It was, however, a favored practice of the Victorians. How do you think a Prince Albert got its name?
(I do not make this up.)
Dealt with? How do you propose to deal with someone who isn’t breaking the law?
As for the guy who is the subject of the OP; I honestly think that he could have been arrested, at least in some places. In Washington state we have a law (RCW 9.41.270) which prohibits carrying, displaying, or drawing any firearm “in a manner, under circumstances, and at a time and place that either manifests an intent to intimidate another or that warrants alarm for the safety of other persons.”
The courts have ruled that this doesn’t prohibit peaceable open carry, but it does make certain acts while carrying a crime, even if the gun never leaves the holster. IIRC, there’s a Washington state appeals court opinion out there that gives an example of a person engaging in a heated debate with someone, leaving, and then returning while openly carrying a pistol. Even if he never touches it or makes any overt threat, it’s clear that the display is intended to intimidate the other.
I’d say that this situation is similar: he carried a gun to a situation that he obviously knew was highly contentious, along with a sign that suggests violence (even if it’s too vague to constitute an actual threat) Time, place, manner and circumstances all seem to manifest an intent to intimidate the other participants in the debate, so if he or anybody else did this in Washington, they could certainly be arrested and charged. I’d be surprised if there weren’t other states with similar laws.
Legality aside, though, the guy’s obviously a huge asshole.
Self defense.
I open carry everywhere. So why not at a Tea Party Rally?
To work?
Shit, doesn’t everybody? Never know when Millie in Accounts Payable might get the drop on you.
Jeepers, what kind of hellhole you live in anyway? I wander all over Houston carrying expensive cameras and I never feel like I’m in danger of being attacked at any moment.
In Texas, it was once legal to shoot someone wandering around after dark with a pair of wire cutters in his back pocket. The assumption was that he was going to cut your barbed wire fence and steal your cows. It happened often enough that there was legislation in this regard.
Now admittedly, I recognize Texas may not be the location to look to for the most enlightened and modern laws. And it’s legal to openly carry a set of wire cutters. But if I’m skulking around your back 40 a-oglin’ of your cows with wire cutters in my back pocket, there’s reason to think my purposes are not polite.
Similarly, a Palestinian fellow who straps fake bombs to his young child’s chest might just be expressing the belief that his progeny might be martyred in a holy war. It’s possible he’s not saying that he hopes this will happen, and it’s possible he’s not saying he wants his kid to grow up to be a suicide bomber. There’s no law against strapping fake bombs to a kid, anyway.
I’m sure our friend with the gun was just DYING to get arrested. Maybe he’d even be shot by the Secret Service for carrying a gun near the President! Then he could be a martyr to eeeevil HUSSEIN Obama’s anti-gun policies! That’d show the world! His name, whatever it is, would go down in history! As it is, his smug idiot mug gets yelled at by Chris Matthews and he has neither the courage nor the intelligence to make a coherent argument. He doesn’t. He’s not making a credible threat. He’s not making a credible anything. Were he twenty-two and fresh out of college, he might have an excuse.
Well, you know – Houston. A blissful bower of peace and tranquility, like all communities in Texas. In Houston, everyone is too busy reaching for the stars to spend time troubling his fellow man and robbing him of his tools and toys.
In Ohio, on the other hand, dwell the dregs of humanity, and in order to feel clothed at the beginning of the day, a man must chase down a male deer, pluck out its eyeball and pin it to the lapel of his coat.
I can’t blame people for disliking the idea of open carry because it’s very, very jarring to people who aren’t used to guns (in other words, most people.) I really can’t blame them and I’d never open-carry myself for the same reason; it’s too disruptive to the public and it’s too likely to be taken the wrong way.
However it’s interesting to note that if you look at paintings from centuries past, any man of social standing would have a dress sword at his side and sometimes also a small dagger behind the back, with the hilt visible if you look carefully. It was a part of fashion, but also a measure of self-defense. Any portrait of a nobleman from the 1600s or 1700s is likely to have such a sword. And it’s my understanding that even in the early days of America, pistols were carried openly by many people without a thought (a concealed gun would arouse suspicion if found out - “what does he need to hide it for?”)
The concept of “open carry” is very, very old.
The plauge was common too. What’s your point?
IN OHIO?!?!? WHAT FUCKING THREAT DO YOU LIVE UNDER IN FUCKING OHIO?!?!?
Other than involuntary commission. Man, you are a frightened little psychotic who should be forced back on your meds.
Back to the OP: How close would that dork get to a Bush rally? Would he be out of jail yet?
I would have absolutely no problem with somebody openly carrying a sword and dirk. First, I’ll just assume they’re on their way to a renaissance faire, and therefore not a threat to anyone who doesn’t proclaim their dislike of mead and busty wenches.
Second, I can run away.
Maybe a drive-by swashbuckling.
Carry that reasoning far enough, and North Korea is a free country.
Guns are banned in North Korea?
So I am “psychotic” and should be forced to take meds for exercising my right to keep and bear arms? :rolleyes:
Further proof that modern liberalism has fully embraced fascism and totalitarianism… 
Not if you count wooden ones.
You have a right to exercise free speech as well, but if you stand on the corner ranting about space aliens invading then you are probably mentally ill and should take meds.
Given out history of political assasinations, anyone bringing a gun to an appearence of the president has a few screws loose.
I would suggest that bringing a gun to a townhall meeting is inappropriate, your “rights” notwithstanding. It’s provocative and aggressive behavior, as I’m sure you’re just itching for somebody to challenge you so you can get all constitutional on his ass. It’s also inappropriate to open-carry in a grocery store, a church, or any number of other forums. It’s your right to own, it’s permitted to carry: that doesn’t mean it’s appropriate in every venue. Do it often enough and you’ll draw the attention of the Secret Service, which I wouldn’t wish on anybody, innocent or not.
It has nothing to do with modern liberalism and everything to do with measured responses and irrational behavior. I own guns and have my entire life. I’ve fought in a war and fired in defense of myself and others. What I don’t do is parade around with them, acting like a macho prick.
Just curious: do you stand in front of a mirror before leaving the house, just to see how tough you look?
“You talking to me? You talking to me?..”