A Utah man who carried a rifle inside a JC Penney store in Riverdale, Utah, stirred a national discussion on whether it is appropriate to bring weapons to public spaces.

A female JC Penney costumer named Cindy Yorkason spotted the man at the store carrying an AR-15 rifle, took pictures of him and posted them on her Facebook page. The photo went viral and prompted thousands of reactions.

"He had the assault rifle over his shoulder," Yorgason said, according to KSL.com. "He had a handgun on the right side of his belt along with at least one additional clip."

Yorgason also said a couple of other customers "started to raise their eyes and look at this guy like, 'Is he crazy?'"

"He was in the wrong place and shouldn't be doing this at this location," Yorgason said.

The man has been identified as 22-year-old Joseph Kelley from Ogden, Utah. According to KSL.com, he was not arrested and wasn't asked to leave by the store's management.

JC Penney's employees reportedly said Kelly has done this before to "garner reaction."

Kelley also identified himself as a military veteran. He said he carries his weapon to defend other citizens against "criminals, cartels, drug lords" and other "evil men," as well as to demonstrate that gun owners are not inherently dangerous.

"I felt no negative vibes from anyone," Kelley told the Salt Lake Tribune. "I think it went rather surprisingly well."

Some of the negative reactions included:

"Given the mass shootings in just the past 6 months, I can say this guy is arrogant and ignorant all in one," Kat Ancheta wrote on Facebook.

"Wow. This does seem a bit excessive. I grew up around guns and have no problem with people owning them for hunting but what is the point of this?" Shanna Matheson wrote on Facebook.

"Only in america.......," user James McDonald wrote.

Others said that although it may be lawful to carry the rifles in public, JC Penney may not be the appropriate place to do it.

According to Utah's firearm laws, it is unlawful for a person with or without a firearm permit to carry a firearm in the following locations:

Any secure area in which firearms are prohibited and notice of the prohibition is posted.

A secure area of an airport

Any courthouse, churches if posted, mental health facility or correctional facility that may provide by rule that no firearm may be transported, sold, given, or possessed upon the facility.

At least one notice shall be prominently displayed at each entrance to a secure area in which a dangerous weapon, firearm, or explosive is restricted.

A concealed weapon permit is not a defense to prosecution for any person who carries a weapon while under the influence of alcohol or a controlled substance.

It is lawful to carry a firearm "capable of being concealed" in one's home or place of business without a permit.

It is unlawful to carry a loaded firearm on any public street without a permit.

It is unlawful to carry a firearm while under the influence of alcohol or a controlled substance with or without a permit.