intimidation techniques

[novapsyche]

Sheriff's deputies probe cross-burning incident -- This occurred this weekend in Independence Township, Michigan.

Tangentially, MSNBC this morning actually advanced the theory that people showing up to Obama events with firearms may be doing so due to racism, and that racism and anger at the government may indeed be a volatile mix.

I think it's safe to say that racist tensions are rising, not least because some figures (even prominent ones) are ratcheting up irresponsible rhetoric and inflaming prejudices.

One of the MSNBC commentators actually said he "wouldn't be surprised" if somoeone fired one of the guns at an event where Obama was, and that it would be up to the Secret Service to make sure the incident "didn't become history". What an amazing use of euphemistic language when instead reasonable people should be excoriating conservatives (especially lawmakers) who tacitly condone this unprecedented arms-carrying behavior by letting the offenders hide behind the Second Amendment.

Comments

[fizzyland.livejournal.com]

Likewise people shooting abortion doctors should be considered domestic terrorists but it seems there is a hands-off policy regarding our homegrown wackos.

[novapsyche.livejournal.com]

I think quite a few people do, rightly, consider such people terrorists, but you don't hear a lot of national news anchors willing to use such terminology. (Rachael Maddow is a significant exception. Do you watch her?)

[fizzyland.livejournal.com]

I watch her now and then, like Olberman. Mostly I get my updates from Jon Stewart and my daily reading.

[novapsyche.livejournal.com]

Stewart's guest last night, David Cross, touched on the gun-toting as well, to comedic and disturbing effect.

[pstscrpt.livejournal.com]

I believe these are people with guns outside of an indoor event, so they wouldn't have a chance to actually attempt to shoot Obama.

[novapsyche.livejournal.com]

They are contributing to a desensitizing of weaponry at presidential events. The climate is tenser and there is more of a chance that someone, including but not just the President, will get hurt.

I'm one of the people who believe that these people are a distraction to the Secret Service, which would lead to a breakdown in the quality of the President's protection and provide those who may intend to hurt someone an opportunity.

Even this type of talk about hypotheticals would normally fall under the jurisdiction of the Secret Service. I'm probably being put into a vast database because of this post, which of course wouldn't help the Service narrow down to the people who are most likely to see these developments as positive.

There is a time and place for everything. A presidential event is neither the time nor the place for a loaded weapon.

[pstscrpt.livejournal.com]

It's definitely inappropriate. I'm just uneasy about trying to say it's illegal without a firm basis for that.

[novapsyche.livejournal.com]

I'm not saying it's illegal. In fact, that's the gun-toters' only excuse for their acts in the first place.

I think that maybe it should be illegal for anyone other than the Secret Service (or Capitol police during occasions like the State of the Union) to have loaded firearms at a presidential event. These people are really pushing the envelope, and it's not hard to see what the eventual outcome will be.