# How long before Trump gets shot? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [March 12, 2016, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-before-trump-gets-shot/748749 "2016-03-12T17:06:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![LinusK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/258eb7/32.png) [@LinusK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LinusK)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2016, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-before-trump-gets-shot/748749/21 "2016-03-12T19:18:22Z")
> [@WreckingCrew](#): > > Unless the person in question was acting on behalf of the government, Donny’s free speech was not denied here. The protester was rude and acted in a violent, and uncalled for manner,but the First Amendment does not prohibit one idiot private citizen from attempting to stop another idiot private citizen from speaking. Other criminal charges, of course, are certainly in play. In addition to the constitutional right, free speech is also a principle. You can be for it or against it; but not “for it, unless it’s something I don’t like”. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2016, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-before-trump-gets-shot/748749/22 "2016-03-12T19:19:41Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > Are you attempting to justify violence by claiming that the other side does it? No. I"m saying a man sees what he wants to see and disregards the rest. Hey, that’s catchy. I should set that to music. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2016, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-before-trump-gets-shot/748749/23 "2016-03-12T19:26:30Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > Are you attempting to justify violence by claiming that the other side does it? If you were any more transparent, you’d be invisible. ---
**Author:** ![Damuri\_Ajashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/898d66/32.png) [@Damuri\_Ajashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damuri_Ajashi)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2016, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-before-trump-gets-shot/748749/24 "2016-03-12T19:32:58Z")
> [@billfish678](#): > > Oh bull malarkey. > > If you believe in “free speech” you believe in “free speech” regardless of who is or isn’t trying to obstruct it. > > Lets say you have major political figure X. He/she is giving a speech. In the crowd there are bunches of people with “X sucks” posters and banners. > > Fair enough. X is speaking and anti X gets to “say” “X sucks” Let the Ku Klux Klan speak. Every time they march through the middle of a town somewhere, people resolve to be less racist. Let Dianne Feinstein ramble on about assault weapons bans. Every time she give a gun control speech, thousands of guns fly off the shelves. Let Trump say wtf he wants. Ever time he says something crazy, millions of dollars flow into the campaign funds of the other candidates (Democrat and Republican) Bad speech has a way of hurting itself in democracies outside of Germany > [@](#): > > Now let us change that up a bit. > > X is speaking or trying to. While doing so the anti X people are screaming and shouting such that it’s hard/impossible for X to be heard. > > That’s bullshit IMO. > > PS. If Obama didn’t get shot, I doubt Trump will. Unless one buys into the theory that racist rightest assholes are LESS likely to shoot someone than angry liberal leftists are. I think you might be surprised which end of the spectrum Trump ends up on if he gets elected. ---
**Author:** ![Hank\_Beecher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hank_beecher/32/7275_2.png) [@Hank\_Beecher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hank_Beecher)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2016, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-before-trump-gets-shot/748749/25 "2016-03-12T19:33:32Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > Really? > [Trump supporter charged after sucker-punching protester at North Carolina rally.](https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2016/03/10/trump-protester-sucker-punched-at-north-carolina-rally-videos-show/) On the one hand we have a single elderly sucker-puncher, and on the other we have massive mob violence shutting down a rally of tens of thousands of protesters. You are actually making the point that you are arguing against. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2016, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-before-trump-gets-shot/748749/26 "2016-03-12T19:35:45Z")
> [@Hank\_Beecher](#): > > On the one hand we have a single elderly sucker-puncher, and on the other we have massive mob violence shutting down a rally of tens of thousands of protesters. You gonna provide evidence of this “massive mob violence” any time soon? ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2016, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-before-trump-gets-shot/748749/27 "2016-03-12T19:36:25Z")
> [@Damuri\_Ajashi](#): > > Let the Ku Klux Klan speak. Every time they march through the middle of a town somewhere, people resolve to be less racist. > > Let Dianne Feinstein ramble on about assault weapons bans. Every time she give a gun control speech, thousands of guns fly off the shelves. > > Let Trump say wtf he wants. Ever time he says something crazy, millions of dollars flow into the campaign funds of the other candidates (Democrat and Republican) > > Bad speech has a way of hurting itself in democracies outside of Germany > > I think you might be surprised which end of the spectrum Trump ends up on if he gets elected. All of those points I agree with. Except the last. Which may or may not be true…but that is beside the point. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2016, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-before-trump-gets-shot/748749/28 "2016-03-12T19:38:08Z")
> [@Hank\_Beecher](#): > > On the one hand we have a single elderly sucker-puncher, and on the other we have massive mob violence shutting down a rally of tens of thousands of protesters. You are actually making the point that you are arguing against. As I understand the timeline, there was no violence–only peaceful protest–until Trump canceled. At that point, I’m not clear on the timeline. Are you suggesting that all, or the majority, of the actual physical violence was initiated by the protesters? If so, do you bring evidence? ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2016, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-before-trump-gets-shot/748749/29 "2016-03-12T19:42:25Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > As I understand the timeline, there was no violence–only peaceful protest–until Trump canceled. ? So wait…the “non violent” protesters ONLY got violent when the target of their IRE decided not to show up? Are you an Onion writer? ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2016, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-before-trump-gets-shot/748749/30 "2016-03-12T19:44:45Z")
