- Let me state from the get-go that I'm no opponent of
gun ownership (got my first rifle at the age of 12 and am still a crack
shot). But something weird is going on when you have guys wandering around
a political rally or protest site with pistols strapped to their thighs,
or semi-automatic assault rifles strapped brazenly to their backs, as has
been happening outside of venues where President Obama is speaking.
-
- Before we get to the legal issues here, I just want to
paint you a mental picture:
-
- Take yourself back to the time when George W. Bush was
president and Dick Cheney was Vice President. Both men were barnstorming
around the country in those years, either ginning up support for their
pointless war in Iraq or campaigning for Republicans in Congressional races,
or for their own re-election. The response of police in charge of crowd
control at these events--always the same--was dependent upon who was lining
the streets. If there were people sporting signs that backed the administration,
they were left alone. If, however, it was someone wearing something like
an "Impeach Bush" T-shirt, or carrying a sign saying "US
Out of Iraq" or some other critical statement, he or she was given
a choice: move to a fenced in "Free Speech Zone" out of sight
of the presidential or vice-presidential entourage, or face arrest.
-
- Now I don't have to tell you that if those protesters
who were being moved away from a political rally or motorcade back then
had been visibly armed, much less armed with loaded assault rifles, they
would not have simply been herded into a "Free Speech" pen. They'd
have been arrested, probably tased into the bargain, their guns would have
been confiscated, and they might well have found themselves on a flight
to Guantanamo Bay
-
- What's different now?...
-
-
- For the rest of this column, please go to:
-
- http://www.thiscantbehappening.net
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