Man Brandishing Axe Downtown

I don't know this guy's story, but have heard a number of calls of homeless people brandishing axes or machetes in Goleta and IV in the past few months. Don't have a clue why.

This is an outrage! How is it that in 2021 a person can just walk into any old hardware store and buy an axe?!?! Worse yet, how can we still allow person to person axe sales to take place without any regulation? The axe used in this incident was likely acquired in a private party cash transaction. We need background checks and axe registration right now! Not only that, what legitimate sporting purpose does an axe like this have in the city? Any axe over 1.0 lbs is an assault axe and should be banned. In addition, any axe with a contoured handle or a lanyard should be banned as an assault axe as well, there is simply no legitimate purpose for an axe to have such menacing features. For anyone who owns one of these horrific implements of forestry, we must offer a grace period to enter it into a registry. After that it’s a felony to possess your old battle axe, but we are obliged for some reason to honor your “grandfathered” rights to keep it as long as you fill out some paperwork. When you pass on, however, your heirs will be required to surrender your axe because they will never be allowed the same flawed rights you were. Next, we need to hold axe manufacturers and axe sellers accountable. We need enhanced liability and lawsuits galore. Everyone in the supply chain from the wood and steel down to the hardware store that sold this horrendous weapon must be held accountable.

Perhaps he was just there to axe you a question.

These types of clowns LOVE Santa Barbara.

That’s not a woman! That’s a maaaan BABEY!!!!

Perhaps the axe was silver and he saw the advertisment sign out front..

There are insane people. Their families can't control them. Some become vagrants, some violent. All need a place to have basic needs met through medications given in a way that doesn't allow them to stop taking them if they feel better. Custodical care for the mentally disabled are a necessity for their protection and the whole society, especially as our population grows. They are a percentage.

COASTWATCH - lol..... Never said knives weren't "deadly weapons." Read the post again before calling anyone anything. ROFLMAO!

Just another day with our protected homeless. Another nail in the tourist coffin.

How did this become a gun thing? You people need to stop!

Oh and how about trucks, cars and vans...They "require" licenses to operate, but somehow we never background check applicants to see if they have used said transportation as a deadly weapon before. Let's get beyond knives, axes and guns and talk about the most ubiquitous item around, 4,000 lb vehicles. Maybe not 60, certainly not at long range, but that recent driver of the SUV really could have turned around and killed many more.
Not slamming folks who are concerned, but it's a sad state when we must look at tools and transportation as deadly weapons. What would be interesting to know is that years ago I could take my .22 rifle to class with me on the bus - shooting was a legit sport at the time - and I never ever heard of anyone doing something untoward at that time. What has changed? Why are we so angry and destructive - is it movie and TV and video game content? Is it social media polarizing society and teaching us to hate anything and anyone not like us? Go figure.

This guy came into our martial arts academy and we’ve called the cops on him multiple times as he is a new vagrant in the area. He had been banging on our door the past few days, yelling at people and making threats, not leaving when asked… then this.

Stay safe out there folks and protect yourselves.