> [@billfish678](#): > > So wait…the “non violent” protesters ONLY got violent when the target of their IRE decided not to show up? _What_ violence? ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2016, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-before-trump-gets-shot/748749/31 "2016-03-12T19:47:28Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > _What_ violence? Okay, lets say less non agitated to play it safe. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2016, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-before-trump-gets-shot/748749/32 "2016-03-12T19:49:02Z")
> [@billfish678](#): > > Okay, lets say less non agitated to play it safe. So we’re in agreement that the claims of “riots” and “mob violence” by Trump’s camp are false, then. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2016, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-before-trump-gets-shot/748749/33 "2016-03-12T19:49:20Z")
> [@billfish678](#): > > So wait…the “non violent” protesters ONLY got violent when the target of their IRE decided not to show up? > > Are you an Onion writer? That’s not what I said. You’re close to the edge of disingenuous debating and should step back from it, for realz. Here’s my understanding of how it went down: 1. There was a rally in Chicago for which free tickets were issued. 2. A huge number of people who do not support Trump organized to attend the rally and legitimately obtained tickets. They took signs with them that they could use to protest. 3. Trump, on becoming aware of the tremendous number of protesters inside the arena, postponed the rally. 4. Violence broke out **after** he announced the postponement. Do you disagree with any of these points? If so, which one, and on what basis? What’s less clear is who initiated the violence. Your post gets at an important point, but completely misses its significance, which is this: **it’s incredibly unlikely that it was the protesters who initiated the violence after the postponement was announced**. They had scored what they saw as a victory. They were happy. Trump supporters looked around and saw their rally canceled because there were so many protesters. You tell me: who was likelier to initiate violence under those circumstances? ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2016, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-before-trump-gets-shot/748749/34 "2016-03-12T20:00:59Z")
[Pictures of the cancelled rally give some indication of the mood of the two sides pretty well.](http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/gallery/2016/mar/12/confrontations-shut-down-trump-rally-in-chicago-in-pictures) ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2016, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-before-trump-gets-shot/748749/35 "2016-03-12T20:01:29Z")
Never mind. Misread the whole thing and have to go for the afternoon. ---
**Author:** ![Idle\_Thoughts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/838e76/32.png) [@Idle\_Thoughts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Idle_Thoughts)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2016, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-before-trump-gets-shot/748749/36 "2016-03-12T20:03:32Z")
My stepfather says he knows it’s going to happen, without a doubt, if Trump gets elected president. He says it’s “when, not if” and that it would be “inevitable”. “Only a matter of time” is another quote. He’s really great at parties. ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2016, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-before-trump-gets-shot/748749/37 "2016-03-12T20:06:12Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > That’s not what I said. You’re close to the edge of disingenuous debating and should step back from it, for realz. I don’t like the first accusation. Please keep that in reserve thank you very much. OTOH, IF I did misread what you said (and/or you said it poorly) then my apologies. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2016, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-before-trump-gets-shot/748749/38 "2016-03-12T20:12:32Z")
> [@billfish678](#): > > I don’t like the first accusation. > > Please keep that in reserve thank you very much. > > OTOH, IF I did misread what you said (and/or you said it poorly) then my apologies. I appreciate the apology. Next time, don’t accuse me of being an Onion Writer, with all that implies, and we’re golden :). ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2016, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-before-trump-gets-shot/748749/39 "2016-03-12T21:15:41Z")
> [@Idle\_Thoughts](#): > > My stepfather says he knows it’s going to happen, without a doubt, if Trump gets elected president. He says it’s “when, not if” and that it would be “inevitable”. “Only a matter of time” is another quote. I was getting that about Obama all through 2008 from various and sundry people around me. And oh, yeah – who’s saying it would be disaffected \*leftists \*who’d do it to the Donald? Crony capitalists are likelier to play dirty pool for effect, IMO. ---
**Author:** ![Pearl\_Clutching\_Provocateur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Pearl\_Clutching\_Provocateur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pearl_Clutching_Provocateur)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2016, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-before-trump-gets-shot/748749/40 "2016-03-12T21:34:12Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > Really? > [Trump supporter charged after sucker-punching protester at North Carolina rally.](https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2016/03/10/trump-protester-sucker-punched-at-north-carolina-rally-videos-show/) Heh, heh, he was only playing that fun urban knock out game. If the protester hand hit an elderly white man, the main stream media would have completely ignored it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-before-trump-gets-shot/748749.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-before-trump-gets-shot/748749.md?page=3)