# Secret Service conundrum **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 21, 2000, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/secret-service-conundrum/30221 "2000-08-21T21:11:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![mealypotaotes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/54ee81/32.png) [@mealypotaotes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mealypotaotes)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2000, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/secret-service-conundrum/30221/1 "2000-08-21T21:11:50Z")
So, here’s a head-scratcher. The secret service assigns each protectee (or ‘principal’) a security detail. That detail is bound to protect the life of its principal, no matter what happens. Suppose the Vice President pulled a gun on the President. Would the President’s bodyguard shoot the Vice President? And would the Vice President’s bodyguard be compelled to shoot the President’s bodyguard for threatening the life of the Vice President? ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2000, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/secret-service-conundrum/30221/2 "2000-08-21T21:37:51Z")
Since the Prez is “more valuable”, I would think the Vice Prez would end up with lead poisoning. ---
**Author:** ![BobT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e8cbc/32.png) [@BobT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobT)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2000, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/secret-service-conundrum/30221/3 "2000-08-21T21:39:39Z")
In the OP, the Vice President would be taken down. The Secret Service is there to protect, not to aid and abet felonies. The VP would be trying to murder someone. ---
**Author:** ![obfusciatrist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/4af34b/32.png) [@obfusciatrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/obfusciatrist)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2000, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/secret-service-conundrum/30221/4 "2000-08-21T22:21:34Z")
And if the President pulled a gun on the Vice President (or anybody else)? ---
**Author:** ![Arjuna34](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Arjuna34](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arjuna34)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2000, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/secret-service-conundrum/30221/5 "2000-08-21T23:03:54Z")
How about two ex-Presidents in a gunfight against each other? Would the respective Secret Service guys end up trying to shoot the opposite ex-President (and possibly each other)? Assume that each side thought the other side’s ex-President was the bad guy, and their side was just returning fire in self-defense. Arjuna34 ---
**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2000, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/secret-service-conundrum/30221/6 "2000-08-21T23:09:13Z")
What if the president pulled out a gun and tried to shoot the Secret Service Agent assigned to protect him (the president)? Is the Secret Service Agent allowed to shoot the president in self-defense? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2000, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/secret-service-conundrum/30221/7 "2000-08-21T23:12:42Z")
The SS is bound to protect the nation’s interests. If that means wrestling a gun from the hands of the President, so be it. He’d try not to kill the President but things happen. ---
**Author:** ![mellonhead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e19adc/32.png) [@mellonhead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mellonhead)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2000, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/secret-service-conundrum/30221/8 "2000-08-21T23:39:21Z")
I think in a situation like this the secret service would try to preserve the lives of both parties (vp and pres) involved…if anything to drag them through the public humiliation involved with an assination attempt on a Pres by his own VP 😉 ---
**Author:** ![AETBOND417](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/47e85d/32.png) [@AETBOND417](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AETBOND417)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2000, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/secret-service-conundrum/30221/9 "2000-08-21T23:59:45Z")
I think it’s quite obvious… MealyPotaotes is actually either Liebermann or Cheney. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2000, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/secret-service-conundrum/30221/10 "2000-08-22T04:31:48Z")
> [@](#): > > I think it’s quite obvious… > > ``` > MealyPotaotes is actually either Liebermann or Cheney. > > ``` Mealy, if that is, indeed, the case, and you’re planning on snuffing the Pres once he takes office, can you at least tell us which one you are, so I can vote for that ticket? I’d dearly love to have some way out of having to pick one of those two to lead the country. ---
**Author:** ![darkcool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5f8ce5/32.png) [@darkcool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/darkcool)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2000, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/secret-service-conundrum/30221/11 "2000-08-22T04:42:50Z")
What if the prez and a former prez were on a ship at sea and the VP was helicoptering in when the prez tried to shoot the former and just as the SS stepped in, the ship crossed the international dateline, making it yesterday… ---
**Author:** ![Homer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/df788c/32.png) [@Homer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Homer)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2000, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/secret-service-conundrum/30221/12 "2000-08-22T05:23:22Z")
Yeah, and who would win in a wrestling match? A horse, or a monkey with a knife? C’mon, this is getting ridiculous. –Tim ---
**Author:** ![ricepad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b38774/32.png) [@ricepad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ricepad)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2000, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/secret-service-conundrum/30221/13 "2000-08-22T05:29:05Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Homer \* > \*\*Yeah, and who would win in a wrestling match? A horse, or a monkey with a knife? C’mon, this is getting ridiculous. > > –Tim \*\* Getting? GETTING? Christ A’mighty…it _started_ ridiculous! ---
**Author:** ![Adolph\_Peewee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e47c2d/32.png) [@Adolph\_Peewee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Adolph_Peewee)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2000, 5:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/secret-service-conundrum/30221/14 "2000-08-22T05:54:30Z")
I’m with Ricepad…C’mon guys…they’re only politicians…the most untrusted ppl in the gene pool…why not do us all a favour and just get rid of the lot of them!? ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2000, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/secret-service-conundrum/30221/15 "2000-08-22T12:05:22Z")
I dunno about guns, but top-level politicians are trying to stab each other in the back all the time, and the secret service does nothing, NOTHING, mind you. ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2000, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/secret-service-conundrum/30221/16 "2000-08-22T13:38:29Z")
I couldn’t tell you who would win but I’m willing to bet we ALL lose when the Secret Service decides to interview us all for participating in this thread.