No reason to bring guns to rallies against Obamacare
Left-wing bloggers have made much of the fact that at a few of rallies and town halls, a handful of opponents of Obamacare, have arrived bearing arms. Finding in this smattering “escalating number of incidents,” blogger Josh Marshall proclaims in high dudgeon that “the American right has a deep-seated problem with political violence.“
The only problem with Marshall’s analysis is that the “right-wingers” he identifies as exemplary of this problem engaged in their violent activities in the 1990s and neither of them (he identifies only two incidents) had ties to the type of conservative organizations helping organize (or participating in) the current round of protests. They’re as representative of the modern conservative movement as Fred Phelps is of the Democratic Party.
And as Glenn (who alerted me to the Marshall post) points out, violence at these rallies has been directed against, not promoted by, those protesting the President’s plan.
That said, I agree with John Hinderaker; it’s a pretty dumb idea to bring guns to political rallies.
Bob Owens sums it up:
As much as I support the open carry movement in theory, I have a very hard time seeing open carry at a political event full of people as anything other than a very bad idea. It is needlessly provocative (and I suspect in many instances, purposefully so), and potentially dangerous.
While the protestors themselves may not have any intent to use the firearms they are carrying, open carry in dense, emotional crowds opens up a whole host of possible scenarios that could end in disaster.
Not just that, the whole idea of political rally is, in line, with the First Amendment to “peaceably assemble.” Bringing a gun to a rally suggests the bearer has some other purpose in mind. Not just that, those who bear arms at such rallies give left-wingers ammunition to attack those who wish to petition the government for a redress of grievances.
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Well said. Not sure about the “hysteria on the left” tag, since you seem to agree with many of the arguments here and leave out all of Marshall’s points, but well said all the same.
I wish you had also mentioned those who carry the guns have at times also worn/carried the statement, “The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.” The combination of the two is the ultimate provocation.
Comment by torrentprime — August 19, 2009 @ 5:38 pm - August 19, 2009
Lee Harvey Oswald brought a gun to a political event. He was a liberal.
Comment by Jim Howard — August 19, 2009 @ 6:23 pm - August 19, 2009
Um, torrent, I used the “Hysteria of the Left” tag to refer specifically to Marshall’s point for the reasons addressed in the 2nd ¶ above. For, he’s wrong to say that right has a problem of violence. It’s a hysterical reaction to an isolated phenomenon.
Comment by B. Daniel Blatt — August 19, 2009 @ 6:50 pm - August 19, 2009
At the risk of getting called a troglodyte, I don’t think folks outside of New York and California are all that scared of the legal use of firearms.
That said, sure, leave it in the car. You’re scaring the effete press core and it’s hard enough getting them to accurately cover these events.
Best wishes,
-MFS
Comment by MFS — August 19, 2009 @ 7:33 pm - August 19, 2009
MSDNC showed a video of a guy carrying a gun at ObamaCare protestand declared it was evidence of white racism. One problem, the guy carrying the gun was African-American.
Comment by V the K — August 19, 2009 @ 9:19 pm - August 19, 2009
#5, LOL, to much…
Comment by Steven E. Kalbach — August 19, 2009 @ 9:29 pm - August 19, 2009
“I don’t think folks outside of New York and California are all that scared of the legal use of firearms.”
Nobody is scared of the legal use of firearms. What people are rightly scared of is the illegal use of firearms – i.e. to shoot innocent people. Would you feel confident vouching for the sanity and law-abiding nature of everyone who might possibly show up at a public meeting, anywhere in America?
Wasn’t it you rightwingers who had such a huge hissy fit over the two Black Panther dudes who had billy clubs outside a polling place on election day? Would it have all been OK if only they had semiautomatics instead?
Comment by Tano — August 19, 2009 @ 9:36 pm - August 19, 2009
I think it’s worth noting that we didn’t have these stories until AFTER Obama’s union goons started attacking folks. Would the arrogant SOB in #7 feel comfortable vouching for THEIR sanity?
Bringing a gun to a rally suggests the bearer has some other purpose in mind.
With respect, that sounds like the kind of comment some of the liberal fucktards would make. That’s shameful.
Comment by ThatGayConservative — August 19, 2009 @ 9:58 pm - August 19, 2009
please read:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/johann-hari/the-republican-party-is-t_b_262594.html
Comment by bob (aka boob) — August 19, 2009 @ 10:21 pm - August 19, 2009
bob-using the Huffington Post as a source on the GOP is like turning to James Dobson as a source on homosexuals.
