Does the president pack heat?

[OneTenthofOnePercent]

We've all seen his entourage and the armament they have... :wow:
And I'm sure the president wears a thin vest under his suit when out in the public.

But does the president carry anything himself?

I know if I were president I'd carry a Glock 18c or something similar.
Mostly because I could... being president and all.

[Warpy]

1. No, he relies on the Secret Service

He carries his weapon between his ears. It's quite a good one.

[hlthe2b]

5. +1

the very best

[OneTenthofOnePercent]

7. I've no doubt in the Secret Service.

I mean, if someone makes it past SS... how would a concealed sidearm really defeat such a threat?
Obviously, he has nothing to fear.

I'm just wondering if he carries anyways.
I was just adding, if I were prez, I'd carry. Something exotic too.
I mean, hey... I'd be president. Is someone going to tell the head of a country "no"?!?

[PavePusher]

14. Since so many people like to play 'what if' around here...

What if a single individual did make it past the S.S.? Why would they neccesarily be impervious to one more armed person? Using that logic, all armed resistance is futile.

Remember when some nut-job snuck into the bedroom of the Queen of England? Luck, or security flaws, does not confer invulnerability.

[OneTenthofOnePercent]

15. I disagree with your hypotheitcal conclusion of my what-if statement. (lol).

In the real world, armed defense is not futile because we are owr own first line of defense should we be preyed upon. The president often has police, secret service, and other security systems IN PLACE to be is line of defense. Obama's SS carries SMGs, M4s, Handguns, body armor, and mini guns. Carrying a measley pistol likely does him no good if he ever has to use it.

But like you said, never say never because there's always some obscure chance something happens.
Probably so remote it's still not worth carrying.

[DrDan]

2. I am quite sure no

[hlthe2b]

3. What a fascinating peek into your psyche

Just an observation, not an insult.

[jkshaw]

18. hlthe2b, it's "peek."

[hlthe2b]

20. yes, it certainly is...

corrected....;)

[X_Digger]

21. woops. n/t

[hlthe2b]

22. Actually no... Peek (as in glimpse) is correct; NOT pique

as in to stimulate one's curiosity...

[X_Digger]

24. Yah, I was working on a post in GD, on almost the same subject..

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x7819593

I replied to the wrong post (there is one in GD that used peek for pique, but I won't embarrass the author.)

[WheelWalker]

40. I thought it would be "peep" as in sight.

[spin]

4. I would if I were President ...

and I would spend a lot of time with the Secret Service on the range.

I doubt that with his Chicago background that he packs heat. In Chicago only the bad guys do. Unfortunately, there is a LOT of bad guys.

I'd probably just carry a Kimber or Les Baer 1911 style .45 auto. in a shoulder holster.

edit to add comment about type of firearm

[bluestateguy]

6. DC does not permit conceal and carry

although I am sure he could get a waiver as he is a "law enforcement" official under the Constitution.

[OneTenthofOnePercent]

8. Who is going to arrest the president? LOL.

The arresting officer would be in Gitmo before his next bowel movement. rofl

[Statistical]

44. Are you ok with that concept.?

Two sets of laws.

One for the powerful, one the the rest of us.
Not that I am saying you are wrong but it is a commentary on our "Democracy" and how far we have fallen.

Founding fathers would likely be shocked to hear you say the President is now considered above the law.

[Enrique]

9. too dangerous

they make a big deal about the president not getting hurt.

[tburnsten]

16. What would be too dangerous?

[onehandle]

10. What a ridiculous question.

It would add just one more thing for the Secret Service to worry about.

:eyes:

[OneTenthofOnePercent]

19. Does the secret service sit around worrying about each other all day long?

Probably not.
Likely because firearms in the hands of somebody trained and trusted is not a problem.

[Callisto32]

31. So, he's qualified to be the Prez, but not to carry a firearm?

You simply cannot be serious.

[onehandle]

38. Oh, he's qualified. But it would make him look like a right-wing nut.

Like those guys that are openly carrying into Starbucks.

[OneTenthofOnePercent]

41. So people who carry concealed are right-wing nuts?

akin to open carry protestors at Starbucks.
Right...

[onehandle]

42. I said 'look like.'

Difference.

[Callisto32]

43. Who cares what it looks like?

We should be worried about the principles of those in power, not what they appear to be at a tertiary glance.

[TheWraith]

11. I seriously doubt the Secret Service would allow that.

Aside from the fact that they prefer to have control of all the weapons in the secured zone, they would never leave the POTUS in a dangerous position long enough for him to even touch a weapon let alone use it. They would likely consider it more of a danger from accidental discharges than it would be a value.

