Open Carry idiot at Naked Bike Ride, arrested in French Quarter

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A bike rider planned to join the World Naked Bike Ride’s New Orleans event Saturday (June 8) bearing a rifle and pistol, according to a post on the event’s private Facebook page Sunday. But, the post said, a volunteer encouraged him to stow his weapons before the ride began. According to witnesses, the same man was later arrested in the French Quarter for possessing a firearm.

“I saw him coming from some distance,” Steinkamp said of the gun-toting bicyclist, “and I said to myself, ‘Well, that’s different.’”

Steinkamp said he wanted to be certain the guns weren’t a danger to other cyclists, so he asked the man to prove the weapons were unloaded and in a “safe condition.” The man agreed to remove the bullet magazines from the weapons before allowing Steinkamp to inspect his backpack to be sure there was no ammunition stash or an explosive device inside.

Steinkamp said the man was completely cooperative and, as far as Steinkamp was concerned, represented no threat, so he was allowed to enter the park. But it wasn’t long before cyclists notified on-duty New Orleans Police Department officers about the conspicuous weapons.
Steinkamp said the NOPD officers made it clear firearms are not allowed near parade routes, including the Naked Bike Ride. So Steinkamp offered to take the man’s guns and stow them in his car until the ride was over.

In Steinkamp’s parlance, the young man “surrendered” his arms and participated in the ride. Afterwards, Steinkamp gave the man back his guns.

Not long after, the New Orleans Police Department arrested 25-year-old Cody Jackson in the French Quarter for illegal possession of weapons at a demonstration, police department spokesman Aaron Looney said.

Louisiana’s concealed-carry laws also do not permit gun owners to carry firearms within 1,000 feet of a parade route, though Jackson does not face charges for that infraction.

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