Guns at Obama's Meetings

[theGinsue]

Good for this guy and all of the rest who were exercising their rights and staying within the law of the land!

Some times you all confuse the hell out of me. You either have the right and can exercise it or you're just a sheep in a sheepdog mask. There is nothing else here. The folks on the other side of our 2A debates want you to think that it isn't "appropriate" to exercise your rights, hey, if you want to flounder over "where and when is it appropriate" within the context of this situation.. well enjoy that, I'll have no issue reminding you that you're wrong.

Well lets see...

1. Let the media rail against the dozen or so guys that went armed with open carry. My comments are two fold.
a. And see, not a damn thing went bad.. hmmmm that craps all over their, every time there's a gun, something goes bad generalizations now don't it?
b. How many folks were carrying concealed?
2. You either have the right and choose to exercise it or you don't. In this case the weapon was shouldered, on safe and not being flaunted in anything resembling a stupid fashion. Where and really why is this wrong?

I can see your points guys, but seriously? By backing down and abiding by the "proper etiquette" established by the anti-gun lobbies and media aren't you giving up your rights? I can understand not dragging your M1A to a high school football game (don't agree that you are not able to have your side arm), then again if that's the weapon you want to carry, hey, more power to you.

But this was a rally/protest and against more than the President's failing efforts at "Health Care Reform" ... look deeper in to the stories folks, the POTUS is getting a little refresher in what exactly the Will of the People is.

Now here's the rub.. While I back this guy and the others that were present open carrying.. unless there is a push into the main stream media outlets by the likes of the NRA, GOA or who ever and at the very least bring the counter points to light we really haven't made much progress. The saddest parts of all of this is that it is near impossible to get the fair share of media time to present the other side of the issue.

So again, I cannot agree that this guy or any of the others that were open carrying are/were wrong in any way shape or form. I personally doubt I would have brought an AR to the event, I surely would have brought my side arm.

Well said BadShot.

A freedom not exercised is a freedom lost. For far too long we, law abiding gun owners, have tried to avoid the appearance of being lunatics with guns and have given the anti-gun agenda more room to throw their rhetoric around like bird seed waiting for the peasants to eat it up.

Our government officials at all levels have been displaying an increasing degree of amnesia over exactly what their purpose is and whose interests they represent. I think these brave individuals made a bold and perfectly acceptable move to remind others, including our elected officials, just where they stand. We need to stay within the law (until such time as the law violates the Constitution) and let out elected officials know that we are mad as hell and we aren't going to take it any more - and we will use our rights to back up our position if the need arises.

The main reasons no one invades Switzerland is that it has very limited resources and is not strategically located, unless you are trying to transport Jews and arms between Italy and Germany.........

And Chocolate; don't forget about the chocolate (the closest thing I've found to a true aphrodisiac).

[Eow]

Our government officials at all levels have been displaying an increasing degree of amnesia over exactly what their purpose is and whose interests they represent. I think these brave individuals made a bold and perfectly acceptable move to remind others, including our elected officials, just where they stand. We need to stay within the law (until such time as the law violates the Constitution) and let out elected officials know that we are mad as hell and we aren't going to take it any more - and we will use our rights to back up our position if the need arises.

You make a good point. I'm still worried though that it will help Obama sway popular opinion to assist him in further limiting our 2nd amendment rights. Open carrying an AR outside a presidential speech is inherently a political statement. If it sways those on the fence to support gun control (i.e., victim disarmament), then it is a bad move politically. If it is done in a way that helps sway popular opinion towards expansion of the RKBA, then it is a smart move.

[Ranger]

This is a good healthy debate . Whether it was the smart thing to do or not, we are probably hitting this topic too hard - nothing really came of the whole show, Obooboo didn't crack down on gun control and nobody got shot. It was a good day!

IMHO, the more that we, as gun owners, can do to create a positive image of gun owners the better. Sure, we have the RIGHT to open carry and the LAW is on our side, but we, as gun owners, also know that the overwhelmingly left media and a communist administration will use our peaceful display of our rights against us to make more of a case. We have to play politics sometimes too and I, personally, would not open carry at any demonstration that wasn't aimed at gun control if for no other reason than to not empower the enemy.

