who'd a thunk it

[THEFERMANATOR]

Originally Posted by reelapeelin

Black, white, green, purple..color no matter, but just how plain STUPID would somebody have to be?... ...no matter like him or not, The President of The United States should never be allowed to be put at that kind of RISK...and somebody of any color that unstable should be hauled away to have a brain cavity check...HELLO-O!!

I COMPLETELY disagree with you reel. People like him are the LEAST of the presidents worries, they are simply trying relay a message that they feel is pertinent and being overlooked by the man in charge right now. The AR-15 was unloaded, but he did have a loaded clip in his backpocket. And the sidearm was loaded. There were also SEVERAL others around him that you didn't see that had firearms. I know many will disagree with how I feel, but people like these that are doing a peaceful display and excersing there rights are of no danger to the president. It's the ones that are armed that you can't see the firearm are the ones they should be concerned about.

[THEFERMANATOR]

Here's more details on the story from some of the people who were there.

http://www.arizonashooting.com/v3/vi...&sd=a&start=20

[reelapeelin]

Originally Posted by THEFERMANATOR

I COMPLETELY disagree with you reel. People like him are the LEAST of the presidents worries, they are simply trying relay a message that they feel is pertinent and being overlooked by the man in charge right now. The AR-15 was unloaded, but he did have a loaded clip in his backpocket. And the sidearm was loaded. There were also SEVERAL others around him that you didn't see that had firearms. I know many will disagree with how I feel, but people like these that are doing a peaceful display and excersing there rights are of no danger to the president. It's the ones that are armed that you can't see the firearm are the ones they should be concerned about.

I completely agree w/your point re the greater threat, so why give the Secret Service another distraction...they take their jobs pretty seriously and having to even consider the threat potential of someone brazen enough to display loaded firearms at a public gathering w/POTUS requires taking measures to watch him while they could be watching for the real threat you mention...I own several firearms and am completely unwilling to give them or the ammunition needed to fire them up to anybody...but there is a time and place for everything and having a WING-NUT walking around w/an assault rifle, loaded or unloaded in a crowd of citizens...men, women and CHILDREN sends the wrong message...there are other ways to get the point across...diluting the resources of the agency charged w/protecting the president as a DUMB-@$$ way to make the point and weakens the credibility of all of us who want to keep our guns...but hey, that's JMHO...

[willy]

While I understand his thinking I do not agree with doing what he and others did. I think the word is provocative. It is unnecassarily provocative.
Now if the issue was the national registration of firearms, the confiscation of firearms or the restricting of possession of firearms by the citizens then the message is right on and I will be standing right there with him.
Alas, i do believe it is something that is coming if these Pelosi Obama Shumer Reed types are allowed to go unchecked, or worse come 2010 re-elected to power in office. Absolute power is what these maniacs have right now and that is a very unhealthy state of affairs for our great country. That is why they have done the tragic things debt wise for our country with no debate, no concern about the opinions of the majority in this country, a la health care.
Whether you voted for him or not it is imperative that we all stand up to the tragic left swing in our government and put them on notice. I dont believe any reasonable man or woman can look at the agenda of these people in office and say that is the change they wanted. And no a comparison to mistakes and administrations of the past is not what I am talking about. I am talking about what has happened in the past seven months.
With the main concerns for us being the absolute maniacle race to insolvency we have had shoved down our throats. 2.5 trillion deficit this year, with a desire to increase that exponentially with the health care system yet to come among other agenda items that will come if that is passed in anything like its current form. The 60 trillion, actually over that number that we are facing in unfunded mandates we just will not be able to pay, period.
We need some grown ups to come into the room

[cterrebonne]

I wanted to add that according to a report the man with the ar was not standing on a route that the potus was going to take or was ever in the vicinity of the potus. I feel that if the man wanted to hang an ar on his back and pack a pistol, what ever. just dont go near the potus, keeping the potus safe should be everyone's 1st priority. Would I have done it, hell no, the SS does not play around. Despite the event not having anything to do with gun rights at all, I'm glad that there was a pro-gun presence their. It's a good thing because once the whole health care reform debacle passes or sinks, capitol hill will start on their next agenda. That agenda might or might not be restricting gun ownership, but seeing people with guns in public and no one getting hurt should show the public that guns do not harm people by themselves. Giving the elected officials one less freedom to restrict.

