Let's talk about what happened in St. Louis tonight. Many people on the right are saying these people had the right to brandish and point an AR-15 because it was "private property" -- and as someone who lives in a community like that, that's incorrect.

It's not private property.

Portland Place and Westmoreland Place in St. Louis are historic neighborhoods, closed to vehicle through traffic... but open to pedestrian traffic.

I know this, because they're under the National Register of Historic Places.

https://npgallery.nps.gov/AssetDetail/NRIS/74002276

Basically, some historic neighborhoods have gates that are designed to prevent cars from cruising through.

However, the sidewalks and roads are, "public thoroughfares accessible via pedestrian gate" -- which is literally the opposite of private property.

If you'd like to walk around the sidewalks of Westmoreland Place or Portland Place in St. Louis, you're more than welcome to do so. It's not trespassing, nor is it private property.

You could also go for a nice bike ride on the roads of the community.

While I appreciate all the arguments about the right to defend your property, the people were on a public sidewalk.

You can't just point guns at people walking around, not harming your property, and making no threats to harm you, or your property.

This property is BOTH public and private. The residences are private. (Homes tend to be that way.) The roads and sidewalks are maintained by the city, and therefore... *drumroll*... PUBLIC.

I know this, because zoning is public record. There are like, maps and shit.