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Title: White House Backs Right to Arms Outside Obama Events
Source:
Washington Post
URL Source: [None]
Published: Aug 19, 2009
Author: Alexi Mostrous
Post Date: 2009-08-19 13:01:17 by Brian S
Keywords: None
Views: 291
Comments: 22
Wednesday, August 19, 2009 Armed men seen mixing with protesters outside recent events held by President Obama acted within the law, the White House said Tuesday, attempting to allay fears of a security threat. Robert Gibbs, the White House press secretary, said people are entitled to carry weapons outside such events if local laws allow it. "There are laws that govern firearms that are done state or locally," he said. "Those laws don't change when the president comes to your state or locality." Anti-gun campaigners disagreed with Gibbs's comments, voicing fears that volatile debates over health-care reform are more likely to turn violent if gun control is not enforced. "What Gibbs said is wrong," said Paul Helmke, president of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence. "Individuals carrying loaded weapons at these events require constant attention from police and Secret Service officers. It's crazy to bring a gun to these events. It endangers everybody." The past week has seen a spate of men carrying firearms while milling outside meetings Obama has held to defend his health-care reform effort. On Monday, a man with an AR-15 semiautomatic assault rifle strapped to his shoulder was outside a veterans' event in Phoenix. He was one of a dozen men who reportedly had guns outside the forum. Phoenix police made no arrests, saying Arizona law allows weapons to be carried in the open. Last week, a man with a gun strapped to his leg held a sign outside an Obama town hall meeting in Portsmouth, N.H., that read: "It's time to water the tree of liberty." Before the same meeting, Richard Terry Young, a New Hampshire resident, was arrested by the Secret Service for allegedly having a loaded, unlicensed gun in his car. Young was stopped inside the school where Obama held the forum, having reportedly sneaked past a security perimeter. ad_icon Ed Donovan, a spokesman for the Secret Service, said incidents of firearms being carried outside presidential events are a "relatively new phenomenon." But he said the president's safety is not being jeopardized. "We're well aware of the subjects that are showing up at these events with firearms," he said. "We work closely with local law enforcement to make sure that their very strict laws on gun permits are administered. These people weren't ticketed for events and wouldn't have been allowed inside and weren't in a position outside to offer a threat." The immediate area occupied by Obama on such trips is considered a federal site where weapons are not permitted, Donovan said. Lawmakers holding tense town hall debates about health-care reform also have seen armed constituents. The staff of some, including Rep. Stephen I. Cohen (D-Tenn.), have taken precautions to guard against guns being brought into gatherings. "We asked everyone with firearms to check them with the sheriff before we began the meeting," said Marilyn Dillihay, Cohen's chief of staff, describing an Aug. 8 town hall debate in Memphis. "We've never done that before." The decision was made because the number of people at the event and the subject of the debate created a "potentially a volatile situation," she said. "Obviously there's a lot of emotion with health care," Dillihay said. "Feelings are very tense, and we were just trying to make sure that things were safe." One man at the meeting disclosed that he had a firearm and complied with a request to put it in his vehicle, she said. Other lawmakers said they intended to take no precautions in future town hall meetings or to ask the advice of local law enforcement. C.J. Karamargin, a spokesman for Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.), said the congresswoman will "balance rights guaranteed under the Second Amendment and providing her constituents with a safe forum to share their views." Brian Levin, director of the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism at California State University at San Bernardino, said concern about whether Obama will enact new gun restrictions may also be contributing to the tense political climate. "There's a lot of anger out there," Levin said. "A key thing that's been bubbling under the surface is what's going on with President Obama and guns," he said. "There is a real question mark not only for extremists but for gun rights advocates in the mainstream."
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#1. To: Brian S (#0)
Well then, I guess the socialists can stop pissing down their legs.
All of a sudden dissent is no longer patriotic.
That should make sense, even to an O'Pile
wow, that is a nice surprise. the white house deserves some credit for this statement.
Glory to God in the highest, and Peace to His people on Earth. I think they realize that they don't get a say in it, so they're positioning themselves as giving "permission" after the fact.
SS goons were there with a big machine gun. They anticipated using it on... 1. Aircraft 2. Rockets 3. Blimps 4. Humming birds 5. Large groups of people. (Unarmed Americans) Vote for most likely scenario.
4. Humming birds
"This is suspicious at best. Sounds like a bunch of nutty conspiracy theorists, or, as others have pointed out, a government program to find nutty conspiracy theorists who could be dangerous."
Damn. You got it right. SS goons have a predetermined plan of attack for any Humming birds that may get too close to his Highness. Of course if Americans get in the way, that would be collateral damage and of no legal significance.
