I'm curious what everyone's take on bringing a gun to townhalls and Presidential speeches is. I realize it's legal, and don't have a major problem with it, except that I think it's stupid and just an intimidation tactic, especially when combined with signs calling for the blood of 'tyrants' to be shed.

I guess what I am saying is, I don't see the point in doing it, and if it's not meant to intimidate, then what is the purpose?

for someone that thinks a bunch of arabs hijacked planes and made buildings melt why u wanna see it through that THE STRAIGHT WHITE MALE IS THE NEW CAVE DWELLING MUSLIM

Wasn't Oswald a Liberal?

What about John Wilks? Also a raging Liberal ...

HEY OH!!!!

Oswald was a Communist, which despite what Ann Coulter says, is not a Liberal per se.

Booth was a member of the Know Nothing Party, most of whom joined the Republican Party (and which has apparently rediscovered its roots).

Carrying a gun to a debate has nothing to do with anything but intimidation, bully tactics, and possibly a desire to be a martyr ("they're takin our guns away!!1!")

The WH has come out in support of people carrying arms. Yet another argument made by the right which has been completely shot down, but which the right will never admit.

Thanks. Ok, I'll ask again: what is the purpose of it then? Just because they can/it's legal? No other reason? Coincidence?

No, the question was real. I am not anti-gun, but I don't see the point in displaying a loaded gun (along with a sign calling for the blood of the President - which he lied about just like he lied about his Birther connections) at a townhall discussion on health care.

Were the townhall about gun rights, I'd totally understand it. Were he actually concerned for his own safety, I'd sort of understand it, although I'd also think he was being paranoid.

With the history we have of political assassination (including non-Presidents), the rhetoric being displayed by his peers and the rightwing media, and the death threats to pretend that this has no agenda, or that he's just randomly displaying because he can makes no sense to me. Does he wear his gun everywhere, or was this a special event for him?

And frankly, to say that gun owners are demonized in this country is like saying fast food is demonized - sure there are outspoken people who yell about it, but most Americans are fine with guns, and we're a very gun-steeped culture on both sides of the aisle. I'd bet most of us have family and/or friends who own guns, and may even be owners ourselves, so to say gun owners are demonized is not entirely honest, other than by a handful of people in the media.

Then again, the fringe elements do seem to like playing the victim card.

But it does deserve a reply. Of course they did not unholster their weapons. Why? Because they were not there to shoot anyone, obviously.

But they were there to send a strong(arm) message, that violence is the answer to their problems if you do not go along with what they want.

We have a word for people who use fear of violence and intimidation tactics to get what they want: the IRS. I thought you were against that sort of thing.

Seriously though, I'm not attacking these people's rights to be ignorant morons. I''m questioning their motives.

dear ramirez,

i am going to camp out in front of your house with my registered gun and a sign that implies that i want to kill you. i am going to bring a bunch of my friends with me who will also have clever signs alluding to how badly we want you dead.

please don't call the police, because i am simply exercising my rights to free speech, free assembly, and bearing arms.

but you should be very afraid of me.


xo,
justin

My desire? I just want people to stop trying to use a show of force to justify their delusions of power grabs. I include the government too - I don't want to see them using force to do the same thing any more than I want Joe Yokel to do so.

We have a system that can work pretty well, except it's fuckered up from too many lawyers, guns, and money, and more importantly people too lazy to pay attention and look shit up.

And bringing a weapon to a discussion is just plain rude. I also wish people would stop acting like it doesn't send a very obvious message.

Is it that hard?