President Obama faced tough questions but no gun. AP Photo Jim Cole
There are some things in life that you can do that you still should not do. In the top 10 of that list has to be including bringing a loaded handgun to heated presidential town hall. In the video clip below Chris Matthews questions the man who brought a loaded handgun to President Obama's town hall on health care reform.
In his defense the man essentially says that he has a right to carry a firearm and if that "if you don't exercise your rights you will lose them." The man also makes the extraordinary claim that these town halls would be safer if everyone carried a firearm.
The first problem with the man's "analysis" is that he ignores the reality of these town halls. Has this man been watching the recent video clips of violence at many of these town halls? Does he really think the following incident involving Kenneth Gladney in St. Louis would have turned out better had everyone been carrying a firearm? The Gladney incident was bad enough when people were throwing fists imagine if bullets had been flying.
Matthews also correctly points out that the sign the man was carrying was not suitable to go along with the firearm. The man was prominently displaying a sign which said "It is time to water the tree of liberty." The man leaves off the end of that quote from Thomas Jefferson which states the "The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with blood of tyrants and patriots." So this man really thinks he is not provoking violence by carrying a sign advocating the spilling of "blood of tyrants" while he carries a handgun.
Watch the interview yourself and provide your comment on whether you think it wise for men like this to bring a loaded gun to health care town hall meetings.
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Comments
That guy was great. Chris Matthews is an idiot. Our 2nd ammend. rights have been deteriorating for years. Time to bring back the thought that a decent American can walk down the street with his sidearm and nobody gives it a second thought. When I was in high school many of the kids would drive to school with there gun racks in there back windows loaded with a bolt action and /or a shot gun. A teacher was more likely to question the student how well his rifle shoots. Today a teacher is most likely to call 911 and the school will be swarmed with SWAT and helicopters.
I see nothing wrong with a man who was simply exercising his right to bear arms. I also believe that his sign simply symbolized the beliefs of the founding fathers, who, as you know, would disagree with many of President Obama's policies. Finally,I feel that the views of Mr. Mathews were incorrect and insulting. While I do not deny that there has been violence at President Obama's townhall meetings, can Mr. Mathews really assume that there would be bloodshed if everyone attending caried firearms? Can he assume that just because there has been tragic presidential issues involing firearms, there always will be? Hopefully Mr. Mathews,as well as the liberals, will someday realize that Mr.Gladney and many other Americans CAN carry firearms without the need of government control and without the occurance of violence.
New Hampshire has some of the least restrictive gun laws in the country. People all over the state openly carry firearms all the time. And you know where New Hampshire comes in with regards to gun violence statistics? Dead last. #50. Bottom of the list. Now just think about that for a moment.
This guy was well within his rights to carry his firearm, as confirmed by both local police and Secret Service. Have we degenerated to the point that a law-abiding citizen freely exercising his legal rights must be considered a threat?
As for his signs -- it seems to me that the only people who need fear that quote are tyrants. Draw from that statement what you will, but if there are people who are made nervous by that quote... well, it's something to think about.
Maybe if Chris Mathews would let the man speak he would have got
some answers as to why he brought the gun.-- Chris shut the **** up for 2 seconds instead of trying to antagonize him.
Typical news media bullying!
Wow, this guy is a looney!
Yeah! Chris Matthews does seem a little looney!
I understand both sides of this debate, but clearly you must agree that the man has the right to carry. How many people know the exact quote from Thomas Jefferson anyway? The guy was well spoken and was professional during the interview. Chris Mathews, on the other hand, was out of line. He tried to make this guy look like a "nut", but instead showed the opposite.
Can someone help me here? I cannot carry a loaded gun onto my flight at Logan. Why is this guy permitted to carry one at a public event where our President is? WHY ARE PEOPLE NOT BEING PUT THROUGH METAL DETECTORS????!!!!!
To Ryan Witt et al.
Our rights don't cease to exist just because the President comes to visit. If YOU are not able to carry a gun without fear of emotional outbreak then perhaps YOU should not. Do not project your lack of self control on a man that obviously has some. still trying to remember did any violence occur??
You do realize the man was far away from the President outside the building right? Because if he had been discovered with that gun within 20 yards of the President he would have either been shot on sight or tackled and now spending significant time in a federal prison. Yes people have "rights" but they are not absolute. Your right to carry a gun does not include the right to bring your gun collection when you shake hands with the present and thank God for such limitations. Otherwise every President we elected, Republican or Democrat, would last about two days in office before some nutjob used his "right" to kill off the President.
The guy was following the local laws.
Did not break any law. For that matter.
He was not in the Secret Service safety zone.
He is a citizen, not a subject.
If your not happy with guy, fine.
You take his gun away.
bob
The guy was following the local laws.
Did not break any law. For that matter.
He was not in the Secret Service safety zone.
He is a citizen, not a subject.
If your not happy with guy, fine.
You take his gun away.
bob
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