Democracy in the Crosshairs: Guns at Town Halls
Assault rifles haven’t replaced placards yet outside presidential townhalls on healthcare reform, but their emergence serves as another disturbing symbol of where political discourse is heading. The ratcheting up from mere words to weapons not only poses an immediate risk. It also sends an irresponsible message that may be picked by some violent extremists, like the weapon obsessed neo-Nazi killer of three Pittsburgh cops, as an invitation to go to the next level. The intense, and often justifiable, anger and confusion that many mainstream Americans feel as they face a dizzying array of government proposals on a spectrum of issues has provided an opportunity for extremists who hate the government to establish a beachhead in the mainstream.
The real backstory here is not the merits of competing versions of healthcare reform, but rather a nasty attempt to undermine our democracy by debasing debate and the very legitimacy of the government’s leadership itself. At no time in recent history have false conspiracy theories and secessionist rhetoric born in the world of white nationalists and anti-government extremists held such sway in the mainstream. For some, the healthcare debate is not about healthcare reform at all. It is not simply a discussion about the competing, costly and downright confusing proposed policy options. Rather, it’s the opening salvo in a wider brewing cosmic conflict against an alien black Muslim socialist president intent on using the tyrannical power of the government to strip real Americans of their fundamental rights and cultural heritage. And a growing number of militias and record number of hate groups are heeding that call as domestic anti-government and racist extremism has reasserted itself as the top domestic terrorist threat according to federal law enforcement.
As Former Klansman David Duke declared last November:
“[O]bama is a signal flag that European Americans have lost control over the government of the nation they founded, a nation that when it was at its best was [sic] the a pinnacle of the dreams of Western man…. [Obama is] symbolic of that transfer of the control of America from White to anti-White.”
For teetering, but non-racist gun rights advocates like Gun Owners of America’s Director of Federal Affairs John Velleco the rights battle is already underway. He vigorously favors assault weapons, as well as civilians bearing loaded guns on commercial airplanes and at front rows of presidential town halls. For those like him, the Second Amendment is a completely rigid keystone right that supports all others -- once it is slightly eroded, the loss of other rights will soon follow. As he said in an often bizarre debate with Chris Matthews and me this Wednesday on MSNBC’s Hardball, “We’re tired of the government trying to take our rights away, it’s not just about health care when we go to these town hall meetings, its a bigger issue….That the government wants to take away a lot of our freedoms and the Second Amendment is high on the list.” Not surprisingly, Velleco also demurred repeatedly when asked whether he thought Obama was a “legitimate American” born in the United States.
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For the true white nationalists and their allies, it’s even worse; the slaves have already taken over the plantation, and are now coming for your guns. And you don’t just arm yourselves with signs in this war -- you bring semi-automatic AR-15s. “It is time to water the tree of liberty” proclaimed a sign held up by one armed town hall gun toter. It’s a variation of a 1787 Jeffersonian quote about deposing illegitimate governments by force: “The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.” More recently, it was also on Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh’s tee shirt on the day he murdered 168 Americans at the Murrah Federal Building in April 1995. For these folks Obama’s health plan isn’t flawed because it may limit options or cost too much, it’s flawed because the officials behind it are part of an anti-American fifth column conspiracy.
Gun Owners of America has for years played a pivotal role at the intersection where healthy mainstream traditional conservative skepticism erodes into anti-democratic white nationalism. GOA is not your typical pro-Gun outfit-it recently accused the Obama administration of threatening to ban gun clubs, ammo reloading, BB guns, and possibly even toys. GOA executive director and founder Larry Pratt also founded English First, U.S. Border Control and the Committee to Protect the Family. He was a key player in the formation of the militia movement in the 1990s. Pratt was one of only a couple of non-racist speakers who appeared at an important anti-government three day conference convened by neo-Nazis and Christian Identity adherents in Estes Park, Colorado in October, 1992. The gathering is viewed as the starting point of the militia movement. Christian Identity is the racist religion of white supremacy that in its most traditional form promotes a segregated white homeland and a belief that the Jews are Satanic and blacks subhuman
Louis Beam, a former Klansman and Aryan Nations leader, who promotes the concept of leaderless violent resistance against the government and other enemies of whites issued a stark warning there, not to bigots, but to the mainstream:
“When they come for you, the federals will not ask if you are a constitutionalist, a Baptist, Church Of Christ, Identity Covenant believer, [or] fundamentalist…Those who wear badges, black boots, and carry automatic weapons and kick in doors already know all they need to know about you. You are enemies of the state.”
