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Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Concealed Carry for the POTUS

Should the President carry a gun?

Its a question that has been lighting up the Interwebs lately. Of course this is all coming to the forefront because those silly people on the left are losing their ever loving minds over the fact that Rick Perry carries a gun... OMG! BLOOD WILL RUN IN THE STREETS! or something. Guess what... he's not the only politician who carries a gun. There are a bunch of them. In fact, there are even a good number of far left wing anti-gun politicians who have a permit and carry a gun.



David Kopel over at The Volkh Conspiracy points out that yes, the president can legally carry a gun - even in Washington D.C. He can be deputized, he can be issued a carry license, he could issue an executive order, or (I think) he could just tell the everybody to go piss up a rope. David also points out that it would not be unprecedented if a president decided to carry a gun. Other presidents have packed heat, and so have the wives.

So, the question is not really can the president carry a gun but rather should he. Of course, I think that it would be good for the gun culture, and it would make concealed carry even that much more mainstream. I don't think that you can realistically make the case the he actually needs a gun for protection. I think the ninjas (real ninjas, not the ones that hang out at the food court) that are the Secret Service are all he really needs. They have more then enough manpower, firepower, and training to maximize his chances for survival in just about every contingency that might threaten his life. If it ever did come down to a last ditch hide out gun (a ridiculously remote possibility).... well, lets just say that he would be having a really, really bad day.

There is also the question of concealed carry on foreign soil. I dont really know how that works... it might fall under the umbrella of diplomatic immunity, or it might not. It might also result in our president getting a pat-down (depending on which foreign soil he might be visiting), and is that something that we really want to see on MSNBC?

The other questionable aspect of this would be state side. Depending on the method used to grant authorization for concealed carry to the president, the question would still remain as to how our federal/state gun laws would apply. Would the president be exempt from "gun free zones"? Would he be authorized to carry within federal buildings, courthouses, Congress, The White House, on an airplane?

And here in-lies the part of all of this that I dont really like... "Laws for thee, but not for me!". Thats what this really is. Its another example of politicians being exempt from guns laws... with the caveat of "Its The President" so that makes it a little easier for people to swallow. Well, I dont like it. If he wants/needs to carry a gun then perhaps he (and all other elected officials pulling the same crap) should work to get oppressive gun laws reversed so that all citizens can enjoy the same freedom.

All animals are not equal when some animals are more equal then others.


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