You are your own security
Gabrielle Giffords’ shooting leads some lawmakers to say they’ll carry weapons to protect themselves
Good to see lawmakers carrying. Of course, there are special rules for the special class:
The U.S. Marshals Service can deputize a member of Congress as a special deputy marshal if a threat assessment shows they are in danger, a federal law enforcement official said.
Carrying a special deputy badge allows the bearer to carry a concealed handgun anywhere, including inside a federal building like the U.S. Capitol.
Those who are so deputized aren’t publicized, but Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) has said he was granted deputy status after receiving death threats in the 1990s.
January 10th, 2011 at 12:08 pm
Ruling class.
I’m sounding redundant.
January 10th, 2011 at 12:27 pm
Actually, there’s a massive class of people in DC – all government employees or otherwise politically connected – who have been deputized and they haven’t needs anything like a death threat to get it.
January 10th, 2011 at 12:31 pm
Yeah, special rules for special people, but at least these aren’t the ones calling for an end to the 2A, or more infringements thereof. Of course, that didn’t stop McCarthy and the other Dansers Macabre from going after gun owners
And, now there’s noise about taking over the internet, er *ahem* “scutinizing the vitriol”. This is their chance to wipe out the Second AND the First Amendments! Like Rahm said, “Never let a good crisis go to waste!”
January 10th, 2011 at 1:16 pm
Must be nice…
January 10th, 2011 at 1:30 pm
Personally I would not want it.. How many of us want to change in to a 2 legged penis that can do anything that tickles them just because they are given a shiny badge????
January 10th, 2011 at 1:47 pm
According to this opinion members of congress can not be deputized.http://www.justice.gov/olc/depmar.htm Also they can already carry in the Capitol building without any permits.
January 10th, 2011 at 1:53 pm
Members of Congress cannot be deputized. They are not allowed to serve the legislative branch and executive branch simultaneously.
January 10th, 2011 at 2:00 pm
Nk tell that to Barbara Boxer….
January 10th, 2011 at 2:19 pm
Apparently, the only people who didn’t know that members of Congress are mere mortals was the members of Congress themselves. If they think they’re afraid now, wait until they start listening to Keith Olbermann and ignoring the Tea Party.
January 10th, 2011 at 6:40 pm
I think members of Congress should have the SAME rights as the people, therefore in carrying weapons for self-defense, they or their security personnnel should have to abide by the SAME laws they have imposed on us. That being so, maybe they wouldn’t be so quick to pass the reactionary, anti-self defense laws that we have on the books.
January 10th, 2011 at 6:42 pm
“I ask, sir, what is the militia? It is the whole people, except for a few public officials.”
George Mason, in Debates in Virginia Convention on
Ratification of the Constitution, Elliot, Vol. 3, June 16, 1788
January 10th, 2011 at 8:04 pm
Diane “turn them all in, Mr and Mrs America” congresscritter has one of those badges. I was told that they all automatically qualify for it if they want to carry. Good for airplanes, or anywhere else guns are banned. I’m pretty sure it allows anything that goes bang to be carried. Question is, can they go down to the US Marshall’s office and have them issue something neat, like a G-18?
January 10th, 2011 at 9:01 pm
City of Chicago Alderman are automatically allowed concealed carry permits, but they are not peace officers as defined by Illinois law. Maybe that’s the real case with Congresscritters — the “deputazition” by the U.S. Marshall is simply a recognition of Congresscritter status and not of sworn duty as a deputy U.S. Marshall.
January 11th, 2011 at 2:21 am
Even if Congresswoman Gifford had been carrying, it’s (sadly) clear that the shooter would still have succeeded.
Everyone there was in Condition White (blizzard grade), and the shooter was way the hell inside of everyone’s OODA loop. That is, until he went to slide-lock, then three very stalwart survivors reveresed the loop on the shooter.
Honestly, I doubt that 99% of Congresscritters would be able to both meet n’ greet, and retain any sort of tactical situational awareness. Most of them are too busy to “read the bill”, and I rather doubt most of them would take the time to undergo effective training, either.
Point is, I don’t have a problem with pretty much anyone carrying, including Members of Congress. The only thing that’d make that better is that volunteers (regardless of party) take pains to properly train and volunteer as 1st person security at similar events. No need for P.D. overtime, either.
That is, they’d be there only to directly safeguard the dignitary and immediate vicinity, but are strictly prohibited from any sort of “goon” activity away from the immediate sphere of protection.
I’d say that SEIU membership would be a pretty direct D.Q. to volunteering for such. Bad enough they show up with axe handles and the like.
No, I don’t have a perfect solution, but at least it’s not a “Hey Mommy Govt, fix this for me!” approach.
Jim
Sunk New Dawn
Galveston, TX
January 11th, 2011 at 7:41 am
Jim: I don’t have a problem with people carrying, either. I carry on a daily basis. What I *DO* have a problem with, is a government official being granted a right that the rest of us do not have. I say “granted a right” because the carry option is not related to their job as congressional members, but to the defense of themselves, something that we should all have the right to do.
January 11th, 2011 at 10:29 am
Wow….now I’ve finally got a good reason to run for Congress.
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