A Tip of the Stetson to P-Town!

[gorknoids]

No, not Portsmouth.

PHOENIX (AP) - About a dozen people carrying guns, including one with a military-style rifle, milled among protesters outside the convention center where President Barack Obama was giving a speech Monday—the latest incidents in which protesters have openly displayed firearms near the president.

Gun-rights advocates say they're exercising their constitutional right to bear arms and protest, while those who argue for more gun control say it could be a disaster waiting to happen.

Phoenix police said the gun-toters at Monday's event, including the man carrying an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle slung over his shoulder, didn't need permits. No crimes were committed, and no one was arrested.

The man with the rifle declined to be identified but told The Arizona Republic that he was carrying the assault weapon because he could. "In Arizona, I still have some freedoms," he said.

Phoenix police Detective J. Oliver, who was monitoring the man at the downtown protest, said police also wanted to make sure no one decided to harm him.

"Just by his presence and people seeing the rifle and people knowing the president was in town, it sparked a lot of emotions," Oliver said. "We were keeping peace on both ends."

Last week, during Obama's health care town hall in Portsmouth, N.H., a man carrying a sign reading "It is time to water the tree of liberty" stood outside with a pistol strapped to his leg.

"It's a political statement," he told The Boston Globe. "If you don't use your rights, then you lose your rights."

Police asked the man to move away from school property, but he was not arrested.

Phoenix was Obama's last stop on a four-day tour of western states, including Montana and Colorado.

Authorities in Montana said Monday they received no reports of anyone carrying firearms during Obama's health care town hall near Bozeman on Friday. About 1,000 people both for and against Obama converged at a protest area near the Gallatin Field Airport hangar where the event took place. One person accused of disorderly conduct was detained and released, according to the Gallatin Airport Authority.

Heather Benjamin of Denver's Mesa County sheriff's department, the lead agency during Obama's visit there, said no one was arrested.

Arizona is an "open-carry" state, which means anyone legally allowed to have a firearm can carry it in public as long as it's visible. A permit is required if the weapon is carried concealed.

Paul Helmke, president of the Washington, D.C.-based Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, said people should not be allowed to bring guns to events where Obama is.

"To me, this is craziness," he said. "When you bring a loaded gun, particularly a loaded assault rifle, to any political event, but particularly to one where the president is appearing, you're just making the situation dangerous for everyone."

He said people who bring guns to presidential events are distracting the Secret Service and law enforcement from protecting the president. "The more guns we see at more events like this, there's more potential for something tragic happening," he said.

A call to a Secret Service spokesman was not immediately returned Monday.

The National Rifle Association also did not return a call for comment.

[allingeneral]

Good story - happy ending.

[zephyp]

Yes a great story. When I lived in AZ I was concerned when I didnt see people carrying. I'm just to glad to hear no one was harassed.

[OakRidgeStars]

I'm just to glad to hear no one was harassed.

Funny how the Acorn and SEIU thugs are never around when lawfully armed citizens are protesting. Maybe they're just upset because their criminal records prevent them from carrying a weapon.

[jadedone4]

... interesting thing... major news media has exaggerated this story...

Kudos to the Chief for "...watching the guy ALL the WAY from HQ" (I guess..)

Really KUDOs to the Secret Service spokesman who described the situation accurately...


Man carrying assault weapon attends Obama protest

AP – President Obama supporters and protestors gather outside the Phoenix Convention Center in Phoenix, Monday, …

Mon Aug 17, 6:22 pm ET
PHOENIX – About a dozen people carrying guns, including one with a military-style rifle, milled among protesters outside the convention center where President Barack Obama was giving a speech Monday — the latest incident in which protesters have openly displayed firearms near the president.

Gun-rights advocates say they're exercising their constitutional right to bear arms and protest, while those who argue for more gun control say it could be a disaster waiting to happen.

Phoenix police said the gun-toters at Monday's event, including the man carrying an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle slung over his shoulder, didn't need permits. No crimes were committed, and no one was arrested.

The man with the rifle declined to be identified but told The Arizona Republic that he was carrying the assault weapon because he could. "In Arizona, I still have some freedoms," he said.

Phoenix police Detective J. Oliver, who monitored the man at the downtown protest, said police also wanted to make sure no one decided to harm him.

"Just by his presence and people seeing the rifle and people knowing the president was in town, it sparked a lot of emotions," Oliver said. "We were keeping peace on both ends."

Last week, during Obama's health care town hall in Portsmouth, N.H., a man carrying a sign reading "It is time to water the tree of liberty" stood outside with a pistol strapped to his leg.

"It's a political statement," he told The Boston Globe. "If you don't use your rights, then you lose your rights."

