A Black Man Was Lawfully Carrying a Gun. Then a White "Vigilante" Stepped In

Welcome to Florida, where everyone is encouraged to carry a gun (unless they're black).

Clarence Daniels, a 62-year-old black man with a concealed weapons permit, was entering a Tampa-area Wal-Mart to purchase some coffee creamer for his wife on Tuesday. Armed with a label in case he forgot the brand of creamer — and his handgun, holstered on his hip — Daniels barely made it through the big-box store's automatic doors before being tackled by Michael Foster, a 43-year-old would-be vigilante. And by the way, Foster is white.

"He's got a gun!" Foster shouted to passing shoppers after throwing Daniels to the ground. Despite Daniels screaming "I have a permit!" multiple times, Foster kept Daniels (who's showing a great deal of restraint in not standing his ground right in the Wal-Mart vestibule) in a chokehold until local police arrived and confirmed that Daniels had a permit for the weapon. 

"Unfortunately, he tackled a guy that was a law-abiding citizen," said police spokesman Larry McKinnon. "We understand it's alarming for people to see other people with guns, but Florida has a large population of concealed weapons permit holders." 

Foster is now facing battery charges.