Health Reform Supporter Shows Up At Protest With Revolver in Arizona

[RamboLiberal]

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.

http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/08/health_reform_supporter_shows_up_at_protest_revolver.php?ref=fpb

[SteppingRazor]

1. Hmmm ... I'm of two minds about this.

On the one hand, I understand the desire for protection when walking into a place filled with armed people who hate you and everything you stand for. Too, I understand that going strapped amid these people mocks them in an ironic sort of way.

But at the same time, I can't help but think that this is sort of a weird form of brinkmanship, and that's certainly a bad idea.

[Jennicut]

12. I'm with you. It may make their heads explode but it could easily escalate

into a ego-driven violent incident.

[armyowalgreens]

2. Bad idea.

[Mz Pip]

3. That must have confused the hell

out of the teabaggers.

I have somewhat sarcastically suggested this when these rw gunners started showing up at Obama events. It's not as though there are no liberals in this country with guns.

[napi21]

4. A VG friend of mine lives in AZ. and carries all the time. She

is constantly confronted by snakes. Believe me, she;s not swomeone who would be looking to shoot someone. I found it odd when I visited he and she told me about carrying all the time, but when we took her dog for a walk, I found out shy she does. Those of us who live in or near the "city" don't understand stuff like that.

[armyowalgreens]

5. I carried a .357 magnum when I hiked up the the face of the mogollon rim...

In northern AZ.

The first time I backpacked it, I brought the gun. No problems.

The second time, I only brought a tactical knife. And of course it was just my luck that I ran into a bear about 5 miles into the trail. I nearly shit myself.

I don't think I'll ever backpack again without a firearm.

[likesmountains 52]

6. Well, did the bear attack you? Would you have shot it if you had been carrying a gun?

[armyowalgreens]

8. The bear did not attack me. I froze and slowly backed away...

until I got about 50 feet down the trail. Then I turned and sprinted as fast as I could for about a 1/4 mile. Then I sat for about 30 minutes.

I would only have shot the bear if it was attacking me. It's actually a crime to shoot it in any other situation.

[likesmountains 52]

11. Ok, thanks. I just always wonder what people who have animal encounters mean

when they say something like "I'll never backpack again without a gun." Just curious if you thought you'd shoot first.

[damntexdem]

10. Good for you. But the bear and you were not at a public forum where violence could break out.

For that matter, had the bear been at such a venue, it would likely have made more sense than the teabaggers. ;-)

[Critters2]

18. True dat. nt

[DailyGrind51]

7. Two can play the intimidation game!

[damntexdem]

9. Oh great, now they can have a gunfight, maybe at the not-OK Corral.

Keep the guns away from protest meetings. Outlaw guns at protest meetings. It's just not a good idea to have guns at such events.

[immoderate]

19. Packing weapons sort of decries the whole purpose of town meetings.

This is like wearing weapons to a peace conference, particularly since this is just a display. It displays the wrong message.

I see this as part of the "whip up the crazies" campaign. Somebody will be emboldened enough to take a shot at the president.

And for the record, I'm a gun owner. :)

--imm

[old mark]

13. Great idea. We need several thousand more like him to show up

at every RW function, meeting, ass scratching contest, whatever they have.Let them see a lot of armed Democrats/liberals.

Might give them something to think about, if they can actually do that.
I have carried a gun every day - legally - for 15 years and have never gotten into an "ego driven" confrontation. It's fucking insulting to even suggest something like that.


mark

[Political Heretic]

16. Yeah, go intimidation! That's Democracy!

Intimidating the public, even if you disagree with them, with firearms is fucking asinine.

[drm604]

14. Bad idea.

This does not help.

[sakabatou]

15. That sign confuses me.

[G_j]

17. bad idea nt

[bvar22]

20. Follow this out to the logical conclusion.

Gun owner here who wants NO part of this kind of foolishness.

Guns are a tool.
They are for killing.

They are not Fashion Wear, props, or male enhancement devices.
Using them as such is begging the inevitable.

[Celebration]

21. I know how we can settle the health care debate

We can have a series of duels....