Man With Assault Rifle Joins Protesters Carrying Legal Firearms Near Obama Event

AP: Gun-rights advocates say they're exercising their constitutional right to bear arms and protest, while those who argue for more gun control say it could be a disaster waiting to happen.

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August 17, 2009 at 6:58 pm - CNN
Dateline: Phoenix, AZ
Larse   August 17th, 2009 - 7:10 pm

Unfortunately, brandishing weapons like this is only going to create a whole new raft of gun laws. Their just going to make life for the rest of us gun owners harder…

Ig Nernt   August 17th, 2009 - 7:13 pm

More Knee Grow Muslims with weapons. God cast a dark skin on the Knee Grow race as punishment for the sins of Ham. Praise Jesus that He has prepared a lake of burning sulfur where their dark skin will burn in fiery agony for all of eternity!

couch potato   August 17th, 2009 - 7:17 pm

I can promise you, there’s a mil-dot reticle painting that guy’s head the entire time he’s there.

[...] original here:  Man With Assault Rifle Joins Protesters Carrying Legal Firearms Near Obama Event Filed Under: Latest News [...]

Bill Sinclair   August 17th, 2009 - 7:24 pm

So let me get this right. These Knuckleheads think our rights should be suspended because it’s Obama?
It’s a right to open carry in Arizona. These individuals broke no laws and excercised their rights.
If you don’t like the law, get it changed but don’t ask for someones rights to be suspended because it’s Obama.

Oldbluesboy   August 17th, 2009 - 7:31 pm

ACORN, you CNN fools.

Trent   August 17th, 2009 - 7:31 pm

LOL! When he is Black they sure tone it down. LOL!

And if it is OBAMA it is a problem….but if it was BUSH…. LOL! Thanks for exposing your blatant bias “Sanchez.”

dontflagmebro   August 17th, 2009 - 7:32 pm

The reporter wet his pants. Defend the Constitution and 2nd amd.

BJC   August 17th, 2009 - 7:38 pm

Sorta odd that they focused their talking points mostly on the guy not being seen instead of the one that the camera is showing? I guess this guy was okay to carry a gun until they could prove he was against Obama? He was black so that threw them off I guess? I just don’t understand why they focused almost the whole discussion on someone else! I mean I do know why they kept talking about the one protesting Obama, I mean it is Cult News Now (CNN) but still it seemed pretty stupid reporting.

Steve   August 17th, 2009 - 7:39 pm

Oh that nutty Spike Lee.

garryowen   August 17th, 2009 - 7:41 pm

There are alot of “Civilians” who go around well armed every day and somehow manage to not crazy and shoot anyone… There is a reason the Founding Fathers felt the need to include something about our right to be armed and put in as point #2 right after “Freedom of Speech and Religion”.

WildBillHabiki   August 17th, 2009 - 7:41 pm

I’m surprised CNN showed a minority with a gun, let alone an assault rifle at an Obama townhall meeting. We have always been told gun nuts were crazy whites, usually southerners.

Patrick   August 17th, 2009 - 7:43 pm

So what… Yawn…

dguerra   August 17th, 2009 - 7:44 pm

that Black guy carrying a rifle must be racist if he doesnt like Obama (rolls eyes)

BTW its not an assault rifle. its a semiautomatic Carbine.

AzBorn   August 17th, 2009 - 7:44 pm

I was born, grew up in and live in Phoenix. People openly carry guns here. It’s not that uncommon. My cousin’s boyfriend brought a gun to my Grandfather’s 90th birthday. I was little shocked, wearing a gun to someone’s 90th birthday party. What was he expecting? Some type of an assault on the party that he alone would be prepared to repel? But shock gave way to curiosity. Before the party, did he lay all his weapons out on the table, and ask my cousin “Honey, is this a formal affair, should I take a standard .38 revolver, or take the nickle plated .45?”

America – enjoy your glimpse into the world that is Arizona! Ha!

Norm   August 17th, 2009 - 7:49 pm

More LEFT LUNATIC BOLSHEVIK FRINGE PROPAGANDA from Sanchez.

And as per Oldbluesboy, ACORN for sure.

