President Obama Comments On Attempted Terrorist Attack

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Carrying Guns Is A Threat Not A Protest

Until now I have not criticized the anti healthcare reform protesters and chosen to only criticize poor behavior in town hall meetings. This after all America and we as citizens are guaranteed the right to free speech and the right to protest. I always have and always will support those rights regardless of my agreement or disagreement with the protesters. However I have always drawn the line at violence and threats and unfortunately some on the right have decided to cross that line. We have now seen, on multiple occasions, protesters carrying guns outside of town hall meetings being held by President Obama. These people are not protesters or patriots they are thugs and their actions can not nor should not be tolerated.

These thugs claiming to be only exercising their right to keep and bear arms while protesting excessive government. It is however, extraordinarily transparent what their true intentions are. They mean to not only intimidate supporters of President Obama's healthcare reform but to even threaten the President himself. If that is a false assumption then tell me what do guns have to do with healthcare? I don't think the most gifted person at the NRA could make that connection with a straight face. Guns serve only two purposes to kill and to intimidate. So far we have been lucky in that the gun roaring thugs have only been using them in an attempt to intimidate but how long can it be until someone uses their gun to kill? We have already seen signs the read "Death Obama" and "Death To Michelle And Her Stupid Kids". Of course the thugs would have you believe that threatening the Obama children with death is only a protest against healthcare.

It unfortunate that the debate over healthcare reform has degenerated to the point where anti-reformers are carrying guns and threatening the President and his family. What is even more disappointing is that the Republican Party and the media pretend to be stupid enough to believe these thugs when they say they are simply protesting when any fool can plainly see that these guns are meant as a threat. We all know that guns are not acceptable means of protest, not even the most anti Bush protesters ever brought guns to his rallies or town halls. So when these incidents lead to actual violence, republicans and the media, that feign ignorance, will share responsibility with the thugs.

Unfortunately in most cases these thugs can not be arrested because they stay with in the bounds of gun possession laws and do not make a specific threat against the President. Law enforcement officials have rightly respected the rights of the thugs. It is up to the rest of us to stand up to them and call these people out for what they really are but we need to do it without threats or violence. We need to walk up to the thugs and say with strength and purpose "We know what you came hear to do but we came here with purpose and no gun will keep is from our goal". Maybe once they realize that we are not afraid of their guns they will leave the at home. Hopefully this will happen before they go another step to far.