Gun-rights advocates showed up during presidential town hall meeting carrying firearms. One of them sported a military style AR-15 rifle amid protesters outside the Phoenix Convention Center as President Obama spoke. These gun toting demonstrators insisted they are simply exercising their constitutional right to bear arms while protesting the event. 
Arizona is an “open carry” state which means that if you legally own a firearm you can openly carry it in public. In light of this law Phoenix police monitored the owner of the assault weapon and others.
Doesn’t this story beg the question: Is this behavior within the bounds of normal, healthy protest? If you answer yes, please seek professional help.
The president at least has the Secret Service to look out for him. What about all those other people around that convention center?
As Northern Arizona University political scientist Fred Solop observed, “When you start to bring guns to political rallies, it does layer on another level of concern and significance.”
Over the past several years we have been hearing stories of schoolyard bullies who intimidate, frighten and harass other children. By definition, bullies seek to assert themselves without one whit of compassion or empathy for the other children in school.
The problem is that a tiny minority of gun owners are nuts—more precisely, bullies.
How do we as a people stand up to the bullies? What can we as a people do to stand up to those who say they want to exercise their right—before they do something wrong?
This is not a story about gun rights.
This is a story about the abuse of gun rights.
Let’s say it’s November 22nd, 1963 and we are in Dallas, Texas. President Kennedy’s motorcade is on its way through the city. There’s a guy named Lee Harvey Oswald who is standing on the grassy knoll with his rifle. He says he has brought his rifle to the event because he is protesting the president’s policies and is simply exercising his constitutional right to keep and bear arms.
In America, everyone has the constitutional right of self expression. But when self expression becomes an obsession that bullies others the in the same society it must be stopped.
Remember, America is not about just ME as a person, but finally about WE as a people.
Or as Jesus put it, “the greatest commandment is to love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and mind and the second is like the first—love your neighbor as yourself.”
To put it in the vernacular of this culture:
when going to a political rally, leave your guns at home.
Do this for the safety and security of fellow Americans and the President of the United States--even if you don't like him.
This is the American way.
Comments
Most states have concealed carry laws. Is it "safer" if citizens conceal carry weapons to these rallies but not open carry? That's crazy reasoning that open carry is somehow going to incite violence. If anything, the sight of weapons in sane hands has a remarkable "chilling" effect on would-be wrong doers.
It boils down to this: do you trust your fellow citizens with the power to carry weapons or not? If you do, there is no reason why you should be against open-carry. IF you are uncomfortable with the right to keep and bear arms (the second amendment) and feel that the common person in a country cannot be entrusted to responsibly keep and bear arms, then you should seek another country that has more draconian control over its citizens.
Simple.
THe more citizens that openly bear arms, the more scared perps become of committing a crime. And you don't seriously expect a perpetrator who is intent on harm of open carrying their gun or following any other "gun control" laws do you?
Actually, the question is not whether my fellow citizens have a right to carry weapons but what kind of climate we create together if everyone is carrying. Not all of my fellow citizens are rational or sane. I trust some of my fellow citizens to carry but I certainly don't trust all of them.
Do you?
You should be aware that thousands of citizens already bring concealed carry weapons to any restaurant, public gathering you go to. So when you go that fancy restaurant, be aware that if your state has concealed carry, then many customers may be carrying already. These people are trusted.
Think about my question:
You don't seriously expect a perpetrator who is intent on harm to openly carry their gun and announce their intentions, or following any other "gun control" laws do you?
If open carry is banned (a violation of the second amendment in any case but let us assume it is) it will only prevent honest citizens from carrying and visually deterring crimes.
What a tool to bring a gun to a political rally. Nuts.
Nice article, rational, logical, sane.
Joe43- I understand your point. Under state law they have the right to bring the guns to the protest. But that doesn't mean they should.
I agree that, depending on the circumstances, possessing a firearm may deter crime. For example, there may be a justification for openly carrying a firearm for a woman who works the night shift and has to ride the train home at 3 AM.
However, in the context of a political rally, openly brandishing a firearm is done solely for the purpose to intimidate and provoke. If I am out peacefully protesting something with my girlfriend or my family, and I see someone with an assault rifle walking through the crowd, I will feel a threat to both myself and my family that I would not feel if I passed a woman carrying a pistol on the train at 3 AM. I think this is the point you are missing. In the context in which he is carrying the weapon he is causing fear to others and their loved ones that violence may result if they express their views.
the government is taking away our constitutional rights one at time.it's our right we should excercise our right's while we still can.has nothing to do with intimidaiton or bulling!!!!
Now, I would say it is likely that someone who is openly carrying a firearm at a public event is not a threat, since the police will have their eyes on him and blow his head off if he brings the barrel up.
But, again, I think that carrying the gun in this case is done solely to intimidate individuals who disagree with him, and I would also say he is hoping that someone may feel sufficiently threatened for the safety of themselves or their family to try to assault him or try to take the gun from him. He is treading dangerous territory and arousing anger through this kind of intimidating behavior, and AS A SUPPORTER OF GUN OWNERSHIP RIGHTS, I think his behavior is totally unacceptable in a civilized society.