Steve in CO   August 17th, 2009 - 7:52 pm

Of course it’s legal. Most of the mainstream media libtards have livd in the Manhattan or D.C. bubble for far to long. That’s why they can’t fathom this or understand that it’s legal in so many states. Even left-wing states like Vermont allow open carry. In fact, Vermont for many years was the only state that allowed concealed carry by any legal gun owner without a permit. They have recently been joined by Alaska.

So why is he carrying? To make a point that constitutional power flows from the people to the government. This is at the core of the Bill of Rights and the foundation of the second and tenth amendments. Look at the New Hampshire flag and you’ll have your answer.

And no, I have no problem if he’s a supporter or opponent of Obama’s agenda. Nor would I care if this happened when Bush was president. As long as he is not a prohibited person (http://www.atf.gov/firearms/faq/faq2.htm#b5), who cares?

James K   August 17th, 2009 - 7:52 pm

(Q1)Why does this guy carry a gun? Because he can. Should he? . . .

(Q2)Why do people have abortions? Because they can. Should they? . . .

(Q3)Why do people commit suicide? Because they can. Should they? . . .

(Q4)Why does Obama violate the constitution? Because he can. Should he?. . .

A1:Yes, A2:No, A3:No, A4:No

1-3 are all legal. 4 is illegal. 1 is moral. 2-4 are all immoral.

L.J.   August 17th, 2009 - 7:52 pm

He said it’s perfectly legal. Case closed.

Veritas   August 17th, 2009 - 7:56 pm

Why do liberals freak out when they see law abiding citizens exercising the right to bear firearms? They kept wanting to know why he had the gun. The answer is self evident. Sanchez said “just because you can doesn’t mean you should”. I wish Sanchez would apply the same thinking about this man’s 2nd amendment rights the next time he is thinking of exercising his 1st amendment rights and maybe we might not have to listen to as much psycho babble coming from his pie hole.

scott   August 17th, 2009 - 7:59 pm

If an AR15 is an “assault-weapon”, than what is a select-fire M4?

registerd voter   August 17th, 2009 - 8:01 pm

Its funny how shocked these lib talking heads are. Im so glad I am from AZ where we are still freeour rights are protected. Now if we can just keep the liberals from moving here and ruining our great state!

BJC   August 17th, 2009 - 8:11 pm

Sanchez, Why do you keep shooting off your liberal mouth? Because you can? Well, it offends me so shut the hell up!

JoeTupe   August 17th, 2009 - 8:13 pm

Unfortunately, brandishing weapons like this is only going to create a whole new raft of gun laws. Their just going to make life for the rest of us gun owners harder…

Wrong it is legal he did nothing wrong, Arizona has a open carry policy

jordy2009   August 17th, 2009 - 8:13 pm

EAT YOUR HEART OUT SANCHEZ…………. to carry a loaded weapon in AZ is not a TREND…………. it’s the effing LAW!!!!!

Travis   August 17th, 2009 - 8:16 pm

Carrying LEGAL Firearms. Why is this even a story? Oh, it’s CNN.

lemming   August 17th, 2009 - 8:18 pm

Ig Nrnt wrote:
“More Knee Grow Muslims with weapons. God cast a dark skin on the Knee Grow race as punishment for the sins of Ham. Praise Jesus that He has prepared a lake of burning sulfur where their dark skin will burn in fiery agony for all of eternity!”

FYI Moses married a black woman, and it was OK with God. In fact He punished those that mocked him for it (see Numbers 12).
You give Christians a bad name.

Shane   August 17th, 2009 - 8:19 pm

Notice how they could amplify the horn blowing in the background but couldn’t get a lock on the AR-15 toting great American’s voice? This is what Les Paul pioneered! The multi-track recording. They insert what they want you to hear, and exclude what you should hear and say wha.. wha… what was that guy saying…. I couldn’t hear it over my edit! Freakin liberal Hitleresque propaganda at it’s best! Thanks but please don’t waste my time displaying this type of commie rhetoric.

JimC   August 17th, 2009 - 8:22 pm

So according to Sanchez….the man is carrying a assault rifle….interesting that the NRA had to remind people in the media and on the left that a assault rifle was a AUTOMATIC weapon…therefore we can conclude that Sanchez is either instigating trouble with his numerous use of the term Assault Weapon and not rifle….Or, he is too ignorant to learn the meaning of the term…So is he Ignorant or a Instigator….You decide…I already know…

Calvin&Hobbs   August 17th, 2009 - 8:22 pm

According to the socialist liberal democratz — how dare he.
This man committed two cardinal sins.
He carried a rifle AND he spoke freely !!

