http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090817/ap_ … sters_guns
"About a dozen people carrying guns, including one with a military-style rifle, milled among protesters outside the convention center where President Barack Obama was giving a speech Monday — the latest incident in which protesters have openly displayed firearms near the president.
Gun-rights advocates say they're exercising their constitutional right to bear arms and protest, while those who argue for more gun control say it could be a disaster waiting to happen.
Phoenix police said the gun-toters at Monday's event, including the man carrying an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle slung over his shoulder, didn't need permits. No crimes were committed, and no one was arrested.
Last week, during Obama's health care town hall in Portsmouth, N.H., a man carrying a sign reading 'It is time to water the tree of liberty' stood outside with a pistol strapped to his leg." [My note: the rest of that quote is "with the blood of patriots and tyrants." It's a Jefferson quote, but it seems rather rash to make that near the president. That's pretty close to being a death threat.]
Now, I'm an ardent supporter of gun rights, but to me, this is just stupid. This is the quickest way to cause a public backlash against gun owners, because it paints gun rights advocates in a bad light.
Yes, you have a right to protest. Yes, you have a right to bear arms. Still, you're bringing an assault rifle with you right outside a presidential speech? I guess these guys don't mind being watched by the government, because I'm sure they are now.
"About a dozen people carrying guns, including one with a military-style rifle, milled among protesters outside the convention center where President Barack Obama was giving a speech Monday — the latest incident in which protesters have openly displayed firearms near the president.
Gun-rights advocates say they're exercising their constitutional right to bear arms and protest, while those who argue for more gun control say it could be a disaster waiting to happen.
Phoenix police said the gun-toters at Monday's event, including the man carrying an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle slung over his shoulder, didn't need permits. No crimes were committed, and no one was arrested.
Last week, during Obama's health care town hall in Portsmouth, N.H., a man carrying a sign reading 'It is time to water the tree of liberty' stood outside with a pistol strapped to his leg." [My note: the rest of that quote is "with the blood of patriots and tyrants." It's a Jefferson quote, but it seems rather rash to make that near the president. That's pretty close to being a death threat.]
Now, I'm an ardent supporter of gun rights, but to me, this is just stupid. This is the quickest way to cause a public backlash against gun owners, because it paints gun rights advocates in a bad light.
Yes, you have a right to protest. Yes, you have a right to bear arms. Still, you're bringing an assault rifle with you right outside a presidential speech? I guess these guys don't mind being watched by the government, because I'm sure they are now.
