W.H. Backs Right to Guns Outside Events

Washington Post: Spokesman Tries to Allay Fears of Threat After Photos of People Carrying Guns Near Obama Events

(Washingtonpost.com)  This story was written by Alexi Mostrous.

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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." (Read an interview with the man here)

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.

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."

Staff writer Carrie Johnson contributed to this report.

[proudmilvet]

Damn Bush & Cheney for how they F****D this country up over 8 years! Now you have every Right Wing Nut Job crawling out of the woodwork. I do hope the Secret Service & the FBI will start monitoring the activities of Rush Limbaugh,Glenn Beck,Sean Hannity & the rest of the assorted nutcases at "Faux News"! These people would like nothing more then a full scale insurrection & a Coup!!

[toldyouso29]

"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.


and what would Donovan have said or will he say when one of these nuts decides to start killing people outside at one of these events? "Don't worry, it wasn't the President?" The idea that anyone can carry out in the open or that states could even sanction laws like that is stupid--but like most stupid laws--it will take a tragedy to bring this home to people.

One thing about states rights--it has ensured that efficiency, homogeneity and cohesiveness as a nation or a society is ABSENT in this country.

Too many places all doing things differently--some do it well, others suck a big one. For instance, when I go to Texas, I can see them beginning to work on a road putting in a highway. I go back 3 months later, it is complete with arching bridges, interchanges, etc., no sign of the work crews or the road work. In Kansas, they can spend YEARS working on the same 500 feet of road on a secondary street and still not have it completed. One place is efficient and even thinks of things like continual access roads for local traffic--the other place is not only inefficient but probably corrupt--though they do ensure road construction jobs for years by drawing projects out like that. The Texas model or another state's model should be used across the board on highways in America and it should be gotten done. EAch state has things they do well and those things should be a standardized model for all the other states--right now, from tax codes to roads to laws, each state is different--it is like 50 different fiefdoms who occassionally have a loose alliance with each other to take money from public coffers. The United States is falling apart because after over 220 years of existence, the country has NEVER, EVER learned to act as one unit and standardize great ideas from each state for the benefit of the entire country. So some states are corrupt as hell--others less so. Some you can go to jail for 40 years while for the same crime get less than 3 in another state--what an inefficient mess.

[hungry1968-16]

by kansas1946 August 19, 2009 9:13 PM EDT
Very funny post. I have been laughing all day about this. How is Rush going to spin this one?? I support people's right to own and carry guns, so I am glad I voted for Obama. Poor NRA.







It's not the "poor NRA".

The NRA is getting EXACTLY what they want under Obama - protection of gun owners rights, as guaranteed by the second amendment.

It's the CONSERVATIVES that have been pathetically trying to convince EVERYONE that "the democrats want to take your guns!!", and "Obama wants to disarm America!!", that are paying a price for their stupidity.

That's what you get for electing a "Constitutional Law Lecturer" to be the POTUS.

Congratulations America!!

[solothinker]

I think they have their hands full with health care. It would be ridiculous for them to try to take on the second amendment. That crosses party lines, economic, cultural, religious, gender and age groups. People get mad about taxes but will get crazy about there guns. Guns are not the problem, criminals are.

[toldyouso29]

Criminals are what we call people who get caught breaking the law. Not everyone who breaks the law gets caught--but anyone can become a criminal at any time--who is to say one of the people who walks around with a gun in the open cannot decide to start shooting it? And who is to say that every single person with a gun is noted or watched by the secret service? No one has a 100% monitoring record. NO ONE. It'd be a shame to realize a "Cho" like moment in public, because someone decided not just to carry a gun in public but to use it and again we would hear--"but he was such a quiet person and had no criminal record" NO ONE has a criminal record until they get caught committing a crime--it'd be shame if their first crime or the first one they got caught at was murdering someone or a lot of people due to a stupid law to allow people to carry guns in public.

[babooph]

We can direct the propaganda system to call the armed militias "contractors"-they can do it all at once-it worked great with mercenaries & the troglites will be happier-maybe?

[wdh3007]

The idea that the 2nd amendment is at stake and that all guns will be taken away is not probable. They will take your weapon if you commit a crime with it but as we know not every gun owner is a criminal this is more about the fear of those who currently run the government. We have had a 2nd amendment for over 200 years if this was to be a problem for all then why did the founding fathers write it into our constitution. I would say the guns are not the problem only those who are criminals behind the guns are.

