Armed gun-rights advocates rally at Washington state capitol

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press

Armed gun-rights advocates rally at Washington state capitol
By DERRICK NUNNALLY, Associated Press | February 7, 2015 | Updated: February 7, 2015 3:54pm


[font size=1]
Photo By Elaine Thompson/AP

Marie McFadden holds her daughter, Faith, 6, as she prays with armed demonstrators as the group
concludes a gun-rights rally at the state capitol Saturday, Feb. 7, 2015, in Olympia, Wash.
Approximately 50 demonstrators, including a half-dozen small children, protested rules that prohibit
openly carrying guns into the House and Senate viewing galleries.
[/font]
OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — A gun-rights rally drew about 50 people, mostly armed, to the steps of the Capitol on Saturday morning for a demonstration they hoped would end with their arrest. To raise money for bail, some protesters hawked caps with "Fight Tyranny — Shoot Back" printed on them and sold out.

The plan was to walk into the Capitol after a few speeches and carry guns into the Legislature's viewing gallery, in defiance of rule changes made in January that banned the open carry of firearms there. However, the Washington State Patrol kept the gallery doors locked after the building opened to the public at 11 a.m. The crowd, including two state legislators, walked through the marble hallways, with some lining up to knock on the doors to the House gallery and Gov. Jay Inslee's office.

No one was arrested, and the State Patrol reported no disturbances. The protesters went instead to the closed gate of the governor's mansion and prayed.

"What's the world coming to when there are people who want to break the law and they won't let you do it?" said Dave Grenier, 58, of Tumwater, as his fellow pro-gun demonstrators began to file out of the Capitol.

Their complaints against state government stem from the 2014 passage of Initiative 594 by voters statewide. It imposed new background-check requirements on several types of gun transfers, including purchases and loans, and opponents say the new law infringes on firearm rights guaranteed in the state and federal constitutions.


Read more: http://www.chron.com/news/us/article/Gun-rights-advocates-rally-at-Washington-state-6068480.php

[AtheistCrusader]

1. Huh. I know someone in that crowd.

Should make for interesting water-cooler conversation.

[Suich]

2. Do tell!

[alcina]

22. Yeah, so do I

And he -- along with several of the other pro-gun guys I know -- is taking heavy doses of anti-anxiety meds. I've often wondered if the gun obsession is a form of OCD for which the meds provide some mild relief, or if the meds are to offset their fears about having their guns taken away.

[RKP5637]

26. I've seen some guys like this so uptight I think they're going to crack. Just super anxious and

with their guns and all. IMO there's a lot more gong on than just gun rights with them.

[alcina]

27. I caused some serious anxiety for one guy

An acquaintance was blathering on one time about his compound, bunker, stash of weapons, blah blah blah. And at some point, he asked me if I had a plan for when the "inevitable" happens. (Never did quite find out which "inevitable" he meant, but whatever.) I replied that, since I knew where he lived, my plan was to take him out first, and then survive on his stash.

For months afterward, he would periodically ask a mutual friend if I was serious.

Silly me. I never should have shown my hand.

[RKP5637]

35. ...

[riversedge]

37. un--never good to mess with paranoid

folks--esp. the one you are describing. Stay safe

[alcina]

56. Thank you for wise advice

Had I known how paranoid he was, I probably would not have made that comment to him. Thankfully, I now live thousands of miles away, so I shouldn't have to worry.

But now I need a plan B.

[Skittles]

71. of course there is more going on

they're paranoid idiots - they should be investing in therapy instead of guns

[SoapBox]

3. Gun Nutters doing what they do best...

Looking nuts.

[Cryptoad]

23. "looking"???? nt

[pnwmom]

4. Of course they prayed, because Jesus was this huge gun proponent.

[blkmusclmachine]

9. Who needs bullets when you've got PRAYER and JEEZUS on your side ?!?!

Idiots.

[on point]

5. I know it is what they want, but they should be arrested for brandishing and their guns confiscated

and their gun rights stripped.

These fools are terrorists and getting dangerous to the country.

[YOHABLO]

6. What do you mean 'getting' ? they're psycho

[AtheistCrusader]

7. Brandishing has legal meaning, and no one in that article is doing so.

[hack89]

14. You need to look up the legal definition of brandishing Nt

[Paladin]

39. Ix-nay on the "andishing-bray" word.

The pro-gun crowd will nail you for it if it doesn't meet the NRA-approved definition......

I'm jesting, of course; "brandishing" is an accurate and legitimate description of what's going on. We need to quit ceding vocabulary control to the gun enthusiasts; we've allowed it to go on for way too long......

