# Trump assassination attempt **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [June 21, 2016, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-assassination-attempt/757932 "2016-06-21T01:12:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**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:** [June 21, 2016, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-assassination-attempt/757932/41 "2016-06-21T14:35:48Z")
> [@Grumman](#): > > That would be the part where he said that people who come to the United States on a temporary visa and refuse to abide by the terms of that visa are a threat to national security: > [url=[https://www.donaldjtrump.com/positions/immigration-reform](https://www.donaldjtrump.com/positions/immigration-reform)] > Even if you believe as I do that checking a would-be immigrant before he is allowed to enter is the important thing, and not making sure they leave, _in this specific case_ Trump was right and Clinton was wrong, because Trump wants people like Sandford contained and expelled while Clinton wants to offer people like Sandford amnesty and a path to citizenship. The guy was from the U.K. I haven’t seen anything about why he was here or why he overstayed his visa. I doubt he came here to harvest produce. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2016, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-assassination-attempt/757932/42 "2016-06-21T14:36:07Z")
@Smapti & rock party: [I reported Omar Mateen to the FBI. Trump is wrong that Muslims don’t do our part.](https://www.washingtonpost.com/posteverything/wp/2016/06/20/i-reported-omar-mateen-to-the-fbi-trump-is-wrong-that-muslims-dont-do-our-part/) > [@](#): > > We talked about the presidential election and debated our views of the candidates that were running – he liked Hillary Clinton and I liked Bernie Sanders. This banter continued through texts and phone calls for several months. Doesn’t sound like he was volunteering for her or anything. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2016, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-assassination-attempt/757932/43 "2016-06-21T14:40:34Z")
> [@Pearl\_Clutching\_Provocateur](#): > > Prison inmates are 95% Democrat voters. Even Conservatives lose it once in awhile accounting for 5%. Do you have a cite for that? Ted Cruz tried to make a similar argument only to point to study that does not show that. And then the same authors of the study came with more recent one that showed that [http://www.philly.com/philly/news/politics/FactCheck\_Are\_most\_violent\_criminals\_Democrats.html](http://www.philly.com/philly/news/politics/FactCheck_Are_most_violent_criminals_Democrats.html) > [@](#): > > Moreover, the two men published another paper in March 2014 with data from three other states — Iowa, Maine and Rhode Island — and the results were different. In all three of those states, a plurality was affiliated with no party (though in every case, there were far more registered as Democrats than Republicans). One has to notice also that the numbers refer to discharged felons. As many pointed out one can find a good number of them that are in favor of the democrats, but that can explained by the fact that Republicans are very happy to deny voting rights to them. So, the ironic thing is that people that paid their debt to society could had been Republican, but become more democrat after prison because of constantly being reminded that they are considered by the Republicans to be citizens no more. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2016, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-assassination-attempt/757932/44 "2016-06-21T16:05:35Z")
> [@Pearl\_Clutching\_Provocateur](#): > > “Four studies found that the proportion of professors in the humanities who are Republicans ranges between 6 and 11 percent, and in the social sciences between 7 and 9 percent.” So the people who actually know things like history, economics, and the law think the Democrats are better than the Republicans. This is not as devastating an attack on the Democrats as you imagine. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2016, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-assassination-attempt/757932/45 "2016-06-21T16:49:02Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Usually the people getting shot at are liberal figures; John Kennedy, Robert Kennedy, Martin Luther King, Malcolm X, Franklin Roosevelt, Harry Truman. There were four different attempts to assassinate Bill Clinton and five attempts to assassinate Barack Obama. Ronald Reagan, Gerald Ford (twice!), George Wallace, Geroge H.W. Bush, George W. Bush. Not to mention General Edwin Walker (by Lee Oswald, no less), Dick Cheney, Margaret Thatcher, Pope John Paul II, Alexander Haig, and for good measure, Andy Warhol, Bob Marley, John Lennon and George Harrison. Assassinations actually tend to be pretty non-partisan. ---
**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:** [June 21, 2016, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-assassination-attempt/757932/46 "2016-06-21T16:54:29Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > There were four different attempts to assassinate Bill Clinton and five attempts to assassinate Barack Obama. 😕😕 ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2016, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-assassination-attempt/757932/47 "2016-06-21T17:22:46Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > 😕😕 [Don’t you remember the pair of winners who were going to assassinate Obama wearing white tuxedos and top hats?](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama_assassination_plot_in_Tennessee) I don’t think they had any idea how Gary Cooper looked. [Then, in something definitely not taken from a video game, an anarchist militia named FEAR was formed within the US Army with the express purpose of taking down the government.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FEAR_(terrorist_group)) They also planned to blow up dams, poison apple trees, and kill any dudes who were insufficiently bad. Really, just an average day at work for the Secret Service. ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2016, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-assassination-attempt/757932/48 "2016-06-21T17:34:17Z")
> [@octopus](#): > > Ah, it’s probably all coincidence that all the political violence during this election cycle is directed towards Republicans. Probably just a giant false flag operation. In other words, no cites and just your opinion… stated in a way to try to incite support for your preferred side? > [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > Why would suspicion fall on the left? Trump isn’t popular with many in his own party, especially the wing with the money and power to order a hit if they were so inclined. Exactly. This is up there with the Left saying Oswald and Sirhan Sirhan were employed by the RNC. Or the Right saying Squeaky Fromme and Sara Jane Moore were hired by the DNC. :dubious: Its nothing but tin foil hat BS that just doesn’t hold water, but somehow it keeps getting brought back up on the internet… and usually by people holding extremist views. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2016, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-assassination-attempt/757932/49 "2016-06-21T17:50:31Z")
