Man Carries Assualt Rifle to Obama Protest

[UKMustangFan]

And it's legal.

 

 

What are everyone's thoughts on this?

[cch5432]

I was reading about this. Tough call. I understand and agree about gun rights, but there is also the concern about assassination and such.

[spindoc]

I suppose if it were closer, I'd have been amongst the crowd toting mine as well. Much ado about nothing IMO.

[gchs_uk9]

The article read that he wasn't close to the President. It also said anywhere the President appears becomes a "Federal" area and guns aren't allowed there. So he appeared to be a decent distance from anything.

 

What would be weird is if you were the regular guy protesting and looked over and the guy beside you was carrying this weapon!

 

The biggest problem I see with this is the possible intimidation of opponent protesters.

[UKMustangFan]

I took it that he was outside the venue that the President was speaking at....I agree with Spindoc that it's not a big deal, I was a bit suprised that a bigger deal hadn't been made about it though.

[swamprat]

I'm more concerned about somebody concealing a weapon and getting close to the President, than carrying one in plain site.

[Hatz]

I took it that he was outside the venue that the President was speaking at....I agree with Spindoc that it's not a big deal, I was a bit suprised that a bigger deal hadn't been made about it though.

 

 

Not meaning to cast the only "?" on this but, "Wasn't Hinkley 'outside the venue' when he shot Reagan?"

 

"Wasn't Squeaky Fromme 'outside the venue' when she shot at Ford?"

 

I know he probably could not even get into eye sight of the President but whose to say a nut job isn't watching these events and thinking, "If I could only get a little closer . . ."

[spindoc]

I'm more concerned about somebody concealing a weapon and getting close to the President, than carrying one in plain site.

Or Bob Lee Swagger checks in to a motel a couple of miles away.:thumb:

[cch5432]

Or Bob Lee Swagger checks in to a motel a couple of miles away.:thumb:

 

:clap: Nice.

 

"Now it's personal. They killed my dog."

[2 Humped Camel]

I think its within his rights, but I think it is meant to intimidate opposing views which is not fitting with our republic. In other words its not against the law but its stupid, unless someone can tell me what an assault rifle has to do with Health Care Reform???

[swamprat]

I think its within his rights, but I think it is meant to intimidate opposing views which is not fitting with our republic. In other words its not against the law but its stupid, unless someone can tell me what an assault rifle has to do with Health Care Reform???

The protest had nothing to do with health care.

 

"It was a group interested in exercising the right to bear arms," police spokesman Sgt. Andy Hill said.

[2 Humped Camel]

The protest had nothing to do with health care.

 

Ok so they are protesting a right they already have?? :confused: At a Health care reform event.....Makes so much since to me. I'm a firm believer in the 2nd Amendment but to use it as intimidation to opposing views is rather disheartening and doesn't do anything but hurt the cause of gun ownership IMO.

[UKMustangFan]

Ok so they are protesting a right they already have?? :confused: At a Health care reform event.....Makes so much since to me. I'm a firm believer in the 2nd Amendment but to use it as intimidation to opposing views is rather disheartening and doesn't do anything but hurt the cause of gun ownership IMO.

 

How do you know it was for intimidation? Maybe they were protesting Obama's stance on gun-control...

[spindoc]

I think its within his rights, but I think it is meant to intimidate opposing views which is not fitting with our republic. In other words its not against the law but its stupid, unless someone can tell me what an assault rifle has to do with Health Care Reform???

 

The protest had nothing to do with health care.

Exactly. I wouldn't call it intimidating. I'd say within constitutional rights. However, we've not really acknowledged that document for quite a while.

[swamprat]

Not meaning to cast the only "?" on this but, "Wasn't Hinkley 'outside the venue' when he shot Reagan?"

 

"Wasn't Squeaky Fromme 'outside the venue' when she shot at Ford?"

 

I know he probably could not even get into eye sight of the President but whose to say a nut job isn't watching these events and thinking, "If I could only get a little closer . . ."

Both crimes were committed by people carrying concealed weapons. There's a big difference when the Secret Service knows where the guns are.

 

In most states, and I believe Arizona is one, brandishing a weapon is a crime. Had the group been carrying the weapons in an aggressive, ostentatious, or threatening manner, the police would have interceded. Carrying a rifle over your shoulder is not brandishing it.