[BrotherIvan]

49. Oh damn, do I rec your post!

Letting the gunners define the definitions and hence the laws is about as smart as allowing 'pro-lifers' to define what means life. Stop the madness already.

[Amishman]

58. when talking about definitions of crimes

everyone should follow the correct legal definition.

encouraging arrests when a crime is not being committed just wastes police resources, and potentially opens the door to wrongful arrest / imprisonment lawsuits.

[Paladin]

59. This is an online talk site, not a court of law.

Imposition of hyper-detailed definitions online has been used by pro-gun types to stifle and intimidate pro-control advocates, and to avoid meaningful discussion of the actual issues at hand. This practice has gone on way too long and needs to stop. We don't allow our opponents to control the vocabulary on right-to-life and foreign policy matters; the same should be true regarding gun control.

[AtheistCrusader]

63. Problem is, the term describes an actual crime.

AND there have been some people on this site that link it to actually calling the cops whenever they see someone doing it.

So it matters in this context.

bran·dish
(brăn?dĭsh)
tr.v. bran·dished, bran·dish·ing, bran·dish·es
To wave or flourish (something, often a weapon) in a menacing, defiant, or excited way. See Synonyms at flourish.

n.
A menacing, defiant, or excited wave or flourish of something.

And that's not even a legal dictionary.

[Paladin]

64. I stand by my prior comments. (nt)

[AtheistCrusader]

65. And you're welcome to your opinion.

I would probably fully agree with you, if 'brandish' was a softer definition in common use, along the lines of 'displaying' or 'visible'. Certainly when people open carry, it is visible.

[Paladin]

66. I'll rely on the same source for definitions of "brandish," "assault rifle," "arsenal," etc. :

Whatever the New York Times says they are, on any given day.

Better that, than definitions which are vetted, approved, and then forced into public discourse by the likes of Wayne LaPierre and Ted Nugent, on behalf of the pro-gun militancy movement.

But you too are welcome to your opinion.

[AtheistCrusader]

67. I didn't know Wayne LaPierre owned Websters, American Heritage, and other dictionaries.

NYT sometimes uses pro-gun language, does it not?

[Paladin]

68. Don't be obtuse, it doesn't suit you.

That was a compliment, by the way.....

[AtheistCrusader]

69. I prefer pedantic.

I try to keep my terminology tight (and point it out on same team conversations), because it makes it easier to call out the other side on disingenuous bullshit, when they can't point a finger back. Normally it doesn't matter though. They'll be disingenuous regardless.

[SunSeeker]

8. They're protesting against Washington State's new background check law.

They claim it infringes on their right to have guns. And yet they all have guns and don't cite to one person who should have a gun who was denied a gun by that law. Considering 90% of Americans favor universal background checks, these idiots apparently have a big problem with Americans.

[cprise]

12. Wonder if they support an inalienable right to vote

Seems much of the pro-gun supporters are in favor of barring people from the polls based on vague suspicions.

[SunSeeker]

19. Nope. They're more into made up "rights" rather than what is actually written in the Constitution.

Like the "right to fire arms." They and the right wing 5 on our Supreme Court overturned long standing Supreme Court precedent and disregarded historical fact, and the actual words in the Constitution, in interpreting the Second Amendment as enshrining some kind of individual right to guns, when it is and always has been about the right to maintain a public militia so as to avoid standing armies.

Right to vote? Promotion of the general welfare? Not respecting an establishment of religion? In other words, the HEART of our Constitution? They happily ignore it.

[hack89]

32. Both the Democratic Party platform and President Obama would disagree

both say the 2A protects an individual right to own guns. It is not just the right wing you are fighting on this issue.

[SunSeeker]

40. Well thanks to the right wing 5 on the Supreme Court, their rewrite of the 2nd Am is now law.

The Dems are picking their battles until we get a progressive majority on the Supreme Court.

Don’t worry, no one is coming after your precious guns.

[hack89]

41. President Obama and Congressional Dems have been very good to gun owners

I don't worry about anyone taking away my guns - haven't for a very long time.

You understand that the SC has said that the 2A allows the strict regulation of guns. Registration, AWBs, UBCs are all perfectly legal and constitutional. So stop blaming the SC and the 2A. Your problem is a lack of widespread popular support. If you had the votes you would have the laws you want.

[SunSeeker]

45. Tell your bullshit to someone else.

Popular support is not what is stopping common sense gun control. 90% of Americans want universal background checks, yet our so-called representatives didn't let it pass. Now that owning a gun has been elevated to a constitutional right by those 5 right wing idiots on the Supreme Court, the NRA has even more ammunition to bat down such reforms, particularly in court. Dems and Obama decided to just move on and deal with other problems.