Aryan Nations founder Richard Butler offered a Hitler salute while proclaiming himself to be a “100% bigot.” Another sought after speaker who shared the stage was none other than GOA founder Larry Pratt. He railed, on gun rights grounds, against the 14th Amendment, which in 1868 guaranteed former slaves citizenship and equal protection of the laws. Using the 1992 Los Angeles riots as ammo, he vigorously encouraged the formation of armed unregulated civilian militias. After his Estes Park hijinks were exposed in the Washington Post he quickly resigned as the national campaign co-chair of Pat Buchanan’s 1996 presidential bid.
Salvos by extremists to undermine the legitimacy of our presidents by injecting twisted conspiracies into the mix didn’t start with President Obama’s death panels, counterfeit birth certificate, or stealth attempt to strip all civilians of guns in their homes. John Kennedy would secretly answer to the Pope. Bush 41’s “New World Order” was an attempt by Jews, the Illuminati or Freemasons to enslave Americans under a nefarious, and multiethnic “one world government.” The Klan promoted rumors that President Clinton was controlled by Jews and fathered an out-of-wedlock African-American child. And don’t forget those “truthers” who maintain that George W. Bush committed 9/11.
The fact is that despite the fear and rancor, the best weapons conservatives, and liberals, for that matter, still have at their disposal is the judgment to repudiate deceptive hatemongers and the power of thoughtful persuasion our democratic system affords. Despite recent political setbacks, conservatives have peacefully scored some impressive, yet quiet victories within the political process, so loathed by extremists. This spring a majority of Americans surveyed called themselves pro-life and last year the Supreme Court, in an opinion by conservative Justice Antonin Scalia upheld a constitutional individual right to private gun ownership. This of course doesn’t matter to folks whose divide is not over issues, but over the legitimacy of our government itself.
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I oppose the gun control that Obama's history indicates he supports BECAUSE it was used to specifically disarm the newly freed slaves in the Confederacy after the southern insurrection was put down and to disarm Irish and immigrants from Italy and eastern Europe
More loaded fire arms carried in the open leads to a more polite and less violent society. Then why is Columbia at the top of the per capita gun deaths lists, while we’re at 45 and Japan is at 60? Japan has vert strict gun laws and yet they have a lower than average homicide rate? With so many gun owners in the US shouldn’t we be doing better. Or are we more like Columbia, a more violent people. Is that why most gun related murders are perpetrated by some one you know. Stranger shootings are not the norm.
Personally I believe more loaded guns in public makes from a more dangerous world. can anyone name a civilized country where open carry has led to a more "polite" society. i.e.: less murders by guns?
If loaded guns in public make a more dangerous world, why do we allow police to openly carry guns?
Your about as bright as the person earlier who tried to compare America's gun laws to Iraq under Saddam Hussein. You keep comparing apples to oranges and you'll always have problems.
The fact is, it's been demonstrated over and over that the more people who are licensed to carry a firearm under the laws provided in those states that actually have a method and requirements around obtaining a handgun, the less violent the community becomes. Sorry...yo
Just read the most current statistics on crime, and there are plenty of books on the subject.
"Then why is Columbia at the top of the per capita gun deaths lists,"
Gee, I don't know. Do you think it might have something to do with Columbian drug cartels? They have to use the military to deal with these people.