> [@UDS](#): > > As this assassin apparently turned up to the assassination without a gun, he’s clearly not one of the best. Yeah, more like a _half-ass_assination attempt. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2016, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-assassination-attempt/757932/50 "2016-06-21T20:42:27Z")
For allegedly spending a full year planning this attack, his plan was pretty fucking stupid. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2016, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-assassination-attempt/757932/51 "2016-06-21T20:58:42Z")
Well, it was a year of planning, playing Cannon Fodder, weekends full of Soccer Hooliganism, and snacking on Hobnobs and Cadbury Fingers. And it does take a while to get the tea just right… ---
**Author:** ![E-DUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/e-dub/32/403_2.png) [@E-DUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-DUB)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2016, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-assassination-attempt/757932/52 "2016-06-21T21:08:42Z")
Nobody has yet pointed out that guys like this could put American assassins out of work. ---
**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:** [June 21, 2016, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-assassination-attempt/757932/53 "2016-06-21T21:18:34Z")
> [@E-DUB](#): > > Nobody has yet pointed out that guys like this could put American assassins out of work. Pretty soon you’ll see them on street corners and off-ramps holding signs. WILL KILL FOR FOOD. ---
**Author:** ![mr\_wolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5e9695/32.png) [@mr\_wolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mr_wolf)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2016, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-assassination-attempt/757932/54 "2016-06-21T21:37:48Z")
Yes, I’ve heard in England there was a sharp fall in pay and they have been striking ever since. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2016, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-assassination-attempt/757932/55 "2016-06-21T22:15:59Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > It’s being publicly reported that Michael Sandford, a 19 year old Briton, was arrested Saturday for attempting to assassinate Donald Trump. He was at a Trump rally in Las Vegas and initiated a conversation with a police officer who was providing security. Sandford then tried to grab the officer’s gun. The officer was able to prevent this and arrest Sandford. Sandford told the police that he intended to kill Trump. > > [News, Politics, Sports, Mail & Latest Headlines - AOL.com](http://www.aol.com/article/2016/06/20/19-year-old-charged-after-allegedly-trying-to-assassinate-donald/21398909/) This must have been a spur-of-the-moment thing, because it sure was not well planned. ---
**Author:** ![Merneith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@Merneith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merneith)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2016, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-assassination-attempt/757932/56 "2016-06-21T23:08:12Z")
Maybe it was a suicide-by-cop thing? Sandford is apparently autistic/Aspergian, which makes it hard for him to handle emotions. Also according to this article, he’s been diagnosed with OCD and anorexia - > **[Parents of Trump’s Would-Be Assassin Say He’s Lovesick and Autistic](https://www.thedailybeast.com/parents-of-trumps-would-be-assassin-say-hes-lovesick-and-autistic)** > > The British mom and dad of Michael Steven Sandford say they begged the U.S. to help bring their son home. The authorities refused to intervene until the Secret Service arrested him. ---
**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:** [June 22, 2016, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-assassination-attempt/757932/57 "2016-06-22T03:25:47Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > This must have been a spur-of-the-moment thing, because it sure was not well planned. No, it was a part of a long line of Leftist failures. He was a wanna be James Bond but didn’t add up to a Barney Fife. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2016, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-assassination-attempt/757932/58 "2016-06-22T03:41:17Z")
> [@Pearl\_Clutching\_Provocateur](#): > > No, it was a part of a long line of Leftist failures. He was a wanna be James Bond but didn’t add up to a Barney Fife. First time I heard Bond being described as a leftist. 😛 Still waiting for your cite about your claim that 95% of prison inmates are Democratic voters. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2016, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-assassination-attempt/757932/59 "2016-06-22T04:04:07Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > This must have been a spur-of-the-moment thing, because it sure was not well planned. No, Sandford says he’s been planning this for a while. He flew to Las Vegas with the intent to kill Trump and if the opportunity didn’t arise, he was planning on trying again at an upcoming rally in Phoenix. I’ll grant the execution of this attempt was half-assed. But half-assed assassinations have succeeded on numerous occasions. ---
**Author:** ![UDS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecae2f/32.png) [@UDS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UDS)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2016, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-assassination-attempt/757932/60 "2016-06-22T04:19:52Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > No, Sandford says he’s been planning this for a while. He flew to Las Vegas with the intent to kill Trump and if the opportunity didn’t arise, he was planning on trying again at an upcoming rally in Phoenix. > > I’ll grant the execution of this attempt was half-assed. But half-assed assassinations have succeeded on numerous occasions. He _intended_ it for a while, on his own evidence, but that’s not the same as saying that he _planned_ it for a while. On the reports we have seen so far - which admittedly are sketchy - his planning seems to have consisted of one visit to a gun range, where he fired a gun for the first time in his life, followed by booking tickets to Trump rallies, and driving to the first of these in Las Vegas. Not a huge amount of planning, really. And, given what we’re reading about his poor mental health, that’s not entirely surprising. You’re right, of course. Sometimes ill-thought-out and ill-prepared projects are carried through successfully. If this plan had anything at all going for it, it was that it was so wildly improbable that no-one would have anticipated it or taken any steps to guard against the particular tactic - grabbing an officer’s gun - that he relied on. (On the other hand, I’d assume that part of the firearms training that police officers get is how to prevent someone from grabbing your gun, so even if that wasn’t specifically seen as a risk at this event, it’s something officers generally know how to handle.) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-assassination-attempt/757932.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-assassination-attempt/757932.md?page=4)