A 24-year-old Philadelphia man who's attracted a minor following on Instagram for openly carrying an AR-style pistol through the streets of the City of Brotherly Love is now facing felony charges after an arrest for illegally transferring a firearm.
Philadelphia D.A. Larry Krasner, who's been criticized for what many see as his lenient treatment of violent criminals, appears to be throwing the book at Kobe Artis. Krasner claims that Artis was posted a clip to social media that showed him handing a handgun and a rifle to an individual who's prohibited from possessing firearms, calling his actions "heinous" and "disgraces to our Philadelphia community."
Walking around like a one-man army is absolutely intimidating, frightening, disturbing and troubling to witness," Krasner said. "Defendant Artis is not a role model for anyone. His unlawful actions will be appropriately prosecuted and he will be held accountable."
The video was posted on May 4 and sent over to the D.A.'s office by Philadelphia City Councilmember Quetcy Lozada, whose district includes part of Kensington.
"This individual thought it was ok to walk around, misinform, and illegally connect individuals with firearms," Lozada said. "I’m grateful he is off the streets because our community is a little safer tonight. One less illegal weapon off our streets is one step closer to the safer environment that Kensington residents deserve."
Even though Krasner generally doesn't request defendants be held on cash bail when they're charged with misdemeanors or non-violent felonies, he's asking a judge to set bail for Artis at $2.5 million. That's a pretty clear indication that Krasner is playing politics here by punishing someone who apparently was committing no crime at all by openly carrying a firearm in Philadelphia. Open carry without a permit is allowed in almost every part of the state, but Philadelphia requires a permit to carry either openly or concealed. Given that Artis is only charged with illegally transferring a firearm and not illegally possessing a gun, it appears that he does possess a valid carry license.
I've only seen a few of Artis's videos on Instagram, and admittedly, they're not my cup of tea. In several of the videos one of Artis's associates appears to be smoking a joint, and in one clip passes the joint off to Artis, though the clip ends before Artis actually takes a puff. That would be a crime under federal law, at least for now, and I'm sure that Krasner would have informed the feds if Artis had actually imbibed on camera.
Krasner and Lozada's real problem with Artis appears to be his open-carry activism, though if he knew that he was handing a gun over to a prohibited person that is definitely a prosecutable offense. Generally speaking, a temporary transfer of a handgun in Pennsylvania, like allowing a friend to briefly hold on to a pistol, doesn't require a background check, but sales, loans, and gifts do.
I'm not sure that Krasner has all that strong a case against Artis, but the arrest of the open-carry activist definitely sends a message to others who might try to follow his lead. Even if open carry is allowed in Philly with a valid carry license, the anti-gun DA will look for any excuse to put you behind bars.
Editor’s Note: The radical Left will stop at nothing to enact their radical gun control agenda and strip us of our Second Amendment rights.
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