This is precisely why I posted about the necessity of open carry to preserve the right to keep and bear arms. Just as talents are lost when not exercised the same applies to a people rights when not exercised.
When the right to bear arms is not exercised in an open capacity, we inadvertently create alarm when such open exposure occurs as others become alarmed when it happens in front of them. This exactly why open carry is the responsibility of all people who expect to retain their right to keep and bear arms for themselves and their children.
except this had nothing to do with open carry or a lack of exposure.
if you dont think someone handling firearms unsafely near YOU is a cause for concern, fine. but if i see someone pointing a gun anywhere near residential areas without a good cause, im not about to trust him not to do something even dumber like your classic "accidental discharge".
there's a difference between being alarmed at open carry, and being alarmed when someone's pointing a lethal weapon into the street. this isnt someone being scared of guns or anything, its about someone seeing clearly unsafe gun handling.
A man racking his hand gun in the front yard might be making sure his firearm is clear and no round is chambered or trying to clear a jammed round. Rather than having a bullet eject in a house from a chamber which could strike an object in the house and fire openly, it is safer to eject a possible round outdoors on a lawn or some other safe ejection area. Live rounds can be detonated when thrown through the air if they strike a hard object in the correct orientation (rare but not unheard of). Also, aiming it at the street may have been nothing more than citing down the chamber to see if it was clear. I wouldn't have been alarmed nor would I consider the person an idiot and weather or not they were a relative of the home occupants or friend would not have been my business, not unless there was a firearm discharge.
because you cant check the chamber while aiming at the ground like a normal person? ok, so he went outside to his front (not back yard) to clear his weapon because he's afraid a round is going to hit his stash of firing pins. sure, its stupid, but whatever.
how is that any more of a concern than someone thinking the gun was unloaded and having a negligent discharge in the street? honestly, i think the chances that a round is going to strike the ground at the perfect angle are a lot lower than some dipshit either not knowing his gun was loaded or knowing it was, and having a negligent discharge.
he may not be breaking any laws, but this has nothing to do with hoplophobia and everything to do with the neighbor doing something he shouldnt be doing (legal or not), in the absence of a threat.
at bet, this is a case of very poor handling, which while not breaking the law, is cause for concern. and at worst, as the OP has stated, this may be breaking the law as it sounds like it wasnt on his property anyways.