Ferguson business owners take up guns after ‘cops bail’ and social media reacts

BUSINESS owners in the riot-hit town of Ferguson, Missouri, have taken the law into their own hands, shooting at looters.

BUSINESS owners in the riot-hit town of Ferguson have taken up arms in a bid to protect their stores from looters.

Social media has been abuzz with pictures of rioting and looting in the Missouri town following the tragic police shooting death of unarmed teenager Michael Brown last week.

Governor Jay Nixon declared a state of emergency in Ferguson on Saturday — the site the where 18-year-old was killed by a police officer.

His death sparked several days of clashes with furious protesters.

As some locals robbed shops and protests grew, Governor Jay Nixon declared a state of emergency and curfew.

However the extra measures have failed to calm tensions with one man shot, and seven others arrested after the curfew was enforced.

News_Image_File: Police officers man their positions in front of businesses following the curfew announcement. But some store owners claim they are having to defend their stores themselves.

In announcing the curfew, Nixon said that although many protesters were making themselves heard peacefully, the state would not allow looters to endanger the community.

It came as the Ferguson Police Department named the officer who shot Brown in a bid towards healing the community, however the release of Darren Wilson’s name only inflamed tensions further.

News_Image_File: These business owners claim they are protecting their store from looters.

The outrage grew even further after it emerged Wilson was not aware that Michael Brown was a robbery suspect at the time of the shooting.

Pictures of the tensions have been splashed across social media, with business owners now claiming they have been forced to defend their stores themselves after “gun shy” police have stopped confronting looters.

Following days of complaints about police behaviour and a show of force, store owners are using their (US) Second Amendment right bear arms and stand guard over their businesses, Breitbart reported.

News_Image_File: Tensions remain high in Ferguson following the shooting death of Michael Brown.

According to Fox2Now “police cars were seen driving past some of the stores being looted and did not respond.”

Some owners told the network, that they have been forced to bring their own weapons in after police didn’t help.

The pictures have sparked a wave of support on Twitter with most agreeing with the store owners’ actions.

#FergusonRiots: Armed Shop Owners Protect Business http://t.co/knIgE5dNoO @SooperMexican #tcot #p2 #missouri #ferguson #2a #2ndamendment

Solution: Business owners & standard police officers in #Ferguson stand armed and guard businesses. Let protesters protest around the clock.

Business Owners (Some Armed) Survey The Damage From #Ferguson Riots http://t.co/L8uu1icGNV #gunrights #2ndAmendment pic.twitter.com/flOzNrPj6z

#AllDamnDay is my new thing after seeing the armed #Ferguson business owner with that written on his shirt. Much thug, such life

If there were men armed inside a private business, isn't that following curfew? #ferguson #stl

4/4 In response, business owners and those assisting them have armed up. And that's fine. This is how a free society works. #Ferguson

I support armed business owners guarding their businesses. #Ferguson

Some business owners are asking why they have to resort to this action in the first place and called for the police to take action.

If I am a #Ferguson business owner right now I have to be asking why I have to be armed protecting my store instead of police #protect&serve

No curfew needed. No militarized police force needed. Let armed business owners protect their own property. Problem solved. #Ferguson

Some Twitter users even called for the rioters to leave businesses alone and protest peacefully.

Business Owners (Some Armed) Survey The Damage From #Ferguson Riots http://t.co/L8uu1icGNV #gunrights #2ndAmendment pic.twitter.com/flOzNrPj6z

A plea from business owners in #ferguson "Our faith and works with prayer will get the job done, not your violence" pic.twitter.com/kHmtwlaWfl

Business owners in #Ferguson arming themselves. Images akin to LA '92. pic.twitter.com/nKMUBRf0XZ

The real victims in #Ferguson? Business owners whose shops were looted/burned by opportunist thugs pretending to give a damn about justice.