The Southeast Missourian relays today's AP story about Mr. 'No Regrets':
"Andreychenko, who is free on bond and facing a felony charge of making a terrorist threat, told KYTV he never intended to hurt anyone and was surprised by the reaction.Again, is it reckless - even stupid - behavior by this 20 y.o. man? Given the slaughter in El Paso and Dayton several weekends ago, I think we all agree it is. But stupid isn't a crime.
"It was foolish, I didn't give it thought. It was so innocent that I didn't even think this would happen," he said.
Andreychenko said he talked to a Walmart manager before he arrived at the store and was told he was allowed to openly carry a weapon in the store.
Since January 2017, Missouri has not required a permit to openly or conceal carry a firearm for those 19 years or older.
Walmart said in a statement it allows concealed and open carry in stores if it is legal in the jurisdictions where the stores are located. Customers who are uncomfortable should contact a manager, the statement said.
In an earlier statement, Walmart called the incident "a reckless act designed to scare people, disrupt our business and it put our associates and customers at risk" and said Andreychenko is no longer welcomed in its stores.
Andreychenko said the rifle was holstered and he didn't touch it after putting it on. He contended shoppers didn't seemed shocked or panicked until a store employee pulled a fire alarm.
Andreychenko said he always carries a gun, vest and ammunition in his car for protection and because he frequently practices shooting at a range.
"I just want people to know there was no evil to what I did. This was not a hate inspired act. This was purely innocent -- the timing was just so off," he said. "I would never want to hurt anyone. I pray to God that everything works out."
Jackson County, Missouri Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker(D) agrees with me:
There are several outcomes possible for Mr. Andreychenko. One, he pleads to misdemeanor disturbing the peace. The other is he pleads to the class E, yet the Judge applies an SIS, or Suspended Imposition of Sentence. "But, since no sentence is imposed there is no final judgment and thus no conviction. An SIS will affect various gun rights in different (and not always logical ways)."Dangerous doesn’t mean illegal. Scaring the hell out of innocent shoppers isn’t illegal. Police officers who handled the situation without anyone’s blood being shed is a great credit but still doesn’t mean he acted outside of what Mo law allows. https://t.co/uIAtq0SRxi— Jean Peters Baker (@jeanpetersbaker) August 9, 2019
Given the way Missouri open carry law is written, I doubt Andreychenko will face any serious consequences or loss of rights.
