Man Carrying Semi-Automatic Assault Rifle And Pistol Outside Obama Event (VIDEO)

A man was spotted Monday afternoon carrying a semi-automatic assault rifle and a pistol at a pro-health care reform rally next to the Veterans of Foreign Wars convention in Arizona where President Obama was speaking.

The local paper The Arizona Republic reported:

A man, who decided not to give his name, was walking around the pro-health care reform rally at 3rd and Washington streets, with a pistol on his hip, and an AR-15 (a semi-automatic assault rifle) on a strap over his shoulder.

"Because I can do it," he said when asked why he was armed. "In Arizona, I still have some freedoms."

Two police officers were staying very close to the man.

CNN has video from the scene, and according to their reporter at the event, Ed Henry, there was another man, also carrying an assault rifle at the event.

This is the third report in a week of someone bringing a gun to an event where the President was speaking. Last Tuesday a man was arrested before Obama's New Hampshire health care town hall for carrying an unlicensed loaded gun. Also outside the New Hampshire town hall, a man was seen with a (legal) handgun strapped to his leg, holding a sign referencing the famous Jefferson quote: "The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time, with the blood of patriots and tyrants."

UPDATE: The Associated Press is now reporting that there were actually about a dozen armed people among the protesters in Phoenix:

Story continues below

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About a dozen people carrying guns, including one with an AR-15 assault rifle, milled among protesters outside an event where President Barack Obama was giving a speech Monday in Phoenix.

It's the latest incident of gun-rights advocates visibly displaying firearms near the president.

Phoenix police say the people with guns, including a man carrying the assault rifle, didn't need permits. No crimes were committed, and no one was arrested.

The man carrying the assault rifle declined to be identified, but told The Arizona Republic that he was carrying the weapon because he could, adding that he still has some freedoms.

Last week, during Obama's town hall meeting in Portsmouth, N.H., a man stood outside with a gun strapped to his leg.

Comments

[Terry Mcintyre]

Gun owners should come out of the closet, for the same reasons that gays and lesbians do; in order to awaken the public to our sheer normalcy. Some people freak out whenever they see a "civilian" openly carrying a weapon, but in some states such as Arizona, it is quite normal. Used to be a lot more common everywhere, in fact. Kids used to ride bicycles to school with rifles for school-organized competitions. Annie Oakley was a popular star in her day.

The truth is, open carry is a lot more common that most pundits will admit. Open your eyes, and you'll see armed police and security guards. I live in Los Angeles and typically see from 2 to a dozen openly armed people every day of the week. I have no doubt that still more are carrying concealed weapons. There's nothing to get excited about.

We should encourage every voter to bring weapons to town meetings, demonstrating their willingness to defend the security of a free country. former Senator Gary Hart D-CO, author of Minuteman, Restoring an Army of the People, would probably approve.

[Simone Hill]

i honestly do not understand how this could be allowed this a post-JFK, post-911 era.

what if something happened to the president because of it?

[OdinsEye]

They were not allowed anywhere near the President.

[Veratruth]

I don't care about my opinion trumping another, but if I see someone carrying a gun near me when I am at a rally, I am going to be very UNHAPPY and he/she is going to know I'm UNHAPPY. Undoubtly, he or she then holds the trump card.

[drmoorejr]

While it may have been a bit "tacky" to carry around a rifle at a rally, the NON RACIST (Black man), had a right to prove his point. And if you all are so scared of a man exercising his 1st, 2nd and 4th Amendment rights without being arrested why not consider moving to England?

[Veratruth]

What would you think if the POTUS carried a rifle? Do you think he would be more apt to prove his point or do you think he would only be exercising his 1st, 2nd and 4th Amendment rights. Why can't you move to England?

[OdinsEye]

"What would you think if the POTUS carried a rifle? "

I think it would be fine, so long as he abides by federal, state, and local laws.

[Terry Mcintyre]

I would rather the POTUS be someone who is comfortable defending his own life, and the lives of his family. Why should he depend on others?

[6925thCobras]

We should be grateful that those opposed to healthcare reform are only carrying rifles and hand guns. In Afghanistan, the Taliban were using rockets to show their opposition to the election that was being held yesterday.