The man carrying the rifle was a shill for a right wing conservative radio station. Doesn’t anyone read the news? The issue of race is not about this rifle toting protester but about fringe right wingers having issues with President Obama. We all remember "Barrack; the Magic Negro" or "Can we still call it the White House?" The poster with spook eyes on the portraits of US Presidents. That there is a racially tinged group of white racist is undeniable. The Klan, Aryan Nation. Are these types bringing loaded fire arms to Presidential Town Halls? No. These 2nd amendment types are there to intimidate HC reformers. Misdirect citizens from HCR. Distracting us the fact that half of all personal bankruptcies were caused by illness, where Americans lacked the basic security of knowing that if they lost their jobs they wouldn't have to sell the house to pay for the medical treatments to keep them alive.
"This of course doesn’t matter to folks whose divide is not over issues, but over the legitimacy of our government itself."
It's both. As an American, I should question the government and continually evaluate it's legitimacy. It's legitimacy is based on our constitution. I question the legitimacy of everything the federal government does, whether Clinton, Bush, Obama...wh
As far as guns at rallies. Writers can posture it any way they want, but it's clear to me that the people who are carrying guns at these rallies are doing it for one purpose, to represent their right to bear arms. Why have we not heard of anyone being intimidated? Why have we not heard of anyone who was harmed? Because it didn't happen.
It didn't happen because these were law abiding citizens. When law abiding citizens carry weapons, criminals are less likely to commit crimes. It's a demonstrated fact pattern that many people just don't want to admit exists.
I applaud the black and white people who stood up for their rights to carry their firearms at the rally. I applaud the fact that the black man contacted the local authorities ahead of time so not to cause unnecessary problems. Would I have carried the rifle, probably not, but that's me. I don't expect everyone in America to be like me. And you shouldn't expect everyone in America to be like you.
please dont create these false equivalencies. there is very good reason to be skeptical of the official version of 911 and the 911 skeptics are not going to public meetings armed with weapons. outcomes that come from public discussions where one side is armed would be illegitimate. so would outcomes that result from false flag attacks. do i have to believe each and every official version of events or be considered a birther or some one who automatically must believe Jimmy Carter was from another galaxy. you are doing what the gun toters do just on a subtle level-- you are preventing and avoiding an actual discussion of 911. this is a form of shouting down the 911 skeptics.
There was no assault rifle.
By the definition used by the US military, US State Dept, and firearm experts, assault rifles are full-auto. People routinely confuse the term assault rifle with assault weapon, which was defined by federal law in 1994 as certain semi-auto firearms. None of the firearms in question have been full-auto firearms.
There was no assault rifle.
By the definition used by the US military, US State Dept, and firearm experts, assault rifles are full-auto. People routinely confuse the term assault rifle with assault weapon, which was defined by federal law in 1994 as certain semi-auto firearms. None of the firearms in question have been full-auto firearms.
There was no assault rifle present, despite what the MSM claims.
Assault rifles are full-auto firearms. The term assault rifle is often confused with the term assault weapon, which, aside from being grammatically abhorrent, was defined by federal law to only refer to certain semi-autos. The firearm in question is a semi-auto.
"For the true white nationalists and their allies, it’s even worse; the slaves have already taken over the plantation, and are now coming for your guns. And you don’t just arm yourselves with signs in this war -- you bring semi-automatic AR-15s."
All while ignoring the fact that the guy who was carrying the AR-15 was black...
As much as the left wants to paint this as a race issue, it's not.
"This of course doesn’t matter to folks whose divide is not over issues, but over the legitimacy of our government itself."
It's both. As an American, I should question the government and continually evaluate it's legitimacy. It's legitimacy is based on our constitution. I question the legitimacy of everything the federal government does, whether Clinton, Bush, Obama...wh
As far as guns at rallies. Writers can posture it any way they want, but it's clear to me that the people who are carrying guns at these rallies are doing it for one purpose, to represent the right to bear arms. Why have we not hear of anyone being intimidated? Why have we not heard of anyone who was harmed?
We haven't heard of it because these were law abiding citizens. When law abiding citizens carry weapons, criminal are less likely to commit crimes. It's a demonstrated fact pattern that many people just don't want to admit exists.