Police asked the man to move away from school property, but he was not arrested.

Fred Solop, a Northern Arizona University political scientist, said the incidents in New Hampshire and Arizona could signal the beginning of a disturbing trend.

"When you start to bring guns to political rallies, it does layer on another level of concern and significance," Solop said. "It actually becomes quite scary for many people. It creates a chilling effect in the ability of our society to carry on honest communication."

He said he's never heard of someone bringing an assault weapon near a presidential event. "The larger the gun, the more menacing the situation," he said.

Phoenix was Obama's last stop on a four-day tour of western states, including Montana and Colorado.

Authorities in Montana said they received no reports of anyone carrying firearms during Obama's health care town hall near Bozeman on Friday. About 1,000 people both for and against Obama converged at a protest area near the Gallatin Field Airport hangar where the event took place. One person accused of disorderly conduct was detained and released, according to the Gallatin Airport Authority.

Heather Benjamin of Denver's Mesa County sheriff's department, the lead agency during Obama's visit there, said no one was arrested.

Arizona is an "open-carry" state, which means anyone legally allowed to have a firearm can carry it in public as long as it's visible. Only someone carrying a concealed weapon is required to have a permit.

Paul Helmke, president of the Washington, D.C.-based Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, said people should not be allowed to bring guns to events where Obama is.

"To me, this is craziness," he said. "When you bring a loaded gun, particularly a loaded assault rifle, to any political event, but particularly to one where the president is appearing, you're just making the situation dangerous for everyone."

He said people who bring guns to presidential events are distracting the Secret Service and law enforcement from protecting the president. "The more guns we see at more events like this, there's more potential for something tragic happening," he said.

Secret Service spokesman Ed Donovan said armed demonstrators in open-carry states such as Arizona and New Hampshire have little impact on security plans for the president.

"In both cases, the subject was not entering our site or otherwise attempting to," Donovan said. "They were in a designated public viewing area. The main thing to know is that they would not have been allowed inside with a weapon."

Representatives of the National Rifle Association did not return calls for comment.

[zephyp]

I'm just to glad to hear no one was harassed.

Funny how the Acorn and SEIU thugs are never around when lawfully armed citizens are protesting. Maybe they're just upset because their criminal records prevent them from carrying a weapon.

More like they know they are outgunned and outmanned. Only a moron liberal would cause problems in a situation like this.

[BlueTiki]

Its funny, I saw a news report this morning on the ABC affiliate here in Northern VA about this guy with the AR in Arizona. I wish I could find the clip of the news cast. The reporter started the report as "A Disturbing new trend is happening at local town meetings over the Presidents health care proposal. She then went on to show the clip of this guy outside at the rally and SURPRISINGLY referred to his AR as a "Semi Automatic Assault type rifle". I say surprisingly because most people tend to call them only assault rifles or automatic weapons. We all here know that the auto's are not allowed. The story was mostly about people open carrying at the rallies. But as I stated, she called it a DISTURBING NEW TREND.

[VBshooter]

Not defending the liberals ,but it would be considered a Disturbing trend to them.. The very thought of a free thinking citizen excercising a right like carrying a gun is unfathomable to them... In their distorted little world the President is a King not an elected official of the people. They all follow by being led by the nose, In their little time warp world they are right and therefore everyone else should be like them,, But watch who is the first group to advocate violence if things don't go their way,,,The only incidents of actual violence or assault have been by the left,, ie: SEIU thugs, harrasing and in some cases physically assaulting peaceful protesters...

[zephyp]

I listened to a couple of people talking about this on the bus this morning. They were truly shocked that someone showed up with a rifle. I really have to wonder how many of these folks that are shocked by this are libs or conservatives and how well they know the Bill of Rights. I'm amazed that these folks are ignorant of our rights yet they love to exercise some while trying to deny others.

[Vahunter]

I hear the news was making it sound like a racist showed up with his AR. Now the truth comes out, the man with the AR was a black man. So according to MSNBC and CNN that means he doesn't like black people.

[VBshooter]

They'll put whatever spin on it they can to try saving face,, This media crap of throwing that racist word around has gotten old very fast IMHO>> I would love to know if legal action could be taken against these media clowns for the derogatory reporting they do regarding white people with firearms, In their view any white person who excercises their 2ND amendment right is either a radical something or other, A redneck racist,or is in some imaginary militia hell bent on the wanton destruction of the country, Never mind the facts that Congress is running wild violating the Constitution at will ,, The corruption in the Obama administration is being uncovered almost daily, And that other people besides gun owners are very PO"D at the mess the country is in,,The media at one time was pretty much unbiased and you could put some faith in what they did,, Not any more ,, NOw most of it is bought and sold to the highest bidder and truth be damned!!