# Can the US president carry a weapon? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 2, 2006, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-us-president-carry-a-weapon/338105 "2006-01-02T19:22:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Mr.Slant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c57346/32.png) [@Mr.Slant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Slant)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2006, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-us-president-carry-a-weapon/338105/81 "2006-01-04T22:11:11Z")
> [@Revenant Threshold](#): > > SNIP > > I have a further question, actually - what about bladed weapons? I don’t know of the relevant laws at all as to blades in the US, so, could the Pres carry a knife on him? How about a full-size claymore? ( Yes, i’m aware he’s most likely not going to do so. But could he?) I don’t know about DC in particular. I know the gun laws in DC are wicked tight, just like NYC. I can say that in general, if you plan on leaving a state where you know the precise law, you should probably not carry a knife on your person… your car is better. Knives over 2.5" or any size of switchblade are bad choices of carry knives, although if you have a demonstrable NEED for a given blade, such as skinning fish, you’re much better off. DC basically says that if you use a blade 3" or longer in the commission of a crime or possess a folding weapon 4.5" or longer you’re breaking the law [1]. If the cops just “think” your intentions are bad and you have a blade \> 3", you may wind up having to prove your good intentions in court, which is bogus but unsurprising. [1] [http://www.thehighroad.org/library/blades/knifelaws.html](http://www.thehighroad.org/library/blades/knifelaws.html) ---
**Author:** ![alterego](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/6bbea6/32.png) [@alterego](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alterego)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2006, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-us-president-carry-a-weapon/338105/82 "2006-01-04T22:12:41Z")
> [@Robert Emmett](#): > > But the captain and helmsmen are military ranks, and they are enlisted military personnel. The POTUS is a fully civilian rank. The Captain is a commisioned, not enlisted. > [@Revenant Threshold](#): > > I would imagine that the POTUS would need the appropriate licenses/to have passed the course/be accredited in order to take over the position See [post 11](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=6954816&postcount=11) > [@Alterego](#): > > In fact, that might be the biggest problem in all of this. You can’t arm yourself in the US military unless you are qualified on paper to fire the weapon. > [@Robert Emmett](#): > > Also, you stated that the President had the right to FIGHT. Madison COMMANDED the troops. Talk to any general and he’ll tell you that with all certainty there’s a hellova lot of difference between commanding troops and fighting with them, unless you’re a low level command officer. I think you are mistaken in that there is a difference. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2006, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-us-president-carry-a-weapon/338105/83 "2006-01-04T23:08:37Z")
A small point, but in the film _Independence Day_, the President led his troops into battle over the muted objections of a General. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2006, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-us-president-carry-a-weapon/338105/84 "2006-01-04T23:11:59Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > A small point, but in the film _Independence Day_, the President led his troops into battle over the muted objections of a General. 😃 Well, yeah. :smack: Once the aliens invade you can throw out all the rules and really delve into the perks of office. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2006, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-us-president-carry-a-weapon/338105/85 "2006-01-04T23:25:57Z")
> [@Si Amigo](#): > > Well, yeah. :smack: Once the aliens invade you can throw out all the rules and really delve into the perks of office. 🆒 But does the President have the authrity to carry a 1920’s style death ray?😛 ---
**Author:** ![Revenant\_Threshold](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f1d935/32.png) [@Revenant\_Threshold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revenant_Threshold)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2006, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-us-president-carry-a-weapon/338105/86 "2006-01-04T23:45:33Z")
> [@alterego](#): > > See [post 11](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=6954816&postcount=11). Apologies alterego, I didn’t realise you’d already made the same point. > [@Quartz](#): > > A small point, but in the film Independence Day, the President led his troops into battle over the muted objections of a General. But IIRC, the Pres in Independence Day had been a fighter pilot prior to becoming president - so the question of him being qualified doesn’t come into play (assuming he’s kept his qualification up-to-date). > [@pkbites](#): > > But does the President have the authrity to carry a 1920’s style death ray? Well, of course - you don’t think they’d let him near the _modern_ stuff, do you? Those things are _simple_ to use. Better to leave him with the more complicated, older (yet stylish) models. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![sharkattack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/76d3ee/32.png) [@sharkattack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sharkattack)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2006, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-us-president-carry-a-weapon/338105/87 "2006-01-05T12:26:58Z")
