Like actually doing something positive for society.

The Oregon Legislature needs to except the building from the law allowing people to carry guns. Guns have no place in a building where laws are being made and the governor's office is located.

What would this group of protesters do, then?

Unlike that guy at JCPenney with his AR-15 slung in such a way that the muzzle drifted everywhere.

My own rifle is slung so that I have to carry it the same way, and it's the same basic style employed by our armed forces.

"That is not your daddy's shotgun, Private Cowboy!"

And it should not be now.

The disservice they are doing to their movement is actually very good. Giving more and more arguments to the other side.

Let those responsible gun owners keep up the demonstrations of their lack of judgment. That'll show us! Not.

I'm not much of a fan of carrying guns at the state legislature, but faced with the idea of a stronger and permanent Feinstein ban, the reaction of these guys is a little easier to understand.

(Not the only one, just best known). You were not allowed to open carry in town. What the hell is wrong with folks? These stunts will not help.

but you're absolutely right. I don't know if I want them to stop or not. One thing for sure, they are unstable people if they feel they are doing anything for their cause. It is intimidation clear and simple.

I'm not looking forward to crazy gun nuts when I move back there this summer.

After the Clackamas Town Center shooting two months ago, you'd think that this kind of stunt would be discouraged.

and grew up in Southern Oregon. The CTC shooting really took me by surprise. This is just down right ridiculous.

I now live in a country where citizens are not allowed to have guns (South Korea). After all the recent shootings I have to say I feel lucky.

Shooting noise-sensitive rabbits?

I don't like suppressors, personally, but they don't act like you may think from the movies. They take a gunshot down from about 160 dB to about 130 dB, which can mean the difference between hearing damage and no hearing damage.

I know what these AR-15 accessories do, I want to know why this guy thinks he needs them.


(I know, it's an M-4)

Are those things even legal in that State?

Why do I think he thinks he needs them? He paid good money for those little Barbie accessories.

Like, an absurd amount of money, really. I don't think I "need" it, though I would be upset if somebody tried to outlaw it.

It would be to outlaw computer equipment, unless it's only use was to kill people.

As an unreconstructed motorhead, I understand the hard-core hobbyist mentality and generally tolerate adults doing dangerous stuff on their own nickle. But, somehow, playing with and trading in military weapons as if they were toys doesn't quite fit into my expansive zone of tolerance.

If it were just a few careless idiots playing soldier or shooting each other in the woods each year, I'd probably let them - but, considering the recent massacres, this total freedom gun stuff has crossed over a line.

-Laelth

Just wanted to get that straight.....

But guns are inherently threatening. Most people feel cowed by being in their presence. This is as much about intimidation as it is about protesting.

But wouldn't you feel a bit nervous being around strangers with guns? People who may not be as proficient with the use of firearms as you?

They're clearly trying to make a point, though they're taking the jackass route to do it. My thought is that if someone is deliberately letting me see their firearm, it's a sign they aren't a threat to me. But, then again, I grew up in a small town where you would sometimes see people walking around with a rifle (going to or coming from hunting, coming off the back 40, what have you), though I think because they were so everyday to us we didn't fetishize them nearly as much.

The comparison I keep coming back to is a chainsaw. I react to a gun about the way I react to a chainsaw. It's something that can be dangerous but mostly I associate it with manual labor in hot weather, rather than the kind of emblem it seems to be to these guys. I'd probably take a second or third look if I ran in to this, but if a group of chainsawing enthusiasts* were demonstrating their right to carry chainsaws as the legislature debated their continuing legality, I don't think it would unnerve me.

* Yes, chainsawing enthusiasts is a silly idea, but so is "gun enthusiasts" for that matter. I think of guns as things you have to carry because there are rattlesnakes down by the river and then have to spend your entire afternoon cleaning.

Get these glib sociopaths on camera.

Or at least, they should not.

I think this says more about different people's reactions to the mere presence of firearms than it does anything else.

It's obviously meant to be intimidating. It's intentionally so.

Like Klansmen shouting racial slurs well-practiced back at the clubhouse suddenly in public, wondering why everyone gets upset.

Showing up in the middle of the night in white hoods and burning crosses is an attempt at intimidation.

This shit is NOT going to end well.

beating off smiley? Your point?




It's 4 dumabasses. When I clicked on the thread I was expecting the place to be chock full!

Here's a heart

um isn't that redundant, and repetitive...
kinda like selfish Republican.
And one form of protest is threat, so yes they are protesting.