We get the message. If health care reform is passed, the people that support the insurance companies big profits will come out en masse with guns and start a revolution.

[BassMent]

I sincerely believe we may be in for a civil conflict in any event. The health care issue is simply the catalyst for long-brewing hatreds stoked by the right-wing screeching heads to come bubbling to the surface. It's not about health care. It's about the loss of White America. I deeply believe that is the bottom line, and when the armed conflict begins, it will be faught along racial rather than ideological lines.

Racists have been able to leverage the legal system and social conventions to keep people of color down for a long, long time. Now they see that power being taken away, as whites continue their inexorable march toward minority status in this country. And they are angry. And the only tool they have left to express that anger is a weapon. In their minds, it's payback time for anyone who dared to vote for a black man for president.

I believe they will lose the war when it comes. But as has happened historically at many times in many cultures, the bad guys will put up a hell of a fight before they are finally purged. It only gets uglier from here.

[dhinds]

Re Exercising One's Rights:

Technically, Arizonians have the right to carry unconcealed firearms without a permit. (I know, I've done it).

These firearms lack only a motive, to become lethal weapons in practice; and the risk of that motive arising increases in proportion to the perceived threat that carrying those weapons creates.

Whenever two opposing groups choose to exercise their right to bear arms at the same time and in the same public place, you've got a perfect scenario for a race to determine who can shoot first.

I was enlisted to help document the results of one such event (that is, record where the bullet that caused the death penetrated and left the body) and I can tell you that it doesn't take much, when the heart's in the path.

All it took was the disconfidence that a surprise encounter with one's armed counterpart generated for two men and a donkey to wind up dead.

The sane conclusion is: Sometimes exercising one's rights produces results that vary from those expected, when others with the same idea but opposing views are involved.

In a real sense, these deaths were stupid, unnecessary deaths produced by brave / fearful people who insisted on walking around armed.

In other words, sometimes exercising one's rights can produce the wrong results.

Comprendes?

[OdinsEye]

"These firearms lack only a motive, to become lethal weapons in practice"

Inanimate objects cannot have motives.

[klmebane]

i believe the poster was referring to the motives of the people carrying the weapons, not saying the weapons themselves have a motive.

[hansulrichrudel]

"dhinds" wrote: "These firearms lack only a motive, to become lethal weapons in practice;"

Sheeesh! All of my firearms "lack motive." After all, they are nothing but inert objects until operated by a living, breathing, thinking, feeling person who can use them according to his/her motive.

People possess motive. Objects are then used by them to carry out that motive.

Does your vehicle possess a "motive" to run down pedestrians?

[hansulrichrudel]

Story about scary woman with a rifle near police in Texas. http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/years/2009/0820091twinpeaks1.html

[dhinds]

Re Exercising One's Rights:

Technically, Arizonians have the right to carry unconcealed firearms without a permit. (I know, I've done it).

These firearms lack only a motive, to become lethal weapons in practice; and the risk of that motive arising increases in proportion to the perceived threat that carrying those weapons creates.

Whenever two opposing groups chose to exercise their right to bear arms at the same time and in the same public place, you've got a perfect scenario for a race to determine who can shoot first.

I was enlisted to help document the results of one such event (that is, record where the bullet that caused the death penetrated and left the body) and I can tell you that it doesn't take much, when the heart's in the path.

All it took was the disconfidence that a surprise encounter with one's armed counterpart generated for two men and a donkey to wind up dead.

The sane conclusion is: Sometimes excercising one's rights produces results that vary from those expected, when others with the same idea but opposing views are involved.

In a real sense, these deaths were stupid, unnecessary deaths produced by brave / fearful people who insisted on walking around armed.

In other words, sometimes exercising one's rights can produce the wrong results.

Comprendes?

[denisecchiang]

I am definitely not a fan of guns. Guns are useless and need to be banned.

[tallyho1]

Oh really? Tell that to a person who is being assaulted in their home! Weapons can be really useful when used the right way!

[Sivispacemparabellum]

Ok , just had a few very interesting conversations with some contacts in the Arizona Second Ammendment Rights groups .