[BadShot]

IMHO, the more that we, as gun owners, can do to create a positive image of gun owners the better. Sure, we have the RIGHT to open carry and the LAW is on our side, but we, as gun owners, also know that the overwhelmingly left media and a communist administration will use our peaceful display of our rights against us to make more of a case. We have to play politics sometimes too and I, personally, would not open carry at any demonstration that wasn't aimed at gun control if for no other reason than to not empower the enemy.

Why wouldn't a person who is within the law (Arizona is an open carry state) be adding benefit to the cause we all follow?

The crux of the issue is that the media wants to say things like "Most gun owners are law abiding citizens, but then there is the criminal element". What gets my hackles up is that they then go forward with only the demonstrations of the criminal element. A fair portion of that is our own fault.

We have acquiesced to the anti-gun factions for so many years just simply trying to hold on to the limited ground we have left, that we suddenly worry that any representation of our rights can be twisted!

I believe we have given ground to often and for too long. We should exercise our rights often and publicly. Whether that be open carry of an AR or other such rifles at a demonstration, speaking out at "town hall" meetings, standing against illegal search and seizure or simply educating any and everyone we possibly can. I don't simply limit that exercise to the 2nd Amendment. I believe that while the 2nd ensures the rest, we must continue to utilize the rest of our Constitutionally and Bill of Rights assured rights at ever possible turn.

I'll re-iterate... A Right not exercised is a Right lost!

[DOC]

I agree with those that think bringing their guns to a rally was a good idea. If you have the brass balls to do it. I think it should become a mainstay of political rallys. But I also see someone wearing a "Bros before ho's" t-shirt being activated like a sleeper cell and firing off their gun just to ruin it and give those slimy bastards something to bitch about.
Sure you could look at it like the hippies wearing tidie tshirts to a Bush rally. No more harmful to anyone unless they stopped showering then a gun that is unloaded. Just a symbol of a right.
Good for them.

[B2crawler]

I'd be a little nervous carrying a rifle like that guy was. To this point I'm happy thinking that I've never been in someones cross hair aiming a rifle at me. Sure he had a many pointed at him that day if his finger ever got to close to the trigger.

[RRD3]

I'd be a little nervous carrying a rifle like that guy was. To this point I'm happy thinking that I've never been in someones cross hair aiming a rifle at me. Sure he had a many pointed at him that day if his finger ever got to close to the trigger.

I'm sure he was concentrated on heavily. Can you just imagine the SS radio traffic?

[theGinsue]

So, today @ work I was told that "the guy with the assault rifle at the town hall meeting is a confirmed militia member and was wearing a t-shirt with the exact same logo/image that Timothy McVey was wearing when he attacked the Federal Building in OK City".

I haven't seen or heard anything that supports this claim, but it's out there.

[DOC]

So, today @ work I was told that "the guy with the assault rifle at the town hall meeting is a confirmed militia member and was wearing a t-shirt with the exact same logo/image that Timothy McVey was wearing when he attacked the Federal Building in OK City".

I haven't seen or heard anything that supports this claim, but it's out there.

Now a days you can show them a video and give them a nice glass of shut up to drink. Although you should make a bet before you do show the video. You could clean up.

[DD977GM2]

I personally feel that this is a posative for us. It reflects that we as gun owners can walk around safely with a firearm. It shows that guns do not go off by themselves and seek out babies and old folks. It shows that also to the government that we do understand our God given right and I am hoping this will change their minds on the subject of more laws on the 2A. I also feel this allows for exposure to the idea that we all know as, criminals do not care about the laws, laws only affect the law abiding citizen.

All in all we won one for a change.

ETA: I also agree with some posters that our rights do not go away due to a certain person or event happening. We either have the right or dont. Using your right in a this light just shows us gun owners are responsible etc etc.