[nextgenman09]

You also know nothing of the nature of the 2nd Amendment.

[toldyouso29]

wdh3007 August 19, 2009 7:39 PM EDT
The idea that the 2nd amendment is at stake and that all guns will be taken away is not probable. They will take your weapon if you commit a crime with it but as we know not every gun owner is a criminal this is more about the fear of those who currently run the government. We have had a 2nd amendment for over 200 years if this was to be a problem for all then why did the founding fathers write it into our constitution. I would say the guns are not the problem only those who are criminals behind the guns are.

did you know of anyone or did you walk around with a gun in the open when Bush was President? This is menacing and disrespect for the office and when it finally results in violence (and it just may) then Obama and the NRA will look like idiots--but it won't bring back the life of anyone who is in the cross fire--if it happens, the victims' families should sue that city or state for BILLIONS. We are on the verge of disorder and Obama's group is stupid enough to pretend to condone it also--which of course, will justify Bush's signing statement to use the NG against our own citizens to ensure order and Marshall law and make no mistake, if it comes to that--all the armchair warriors will lose--you might get a few rounds off and maybe take out that neighbor or minority person you hate, but in the end, the government will win and those in the public who try to fight will either stand down or lie down, they don't make enough guns or artillery for citizens to stand or resist being attacked by the government. Because while people may have assault rifles or even tanks and antiaircraft guns, the government has missles and bombs that would allow them to nullify a target without ever showing their faces (think drones and missle strikes)

[nextgenman09]

Obama is more Republican than the screeching RINOtards!

[dwilson59]

Just one thing look at the picture............... I got 5 to 1 the person in the beard glasses tan top and tan pants on the bike is on detail from the Seceret Service.

5 to 1 any takers?

[rhs648]

For those of you who don't know this, 39 states are "shall issue" states that issue permits for concealed weapons, nine states offer permits for concealed weapons on a discretionary basis although three of these states issue permits as "shall issue" states in practice), and three states that rarely or do not issue permits for concealed weapons. The majority of states recognize a person's right to bear arms. Do people really expect this to change?

[rondivoo]

Taking guns to these events is stupid. Those who do so are challenging the administration in the face of their legal "right to carry." They just want to "start something" so they can get all carried way and angry over what they hoped would happen; i.e., guns being forbidden outside these meeting places. Instead of helping the cause (legal gun ownership), they are casting a bad light on trained, intelligent, and honest people who appreciate the right to own a gun. If these people "really" value their right of gun ownership, why are they doing this? Makes no sense to me. Another thought: perhaps these are people who REALLY want to have guns banned and are trying to bring attention to the fact that it is legal and easy to bring guns to places near the President.

[elzigmo]

"the tree of liberty must be a pecan tree, because there sure are a lot of nuts hanging from it"
damn. i'm sorry, that was a poor choice of words. "clinging to it" would be better.

[pvperson3]

Bush would have people wearing anti-Bush T shirts arrested at his events, but we're supposed to just turn a blind eye to armed agitators at Obama events, nice example of neo-con hypocrisy.

[timing20002000]

AND THEY WONDER WHY NO SUPPORTERS FOR HEALTH CARE ARE SHOWING UP. BECAUSE IN THIS DEMOCRACY IF WE VOICE OUR OPINIONS THEN SOME GUN TOTING RIGHT WING EXTREMIST NUT JOB WILL KILL ME.

[tmittelstaed]

The people in support of the health care reform are generally intelligent enough to find out the answers to the questions they have, they don't need to go to a town hall meeting to have someone explain it to them.

[drsuz]

Don't you know, the United States is a Republic not a Democracy? No where in the Constitution does the word Democracy show up.

[elzigmo]

the tree of liberty must be a pecan tree, because there sure are a lot of nuts hanging from it

[pvperson3]

Ahem.

[ToolMangler1]

From little "ACORNS" mighty Oaks grow!!!!!! They are stronger than Pecan.

[ToolMangler1]

I just 'knew' I had that wrong,,
its "Mighty Oaks from little ACORNS grow"

[hungry1968-16]

by Aldymac August 19, 2009 6:05 PM EDT
I didn't know that the president was a law enforcement officer, he should be carrying a gun just like the rest of the law enforcement officers, right?
I thought the presidents job was to "defend" the Constitution.