Now, I would say it is likely that someone who is openly carrying a firearm at a public event is not a threat, since the police will have their eyes on him and blow his head off if he brings the barrel up.
But, again, I think that carrying the gun in this case is done solely to intimidate individuals who disagree with him, and I would also say he is hoping that someone may feel sufficiently threatened for the safety of themselves or their family to try to assault him or try to take the gun from him. He is treading dangerous territory and arousing anger through this kind of intimidating behavior, and AS A SUPPORTER OF GUN OWNERSHIP RIGHTS, I think his behavior is totally unacceptable in a civilized society.
you people obviously don't understand the real point. Obama is not going to fly around the nation to talk to people abut gun control measures because they don't want them. Gun control is a right that is stripped beyond any possibility of public debate. Maybe you don't understand or want to understand but they are your rights too. You may want to exercise them or not. But just like I dont want to be married to another guy I support the freedom for them to do so. The gentlemen did something to expose people to the fact that if they want to arm themselves it is there right and should not be ashamed to do so. Talk about bullying why don't you report the facts he did'nt threaten anyone.
I have come to the conclusion that the Second Amendment is an unassailable obstacle to any kind of gun control in this country. I have also been persuaded that gun control is unrealistic, because the flow of unregulated guns is overwhelming. People will find ways to get a gun - regardless of the law. I agree with Rev. Thompson that we need to deal with the fear, egos, and anger of humans who are drawn to weapons and see them as the first line of defense. This would be a long-term solution at best, and, so far, based on the movies, music, video games, etc., of this culure, it's love of violence is growing rather than shrinking. And so, I have come to the conclusion that, in the short term, we should require open carry. Concealment should be illegal. That would give me some chance to leave a restaurant, leave a church, leave a baseball game, etc., etc., and get away from anyone with a gun. I have a right to hate guns and stay away from them.
The open carry of a firearm is the ultimate in expression of true freedom. It is both a expression of our Constitutionally protected 1st and 2nd Amendment rights. It is not about intimidation or bullying, that requires intent on the part of the firearm carrier.
Since Tennessee is a licensed open carry state (meaning you must have a handgun carry permit to carry openly or concealed), I have carried openly to every rally or protest I have attended since '92 when not legally prohibited.
Those whose irrational fear of guns in holsters or rifles slung on backs are the ones in need of psychological counciling. Irrational fear of weapons is the true mental disorder hear, not the peaceful protest wile armed.
Wayne, the open carry of a firearm is YOUR "ultimate in expression of true freedom." It just doesn't work for me. The need to carry a firearm would impinge greatly on any feeling of freedom I might have, because the only reason to carry one is to be ready for trouble. As you say, most people don't carry them for intimidation or bullying. I consider it more of a "don't tread on me" statement. The problem is that the phrase "shoot first and ask questions later" comes into play too often. Or anger takes over. I think of the waitress who was shot and killed when she and a customer were arguing over the food she served. I don't consider my hate of guns to be a sign of psychosis, and the gun is merely the symbol of the state of mind of the person who feels compelled to carry one everywhere. It is the state of mind and life view that makes me want to avoid contact. And I have to say that I fail to see how carrying a gun is a peaceful protest. To me it says "I'm ready. Bring it on."
Mary, is your "waitress shot by customer" hyperbole? If this is something that actually happened, perhaps you can provide a link to the news story.
I already see where your bias is at. You can't discern the difference between a criminal and a law abiding citizen when both have guns. Allow me to clue you in. The criminal is the one seeking to deprive you of life and liberty, the law abiding citizen is the one who holds the door for you when you enter a restaurant.
You made one semi-correct statement, "because the only reason to carry one is to be ready for trouble". That is a component of why some open carry and a big part for those who conceal. Don't people have insurance to be ready for trouble? Don't people have fire extinguishers, spare tires, flashlights, etc?
Being ready for trouble is not the same as looking for an opportunity to cause trouble.
Wayne, sorry for the slow response. I've been out of town. You and I are definitely in a stalemate, and we have to agree to disagree. The story of the waitress was not hyperbole. I saw the video on the news and apparently didn't listen closely enough to what actually occurred. No one was killed. It turned out that it was the waitress who ended up shooting the customer, who had thrown food at her. The waitress went to her car and got her gun. It discharged (all by itself I'm sure) during the altercation, and the customer was shot in the arm. I don' think I can include a link here. If you Google "waitress shot," the first thing on the search list will be "Eggs, Hashbrowns, and a Gun."
We want the same thing Wayne. We simply are at opposite ends of the spectrum of how to get the result we want. Whether a criminal shoots me or there is an accident by a law-abiding citizen, I am shot, and the violence continues. I appreciate your willingness to engage me in conversation. Be well.
You're a joke Mary...
"we should require open carry. Concealment should be illegal. That would give me some chance to leave a restaurant, leave a church, leave a baseball game, "
Sheesh! I guess that we just need to get the word out to criminals that concealment is illegal! That should work.
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