Glenn Beck's Startling Boast: "I Went To The Movie This Weekend With A Gun. And Surprise, Surprise, I Didn't Kill Anybody!" (VIDEO)

During an interview with South Dakota Senator John Thune (R) about the Senate's defeat of his bill allowing people to carry concealed weapons across state borders, Glenn Beck made a startling and discomforting boast about his own experience carrying a concealed weapon, for which he as a permit.

Referencing NYC Mayor Bloomberg's warning that Thune's law would allow people to just walk into bars, restaurants or movie theaters while packing a pistol, Beck scoffed at any danger: "I went to the movie this weekend with a gun. And surprise, surprise, I didn't kill anybody!"

We're sure moviegoers around the nation feel much safer now. (H/t Think Progress)

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Comments

[JazzyJim]

Last but not least...this absolutely shows a "fear" that has been manifested by the likes of Limbaugh, O'Reilly, Hannity and Beck. The fear and hate that comes from Pox News can't be permitted. Cowards is what I call the "terrorists" of 9/11 - the RNC/NRA are just as guilty of "terrorizing" the citizens of the U.S. As matter of fact - rather face overseas terrorists than the nutwing fringe being courted by the RNC/Pox News. Was that the point of the attacks by Bin Laden - to expose our hypocrisy? Pox is doing a good job of helping the crazed and fringed fanatical in our country (as is LaRushe).

[satanlite]

A percentage of adults are just "crazy". There is no way to keep guns out of their hands and now thanks to the NRA and misguided "rightists" we'll be seeing more and more unbalanced individuals who will feel compelled to carry guns in public places. By making it legal it puts a thin veneer of respectability on it. If you need to carry a gun in society, you've got your priorities 'ed up and probly are paying attention too much on the wrong priorities. This idiotic trend will continue until enough people are killed by the crazies to scare the children into putting the adults in charge of regulating guns. Look for gun violence to rise sharply in states allowing concealed weapons in bars.

[omobob]

Maybe he went to see "G Force". A film about heavily armed guinea pigs and got confused or nervous?

[omobob]

There is NO right to self protection. If you shoot some one, you will be arrested and charged. A judge will then decide wether it was reckless endangerment or self protection.

[Ohio9]

Sorry, but there is a right to self protection. The Heller ruling already made that clear.

[Chitownfool]

Awsome!!! I think in real life Beck dosn't even really own a gun

[kdw75]

How is Bloomberg in office after a speech like that? Everything he says is a lie. Criminals can't get CCWs. Why would the police want to stop anyone from carrying a gun? Where do they find these special needs governors??

[daedelus]

By "special needs" I'll assume you're referring to Bloomberg. I know how important it is to you gun freaks to appear well-informed, so, in the interest of helping you keep up that appearance, Bloomberg is a mayor.

[kdw75]

I know what he is. What's your point?

[kdw75]

Gun nuts? This country is founded by gun nuts so if you don't like that then you are the problem. Don't expect the country to change, instead go find one of the many other countries that ban guns.

[omobob]

Why would the police want to stop anyone from carrying a gun? Because civilians have neither the proper training nor clear presence of mind in the use of deadly force. Carrying a loaded firearm is a risk to you and innocent bystanders. Cops accidentally kill innocent people, why should we expect more from untrained civilians. BTW: a written test, a video and a couple of hours on an indoor range is insufficient. These two tragic shooting occurred within one week.
A 2-year-old girl was shot and critically injured during a wedding reception at an Indianapolis park, police said. Two women also were wounded by gunfire.
Police say a 2-year-old girl is in critical condition after being shot by her 4-year-old brother at a Las Vegas home.

[Ohio9]

"Because civilians have neither the proper training nor clear presence of mind in the use of deadly force."

You have no evidence whatsoever to support that claim. The fact of the matter is that such training is available to any civilian who seeks it out. I know many people who get way more training then the average police officer

"Carrying a loaded firearm is a risk to you and innocent bystanders."

Again, where is your evidence? A lawful gun carried by a trained responsible citizen endangers no one but criminals.

"Cops accidentally kill innocent people, why should we expect more from untrained civilians."

First of all it's false to call CCW holders untrained. Many have more training (in firearms use) then cops.

To answer your question, it's because cops deliberately put themselves in dangerous situations for a living, while lawful civilians only get into deadly force situations when they are forced into it. As such, their situations are generally easier to determine when deadly force is necessary.

If you search the internet, you will find many stories of cops making mistakes in a deadly encounter, but only a few of civilians doing it. There is a reason for that.

"These two tragic shooting occurred within one week."

Neither of your examples involved people with CCW permits. So what is your point?

[omobob]

The 15-year-old that murdered Michael Price Jr., according to the Chronicle, "opened fire after he got into an argument over the victim's having not traveled fast enough down an escalator, investigators said Monday." Price was shot three times as he was trying to flee the group of teens. So nice to have a loaded weapon around when you get upset, isn’t it?

http://sfist.com/2007/11/13/update_teen_sho.php

[Ohio9]

Your example involved a 15-year old, who was obviously carrying the gun illegally. 15-year olds cannot legally own, purchase, or carry handguns.

