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DC Delegate: Ban Guns Near Obama

Says pistol-packers too close; Secret Service says not an issue

By Mat Probasco, Newser Staff

Posted Aug 20, 2009 6:20 AM CDT

(Newser) – Washington DC's congressional delegate is watching gun-toting protesters outside venues where Barack Obama speaks, and she's not gonna take it anymore, reports The Hill. Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton—whose constituency last year had its handgun ban tossed by the Supreme Court—wants guns banned in the president's vicinity, and is calling for Homeland Security and the Secret Service to flex their muscles.

If feds can clear airspace around Air Force One, Norton says, they can certainly clear weapons far closer to the president. Secret Service officials shrug, however, and insist Obama was not in danger during the incidents in Arizona and New Hampshire. "Those guys were outside of the outer-most perimeter of security, so what would apply is state law,” says a spokesman. “They never had any proximity to the president at any time."

[Images (2)]

[Quotes (2)]

William Kostnic wears a 9mm pistol as he stands outside a town hall meeting on health care held by President Barack Obama, in Portsmouth, NH. (AP Photo/Joel Page, File)

House Oversight Committee member Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton, D-DC. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

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“It is clear that if the Secret Service can temporarily clear all aircraft from air space when the president is in the vicinity, the agency has the authority to clear guns on the ground that are even closer to the President."
- Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton

So when somebody goes to a rally, obviously if the president is there it’s going to get more attention, but I don’t think we’re really dealing with anything different. - Larry Pratt, executive director of the Gun Owners of America

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DC Delegate: Ban Guns Near Obama