Health Reform Supporter Shows Up At Protest With Revolver

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Over the weekend, yet another Arizonan came to a tea party health care protest with a gun.

But this time, it was a vocal backer of the Dems' health care reform plan.

A man who will identify himself only as Josh, pictured below, told TPMmuckraker he came with two friends to the anti-reform demonstration near the office of Rep. Harry Mitchell (D-AZ) on Saturday.

Asked why he brought the .38 revolver to the event, Josh, noting he was within his rights under Arizona's open carry law, asked, "Why not?"

"I carry a firearm with me on a regular basis, so it wasn't completely out of the norm to have it. But part of it was in response to" the recent shows of arms-bearing by anti-reform protesters outside Obama events.

Josh informed some nearby police officers that he intended to be armed at the anti-reform protest, opposing the tea partiers. The officers' responded, "'It's your goddamn right, go ahead.' Which was fairly emphatic," Josh says.

Despite bringing his revolver to the event outside Rep. Mitchell's office, Josh tells TPMmuckraker he believes fellow one-named gun-toter Chris, who came to the Obama rally in Arizona with an AR-15, "made a poor choice," but "was within his legal rights." Also, he says, Rep. Mitchell was not at the office during the protest.

Josh believes the Dems' health reform proposal is not perfect, but "the cost of doing nothing is going to be far worse."

He and his friends are discussing going to other events in the future. Will he bring his .38?

"I might not," he says. "The thing that is actually kind of discouraging is the fact that I had firearm, as opposed to why we were there" -- which was to have a discussion -- is getting the attention.

http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/...st_revolver.php

[Niels Bohr 72]

I don't mind the person carrying the firearm.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

I don't mind the person carrying the firearm.

The ones who've shown up with guns prior to this guy were part of an organized group and bringing guns to protest health care reform were symbolic....to symbolize that they were on the side of rights and freedom, while health care reform was on the opposite side. This gun owner comes along and symbolically shows that gun rights and health care reform are not tied to one another as the previous gun toting protesters tried to suggest.

[Ban Hammer 13,369]

so are we gonna see some outrage about this guy protesting and packing at the same time like with the previous ones?

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

I think this is a complicated enough issue without introducing firearms into the equation as some sort of BS symbolic message. To me, it seems vaguely threatening too - especially given that emotions seem to be running high at these events to say the least.

Edited August 25, 2009 by Private Pike

[My Name Is Nobody 3]

I don't mind the person carrying the firearm.

The ones who've shown up with guns prior to this guy were part of an organized group and bringing guns to protest health care reform were symbolic....to symbolize that they were on the side of rights and freedom, while health care reform was on the opposite side. This gun owner comes along and symbolically shows that gun rights and health care reform are not tied to one another as the previous gun toting protesters tried to suggest.

Are you a mind reader? You read into way to many issues? oh no wait, conspiracy?

He is within the law. Period, case closed. Dont like it change the law.

On to more important issues

[Niels Bohr 72]

Having guns at protests are used as intimidation tools rather than peacekeeping. Seriously, it works well to intimidate people security having another person standing next to them with an open gun. If theif can pick people's pocket, then, they could've well pick pocketted those with open guns.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Having guns at protests are used as intimidation tools rather than peacekeeping. Seriously, it works well to intimidate people security having another person standing next to them with an open gun. If theif can pick people's pocket, then, they could've well pick pocketted those with open guns.

That's how it appears to me - practicing the second amendment to intimidate the practice of the first.

[Ban Hammer 13,369]

Having guns at protests are used as intimidation tools rather than peacekeeping. Seriously, it works well to intimidate people security having another person standing next to them with an open gun. If theif can pick people's pocket, then, they could've well pick pocketted those with open guns.

you've never carried a pistol openly, have you?

[one...two...tree 2,762]

I don't mind the person carrying the firearm.

The ones who've shown up with guns prior to this guy were part of an organized group and bringing guns to protest health care reform were symbolic....to symbolize that they were on the side of rights and freedom, while health care reform was on the opposite side. This gun owner comes along and symbolically shows that gun rights and health care reform are not tied to one another as the previous gun toting protesters tried to suggest.

Are you a mind reader? You read into way to many issues? oh no wait, conspiracy?

He is within the law. Period, case closed. Dont like it change the law.

On to more important issues

[Peikko 1,575]

Having guns at protests are used as intimidation tools rather than peacekeeping. Seriously, it works well to intimidate people security having another person standing next to them with an open gun. If theif can pick people's pocket, then, they could've well pick pocketted those with open guns.

That's how it appears to me - practicing the second amendment to intimidate the practice of the first.

I agree. Idiotic nonsense.

[Empress of Groovy 373]

so are we gonna see some outrage about this guy protesting and packing at the same time like with the previous ones?

I'm outraged by his shirt.

[ready4ONE 5,400]

Wearing a gun on your hip in public, in 2009, when not a police officer makes you look like a 'tard regardless of your opinion on health care...

[sly_wolf 199]

Wearing a gun on your hip in public, in 2009, when not a police officer makes you look like a 'tard regardless of your opinion on health care...

Agreed. This type of display does not give me any comfy feelings. A very poor example for sure.

[Ban Hammer 13,369]

Wearing a gun on your hip in public, in 2009, when not a police officer makes you look like a 'tard regardless of your opinion on health care...

heaven forbid someone exercise all of their constitutional rights around you.