Governor calls armed man’s actions ‘cowardly, intimidating’ after I-Team report – WBAL TV Baltimore

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore condemned the actions of a man with an AR-15 who started showing up at an Anne Arundel County school bus stop weeks ago.The 11 News I-Team first reported the story on Thursday, after which, the governor didn't mince words, calling the man's actions cowardly and intimidating.The man, J'den McAdory, told the I-Team on Thursday he's protesting the governor's new gun control law. He said he began walking the sidewalks in Severn a few months ago, first with his shotgun strapped to his back, and now, with an AR-15 semiautomatic rifle in his hands."I grew up in this community," McAdory said. "I'm 20 years old. I've lived here pretty much my whole life. I really want people to understand: I mean no harm to no one."McAdory told the I-Team he has gone out twice a week to remind people of their Second Amendment rights and to protest the governor's new gun control measures, which take effect on Oct. 1."(I'm) just showing people it's legal, spreading a little bit of silent freedom," McAdory said. "Guns can be safe if it's controlled by the right person."Anne Arundel County police said McAdory is permitted to do what he's doing under Maryland law. After the I-Team's reporting on Thursday, the governor's office sent a statement to 11 News, saying: "To stem the tide of gun violence and create safer, stronger communities, we need partnership -- not shallow acts of cowardice and intimidation. Scaring our kids and threatening our communities wont help make Maryland safe. The governor won't allow these tactics to stop his administration from taking common-sense steps to protect our communities. He condemns this behavior and will keep fighting to build a safer Maryland."Man: 'I'm really no threat ... no harm at all'McAdory said he walked up to students at a bus stop Thursday morning to say he's not a threat, telling them," I don't know what the school's been telling you guys, but I'm really no threat to you guys, no harm at all."Video below: Governor responds to man with gun: 'Cowardly'When asked if he could understand how parents and children might be afraid seeing him armed by the bus stop, McAdory told the I-Team: "I do understand. So, I talked to the kids this morning at 7 a.m. right at that bus stop over there with the AR-15.""I'm not an active shooter" he added. "I'm not an active gunman. And, I'm no threat to any children out here."Hours later, the nearby elementary school released a letter to parents advising students who see McAdory to "ask the man to leave" and "walk away from him."Severn Elementary School Principal Isaphine Smith asked parents to report any interactions with the man to the school or to police as soon as possible.Parents express great concernMichael Haley, a parent, told the I-Team that he takes a different route home from school with his three daughters so they don't have to see McAdory by the side of the road."The point's been proven," Haley said. "You've got us all scared."| I-TEAM VIDEO BELOW: 'I guess you're the bowling ball if we're the bowling pins' Haley said what McAdory is doing isn't about rights, it's about decency."If people are uncomfortable with something and you keep throwing it in their face, well then, you end up becoming the jerk in the situation," Haley said.Jamie Sparrow, a father of a Severn Elementary School 6-year-old student, recorded video on Wednesday that he shared with the I-Team, showing a school bus dropping off students on one side of the street while McAdory stood on the other side with his AR-15."Why would anyone need to carry an AR-15 around a bunch of school kids?" Sparrow said.Sparrow said McAdory's Second Amendment rights should not give him license to make parents and kids uncomfortable. Sparrow said he worries about what McAdory might do."If this guy, at any moment, decides he wants to crash, then it's a lot of victims and nobody can do anything about it," Sparrow said. "I hope that he gets the help that he needs so that all of this can stop. Nobody has to lose their lives. Nobody has to get injured or hurt."McAdory told the I-Team on Thursday that he has come to an agreement with the school district that he will no longer protest with his AR-15 during school pickup or drop-off times.

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore condemned the actions of a man with an AR-15 who started showing up at an Anne Arundel County school bus stop weeks ago.

The 11 News I-Team first reported the story on Thursday, after which, the governor didn't mince words, calling the man's actions cowardly and intimidating.

The man, J'den McAdory, told the I-Team on Thursday he's protesting the governor's new gun control law. He said he began walking the sidewalks in Severn a few months ago, first with his shotgun strapped to his back, and now, with an AR-15 semiautomatic rifle in his hands.

"I grew up in this community," McAdory said. "I'm 20 years old. I've lived here pretty much my whole life. I really want people to understand: I mean no harm to no one."

McAdory told the I-Team he has gone out twice a week to remind people of their Second Amendment rights and to protest the governor's new gun control measures, which take effect on Oct. 1.

"(I'm) just showing people it's legal, spreading a little bit of silent freedom," McAdory said. "Guns can be safe if it's controlled by the right person."

Anne Arundel County police said McAdory is permitted to do what he's doing under Maryland law.

After the I-Team's reporting on Thursday, the governor's office sent a statement to 11 News, saying: "To stem the tide of gun violence and create safer, stronger communities, we need partnership -- not shallow acts of cowardice and intimidation. Scaring our kids and threatening our communities wont help make Maryland safe. The governor won't allow these tactics to stop his administration from taking common-sense steps to protect our communities. He condemns this behavior and will keep fighting to build a safer Maryland."

McAdory said he walked up to students at a bus stop Thursday morning to say he's not a threat, telling them," I don't know what the school's been telling you guys, but I'm really no threat to you guys, no harm at all."

Video below: Governor responds to man with gun: 'Cowardly'

When asked if he could understand how parents and children might be afraid seeing him armed by the bus stop, McAdory told the I-Team: "I do understand. So, I talked to the kids this morning at 7 a.m. right at that bus stop over there with the AR-15."

"I'm not an active shooter" he added. "I'm not an active gunman. And, I'm no threat to any children out here."

Hours later, the nearby elementary school released a letter to parents advising students who see McAdory to "ask the man to leave" and "walk away from him."

Severn Elementary School Principal Isaphine Smith asked parents to report any interactions with the man to the school or to police as soon as possible.

Michael Haley, a parent, told the I-Team that he takes a different route home from school with his three daughters so they don't have to see McAdory by the side of the road.

"The point's been proven," Haley said. "You've got us all scared."

| I-TEAM VIDEO BELOW: 'I guess you're the bowling ball if we're the bowling pins'

Haley said what McAdory is doing isn't about rights, it's about decency.

"If people are uncomfortable with something and you keep throwing it in their face, well then, you end up becoming the jerk in the situation," Haley said.

Jamie Sparrow, a father of a Severn Elementary School 6-year-old student, recorded video on Wednesday that he shared with the I-Team, showing a school bus dropping off students on one side of the street while McAdory stood on the other side with his AR-15.

"Why would anyone need to carry an AR-15 around a bunch of school kids?" Sparrow said.

Sparrow said McAdory's Second Amendment rights should not give him license to make parents and kids uncomfortable. Sparrow said he worries about what McAdory might do.

"If this guy, at any moment, decides he wants to crash, then it's a lot of victims and nobody can do anything about it," Sparrow said. "I hope that he gets the help that he needs so that all of this can stop. Nobody has to lose their lives. Nobody has to get injured or hurt."

McAdory told the I-Team on Thursday that he has come to an agreement with the school district that he will no longer protest with his AR-15 during school pickup or drop-off times.

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Governor calls armed man's actions 'cowardly, intimidating' after I-Team report - WBAL TV Baltimore

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