Al   August 17th, 2009 - 8:25 pm

The cops have guns, the secret service have guns, and most of our remaining “servants” have guns. The “masters” of the nation show up with a gun and all hell breaks out? Who exactly is the master and who is the servant here? I would love to attend an event where every law abiding citizen is armed. Obama’s job is to uphold the Constitution, it is not to provide health care or make citizens safe. Read our founding documents to discover what makes (or made) America great, a government chained by the Constitution. Time to take America back to basics and ignore these CNN/etc busy bodies and nutcakes.

lamchops   August 17th, 2009 - 8:29 pm

That guy they are showing is standing with the Obama supporters. I kinda surprised CNN couldn’t figure that out and make it clear.

I personally have no problem with liberals exercising their second amendment rights also. Given the level of public armament in that crowd, I’m guessing that if that guy started threatening people with that carbine, he’d be dead before he hit the ground- which is most likely why he has his weapon pulled so tightly against his back. And that is as it should be.

ron   August 17th, 2009 - 8:35 pm

THIS IS OBAMA, THEY CANT DO THAT. Clinton, Bush that’s one thing but this is OBAMA. WTF? Sanchez you are a Racist. I saw you the other day some random brother steeped up to the podium to check the mike before Obama came out and you said “oh here’s President Obama now”. What we all look alike. You Racist

chuckles199   August 17th, 2009 - 8:45 pm

who told Ed Henry that was an AR-15.
he wouldn’t know (humself) a water pistol from a taser.

Captain Steve   August 17th, 2009 - 8:47 pm

Does anybody know the guy? Maybe he was an anti-gun obamite trying to make gun owners look scary to the nation.

You can be certain, obummer wants to take patriot’s guns away.

If it was obummer’s choice, only the Black Panthers would have guns!

Mike   August 17th, 2009 - 8:54 pm

Sanchez is a fool. Maybe you should say assault rifle a few more times assclown…

Protip: Semi-automatic AR15s are NOT assault rifles. An assault rifle is fully-automatic by definition.

jason   August 17th, 2009 - 8:59 pm

THIS IS WHAT MAKES AMERICA GREAT!
How’s that for diversity Libs?!

http://cafepress.com/rightwingstuff

labeau   August 17th, 2009 - 9:02 pm

How funny, the only people NOT conserned about the gun carried by the black man was all the white people.
Now who’s the racist? Liberals!

No Big Deal   August 17th, 2009 - 9:09 pm

What is the big deal? Obama lived in CHICAGO. He is used to this. There are hundreds of murders in Chicago each year. They have a running total of how many Chicago Public School students are murdered each year. A made for TV mini series could be made about the weapons found on the streets of Chicago. At least once a year they have “turn in a weapon day”, in exchange for money. They love to show all the guns they collected on TV. You could supply a small army with the stuff they collected.

At least the people with guns in this video were law abiding citizens. I’m more concerned about the felon with a concealed, illegal weapon. They seem to be doing the damage. CNN should send a reporter out to frisk some felons. That would make some good reporting. lol

kmichaels   August 17th, 2009 - 9:23 pm

People die everyday. Not that big of disaster in the long scheme of things. Having socialism force on American, Now that would be a real disaster that affect millions, and all NEGATIVELY.

duncan   August 17th, 2009 - 9:25 pm

Those news Talking heads might as well roll over and wet themselves WAAAAA

muddywood   August 17th, 2009 - 9:30 pm

I’ll bet that neither of those girlie-man liberal reporters has ever fired a BB gun in their entire life.

Pathetic.

Sarah   August 17th, 2009 - 9:36 pm

Good thing they didn’t show below the waist shot or we’d have seen both these twerps had soiled themselves.

Eddie   August 17th, 2009 - 9:38 pm

Leave it up to CNN, huh? It figures. I agree there is NO story here.

Besides, the guy was probably just being sure he was protecting himself from the SEIU Union thugs that Obamaites seem to have embraced at meetings.

Zony   August 17th, 2009 - 9:44 pm

Rick Sanchez: “Why would someone bring an assault rifle to an event like this?”

Answer: Because he can.

