Legal news article for Arizona social responsibility attorney’s. Man carrying an assault weapon was spotted at Obama’s veterans speech.
Gun rights advocates exercising their right to bear arms were seen carrying an assault rifle and protesting at President Obama’s veteran’s speech.
Phoenix, AZ—About a dozen gun-rights advocates toting firearms were spotted amongst the protesters at President Obama’s speech to United States’ veterans on Monday, August 17, 2009. One man carrying an assault rifle slung over his right shoulder claimed he was exercising his right to bear arms and protest, which is legal in Arizona to carry firearms openly, as reported by CNN.
On Monday, at the convention center where President Obama was delivering a speech, a man wasn’t breaking any laws by carrying an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle over his shoulder. This is the latest case of protesters openly displaying firearms in close proximity to the President. The state of Arizona, along with New Hampshire, is designated as “open-carry” states. Just last week, another protester had a pistol strapped to his leg and was holding a sign stating, “It is time to water the tree of liberty” during Obama’s health care town hall in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.
The “open-carry” laws state, anyone who is legally allowed to own a firearm can carry it in public, as long as it is visible. You are only required to have a permit for a firearm if you wish to have it concealed. No crimes were reportedly committed by the gun toters, nor was anyone arrested at the protest. Arizona state laws do not have anything in their books that regulates carrying assault rifles. Although other protesters were upset about the presence of the weapons, no one could be asked to leave or arrested for carrying the weapons. The United States Secret Service (USSS) http://www.SecretService.gov, who provide protection to the President and government officials, and are governed under the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) www.dhs.gov, were present at the venue to provide security. When officials, with the Secret Service, were asked about the President’s safety during the protest, they stated the protesters carrying guns wouldn’t get close enough to the President no matter what the “open-carry” laws allow. When the Secret Service is protecting the president at a venue, it is considered a federal site, and weapons are not permitted on a federal location. The firearm carrying protesters reportedly remained outside of the federally designated site during the protest and speech.
Legal News Reporter: Nicole Howley-Legal news article for Arizona social responsibility lawyers.