One of my favorite scenes from the comedy “The President’s Analyst” was when actor James Coburn (the overly cerebral, new-age psychiatrist) grabs an M-16 and sprays approaching lines of telephone company security guards while screaming “Take that you hostile son of a . . . ” The scene came to mind this week with the arrest of James Phillips, 57, of Cottontown, Tennessee, who reacted to a couple wearing “Make America Great Again” (MAGA) hats at a Sam’s Club by pulling out a gun and threatening, “It’s a good day for you to die.” That will show those unhinged MAGA people.
Phillips was shopping with his mother at the store.
Terry Pierce told WNKY that he and his wife Cherrie were shopping when Phillips allegedly flipped the bird and, when confronted, Phillips said he did it because of the “hats you’ve got on.” He then allegedly pulled out a .40 caliber handgun and said “This is a good day for you to die.”
Terry Pierce reportedly challenged Phillips to either shoot him or fight him. Phillips however left with his mother and was followed by the Pierces. Phillips says that Terry Pierce grabbed him in the parking lot, but police say that surveillance videos confirmed Pierce’s denial of grabbing Phillips. However, Phillips was outside of the camera when he allegedly pulled the gun. Yet, in the parking lot, Phillips told Cherrie, “It’s a good day to die, bitch.”
Phillips entered a not-guilty plea in court for first-degree wanton endangerment according to WBKO.