And now I am again reminded why I live in Arizona.

Abouthadit   August 17th, 2009 - 9:52 pm

Oh YEAH, that was STARTLING…. you bunch of pansie metrosexual pretty boys. Go home and play with your dollies.

chadp71   August 17th, 2009 - 10:12 pm

Its was nice to see this Black Conservative law abiding America not get beat up by any of Obama’s thugs like the last guy…So to all you lib’s that what to punch back twice as hard maybe you better think before using violence.

Pierce   August 17th, 2009 - 10:16 pm

Both these reporters are embarrassing. Every American male should know how to use a rifle and seeing a simple semiauto rifle should not make them start whining like these two do. BO walks around surrounded by a dozen or more agents with automatic weapons for protection. An American has the same right in being able to protect himself. This is a show of the RIGHTS every American has and these sissified reporters should have walked up to this American and slapped him on the back and let him know how proud of him they are. Instead they act as if we have a ruling elite that deserve more than us!

Matt   August 17th, 2009 - 10:18 pm

What a couple of idiot “reporters” trying to demonize this man for exercising his rights. He was peacefully demonstrating. No laws were broken. Having a gun doesn’t turn you into a criminal.

And why does he keep calling them “Pro-Obama” and “Anti-Obama” people. CNN hasn’t figured out that the people are protesting the nationalizing of multiple industries – including health care, the uncontrolled expansion of government spending, the destruction of our constitution, and the loss of our individual rights and freedoms. CNN still thinks that this is just a redneck KKK gathering of racists that don’t like fact that the President is half black.

Maybe this explains CNN’s ratings.

Mary   August 17th, 2009 - 10:30 pm

I believe that Obama had made some noise at some point about removing all guns from households. Or maybe it was Holder that is wanting to do that? That would be the reasoning behind exercising the right to bear arms. It is a show to Obama that you can’t mess with our rights. It is not a trend that is going to start unless the State has a open carry law. Pushing the envelope would have been for them to be holding their guns in position. Simply carrying them is their right.

Lanie   August 17th, 2009 - 10:55 pm

The gun toters were WITH the union thugs,,,
This was open, outright intimidation tactics.

jack   August 17th, 2009 - 11:01 pm

pu**ies

DA BEARRRS   August 18th, 2009 - 12:36 am

I’ll bet my team has more guns than your team…

Dan   August 18th, 2009 - 12:49 am

There were lots of people there with hand guns. Those hand guns make bigger holes than that rifle. They were only focused on the rifle because the really know nothing about guns. We carry guns in AZ. Get over it.

mark   August 18th, 2009 - 12:55 am

Sane people think the Republicans are organizing murderous thugs, who threaten the entire first family.
If they don’t denounce this cr*p, they won’t have one member of Congress next year.

John   August 18th, 2009 - 12:56 am

Bringing guns to political events… sounds like something the Taliban would do to intimidate people. I guess you guys agree with Mao when he said the “political power flows from the barrel of a gun”. Funny that you have more in common with the people you hate than your fellow Americans.

Seriously though… you know what else you have the right to do? Dress up as clowns, hop around on a pogo stick, speak backwards, and wear underwear on your head. Doesn’t mean you don’t look like an @ssh*le when you do.

ALmighty Fraud   August 18th, 2009 - 1:28 am

I don’t believe in the almighty leader and I think people are sick of being put
down by posers who act like this big idol, this celebrity can’t be criticized.
We can criticize him all the hell we want!

f14fixer101   August 18th, 2009 - 1:52 am

These two CNN in the tank for Obama Thugs (I can call them that because they call me part of the Mob) act like they are about to pee their pants at the site of a AR-15. And how dare they bring one so close to where the Great One is. There sould be a LAW not to bring (weapons) sorry in their use of words in their minds (Guns) anywhere near The Great One for fear that The Great One would fall over dead at the site of such things.

Dadeo   August 18th, 2009 - 1:53 am

He saw another man “A WHITE MAN” with an AR-15 while he was “taking pictures” of the crowd… Really? Okay you frightened little daffodil, where’s the picture of this “other” man?

Rob   August 18th, 2009 - 2:10 am

John it also doesn’t mean that you don’t look like one while exercising your 1st Amendment rights.

MAYBE   August 18th, 2009 - 4:25 am

Maybe he ought not to be conducting “events” in states that have open carry laws.

