This afternoon's news showed President Obama making a speech to a crowd in Arizona. Shown in the crowd were people with handguns strapped to their legs and one guy who had an assault rifle over his shoulder and ammo clips on his belt. "Open carry" of firearms is legal in Arizona.

But...we've had all kinds of discussions about things the government has done in the interest of national security. In this case, does it make sense to prohibit people with automatic weapons and ammunition within yards of the President of the U.S.? Would it be in the interest of our national security that we simply didn't permit armed people in the crowd at a Presidential speech? Or, if the speech was scheduled on federal property, where federal laws prevail? If our enemies are blowing themselves up all over the world trying to kill us, it doesn't take much of a leap to imagine one trading off his own life for that of the POTUS in such a situation.

Geez, is this what the founding fathers had in mind when they wrote the Second Amendment?

Please don't give me the "legal" and "Constitutionally permitted" arguments. I'm asking whether the actions by the armed people in the crowd makes common sense. I can't imagine those with assault rifles and ammo walk around like that to their jobs every day. My guess is that, legal or not, their bosses would find a way to make them unemployed real quick.

Originally Posted by Villages Kahuna

This afternoon's news showed President Obama making a speech to a crowd in Arizona. Shown in the crowd were people with handguns strapped to their legs and one guy who had an assault rifle over his shoulder and ammo clips on his belt. "Open carry" of firearms is legal in Arizona.

But...we've had all kinds of discussions about things the government has done in the interest of national security. In this case, does it make sense to prohibit people with automatic weapons and ammunition within yards of the President of the U.S.? Would it be in the interest of our national security that we simply didn't permit armed people in the crowd at a Presidential speech? Or, if the speech was scheduled on federal property, where federal laws prevail? If our enemies are blowing themselves up all over the world trying to kill us, it doesn't take much of a leap to imagine one trading off his own life for that of the POTUS in such a situation.

Geez, is this what the founding fathers had in mind when they wrote the Second Amendment?

Please don't give me the "legal" and "Constitutionally permitted" arguments. I'm asking whether the actions by the armed people in the crowd makes common sense. I can't imagine those with assault rifles and ammo walk around like that to their jobs every day. My guess is that, legal or not, their bosses would find a way to make them unemployed real quick.

That's a shocker! One has to pass thru a metal detector and be searched prior to entering The PGA golf tourney...

Originally Posted by Villages Kahuna

This afternoon's news showed President Obama making a speech to a crowd in Arizona. Shown in the crowd were people with handguns strapped to their legs and one guy who had an assault rifle over his shoulder and ammo clips on his belt. "Open carry" of firearms is legal in Arizona.

But...we've had all kinds of discussions about things the government has done in the interest of national security. In this case, does it make sense to prohibit people with automatic weapons and ammunition within yards of the President of the U.S.? Would it be in the interest of our national security that we simply didn't permit armed people in the crowd at a Presidential speech? Or, if the speech was scheduled on federal property, where federal laws prevail? If our enemies are blowing themselves up all over the world trying to kill us, it doesn't take much of a leap to imagine one trading off his own life for that of the POTUS in such a situation.

Geez, is this what the founding fathers had in mind when they wrote the Second Amendment?

Please don't give me the "legal" and "Constitutionally permitted" arguments. I'm asking whether the actions by the armed people in the crowd makes common sense. I can't imagine those with assault rifles and ammo walk around like that to their jobs every day. My guess is that, legal or not, their bosses would find a way to make them unemployed real quick.

NO...it does not make sense !!!

I did read the following which indicated it was only one guy and the police were right with him the entire time !

"A man, who decided not to give his name, was walking around the pro-health care reform rally at 3rd and Washington streets, with a pistol on his hip, and an AR-15 (a semi-automatic assault rifle) on a strap over his shoulder.

"Because I can do it," he said when asked why he was armed. "In Arizona, I still have some freedoms."

Two police officers were staying very close to the man."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/0..._n_261279.html

none the less...a VERY STUPID IDEA !

