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Dozen Gun-Toters Spotted at Obama Event

By Kevin Spak, Newser Staff

Posted Aug 18, 2009 8:24 AM CDT

(Newser) – The man who brought an assault rifle to Barack Obama’s speech yesterday wasn’t alone. Roughly a dozen protesters were seen carrying guns, the AP reports. Phoenix police say the men didn’t need permits, and didn’t commit any crime. In fact, they say they were worried someone would try to harm the man carrying the AR-15 semi-automatic rifle. “It sparked a lot of emotions,” said one detective. “We were keeping peace on both ends.”

One political scientist tells the AP he’s never heard of anyone openly carrying an assault rifle near the president before. An anti-gun activist worries that gun-toting protesters add to the Secret Service's headaches. But the Secret Service says the armed citizens didn’t change their security plans. “The subject was not entering our site,” said a spokesman. “The main thing to know is that they would not have been allowed inside with a weapon.”

[Images (4)]

[Quotes (2)]

Curtis Irwin holds a .50 caliber rifle to show at a gun shop in Fort Worth, Texas, Nov. 6, 2008. Following the election, the Cheaper Than Dirt gun shop swiftly sold out of assault weapons. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

President Barack Obama speaks at the Veterans of Foreign Wars National Convention in Phoenix, Monday, Aug. 17, 2009. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

President Obama supporters and protesters gather outside the Phoenix Convention Center in Phoenix, Monday, Aug. 17, 2009. Obama is scheduled to speak at the Veterans of Foreign Wars 110th Convention. (AP Photo/Matt York)

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When you start to bring guns to political rallies, it actually becomes quite scary for many people. It creates a chilling effect in the ability of our society to carry on honest communication. - Fred Solop, political scientist at Northern Arizona University

To me, this is craziness. When you bring a loaded gun to any political event, but particularly to one where the president is appearing, you're just making the situation dangerous for everyone. - Paul Helmke, president of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence

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