Though you make me think, the POTUS probably has access to the Secret Service practice range for target shooting. That would be pretty cool, even though the Secret Service guys would be impossible to compete against.

[OneTenthofOnePercent]

12. I'm not saying he needs to carry...

But it certainly is his right to carry (where permitted).
And even where hot permitted who would contest it? Who would even know!

Good thought though, on shooting with the Secret Service. That'd be a blast.
I'm sure one could compete reasonably well with them after some practice.
The SS's strengh is thier organization. It's not like they're all Rob Leatham or something.

[PavePusher]

13. I don't think the Secret Service trumps the Rights (or orders) of the President. n/t

[dmallind]

17. IANAE but I think they can in certain situations

The Prez for example is subject to security procedures, and I doubt he would be allowed to tell them not to bundle him into the car if shots started going off in the neighborhood. If I were in charge of his security detail I wouldn't want my folks to have to wait for him to decide what he wanted to do in such a situation.

[proteus_lives]

23. Teddy Roosevelt was the last President I know carried a weapon.

[OneTenthofOnePercent]

25. Was the SS really what it was today before the attempt on Reagan?

I'd have to imagine the SS were around from nearly the beginning... but they were more of personal guards. Nowdays, it's like a well outfitted mercenary army with federal jurisdiction.

FWIW, Andrew Jackson supposedly carried dueling pistols around with him. But that was way back when rapid lead delivery was a valid counterpoint in a heated debate. Back when having the high ground was as important morally as tactically. Don't disagree with the gentleman from rhode island sitting in the back at the top - he has your flank covered. lol.

[tburnsten]

27. Eleanor Roosevelt carried a revolver, I believe a S&W Model 10

[GreenStormCloud]

26. He would not get a chance to use it.

In the event of danger, the SS mobs the President. Before he could draw he would have several SS guys shielding him and carrying him to safety. His gun would be only extra weight on him, and the possibility of becoming a political embarrassment.

[Callisto32]

32. Anybody who sees the chief executive officer of a nation carrying a weapon and sees an embarrassment

is not in possession of an opinion worth worrying about.

[GreenStormCloud]

35. Depends upon who sees it.

If he were to be addressing an NRA convention (Yeah - fat chance of that)it would not be an embarrassment.

If he were addressing a peace convention, or a VPC meeting, and it flashed, it could be embarrassing.

[PavePusher]

39. Peace and self-defense...

are not mutually exclusive ideas. Something an armed and articulate President could easily hammer home.

Embarrasing for the Anti's? Sure, and that would be a good thing.

[PavePusher]

33. Why would the President, exercising his Civil Rights, be an embarresment?

Anyway, I as I implied above, his personal sidearm would only be used in a last resort situation, i.e. when all his other options/guards have been removed.

[tburnsten]

34. The poster must mean

that it is an embarrassment that he is able to carry for added protection while all other citizens and residents of D.C. cannot do the same, despite having no full-time security force.

[GreenStormCloud]

36. Well, that too, but I was thinking of it flashing in front of an anti-gun group. N/T

[one-eyed fat man]

28. Winston Churchill

carried a 1911 under his coat during the War. Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, was formally advised by the British cabinet to take her daughters to Canada until the war was over. She refused to go, stoutly declaring that ''the princesses would never leave without me, and I wouldn't leave without the king, and the king will never leave.'' Instead, she remained in London, enthusiastically taking target practice at the palace with a revolver that was a gift from the new prime minister, Winston Churchill.

Imagine that now?

[tburnsten]

29. Churchill also kept a FAL in his office later in life

A very enthusiastic shooter his entire life.

[proteus_lives]

30. Churchill was a brave man.

WWI, the Boer War. He didn't shirk from danger.

[The Green Manalishi]

37. As soon as any shots ring out

The secret Service agents literally cover the President with their bodies. The very meaning of 'take a bullet for him'.

But if he wanted to go to the FBI range and go full auto, unlimited supply of ammo, cruise over a firing range in a Blackhawk blowing up stuff with a minigun, who'd blame him?

I've often said that if *ANY* Democrat would just go to speak at an NRA convention and simply state "I will not introduce, nor will I sign, ANY bill further restricting firearms" that he could go full public option Sweden style the next day, evacuate every single soldier from Iraq and Afghanistan and STILL the GOP wouldn't get 20% of the vote in the next election.