As an aside, the shemagh is a nice touch, adds that SW Asia insurgent flair. Tres tacticool.

people who lawfully demonstrate their right to carry arms in accordance with state law probably aren't the problem, even if they are being jerks.

If you don't like the law then work to change the law. But don't critcize those who protest/act within the law.

How odd.

I'll criticize the teabaggers all day long even if they aren't committing crimes. Same goes for many other groups and people.

before police could respond doesn't trouble you, Gungeoneer?

you aren't hunting or shooting targets. Is it really that hard to accept a certain level of social decency?

Not. This is not going to convince a lot of people that guns are good.

Just saying.

None other than then Governor Ronald Reagan pushed for tougher gun control laws as a result.

II was at the CA Capitol the other day for Gun right day and the one thought I had was.... What if these were black people...

Nice job, losers.

Since 1963. This would be illegal there.

Somalia has been called the 'most dangerous country in the world', noted for its violence and brutality. Is that what you really want for your children?
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2013/feb/04/most-dangerous-place-fergusson-review


http://news.softpedia.com/news/Somali-Warlords-Saved-by-a-US-Ship-26875.shtml

I think a lot of gun people don't quite get how frightening a lot non-gun people find guns.

the place...and the people in those places.

Nope - nothing to be afraid of....schools, theaters, malls, street corners...

You would think the gun people might just get it...eventually.

And given what's been in the news these last few months, perhaps a lack of intelligence as well.

Definitely qualities we want to see in those of our citizens who feel a need to be armed to the teeth in public places.

Some law abiding citizens acting in a lawful manner. How scary. We certainly have to stiffle that sort of behavior don't we?

Great post and I agree.

how does this do anything for their so-called "cause"

Those are the "good guys" with guns.

As a black guy I think if I showed up with my rifles, assuming the cops didn't get me first, they probably try and take a few shots me. Mind I you support being able to carry handguns, we just story here in Detroit were a man shot two teen trying to rob him, but there's no practical self defense purpose carrying those things. Keep that shit at the home, the range or in the woods.

That's what the Second Amendment's all about...

- even if some don't like it, it's certainly within their rights.

... with guns, and therefore are uncomfortable with this situation of guys hanging about the corridors of power with weapons.

I'm very comfortable with weapons. 60 years experience. Fired everything you can move with one - or two - guys.

I'm not uncomfortable with weapons.

I am petrified at the thought of assholes like these with anything in their possession more dangerous than a wooden spoon.

There's a time and place for guns, and wandering around the state capital is not one of them.

It's intimidation with a weapon. Intimidation with weapons is a crime.

Because of jackasses like these guys is why I am totally for sticker gun laws.

These guy guys are too stupid to know how stupid they are.

I also think the law needs to be changed to except the Oregon Capital from the gun carry rules. If they want to carry guns, let them do it outside.

in public, I've been told that it's because I 'fear' guns. You get a heart from me too.

The rest... a bunch of worthless rednecks.

I wish we could seal people like this up in their doomsday bunkers and be done with it.

AR with the tacticool foregrip, hi-cap mag and the silencer like the dumbass in the back and he'd be all set.

the more the better...we could get a lot more legislators on our side.

....he better be prepared for me to tackle him and jam my fist down his throat, because my first assumption is he is there to do the public harm. I'll ask him his purpose later, thank you very much.

They did not brandish assault rifles. These are semi automatic rifles and you know it. Please tell us what you think assault rifles are?

Hi, Ian ... This is a belated thank you for posting this article. I'm an editor for Addicting Info & often check DU for leads & article ideas. I wrote an article about this last week because I'm so horrified that hundreds of heavily armed pro-gun demonstrators basically invaded the Oregon State capitol (TWICE -- last month's rally had over 1,000 people, this month's rally had just a few hundred -- but the lower attendance was due to the organizers scheduling it on a Friday so armed thugs ... I mean protesters ... could occupy the Rotunda).

I can't believe hardly anyone in the national media's covering this, so I did my modest part (http://www.addictinginfo.org/2013/02/11/armed-pro-gun-demonstrators-invade-oregon-state-capito/)

Can you imagine what would happen if 500 Black, Latino, and/or Arabic people with assault weapons marched on a state capitol? All I know is that the NRA supported way more gun safety measures back in the Black Panthers' hey day. FYI, next month, they're planning a series of smaller actions at the seats of local/county/municipal governments. I hope nothing terrible happens.

-- Elisabeth