[hack89]

48. UBCs could have passed if gun control advocates hadn't overplayed their hand

remember that instead of showing some restraint they tried to pass every possible gun control law including an AWB - all at once in one big package. If they had tried to pass UBCs by itself it most likely would have passed.

And remember that it was Harry Reid in the Senate that killed it as he tried to protect Dems from pro-gun states as they ran for reelection.

[Duckhunter935]

51. those pesky facts again

[freshwest]

47. You nailed it... We have got a lot of these RWNJs voting here. They're screwing life up for us.

[kelliekat44]

10. Actually ignoring them is the best way to handle them. Let them move on with out media coverage.

They will end up doing something stupid to each other.

[Sunlei]

11. if they want attention, go see their buddie McCain! McCain shouts, "get a job you scum!"

[onehandle]

13. Losers. nt

[SoapBox]

16. ROFL

Oh my gosh...I'm always trying to come up with some witty, insulting post , when there are such stories but...losers.

I don't think I've thought of that in years. It's a perfect description.

(This also got me wondering how many of these losers, are getting some form of gub'ment help.)

[Historic NY]

15. Praying for guns......WTF is wrong with these people..

where is it in the bible that Jesus went into the desert and prayed 40 days for guns.

[onehandle]

20. Gun activists are largely fundies who ignore the messages of peace in the new testament.

Really, it's just the modern day Klan. They did the same thing.

[freebrew]

34. 'Cause that King Jamed guy changed it...nt

[Nobel_Twaddle_III]

43. And since king James was gay, that makes it part of the homosexual agenda

[Skittles]

70. stupid, paranoid assholes

that is what is wrong with these people

[paleotn]

17. 594 was approved by the majority of voters....

...get over it or get out.

[jen1980]

52. Exactly!

Prison time for people that hand a gun to someone else is what we voted for.

[ManiacJoe]

60. Or just wait the rest of the 2-year editing limit

then correct the bad legislation.

[Taitertots]

18. The police are preventing judicial review by denying them grounds to sue

I agree with the open carry restrictions. They should arrest people for breaking it and let them have their day in court.

This is not something we should be happy about.

[onehandle]

21. "What's the world coming to when there are people who want to break the law and they won't let you

...do it?"

I had to read that three times before I was sure I got it right.

I wonder what they would do if a black male child with Skittles and iced tea wanted to rally on their front yards?

Wait... I know...

[rickford66]

44. I'm stilling trying to understand its meaning.

Please fill me in.

[ManiacJoe]

61. Guns are now prohibited in the Viewing Galleries.

Just like signs and banners are banned.

The protesters wanted to take their guns into the viewing galleries and get arrested. Instead the cops just stopped them from entering the galleries with their guns.

[old guy]

24. "Look at me!"

15 minutes of fame in the local media and it's back under their rock. Sigh.

[Cryptoad]

25. all seven of them? nt

[louis-t]

28. In the....fucking.....viewing gallery!!!!????

"Hey Senator, I don't think I liked the way you voted on that bill." Blam! Blam!

[Hoyt]

29. White wingers sporting their weapons. Typical gun fanciers.

[mentalslavery]

30. What's the world coming to when there are people who want to break the law and they won't let you do

Its called deterrence jack-ass.

[jpak]

31. Stupid fucking gun nuts

yup

[world wide wally]

33. The people in this picture may very well be among the dumbest of our species.

Any of them would just blend in with the population in "Idiocracy".
I wish I was joking!

[whereisjustice]

36. future murderers just waiting for the right opportunity to kill someone they blame for their

own bad choices.

[riversedge]

38. There are several more photos at the link including this one.

[SunSeeker]

46. Child endangerment. nt

[Judi Lynn]

55. How sweet. Wouldn't that make a great Norman Rockwell painting? Daddy brought 2 guns. Awwwww. n/t

[DiverDave]

42. Huh, I wonder what have happened if they

were black?

Entitled white lunatics, being treated with kid gloves.
Figures...they ought to be in jail.

[alcibiades_mystery]

50. Shitheads and crazies

[Brigid]

53. Is this the same state . . .

Where idiots like this ( or maybe it's the same idiots) who caused a ruckus recently by storming the state capitol building with their Precious?

[rstanleyj2918ca]

54. Typical Gun Nut maniacs

When will this country ever get some sense, and restrict access of these dangerous, murdering machines to these nutcases? Sheesh!

[ileus]

57. wonder if they realize guns don't have rights...people do.

[olddots]

62. some of these " people " are sitting on stock piles of ammo

the threat of that potential catastrophe out weighs their dumbth .