Man with unloaded AR-15, loaded Glock shops at Utah J.C. Penney; Nothing happens

Brett T. | 7:09 PM on January 17, 2013

When we saw the following photo of a man openly carrying a rifle while shopping at a J.C. Penney in Riverdale, Utah, we were as shocked as anyone. Who still shops at J.C. Penney?

Woman snaps photos of man shopping at JCPenny in Riverdale with a rifle on his back. pic.twitter.com/cDBrdaKt

— FOX 13 News Utah (@fox13) January 17, 2013

Cindy Yorgason snapped the photo, which is making the rounds of social media. The Salt Lake Tribune reports that the man pictured is 22-year-old Joseph Kelley, who said he was simply trying to demonstrate that guns are safe in the hands of law-abiding citizens.

According to Kelley, the rifle was an unloaded AR-15 and the handgun was a loaded Glock 19C. He said he has a concealed carry permit, is a former member of the military and contacted police dispatch before leaving his home to tell them about his plans. Kelley also said he was told that he was “well within his rights” and that bystanders’ reactions were positive.

“I felt no negative vibes from anyone,” Kelley said. “I think it went rather surprisingly well.”

@jcpenney I have NO problem with this: http://t.co/JOSErgJt — As a matter of fact I would applaud it.

— Jann Gobble (@jgobble) January 17, 2013

Kelley might not have felt negative vibes in person, but there were plenty to go around on Twitter.

https://twitter.com/Mike_Christian/status/292010738527125504

https://twitter.com/btateoka/status/292025433585745921

Well, one of President Obama’s 23 executive actions signed yesterday was to “launch a national dialogue led by Secretaries Sebelius and Duncan on mental health.” Is simply carrying a legal, registered weapon in public a sign of “mental issues”? Or is it time for a national conversation on “gun phobia”?