> [@pkbites](#): > > But that’s an extra step. What we want to know is, does he have the authority/status NOW, simply as POTUS to do so. Well, like it was mentioned, Bush sr. and Roosevelt both carried a gun at times (in office and on the campaign trail)…and supposively its been shown to the press (sorry I dont have a cite for this, but I am sure it wouldnt be too hard to track down), so if thats the case, I think that answers the question. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2006, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-us-president-carry-a-weapon/338105/88 "2006-01-05T15:55:42Z")
> [@Si Amigo](#): > > Correct! The constitution gives the president very broad powers in order for him to execute the powers of his office without being dragged down by petty (or perhaps not so petty, lawsuits and charges). While the president might be protected to some extent from certain kinds of lawsuits and criminal proceedings by the limitation that he can only be impeached by the House of Representatives, I see no broad statement that the president is exempted from complying with the law. ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2006, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-us-president-carry-a-weapon/338105/89 "2006-01-05T16:07:24Z")
> [@acsenray](#): > > While the president might be protected to some extent from certain kinds of lawsuits and criminal proceedings by the limitation that he can only be impeached by the House of Representatives, I see no broad statement that the president is exempted from complying with the law. He is not exempted from complying with day to day laws, it’s just that it is not always clear where laws and presidential privilage ends. Look to the news today and see where the US Supreme Court ruled that president did not have the right to detain a prisinor as an “enemy combatant” indefinitly. The President was able to lock that guy up for almost three years without a trial because he believed that the Constitution gave him the right. Likewise, I believe that he could get away with wearing a pistol if he chose to do so and nobody would object except for his family and the Republican Party! The Democrats and liberal press would eat him alive. ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2006, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-us-president-carry-a-weapon/338105/90 "2006-01-05T16:23:28Z")
> [@acsenray](#): > > While the president might be protected to some extent from certain kinds of lawsuits and criminal proceedings by the limitation that he can only be impeached by the House of Representatives, I see no broad statement that the president is exempted from complying with the law. Also, from Artical II section 3 of the UW Constitution (Bolding Mine): Section 3. He shall from time to time give to the Congress Information of the State of the Union, and recommend to their Consideration such Measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient; he may, on extraordinary Occasions, convene both Houses, or either of them, and in Case of Disagreement between them, with Respect to the Time of Adjournment, he may adjourn them to such Time as he shall think proper; he shall receive Ambassadors and other public Ministers; **he shall take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed** , and shall Commission all the Officers of the United States. He is the interperter of the faith of the Law. If anyone disagrees with his interpetation they can take him to the Supreme Court. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2006, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-us-president-carry-a-weapon/338105/91 "2006-01-05T17:33:19Z")
> [@Si Amigo](#): > > **he shall take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed** > > He is the interperter of the faith of the Law. If anyone disagrees with his interpetation they can take him to the Supreme Court. This is not an exemption from complying with the law. Just because you are the person responsible for executing the law does not mean that you are free to redefine it or break it. “I interpret that this law doesn’t apply to me, personally,” is not a valid exercise of power under this clause. The president is not the state. That is a basic concept in American democracy. ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2006, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-us-president-carry-a-weapon/338105/92 "2006-01-05T17:59:07Z")
> [@acsenray](#): > > This is not an exemption from complying with the law. Just because you are the person responsible for executing the law does not mean that you are free to redefine it or break it. “I interpret that this law doesn’t apply to me, personally,” is not a valid exercise of power under this clause. The president is not the state. That is a basic concept in American democracy. No, he is not the state, he is the Head of State. The problem is that you seem to be stuck on perceving the President as only being a person. No better or worse than any private citizen. Don’t you watch “The West Wing?” 😉 It’s about perception, image, power and leadership. Just being a rubber stamp to statues written by Congress is not leadership, he gets to interpet laws because the world is not always cut anddry. . And sometimes he interpets incorrectly and gets called on it. Anyway, since the OP has for the most part been answered and you seem to want to debate a point I will wait until the mods move this thread before posting anymore here in GQ. ---