Here's what I KNOW for certain , from someone in the Law Enforcement Community that was involved in the planning AND PRESENT with the protestor with the semi auto rifle slung over his back

The rifle was UNLOADED . Apparently there was enough concern about someone coming unglued and trying to rough up the guy or make a try for the weapon that it was an EMPTY magazine that was inserted . There are also various photos, taken from other angles that do show a loaded , second magazine in the man's left rear pocket.

There were two plainclothes police officers standing behind the protestor with the slung rifle , behind him by a few feet and off set on an angle . Imagine the man at 12 on a clock face , the two officers were standing a few feet behind him at roughly the 5 and 7 o'clock positions . Far enough back to be out of immediate camera range , but definetly close enough for them to intercede if anything started to go wrong or someone tried to accost the protestor or make a play for the weapon

And last but certainly not least . The man with the slung rifle was in a DESIGNATED PROTESTOR VIEWING AREA , AWAY FROM THE EVENT , JUST LIKE WHEN BUSH WAS IN OFFICE !!!

[carlosgriffin]

Forget the guns, this hurts more...

What's being used at the VA Hospitals is incredibly immoral, and I know darn well that this will be similar to the end-of-life counseling that will be used under Socialized Obamacare. I'm so mad I'm shaking... http://wp.me/piQMP-2Bl

[Sivispacemparabellum]

But , but the "polite suggestions " for choosing an early out " arent real !!! Thats all a fabrication of the 'tea baggers " !!!!









Or at least thats what everyone keeps saying

[Daw8it]

Please , enough already... you and Sarah Palin are the only people talking about the made up "death panels"

it's been debunked already . Get a new lie to talk about. geeesh

[dhinds]

You need counseling.

[BassMent]

You really need to read the bill.

All patients with serious/terminal illnesses talk with their doctors about their options. They all do. Stop and think.

Those conversations could range from a request to withdraw all care and allow the illness to take its course, to an insistance that the doctor throw every available medical technology at it to try and cure it.

People who know they are terminally ill talk to their doctors about entering hospice. This happens every day in this country. Stop and think.

The ONLY thing the reform bill proposes is to reimburse doctors for the time spent with patients when engaging in these conversations that already take place.

The two doctors I know tell me they never bill for this time when the conversation is about end-of-life decisions. But some do. Many insurance plans do not cover this kind of consultation. Covering such conversations under an insurance plan is sane, and compassionate, and humane.

Stop and think.

[Veratruth]

I saw one man in terrible pain while taking medical treatments to stay alive, and he finally said, "Let me die." Another man lay in an isolated hospital room for several days unable to recognize his visitors, who wore protective clothing and masks. I do not know who finally released him from his misery, but it was NOT his closest relatives. He was on Medicaid.

[tallyho1]

Why don't you read the 1000 page HR3200!!!!!

[miejo]

Why wasn't that guy whisked away to the "free speech zone" or did those go away with George Bush?

[windylindy]

ONLY IN AMERICA! This is craziness and has no place in public discourse.

[AttorneyAtLaw]

The man was already in the designated demonstration area, nowhere near the President.

[Veratruth]

What kind of designated demonstration area was that? Was everyone of one accord? Did they all speak the same language?

[Veratruth]

Right, all I've heard on National News was NOT about any "free speech zone" as in the days of former President George Bush. That man was protected from himself.

[FullOnReality]

There is no such thing as a Semi-Automatic assault rifle. The very defeiniton of an assault rifle is a rifle that is capable of full-automatic fire.

[BraineyRubble]

And any real gun collector would never know to file the firing pin, or get a conversion kit from a local gun show.

[mauschen]

Weird... I posted that reply to a different comment. Sorry. My comment was: I think assault rifle is what many people assume AR stands for.

[FullOnReality]

Convert a semi-auto rifle to fire full auto and you risk going to the pokey for a very long time.