He does defend the constitution, but that's not all that he does!

The Justice Department is a cabinet level Department, and in that one agency are the FBI, CIA, US Marshals, ATF, Federal prison system, etc, etc. The Department of the Treasury also answers to the president, and the Secret Service and the IRS are just two of the agencies in that branch.

ALL of those law enforcement agencies answer to the president of the US.

Congress and the senate MAKE the laws, and the president's job is to enforce them.

[hungry1968-16]

Correction: The CIA is NOT a division of the Justice Department. My bad.

[oneofmanyvets]

As a gun owner and NRA member I think carrying weapons to public events is the act of wackos. I also think that a number of extremist gun owners who keep harping on the secret plans of Obama to take away forearms is the manifestation of a neurosis. These people are clearly on the fringe.

[gomzee69]

That's the best post I've read here by a member of the NRA.

Thanks for bringing some sanity to this topic.

[tigerrram9]

Exactly, your guns will never be taken away from you. Don't listen to the crazies about losing you 2nd amendment rights. I agree guns don't belong at public events, especially when the President is the guest of honor. If you carry a gun to one of these events, you have just put a target on your forehead. If a security team is detailed to protect the President, I bet you they have you in their sights. Think before you carry a gun to one of these events, you put yourself and the people in your immediate area in danger.

[dib-e]

I don't agree. I think it was a carefully thought-out decision by someone to incite a reaction - like the ones we are seeing here. He was acting within the law to carry the weapon as he was. You see, in this country, we can take steps to change the laws if we don't like them or they don't make sense...but why react fearfully when you see a firearm unless it is pointed at you? Someone said "imagine if one of those gun carrying persons decides to bring his gun out"...what the hell?...your overactive imagination is not a justifiable argument for why I should not be allowed to protect myself. Most people with firearms obey the law, which includes not indiscriminately brandishing their firearm. I would much rather have a lawful gun carrier near me than one that intends to use their firearm to harm me. Fact: Lots of guns in America. Fact: Not realistic to take all of them away. Fact: Some nuts have guns. Fact: Most gun owners are not nuts.

[ToolMangler1]

I am a former NRA member and I agree 'oneofmanyvets'. It is also my belief that some of the people posting in favor of the "right to bear arms amendment" do so deliberately in a manner to make us appear as "Way off center Gun Nuts". This would be the same group that are trying to associate Democrats with 'Nazism and other phobiatic (my term) catch words'. They are the true "NUTS"

[tmittelstaed]

Sooner or later at one of these meetings some gun nut will have his gun visible and some crazy guy will attempt to grab it, a struggle will ensure and the SS will be shooting holes in both of them plus bystanders. Then you will see states curtailing these gun rights in response. If the NRA isn't stupid enough to figure this out then they deserve to go down. They should be publically campaigning against these gun nuts.

[ToolMangler1]

by tmittelstaed August 19, 2009 8:36 PM EDT
Sooner or later at one of these meetings some gun nut will have his gun visible and some crazy guy will attempt to grab it,



That is what 'oneofmanyvets' was referring to when he/she made this comment.


"by oneofmanyvets August 19, 2009 6:10 PM EDT
As a gun owner and NRA member I think carrying weapons to public events is the act of wackos'.....

[democracy1]

"It's all fun and games until somebody loses an eye."
--Mom

[G-I_Jesus]

Country At War

Guns kill people, they are made for war!

[ToolMangler1]

Tell that to the Squirrels, Rabbits, Turkeys and Pheasant I have converted to "Brunswick Stew.

As you can tell I am not Vegan and also eat the game I kill..
If you break into my house (Day or night) you may well be shot....

[dwilson59]

TooMangler1

Brunswick Stew Ummy

[ToolMangler1]

Slow cooked over night, (Suffer) :)

[kansas1946]

LMAO. Gosh this must be a blow to the NRA and all of the hysterics screaming about the Nazi Obama wanting their guns. Those folks are just BEGGING to get harassed or arrested so they can give Rush and his ilk some ammunition (pardon the pun) to rant and rave about. Good going Obama. And if you scardy cats are afraid of the guns, stay home. Obama is doing the right thing.

[reveal5]

"We're well aware of the subjects that are showing up at these events with firearms".Well now, the Secret Service are aware of these folks. Yo gun nuts, time to take your weapon to a meeting so the Secret Service can become aware of you too! Well done.