Well.... this is my advice to them. If they put out a feeder waaaay away from the crowd AND HisHighness they can keep the collateral damage to a minimum.
good for Clitora. your quiz stumped me. can you define hummingbirds? i've not heard that term in this context.
It is the duty of the patriot to protect his country from its government~Thomas Paine
Small bird, very rapid wing flapping rate, drinks nectar. Look'em up! :)
Minimum??? Consider this. That sausage grinder can churn out up to 2000 rounds a minute and deadly up to three miles. My PHD in advanced math tells me in a crowd of birds, humans or whatever, that is a lot of sausage in a minute or two. Of course, each round is at least two dollars, but if it it keeps Hummers away (and people) who cares.
Well, now, if you think for one minute that the term "humming bird" might just be a code name for something else, I am not at liberty to say.
Consider the degree of damage Goldi has inflicted on some of our guests.
That's not how I see it. obama is walking a tightrope. He is not about to pick an unnecessary battle with gun owners because his plate is full right now. He'll come after us, sooner or later. .
Click for Privacy and Preparedness files Pretend inferiority and encourage his arrogance. -Sun Tzu
true. i know they didnt have a change of heart from their tyrant ways, but thought it was nice to see an admitted concession. i can not imagine the bush white house issuing a similar statement. youre right that the activists sort of forced their hand to acknowledge our rights.
Glory to God in the highest, and Peace to His people on Earth. Discretionary firing order for Obama Goon Squad. "Do not fire until you see the white of their skin". Little play on words there, recall, "fire when you see the whites of their eyes"???
Little play on words there, recall, "fire when you see the whites of their eyes"??? Butt, butt....HE's post racial!
"What Gibbs said is wrong," said Paul Helmke, president of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence. The Brady Campaign just jumped the shark............again.
_________________________________________________________________________ LOLOLOL You would fit right in with Goldi's "viewpoint".
Anybody going to suggest the Bush Admin would have tolerated this activity for one nano second?? Anyone??
"Satan / Cheney in "08" yeah..... That's why I'm here on 4um since opening day and you're guesting from LP until the LOX can pass the plate and shake a rube like you down for a few more shekels. Here on 4um, when you take a position, don't be surprised if you're asked to back it up with fact, as painfully embarrassing as that can be.
Surely you don't think they favor gun rights in any way.
White House Backs Right to Arms Outside Obama Events
#2. To: Brian S (#0)
Phoenix police made no arrests, saying Arizona law allows weapons to be carried in the open.
#3. To: Brian S, christine, psusa (#0)
Robert Gibbs, the White House press secretary, said people are entitled to carry weapons outside such events if local laws allow it. "There are laws that govern firearms that are done state or locally," he said. "Those laws don't change when the president comes to your state or locality."
"I don't know where Bin Laden is. I truly am not that concerned about him"
George W, Bush, 3/13/02 http://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2002/03/20020313-8.html
#4. To: Brian S (#0)
#5. To: Jethro Tull (#2)
(Edited)
#6. To: Cynicom (#5)
Vote for most likely scenario.
#7. To: Clitora (#6)
4. Humming birds
#8. To: Cynicom (#7)
#9. To: Cynicom, Clitora (#7)
#10. To: christine (#9)
can you define hummingbirds
#11. To: mininggold (#8)
they can keep the collateral damage to a minimum.
#12. To: christine, All (#9)
can you define hummingbirds?
#13. To: Cynicom (#12)
#14. To: Artisan (#3)
wow, that is a nice surprise. the white house deserves some credit for this statement.
#15. To: PSUSA (#14)
"I don't know where Bin Laden is. I truly am not that concerned about him"
George W, Bush, 3/13/02 http://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2002/03/20020313-8.html
#16. To: PSUSA, Jethro tull (#14)
#17. To: Cynicom (#16)
"Do not fire until you see the white of their skin".
#18. To: Brian S (#0)
Robert Gibbs, the White House press secretary, said people are entitled to carry weapons outside such events if local laws allow it. "There are laws that govern firearms that are done state or locally," he said. "Those laws don't change when the president comes to your state or locality."
"This man is Jesus,” shouted one man, spilling his Guinness as Barack Obama began his inaugural address. “When will he come to Kenya to save us?”
-Schweizerische Schuetzenzeitung (Swiss Shooting Federation) April, 1941
#19. To: Jethro Tull (#13)
Consider the degree of damage Goldi has inflicted on some of our guests.
#20. To: Brian S (#0)
#21. To: mininggold (#19)
LOLOLOL You would fit right in with Goldi's "viewpoint".
#22. To: Artisan (#3)
wow, that is a nice surprise. the white house deserves some credit for this statement.
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