[Sivispacemparabellum]

Ok brainey , time to use 'em . Please explain the process for how "filing a firing pin " accoomplishes the goal of converting a semi auto to a full auto . I wont hold my breath

As far as " conversion kits " go . The McClure -Volkmer Act of 1986 ( also known as the Firearms Owners Protection Act ) mandated that manufacturers of semi automatic weapons must design and manufactured in such a way as to make " conversion " extremely difficult without specialized tools and training in machinists methods . Its also a serious Federal Felony to sell " conversion kits " without a Federal License

In short , you've seen way to many movies

[OdinsEye]

Any real collector would know

1. It isn't that easy

2. Such kits are illegal

3. Such a conversion is illegal

4. Such a mod ruins the value of the firearm

5. Such mods are dangerous to the shooter

[mauschen]

That is precisely what defines a right. It wouldn't be called that if you could only exercise it if it didn't offend anyone.

[dhinds]

Technically, Arizonians have the right to carry unconcealed firearms without a permit. (I know, I've done it).

These firearms lack only a motive, to become lethal weapons in practice; and the risk of that motive arising increases in proportion to the perceived threat that carrying those weapons creates.

Whenever two opposing groups chose to exercise their right to bear arms at the same time and in the same public place, you've got a perfect scenario for a race to determine who can shoot first.

I was enlisted to help document the results of one such event (that is, record where the bullet that caused the death penetrated and left the body) and I can tell you that it doesn't take much, when the heart's in the path.

All it took was the disconfidence that a surprise encounter with one's armed counterpart generated for two men and a donkey to wind up dead.

The sane conclusion is: Sometimes excercizing one's rights produces results that vary from those expected, when others with the same idea but opposing views are involved.

In a real sense, these deaths were stupid unnecessary deaths produced by brave / fearful people who insisted on walking around armed.

In other words, sometimes exercising one's rights can produce the wrong results.

Comprendes?

[Veratruth]

That right can be exercised when you offend anyone trying to sh oo t you. They call it self-defense.

[nton]

This is crazy stupid asinine this is not going to end well...at least lets all acknowledge what this is really about - not rights but intimidating the POTUS and setting an example for the aholes out there who might actually use those loaded weapons on innocent bystanders or even the bigger aholes who are putting them on TV and interviewing them...remember Columbine and...

[Pennsylvanianne]

I remember 1963 and another Democratic president who tried to help the common people and what happened to him. Please may this not happen again.
On the other hand, no right wingers batted an eye or protested AT ALL when anti-Bush protesters were arrested for carrying anti-Bush SIGNS and wearing anti-Bush T-SHIRTS. Wow, you get a lot of firepower from cardboard and cotton!! And those protesters rightly questioned a president who did not receive a majority of votes in 2000 and whose 2004 election was dubiously legitimate. Obama won fair and square, yet the sore losers want to intimidate him and other Democrats with firearms. What is wrong with this horrible picture?
Remember 1963 ...

[Veratruth]

Come on honest and patriotic Americans. Let us all thank Pennsylvanianne. Man, why didn't a million more of us think of his fair and honorable assessment?

[Veratruth]

Man, that was the best assessment I've read. Thank you.

[perfectarc]

I live in upstate New York and was out for a nice leisurely walk with my dog along the Hudson River one morning when I came upon a police officer sitting in his car drinking a cup of coffee. I took the opportunity to probe his knowledge of criminal possession of firearms. He informed me that 85% of the weapons confiscated by the police in our county had origins in southern states where they were stolen from homes and sold illegally to would be criminals and gang members. Interesting statistic, right?

[montestruc]

Does not sound right. I will buy that a large fraction are from southern states, but not that all of those or even most are stolen. I will buy that most are "reported stolen", but I really doubt the number of firearms "really" stolen in southern states would satisfy the economic demand of criminals in northern states for guns. FYI burglary in southern states is a ,much more dangerous occupation than in northern, as the home owner can shoot the burglar dead with little legal hassle.

What sounds a lot more plausible is the northern criminal gets a southerner, often a relative to buy the gun for him, pays him for it and the southerner reports it stolen (with "no earthy idea" who has it). An enterprising fellow could acquire a lot of such guns and have them "stolen" all at once to make it less suspicious.

[donnyquixote]

what flavor is the kool-aid you are drinking? do you wear a flowing robe and hand out flowers at the airport and tell passerbys "peace, hope, love" or are you one of the lucky who live in a town with a 0% crime rate? if someone ever breaks into your house, maybe you can convince them to leave with harsh words alone...