice person when you first met her too. "
Jackal wrote on May 25, 2008 2:11 PM:
" You've got to admit it wasn't the smartest thing to do. I don't think she did anything illegal, we do have the second ammendment after all. Still, it's a bit disconcerting to see someone carrying a shotgun by a bank. I'm glad somebody called her in, whether she did anything or not. It seems like it was a misunderstanding though. "
loudly wrote on May 25, 2008 3:39 PM:
" to "redneck" and "nickandholly", you two have got to be kidding! not being allowed to carry a shotgun through a bank parking lot = loss of 2nd amendment rights? Oh please....I know, how about if she were to be walking on school grounds with the shotgun? Would it be alright for the police to confront her? What if she decided to go into the bank while carrying her shotgun? Could the police confront her then? Your statement about only the law and outlaws having guns is just plain rubbish. Why not move somewhere else if you feel that way? THANK YOU LONGVIEW POLICE FOR THINKING OF THE SAFETY OF THE CITIZENS! "
gottaluvme884 wrote on May 25, 2008 4:27 PM:
" I'm all for the second ammendment but this has nothing to with it. You don't walk down the street with a shotgun if you don't want something to happen. The cops did the right thing. "
Gondolapete wrote on May 25, 2008 7:00 PM:
" This story has already been commented on, and Ella Mentry and myself, as usual, make the most common sense:
http://www.tdn.com/articles/2008/05/24/breaking_news/doc4838a877db6d2225606192.txt "
http://www.tdn.com/articles/2008/05/24/breaking_news/doc4838a877db6d2225606192.txt "
concerned wrote on May 25, 2008 7:20 PM:
" the police may have done the right thing in stopping her and questioning her about the situation but I dont feel arresting her was needed. The 2nd ammendment does say we have the RIGHT TO BARE ARMS not we have the right to bare arms only in certain circumstances... I mean come on people why do we have the Bill of Rights if we are gonna say when and where they will be in effect?? "
Realist wrote on May 25, 2008 9:38 PM:
" Yah, Gondo. It appears to me after reading the other comments, that you and Ella are either the same person, or living in the same residence. The fact is, the woman did something stupid. It's called common sense. Don't stand in a bank parking lot staring at the building with a shotgun in your hand and don't get out of your car when a cop pulls you over...the list goes on and on.
"
"
Plato wrote on May 26, 2008 9:49 AM:
" This story is missing something. It is not illegal to possess a shotgun when walking on public property or on private property that is legally accessable to the public unless such activity prohibited by law or signs. Common sense says if you are allowed to possess firearms you are allowed to bare arms. Why be able to possess them but not bare them. The Supreme Court is trying to define this issue and it will be interesting to see their decision. "
Atrucker wrote on May 26, 2008 10:07 AM:
" Hey, this is totalover reaction , the only stupid thing done was cross the bank parking lot , but even then , the cops must proof intent, which they did not do.
True story as a teenager, I packed a 30-06 through west Kelso out the west side highway to Lexington, up in the hills and come out up on Columbia heights in the play ground of a school, walk down the hill. And I did this several times during deer season.
Could I do that today? Not even on a good day. I would get arrested, that is how far left and fear driven we have become .
Any one from the 60's can tell you we hauled rifles to school, and went hunting when school got out , this also does not happen any more.
Lauren go to court and beat those dummies at their own game . I would "
True story as a teenager, I packed a 30-06 through west Kelso out the west side highway to Lexington, up in the hills and come out up on Columbia heights in the play ground of a school, walk down the hill. And I did this several times during deer season.
Could I do that today? Not even on a good day. I would get arrested, that is how far left and fear driven we have become .
Any one from the 60's can tell you we hauled rifles to school, and went hunting when school got out , this also does not happen any more.
Lauren go to court and beat those dummies at their own game . I would "
Gondolapete wrote on May 26, 2008 11:48 AM:
" To realist. I assure you I am not Ella, nor do I even know who this person is. It may just seem like that to you, because common sense confuses you. But TDN has the technology to check ISP numbers so I am sure they can verify this for you if you so insist on it.
"
"
Realist wrote on May 26, 2008 1:01 PM:
" ...common sense. Don't stand in a bank parking lot staring at the building with a shotgun in your hand and don't get out of your car when a cop pulls you over...the list goes on and on."
Yeah. Common sense confuses me. Whatever you say, Gondo.
"
Yeah. Common sense confuses me. Whatever you say, Gondo.
"
kitten wrote on May 26, 2008 4:08 PM:
" I found this story disturbing. As a concerned citizen, I assume there will be a full disclosure from the Longview Police Department as to why they felt the need to draw down on this women. Did they follow protocol? I didn't see anything said about them asking her to put the gun down. Was she acting erratically? It makes me afraid to buy a gun in Longview and have to pack it back to my car. I guess a better choice for her would have been to leave the gun in the car where a tweeker might have gotten ahold of it. I really hope there is a follow-up story or some kind of disclaimer from the police department on this one!!!!!! "
Gondolapete wrote on May 26, 2008 7:47 PM:
" realist, you obviously were able glean more info than was actually printed.CONGRATS!!! I am not sure why TDN chooses to duplicate articles,but the original one had a lot more intelligent replies to the printed content. Replies that probably would have confused you, as they discussed the actual law and what laws did she actually break. "
Realist wrote on May 26, 2008 9:33 PM:
" You know, Gondo? I read the replies to the other story and they don't seem any more 'intelligent' than the ones above. It is true that we as Americans have the right to keep and BEAR arms, however, I am not going to strap a shotgun to my shoulder and walk down Ocean Beach Highway. That is just stupidity.
I think it is best if I let you go ahead and live in your own little redneck world, (I hear there is vacancy in Idaho) and I am going to go lock my doors. God knows what crazies are walking down my street with a shotgun flung over a shoulder. "
I think it is best if I let you go ahead and live in your own little redneck world, (I hear there is vacancy in Idaho) and I am going to go lock my doors. God knows what crazies are walking down my street with a shotgun flung over a shoulder. "
kelso gringo wrote on May 26, 2008 10:24 PM:
" As United States citizens, we all indeed have certain inalienable rights. However, this story has nothing to do with the Bill of Rights. This woman was arrested for her incredibly stupid actions. It is unsettling to know that some of the rednecks commenting on this story see nothing wrong with roaming the streets with a shotgun in hand. "
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