Guns at Townhall Meetings

[Maj.JakeVitaminwater]

WTF!? What is up with the people bringing guns to the meetings? It was one thing to bring the pistols, but why are the people bringing assault rifles? I always thought it was illegal to carry a loaded weapon in publc.

Can someone explain to me why people are bringing the guns to these meetings.

THIS TOPIC IS NOT ABOUT HEALTHCARE REFORM SO DON'T GET INTO TOO MUCH.

 

[Starnerf]

It's an expression of their 1st Amendment rights in the form of a display of their 2nd Amendment rights. I assume. One could expect them to have the courtesy to keep them unloaded just so there's no possibility of an incident, but as long as nobody gets hurt I suppose it's not a problem.

 

[Wordsandstuffwillbenexttothis8465]

It's America, we can. Just because you have a gun does not mean you are going to shoot someone.

 

[Scarecrow38]

If I start talking about my opposition to gun control I won't stop. It could be an expression of their freedom.. but that's a pretty stupid reason when you look at how many incidents happen in American homes with people getting shot by mistake/ accident,

 

[Casual Shinji]

I think people who openly carry guns in public are morons who need to stay the f*ck away from me. But then again, I don't live in America.

 

[Maj.JakeVitaminwater]

It's America, we can.

Like said before I thought it was illegal to carry a loaded gun in public.

 

[Xyphon]

edit: Nevermind. Apparently the ban of selling automatic firearms was lifted in 2004. Boy am I behind the times.

 

[Proteus214]

I'm all for 2nd amendment rights, but seriously, I don't see the point in carrying around hardware like that unless you plan on using it, which is unsettling to say the least.

 

[The_root_of_all_evil]

SO glad I live in the UK.

 

[BarkBark]

I think this is one of the instantiates
where the 'Because they can' reason fits.

Its completely legal for them to do so,
and no one was shot.

 

[BarkBark]

It's America, we can.

Like said before I thought it was illegal to carry a loaded gun in public.

Your state laws are probably different from
there state laws.

 

[ZeroMachine]

I... wait, what? Where/when did this happen?

 

[Amnestic]

It's America, we can.

Like said before I thought it was illegal to carry a loaded gun in public.

That implies the people dragging their long weapons to town hall meetings actually know or understand the law.

I kinda doubt that.

It's America, we can.

Like said before I thought it was illegal to carry a loaded gun in public.

Your state laws are probably different from
there state laws.

Actually probably not. Not to a great degree anyway; since each State has their own intricacies I'm far too lazy to read all of the legal jargon to dissect it.

 

[HardRockSamurai]

I understand the right to bear arms (trust me, I do), but there's no real need to carry guns IN PUBLIC!!! That's just asking for trouble.

Unless of course you're a hunter, postal working, or just attending the latest Activision conference.

 

[chiggerwood]

...... Weren't automatic firearms banned from public sale?

They are unless you have a license, but the public can still buy the semi-auto versions.

 

[dalek sec]

To me it's just further proof that most of the people who go to these townhall meetings are just backwards people who hate the government and the president so much I'm pretty sure if they could they'd take a shot at him. God I hate those stupid ass backwards bumpkins...

 

[DeadlyYellow]

It's an expression of their 1st Amendment rights in the form of a display of their 2nd Amendment rights. I assume. One could expect them to have the courtesy to keep them unloaded just so there's no possibility of an incident, but as long as nobody gets hurt I suppose it's not a problem.

You seem correct. The first amendment allows for freedom of speech and peaceful assembly (both can apply here.) It will only take one idiot to put an end to it, and given how many people were in attendance to the protest I really do not like the odds.

 

[Oolinthu]

Because the same people who glibly swallowed the Iraq War, the Patriot Act, and all manner of lying, obfuscation, and criminality under the Bush administration are suddenly up in arms to fight government oppression because the new administration is "socialist" and wants to reform health care.

 

[dalek sec]

Because the same people who glibly swallowed the Iraq War, the Patriot Act, and all manner of lying, obfuscation, and criminality under the Bush administration are suddenly up in arms to fight government oppression because the new administration is "socialist" and wants to reform health care.

This +1.

 

[fix-the-spade]

It's America, we can. Just because you have a gun does not mean you are going to shoot someone.

But just because you don't intend to doesn't mean you won't.