Look out, the lunatics are on parade!
Obama Protesters Bring Their Guns
About a dozen people carrying guns, including one with a military-style rifle, milled among protesters outside the convention center [in Arizona] where President Barack Obama was giving a speech Monday — the latest incident in which protesters have openly displayed firearms near the president.
I am in full support of the Second Amendment of the Bill Of Rights, but within reason, and with some damn common sense. The people with guns are saying it's a political statement -- "if you don't use your rights, then you lose your rights" -- but it's ridiculous to be waving around, carrying, or otherwise displaying guns near the President of the United States.
As usual, what many people seem to conveniently forget is that with rights come responsibilities!
Just for fun, I checked out the open carry wiki for the US and I was very surprised by what I saw:
The blue states are where you can open carry with little or no restrictions -- that means they allow a non-prohibited person to carry a firearm in plain sight without permit or license, whether on foot or in a motor vehicle. I had no idea there were so many states that allowed this! Some of them seem like givens, like Vermont and South Dakota, but Arizona? Right on the edge of California? Damn.
Obama Protesters Bring Their Guns
About a dozen people carrying guns, including one with a military-style rifle, milled among protesters outside the convention center [in Arizona] where President Barack Obama was giving a speech Monday — the latest incident in which protesters have openly displayed firearms near the president.
I am in full support of the Second Amendment of the Bill Of Rights, but within reason, and with some damn common sense. The people with guns are saying it's a political statement -- "if you don't use your rights, then you lose your rights" -- but it's ridiculous to be waving around, carrying, or otherwise displaying guns near the President of the United States.
As usual, what many people seem to conveniently forget is that with rights come responsibilities!
Just for fun, I checked out the open carry wiki for the US and I was very surprised by what I saw:
The blue states are where you can open carry with little or no restrictions -- that means they allow a non-prohibited person to carry a firearm in plain sight without permit or license, whether on foot or in a motor vehicle. I had no idea there were so many states that allowed this! Some of them seem like givens, like Vermont and South Dakota, but Arizona? Right on the edge of California? Damn.
Labels: America - f*ck yeah, Barack Obama, guns, wickety-wack
posted by Ammie at 10:31 AM
6 Comments:
"Prohibited persons - people prohibited by law from publicly carrying a firearm in plain sight. These can (but not necessarily, as state laws differ) include but are not limited to: minors, felons, those convicted of a misdemeanor of domestic violence, those found to be addicted to alcohol or drugs, and those who have been involuntarily committed to a mental institution"
So does this mean its okay to carry one hidden, even tho they are unstable and unlawful people? Blimey!!
Its so foreign to me this whole concept, as of course you know its so strict here. My brother has one, under licence, but he can only use it in controlled area's and it has to be locked up and bolted to the floor, hidden in his house! Interesting stuff tho and had many a debate with my brother in the past about firearms.
Your comment about it being ridiculous to be waving around, carrying, or otherwise displaying guns near the President of the United States makes me quite scared as I dont want to see anyone do that, not just near the President!
I hope you'll still be my friend :-)
No worries -- I think we mostly agree, but I would still be your friend even if we didn't. Hope you don't think I'm a redneck for supporting the right to bear arms!
It's understandable that since gun ownership is approached differently in the UK, you feel differently. Haha, but nevermind the reasons why the second amendment is in our Bill of Rights -- oi, it all starts with you British! ;)
Seriously though, I grew up around guns, and in a country that allows their access by civilians, so it seems normal to me for folks to own them. And I support the right to own a firearm, but it isn't my preference that people walk around with them strapped to their belts. My point about Presidents is that even in states that allow open carry, it's just common sense that there shouldn't be a display of guns around someone who is the national leader and a traditional target for assassination.
About unstable and unlawful people: I don't know what the laws are for each permissive open carry state, but I think I can assume pretty accurately that in lieu of open carry, concealed carry does not extend to "prohibited persons." Concealed carry usually requires a permit, and is more permissive than open carry!
Ahh.. okay, I didnt realise that it was normal to require a licence if the weapon is concealed, but not if its not.. as a hippie, I cant see too much difference as to why, a gun is a gun. (I remember freaking out when airport police started openly carrying guns - was only 7-8 years ago!) So all criminals must move to Alaska then, no licence needed there either way as far as I can make out.
See, fabulously interesting stuff, think I shall go surfing tomorrow.
Just one question tho, which is prob impossible to answer, do you think people need guns?
And yeah, I know, a gazillion years ago it was us Brits fault - but trust you Americans.. always have to do one better ;-)
Haha, touché!
Whoa, "no permit concealed carry" isn't just Alaska -- it looks like Vermont too. That's frightening. But VT also has a low gun crime rate per capita -- and so we see why there's such a raging debate.
Yeah, I can't really answer that question about whether people need guns. We did okay w/o them for years -- just found other ways to kill each other! But since they exist, I will support the general populace having them, because it's like that old saying, "if you criminalize guns, than only criminals will have guns." Although at the same time it does seem like knives are the main weapon in the UK for crimes -- is that true?
Morbid subject!
I suppose some people do need guns too - farmers and suchlike. Its just a bit scary coz for me guns it seems to be little chance of survival.
Yeah, knives are the weapon of choice here, but nearly only with kids. Its a real problem with 10-18 year olds, and it kinda scares me because it must be harder to stab as its a closer, more personal form of attack that pulling a trigger a distance away. Its illegal here to carry any offensive weapon, and basically thats anything that could be used to harm, guns, knives, baseball bats...! And there is a lobby to get people jailed for just carrying knives now, but doubt it will happen!
Yay, you're right, sad subject. Sorry!
Even more reason to learn martial arts!
Post a Comment
<< Home