Colorado Teen Walks Street With Shotgun [VIDEO]

Creatas, ThinkStock[/caption]A Colorado teenager carried a loaded shotgun on the street and was stopped by police.  He said he should have been stopped.

As KDVR reported, a teenager was seen carrying a loaded shotgun on a busy street in Aurora and was stopped by police. The teenager says he should not have been stopped and he videotaped his encounter with officers. Police have a different opinion.

The 18-year-old posted his cell phone video online.  KDVR also spoke with police as the two sides debated open carry gun laws and public safety.

“I simply carry this for the protection of myself and those around me,” Lohner says.

His shotgun is a Stoeger P-350 12 gauge.

“I’ve been stopped close to a dozen times for this and this is actually the first time I’ve been forced to provide ID,” he says.

The teen says he’s on a campaign to call attention to open carry laws. “I feel like a lot of people now they see a weapon like that and they think, you know, James Holmes or Sandy Hook,”

Lohner says that’s why he started walking along major streets with his gun.

“It’s alarming to the citizens — alarming enough to where they call,” says Aurora police spokesman Frank Fania.

In this case police couldn’t even determine if Lohner, who they determined looks younger than 18, was old enough to legally possess the weapon.

Lohner says, “The police treat open carry like you’re a criminal until proven innocent.”

But police say it raises questions of public safety and takes officers off of other calls. “It ties up our resources whether you’re right or wrong,” Fania says.

Lohner, who just turned 18, plans to continue his protest walks. “If enough people were to lawfully open carry in those areas and do it in a safe and lawful manner then these people would end up feeling comfortable around it.”

The teen admits that the Aurora theater shooting makes police in the city cautious.

What do you think on this?