I applaud the black and white people who stood up for his rights to carry his rifle at the rally. I applaud the fact that he contacted the local authorities ahead of time so not to cause unnecessary problems. Would I have done it myself, probably not, but that's me. I don't expect everyone in America to be like me. And you shouldn't expect everyone in America to be like you.
"For the true white nationalists and their allies, it’s even worse; the slaves have already taken over the plantation, and are now coming for your guns. And you don’t just arm yourselves with signs in this war -- you bring semi-automatic AR-15s."
Hey Brian, that's a black man up there in the video with the AR-15. MSNBC cut the film so that you can't see that.
You can see all this as white racist hatred if you choose to, but you would be wrong.
Amusingly, the corporate right uses the gun nuts at their peril. What will these people do when they run out of Liberals to oppose and discover that Bank of America and Goldman Sachs are taking their home, car, and job?
I do have to oppose this behavior though, imagine someone taking an assault rifle to school after hearing their child's story about why they are in trouble with the teacher...
It will no doubt shock you to learn that about half the gun owners in this country are liberal-leaning Dems and independents.
Vermont, which has among the most liberal gun laws in the country is full of liberals.
This is not a liberal vs conservative issue.
It never has been
....so yesterday afternoon, a disheveled homeless man was pushing a shopping cart with his worldly belongings down busy Nebraska Avenue in Tampa, Florida.
Prominently displayed among the "goods" were three handguns and an assault rifle....j
Startled bystanders called the police.
When the Tampa police pulled up, our homeless man promptly fired and killed the lone police officer - an 11 year veteran with a wife and kid.
The weapons, by the way, were legally obtained at a pawnshop outside of Ft. Bragg, N. C.
The homeless man was a vet, discharged for unspecified "medical" reasons.
Perhaps our homeless man was worried that the government was coming to take his guns?
....just another day in America.
I wonder if those medical reasons related to some psychological issue, which would have been grounds for not selling him a weapon. There should be an orderly process to prevent the wrong people from owning weapons of these sorts. But that does not mean we should not make them available to the average law abiding citizen.
Cars kill people...l
"....just another day in America."
Really? Find ONE other similar example.
Homeless people with assault rifles. Oh yeah. See 'em all the time.
I spend an inordinate amount of time in Philadelphia. Homeless people grow on trees here. Never saw one carrying anything more fomidable than an empty liquor bottle.
I also notice that you neglected to post a link to this account.
Here in Los Angeles--I can't remember EVER seeing a homeless person with a gun (and I have seen a fair number of homeless people)
I would suggest that those who oppose healthcare, do so because they perceive it as some sort of threat to their own survival. (What will the cost be to me?). While those who support it, perceive it as an aid to the survival of themselves and others. Ultimately, both sides seek passage to the same destination. Albeit by different routes.
The tactic of competing for resources has served lifeforms here for many many millennia. So breaking the inbuilt habit of lifetimes will not be easy. But break it we must. For no matter how well it may appear to have worked in the past, it is not a sustainable approach. Such a strategy can only succeed where no external threats exists. When external threats do exist, completion between two or more factions of a species is ineffectual and counterproductive. As all could perish at once. Concerted and unified effort to manage any endangerment, is the only viable option actually available.
If that distant destination still seems worth reaching.
Great post. These people who show up to town hall meetings posturing with arms and bitterness fail to understand an essential element of American governance today. In the 1980s, the governance of the USA became utterly corporate. The political class ceded power to the corporate class. Look at what is happening in the health care reform debate: Obama is pushing back against corporate interests --and the corporations (media included) are rallying behind insurance companies, hospital corporations, etc. Yesterday I even heard talking points defending insurance companies against Obama on AMradio. Rush, Sean and Bill are on the air to deflect blame from corporate America and point the finger at government. People showing up at town hall meetings with guns who hate the government don't realize that the government dangles at the end of the corporateer's strings...
Excellent post!
Sorry to inform you, the proRKBA people carrying guns are not doing it for corporate reasons--they are doing it to remind Obama that the gun control he supported in Illinois and as a U S Senator is a non starter
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