[reelapeelin]

I don't know CT...seeing somebody standing in public w/an AR strapped over his shoulder almost makes me WANT gun control...who knows this man?...what kind of head is he in?...did he just get back from 3 months training in a terrorist camp in Afghanistan?...no, I don't want people standin' around like that...looks like fuel to feed the fire of gun control to me...

When I see a policeman wearing a gun, I'm comfortable knowing he/she is trained in it's use and has the public's best interest in mind...I have NO such comfort level around armed civilians w/a point to make...like I said above...people who participate in these displays WRECK the credibility of more sensible people who are in favor of keeping their guns...they are handing the gun control proponents headlines to wave around and say I told you so...

[spareparts]

yeah, I figured it was the anti gun nuts that put him up to it, more sensationalism to get the general public wound up. Jsut as the prices on AR's are coming down, the're back up thanks to this idiot. If any one wants to question gun rights, just take a look at the ships that have been taken over by pirates in the persian gulf, the law abiding people working on the boats are over thrown by a few that don't abide by the law. The workers on the ships are forbiden by the ports they enter to have fire arms on board, so a few guys in a skiff with a couple of AK's are able to hijack a ship with a multi million dollar cargo and hold it and the crew memebers for ransom. Whats the anti gun nuts have to say about it? " They( who ever the hell they are) should do something about it". Kind of the general consensis of the genral public today. Its allwasy somebody elses probelm to take care of.

[cterrebonne]

Originally Posted by reelapeelin

I don't know CT...seeing somebody standing in public w/an AR strapped over his shoulder almost makes me WANT gun control...who knows this man?...what kind of head is he in?...did he just get back from 3 months training in a terrorist camp in Afghanistan?...no, I don't want people standin' around like that...looks like fuel to feed the fire of gun control to me...

When I see a policeman wearing a gun, I'm comfortable knowing he/she is trained in it's use and has the public's best interest in mind...I have NO such comfort level around armed civilians w/a point to make...like I said above...people who participate in these displays WRECK the credibility of more sensible people who are in favor of keeping their guns...they are handing the gun control proponents headlines to wave around and say I told you so...

I see what you are saying, I too would not want someone who has a mental issue or wants to do harm to others. But think about this, he's carrying open. People and the leo's now know he's armed. IMO a much better scenario than someone showing up hiding their weapon with bad intents.

I like how you mentioned about training comming into play. would you feel comfortable with someone standing by you who was a CCW liscense who was also armed?

[reelapeelin]

Originally Posted by cterrebonne

IMO a much better scenario than someone showing up hiding their weapon with bad intents.

INTENT!!...ya just put your finger right on the point...and INTENT is the big UNKNOWN until it's too late...like the kids in Columbine and VA Tech...they saw men w/guns out in the open as you mentioned above...but then the fools started firing and murdering people...and as far as licensing goes, if I'm in a crowd and somebody's got a gun, how do I know he's licensed?...how do the police know until they approach and ask...and depending on how tightly he's wound, just the asking could set the wrong person off...licensed or not...

Here's the thing...our society has evolved into one where civilians don't normally carry weapons, concealed or not...it's UNUSUAL to see and most members of our society are uncomfortable and with good historical reason. If one finds in his life a need to carry a gun around in today's America, then maybe he should find another lifestyle...I've been in some pretty tough spots in my 57 years and NEVER wished later that I'd had a gun... even later glad I didn't...


And I'm not bangin' on anybody's RIGHT TO OWN OR CARRY here... one has the RIGHT to wake up tomorrow and decide to lead a gay lifestyle if one choses...I'm sayin' let's not ABUSE the right to own/carry and that guy showin' up at a public rally w/an assault-style weapon is discomforting to most normal Americans... the RIGHT and the right thing to do at the time are not always the same...and not everybody has the sense to tell the difference

If we wanna go back to the Wild West days where everybody carried, I'd RATHER we don't become that PARANOID, but hey... OK by me...but that's the point...EVERYBODY carried...it WAS the societal norm and there's a reason our culture left it behind...