The procedures followed by the Secret Service to secure a site where the President will be in the "open" are very rigorous and detailed. While it may not seem so from the press photography angles, the folks who do the security work are the best of professionals.

During my time in DC I had the pleasure of working with several Secret Service folk. They are VERY good at their jobs.....

In that "open carry" is legal in Arizona, can passengers carry firearms onto airplanes leaving from airports in Arizona? If not, what law or regulation trumps state law in those cases?

Originally Posted by Villages Kahuna

In that "open carry" is legal in Arizona, can passengers carry firearms onto airplanes leaving from airports in Arizona? If not, what law or regulation trumps state law in those cases?

Commercial Air travel is federally regulated. Transportation Security Administration and Federal Aviation Agency Regulations govern what can be brought into airport common and controlled areas.

Seems to be a lot of speculation it was an Obama plant in the crowd. Not surprised, they have done this before with the town halls and those that ask questions. We have a bunch of corrupt thugs from Chicago running this country.

That's exactly right l2. Couldn't agree with you more. There have been several plants from Obama thugs even in the non-friendly to government healthcare Town Halls.

Now they are trying to push Co-op and say it's the the public option. Amazing how dumb they think their constituents are.

Originally Posted by l2ridehd

Seems to be a lot of speculation it was an Obama plant in the crowd. Not surprised, they have done this before with the town halls and those that ask questions. We have a bunch of corrupt thugs from Chicago running this country.

Just a question...if the President was there to make a speech to convince people of the veracity of the healthcare reform bill being debated in Congress, why would he purposely divert attention from that message by "planting a thug" armed with an assault rifle in the audience?

Just asking.

Originally Posted by Villages Kahuna

Just a question...if the President was there to make a speech to convince people of the veracity of the healthcare reform bill being debated in Congress, why would he purposely divert attention from that message by "planting a thug" armed with an assault rifle in the audience?

Just asking.

...One could ask why the President has done any number of things since elected...Just saying.

Kahuna: In the thug way of thinking which prevails in this White House, the plant with gun was there to draw attention of folks to think the Conservatives who are against the bill (as well as others, but he won't admit that), that they are kooks and nuts.

Just like why the left tries to demonize Sarah Palin.

It's simply Chicago style politics. This is just part of the community organizer handbook. Obama HAS NO message. It's look at what this hand is doing while the other is sticking it to you.

by an extreme, usually the less than 20%. In the case of open carry, there will be those who will because they can. That would be their only message.

And I seriously doubt they were in any area cleared by the secret service for the public to be in...but I do not know.

If they were plants....no comment as enough has been said.

btk

QUOTE=l2ridehd;220816]Seems to be a lot of speculation it was an Obama plant in the crowd. Not surprised, they have done this before with the town halls and those that ask questions. We have a bunch of corrupt thugs from Chicago running this country.[/QUOTE]



I think it was a ploy by obama to not appear anti-gun

Yoda

Originally Posted by retiredguy

Kahuna: In the thug way of thinking which prevails in this White House, the plant with gun was there to draw attention of folks to think the Conservatives who are against the bill (as well as others, but he won't admit that), that they are kooks and nuts.

Just like why the left tries to demonize Sarah Palin.

It's simply Chicago style politics. This is just part of the community organizer handbook. Obama HAS NO message. It's look at what this hand is doing while the other is sticking it to you.

Plants??? Chicago style thugs??? Are you serious? What decade are you living in! This is so beyond ridiculous! Do you have any proof of these accusations?

And while we're on the subject of guns... what is with these guys that have to "open carry" guns? Is this some kind of phallic symbol??? Some extension of other short comings???

Explain it to me because I really don't get it. But what do I know. I'm just another Chicago thug!

Originally Posted by chelsea24

Explain it to me because I really don't get it. But what do I know. I'm just another Chicago thug!

I'm a lifelong Chicago thug as well, Chels. I thought the responses alleging that the armed gunmen in the crowd were plants was a bit tortured, but I didn't say anything. There are those whose point-of-view is singular and probably always will be.