HammerDown   August 18th, 2009 - 9:13 am

That CNN reporter who was “startled” to see an Arizonan exercising his right to Open Carry needs to put on a fresh pair of panties and get over it. Nobody invited him to come to our state and wet himself on national TV news.

I live in Arizona, and I regularly carry my sidearm in a plainly visible holster wherever my wife and I go. She is worth the best protection that I can provide for her.

My wife carries hers, too. It is also perfectly legal for me to carry an AR15 should I choose to do so. If I do, my wife will be carrying hers, too. So will our friends. Lots of Arizonans own AR15s, and everyone I know that owns one knows how to carry it legally and to use it proficiently.

In our rural county, the response time of the Sherrif’s Offfice to emergency calls has been measured in hours on more than one occasion. We are the only ones that are ultimately responsible for our own physical security. We would only call 911 after the smoke had cleared.

The cops are NOT paid to protect us. The cops will continue to get paid and promoted regardless of whether or not any of us survives the many street assaults, home invasions, and kidnappings that have become commonplace in Arizona, thanks to a never-ending flow of criminal aliens from our hostile neighbor to the south.

News flash, folks, it’s the same everywhere else in America. The cops are paid only to clean up the mess afterwards, and to then look around for someone to blame. Meanwhile, the dolts who got creamed because they went unarmed spend a night in the hospital, or in the morgue.

We moved to Arizona to get away from those whiny bed-wetting dolts. If anyone objects to me or my wife or any of our neighbors carrying our arms openly at the local Wal-Mart, or at a public rally, then they are cordinally invited to scurry their pee-stained trousers back home to their overtaxed Marxist strongholds on the coast. Me and mine will be out with our arms, thank you.

This recent event WILL become the beginning of a trend. Expect to see more armed Arizonans at public rallys and events like this. If anyone should wonder if we are “trying to send a message” to the Obamunists, the answer is most definitely YES.

That message is “WELCOME TO ARIZONA !”

Molon Labe,

HammerDown

Juanba   August 18th, 2009 - 12:24 pm

“It is not illegal to carry guns openly in Arizona, but police kept close tabs on the men!”
It IS Illegal to not carry them openly, how news can be used to serve a purpose!
No comment on how many citizens carry guns when Obama is not in town! Trust me they wear them when he’s not in the State. They did not just strap them on because Obama decided to visit! I am sure there were some that were unseen as we do have concealed permits too. We have to carry them exposed! Do not let the media sway your minds. Do you see the media covering adds to hire thugs to support his bill offering $11-15 per hour? ACORN getting in faces of those against his bill?
The right’s of the people in Arizona exist only because they stand firmly resolved to preserve them! The majority of tax paying citizens in Arizona stand for family values! Lacking in this nation today. Notice the words TAX PAYING CITIZEN! The right of the People to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed!

Travis   August 18th, 2009 - 12:52 pm

http://www.snopes.com/politics/guns/blairholt.asp

asher of indiana   August 18th, 2009 - 6:27 pm

God bless Arizona!
It is nice to see a state with individual rights being inforced!

Charles Drust   August 19th, 2009 - 12:46 am

FACT 1. The man carry the guns was African-American.
FACT 2. The MSM and libs would’ve ignored the him except that he was standing with “The Mobsters” and he wasn’t wearing a beret with a red star on it.

Aine   August 20th, 2009 - 9:43 am

What’s Sanchez’s point that “this is Barack Obama and not President Bush or President Clinton”? Why stress that point–doesn’t the CNN audience know who our current president is? What is he trying to say about this gun owner or about the group in Arizona?

I think politicians in DC are not the only ones who are “disconnected” from the rest of the country.

Average Joe   September 3rd, 2009 - 3:41 pm

First of all, Arizona does not have a open carry law….they have a Constittuion…which they follow.Second, a man or woman carrying a concealed weapon is more likely to be accosted and have to use the weapon than a man or woman carrying a loaded weapon in plain sight. Third, we hear all of the tales about the criminals using guns to hurt others, but we never seem to hear about the people carrying guns that actually save lives….why is that? …….and finally, from the father of psycology himself…..”A fear of weapons is a sign of retarded sexual and emotional maturity.”
–Sigmund Freud, General Introduction to Psychoanalysis

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