So your example has nothing to do with Beck, who was lawfully carrying his gun with a valid CCW permit.

[kdw75]

Why would anyone go to the movies, or anywhere else for that matter, without a gun? It is your responsibility to protect yourself and your family.

[daedelus]

Protect yourself against what? Loud talkers?

[CrittersRTasty]

Or maybe protection against being beaten into a coma.

[CrittersRTasty]

http://www.silive.com/news/index.ssf/2009/04/new_arrest_in_baseballbat_atta.html

[kdw75]

You are wise enough to know that you couldn't control your impulses/emotions enough to carry a gun. The rest of us have more self control.

[omobob]

Because most people are shot by people they know. Because carrying a loaded weapon is unsafe in public. You have neither the training or the knowledge to make decisions about the use of lethal force. Police say a 2-year-old girl is in critical condition after being shot by her 4-year-old brother at a Las Vegas home. A 2-year-old girl was shot and critically injured during a wedding reception at an Indianapolis park, police said. Two women also were wounded by gunfire. These are why carrying a loaded weapon is dangerous and deadly.

[Ohio9]

"Because carrying a loaded weapon is unsafe in public."

Not if done lawfully by a trained citizen

"You have neither the training or the knowledge to make decisions about the use of lethal force."

How do you know that? He could be more trained then most cops for all you know.

I'm not a cop, but I am a military policeman in the Ohio National Guard and an armed private security guard. Yet just by virtue of me not being a cop, you claim I'm "untrained".

Civilians can and do get sufficient training to carry firearms. Just because you don't have it doesn't mean others don't.

"These are why carrying a loaded weapon is dangerous and deadly."

Your examples didn't involve lawful citizens with CCW permits, so they are meaningless.

[CrittersRTasty]

I'm honestly surprised at the level of hostility about this. Is it just venom for Beck or do the folks in here really believe that carrying a weapon when going to a movie is scary? The wife and I go to the movies about once a week and I always carry. It never occurred to me not to. Is there a reason that movie theaters are a bad place to be armed?

[omobob]

It never occurred to me not to? If carrying a loaded weapon and the possibility of using deadly force in public does not occur to you to be dangerous then you don’t have the common sense to carry one safely. Carrying a loaded weapon is deadly serious, perhaps you should more carefully weigh the consequences. When you carry a loaded weapon it is kill or be killed. If you are not up to the mission, leave it at home.

[Ohio9]

The point he was making wasn't that carying a gun isn't serious. It's that there is no big deal about carrying it to a certain place, such as a theater.

[Freedom Lover1971]

Maybe, just maybe he was exercising his right, yes RIGHT to self protection. Most people who want their guns with them while they go out in public are law abiding citizens. This right should be defended just as much as anyone here would want the freedom of speech protected. If not we my just lose both.

[daedelus]

Right. Now if I can only figure out a way of maiming somebody with speech.

[CrittersRTasty]

It's pretty easy, really. That's why we have laws regarding defamation, libel, etc.

[Ohio9]

I would hardly call what Beck said a "startling boast". More like a statement of fact. He didn't brag about carrying a gun. He just pointed out that one can do so without harming anyone.

[LaurenMarie984]

Like everything else Beck says, this has to be true.

If he had a gun in a movie theater, it was a water gun; the clear, pink, $1 at the gas station kind. And it took him 5 hours to get up the nerve to walk in theater. He made it 5 feet in and ran out as he wet himself.

[SgtLucifer]

Glenny: "I went to the movie this weekend with a gun. And surprise, surprise, I didn't kill anybody!"
- It's quite obvious they waived the mental health requirement at the gun permit office

[Dimensio]

Such a waiver would be a felony offense. At what time was Mr. Beck involuntarily committed to a mental health facility?

[ewadswor]

Perhaps he didn't self-report.

[tbonehead]

send Beck to Iraq with his gun; that coward would be in tears and in the fetal position in 10 seconds;

[Bongborg]

You don't have to pay for a transatlantic flight, I'd be glad to handle that for you right here in the States. I'd want to take longer than 10 seconds about it, though.

[peacegurl48]

Please lock this LOON up! I cannot believe he's armed!

[karinova]

My first thought was, "what exactly was he expecting to go down in a movie theater?" But of course the NRA-approved reply to that is, "always be prepared." Okay, fine. Let's say Something Awful did happen. How would a gun help?

Let's see... a vast, dark room, with people packed closely together.
I can almost not imagine a worse place to shoot off a gun.

[daedelus]

You will shortly receive a creepily precise contrarian response to your comment.

[Bongborg]

Amazing Kreskin, is that you?

[Dimensio]

"Let's say Something Awful did happen. How would a gun help?"

While I am unable to imagine any scenario in which a firearm would be useful against a particular website, I do not believe that website to be relevant to the current discussion.

[Dimensio]

"with people packed closely together."

Mr. Beck did not specify the title of the movie that he viewed. Had he been viewing "Land of the Lost", the above would certainly not be the case.

[Ohio9]

It's not like he teleported from his home to the theater and back. Have you ever considered a gun is good protection for your trip to your destination and the return trip home?

[daedelus]

And don't forget the potentially harrowing hike from the front door to the driveway. There could be bad guys hiding in the shrubs.