Comment by B. Daniel Blatt — August 19, 2009 @ 10:23 pm - August 19, 2009
So, tano is okay with voter intimidation. Thanks for clearing that up.
Comment by V the K — August 19, 2009 @ 10:36 pm - August 19, 2009
that is an opinion piece, gpw, so no one is trying to hide a “slant”. the article is well reasoned and current though, and i think you should read it.
Comment by bob (aka boob) — August 19, 2009 @ 11:08 pm - August 19, 2009
Did anyone ask those folks why they brought guns to the rally? Maybe they were assaulted last week; maybe they wanted to emphasize the 2nd amendment. Without knowing their reasons, however, we don’t know whether the “intimidation” was intentional or accidental. (Being from Arizona, I don’t consider holstered weapons particularly upsetting.)
Comment by Cate — August 19, 2009 @ 11:35 pm - August 19, 2009
#12
I read it and it’s based solely on liberal bullshit, but mindless lemmings in the choir gobble it up as fact and beg for more.
Comment by ThatGayConservative — August 19, 2009 @ 11:54 pm - August 19, 2009
I agree with Dan – people don’t need to bring guns to these things.
I believe the 2nd Amendment applies to individuals (I possessed a concealed-carry permit in my home state) but open display of any weapon at a political event is just plain dumb (unless you happen to be a Black Panther at a polling place – then it’s just peachy).
It’s asinine to bring a gun anywhere near where the president (or any other politician) is.
Anyone with common sense would realize the displaying firearms would be a feast for the media (so I wonder if these gun-toters were Democrat plants).
Comment by SoCalRobert — August 20, 2009 @ 12:12 am - August 20, 2009
you got that. . .Democratic plant
how about this. . .http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/2009/08/assault-rifle-interview-outside-obama-event-in-phoenix-was-planned.php
Ernest Hancock, the online radio host who interviewed the man with the assault rifle outside yesterday’s Obama event in Arizona, today stated that the whole event was actually planned in advance.
more on Hancock. . .http://www.freedomsphoenix.com/Front-Page.htm?EdNo=001
Comment by rusty — August 20, 2009 @ 12:23 am - August 20, 2009
Sorry, Dan, but this is, well, bullshit.
Left-wingers NEVER worry about how their behavior may “give ammunition” to their opponents. Only their opponents ever trouble with such worries — which is probably why the Left has been so much more effective than its opponents over the last several decades!
Leftists will demonize their opponents six ways to sixty no matter what. Worrying about giving them ammo is a fools’ errand.
Furthermore, bringing a gun to a rally may represent a desire to engage in violence. However, it can also signal to the would-be tyrants in government that they can’t expect to get away with anything without a fight. And this latter sentiment is very much in keeping with the American Revolution, is it not?
I need I remind you that the violence at town hall meetings and other events as of late has all been caused by leftists? If anti-leftists want to bring some protection, why the hell shouldn’t they?
Comment by Classical Liberal Dave — August 20, 2009 @ 1:49 am - August 20, 2009
The second to last sentence in my post above should start: “And need I remind…”
Comment by Classical Liberal Dave — August 20, 2009 @ 1:52 am - August 20, 2009
Open carry places you at a tactical disadvantage because you are immediately identified as having more potential for fight than the other guy. This makes you the first target. It also presents you as a source for weaponry. In a crowd of people like that, I would feel a bit nervous because someone could sneak up behind and pull the gun out of my holster.
If you are concerned for your safety at these rallies, then you should first reconsider going in the first place. Second, you should conceal (if legal to do so).
Comment by Nathan — August 20, 2009 @ 9:20 am - August 20, 2009
#16: rusty – have you heard about Ron Paul? (That’s a joke.)
I chalk that up to radical libertarians and a radio publicity stunt.
Comment by SoCalRobert — August 20, 2009 @ 9:51 pm - August 20, 2009
Okay, so when is the right time to bring the guns out? Seriously, all I’ve read from those objecting to this particular 2nd Amendment demonstration is how “a peaceable assembly isn’t the right place, blah blah blah.”
Personally, I’m a big fan of deterrence. I’d rather brandish than then send rounds downrange.
Comment by Bikerdad — August 28, 2009 @ 1:37 am - August 28, 2009