**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2006, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-us-president-carry-a-weapon/338105/93 "2006-01-05T20:38:46Z")
> [@pkbites](#): > > But does the President have the authrity to carry a 1920’s style death ray?😛 No, but if he was more conversant in the Macintosh Operating System, he could have spared us the inexcorable agonies of watching Jeff Goldblum swagger around and suck on a cigar. -gag- ---
**Author:** ![mlee78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5f8ce5/32.png) [@mlee78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mlee78)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2017, 8:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-us-president-carry-a-weapon/338105/94 "2017-11-04T08:38:33Z")
Yes. As Commander in Chief, the office of president carries with it an understanding the CIC is ALWAYS on “Duty” and would be carrying out military objectives on a day to day basis. Therefore, he would enjoy the “benefits” of lets say, Military Police, who can carry concealed off duty/off base. As a former JSOC MOS that petitioned and was approved to carry a non-issued sidearm (and from what I have heard/seen for some non-JSOC enlisted personnel can do so as well), to opt out of the standard issue Beretta M9 (now Sig P230) to qualify with and carry your desired/own sidearm. Again, this would extend beyond duty/installation. So, if he so desired (I’m pretty sure he need not bother with the application form and so forth being CIC and all), he could carry concealed anywhere, anytime, with pretty much anything he wanted to. If I were on his Secret Service detail, I would rather he not carry to avoid the desire to engage and leave that to those tasked with his protection, but if he wanted to, not a whole lot anyone could do to prevent it. I opted for my Sig I had shot the snot out of and could drive tacks with given me by my dad. I didn’t have anything shiny on my shoulders, and was approved upon qualification, without hassle. Can’t imagine the CIC not being able to pretty well do as he pleased. In Desert Storm, Stormin Norman kept a double barrel next to his bunk in his “tent”, and is quoted as saying, “thats for the Iraqis that make it past the guards.” By that logic, if CIC wanted to keep a .38 snubbie in his pocket, so be it…although I’m sure much to the displeasure of the agents in charge of keepin his heart beating. ---
**Author:** ![Raguleader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/258eb7/32.png) [@Raguleader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raguleader)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2017, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-us-president-carry-a-weapon/338105/95 "2017-11-04T13:36:25Z")
POTUS carrying a pistol could be very useful in the event of a zombie attack. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2017, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-us-president-carry-a-weapon/338105/96 "2017-11-04T20:52:31Z")
I love this thread! A tax preparer in Chicago signed the Bush’s tax forms so Bush is bound by Illinois law! Ah, those were the days. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2017, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-us-president-carry-a-weapon/338105/97 "2017-11-04T21:03:30Z")
Reagan [carried a revolver around for many years after nearly being killed in 1981.](http://dailycaller.com/2015/06/15/biographer-confirms-that-reagan-carried-a-concealed-handgun/) ---
**Author:** ![Shinna\_Minna\_Ma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f08c70/32.png) [@Shinna\_Minna\_Ma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shinna_Minna_Ma)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2017, 11:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-us-president-carry-a-weapon/338105/98 "2017-11-05T11:04:48Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > Reagan [carried a revolver around for many years after nearly being killed in 1981.](http://dailycaller.com/2015/06/15/biographer-confirms-that-reagan-carried-a-concealed-handgun/) I wonder why he thought that carrying a gun in his briefcase was going to help him in some way. It’s not like he could have gotten it out very quickly. ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2017, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-us-president-carry-a-weapon/338105/99 "2017-11-05T15:03:21Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > Reagan [carried a revolver around for many years after nearly being killed in 1981.](http://dailycaller.com/2015/06/15/biographer-confirms-that-reagan-carried-a-concealed-handgun/) I think this is a particularly important little note that upsets this entire thread. Just sayin’. Carry on. ---
**Author:** ![Raguleader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/258eb7/32.png) [@Raguleader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raguleader)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2017, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-us-president-carry-a-weapon/338105/100 "2017-11-05T17:53:14Z")
> [@Shinna\_Minna\_Ma](#): > > I wonder why he thought that carrying a gun in his briefcase was going to help him in some way. It’s not like he could have gotten it out very quickly. To be fair, he’s surrounded by secret service agents. He can probably assume they will be able to buy him at least enough time to get the pistol, or else deal with the situation quickly enough that it won’t matter. The early stage of a gunfight is going to mostly involve his agents tackling him into cover anyways. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-us-president-carry-a-weapon/338105.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-us-president-carry-a-weapon/338105.md?page=6)