After a man allegedly made disturbing comments on social media, referencing the movie “Joker,” police obtained a temporary Extreme Risk Protection Order and seized all his guns. The confiscation, conducted under state law, took place in Redmond, Washington.
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Redmond Police confiscated eight firearms, numerous “high-capacity magazines,” and even took the man’s conceal carry license, reported seattletimes.com. Although the man claimed the post to be a joke, police said after finding other disturbing comments, they plan to seek a full ERPO, which would keep guns out of the man’s hands for a year.
The most damning post arguably came on Sept. 26, when investigators say the man shared a photo of himself holding two AK-47s. He allegedly pointed rifles skyward, one in each hand, fingers on the trigger. The caption reportedly read: “one ticket for Joker please,” according to komonews.com.
Joker Post Draws Criticism From Both Sides
While 2A advocates typically criticize red flag laws, obviously alarming behavior gets tougher to defend. Even Amy Swearer, who recently spoke before the House Judiciary Committee defending gun rights, criticized the man’s post.
Gun owners. Please. For the love of God and the Constitution. Don’t do things like post pictures of yourself holding AK-47s with the caption: “One ticket to The Joker, please.”
Just don’t do it. You will get your guns taken away and I won’t feel bad. https://t.co/j4ghc9xaXi
— Amy Swearer (@AmySwearer) October 8, 2019
Washington passed its Extreme Risk Protection Order into law into 2016, one of 17 states to do so, along with the District of Columbia, according to mynorthwest.com. The law allows police, family, and even household partners to petition a court to confiscate one’s guns. Gun control advocates seek a national version of these laws. Meanwhile, critics and 2A supporters point out the lack of due process.
Meanwhile, critics deplored the movie “Joker” for its dark, violent nature. Some even went so far as to link the character to the types of criminals that commit mass shootings, further stoking the national debate for gun control. The criticism prompted Warner Brothers to issue a statement.
Warner Brother Statement
Gun violence in our society is a critical issue, and we extend our deepest sympathy to all victims and families impacted by these tragedies. Our company has a long history of donating to victims of violence, including Aurora, and in recent weeks, our parent company joined other business leaders to call on policymakers to enact bi-partisan legislation to address this epidemic. At the same time, Warner Bros. believes that one of the functions of storytelling is to provoke difficult conversations around complex issues. Make no mistake: neither the fictional character Joker, nor the film, is an endorsement of real-world violence of any kind. It is not the intention of the film, the filmmakers or the studio to hold this character up as a hero.
