Man near White House with firearm prompts lockdown

[jpak]

Source: USA Today

WASHINGTON — A man with a firearm walking Saturday afternoon near the White House led authorities to briefly lock down the property as a precaution, according to Secret Service officials.

A uniformed Secret Service officer confronted the unidentified man Saturday afternoon as he walked along Pennsylvania Avenue near Madison Place on the east side of Lafayette Park. The man, whose name was not released, was placed under arrest after a brief struggle and turned over to District of Columbia police.

He faces several charges, including carrying a firearm without a license, carrying unregistered ammunition and resisting arrest.

President Barack Obama was not at the White House at the time. He was in Maryland, playing golf at Andrews Air Force Base.

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Read more: http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2016/11/05/white-house-lockdown-protests/93368708/

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

1. My first question is:

What are the laws about open carry in DC?

If it's forbidden, then this was the right response. If open carry is legal there, then what exactly is the problem?

Is open carry okay or not?

[SoCalNative]

2. Open Carry

is not permited in DC

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

7. I'm not parsing the 2nd amendment.

I'm trying to point out that if open carry is allowed, then why would they lock down the White House just because a person was doing what's legally permitted?

[LiberalLovinLug]

8. You are implying that IF it were technically legal, then it would be ok

Here in Canada, and I think in most any country (maybe Philippines at present is an exception), the concept of allowing people, other than law enforcement, to walk around brandishing deadly firearms is in-fucking-sane.

The projection is a belief that "if only everyone carried a gun we'd all be safer". Which is even more INSANE.

Yes there is a trade off in rights when you have stricter gun controls like up here. Where hand guns in particular are severely restricted and you need a special permit as a collector or some other special condition and can only use it at a firing range and you are checked to see if it is stored properly. This is only a tiny percent of the population. And you cannot ever carry any gun, whether concealed or not, in public.

But the benefit is that I and everyone else walks the streets, day or night, knowing how unlikely it is that others around us are carrying any kind of firearm. Criminals also, especially lower life ones, find it difficult to even buy them in a black market as there are less floating around in general. Knife attacks are much more common. But I'd rather have that, as I can at least run from a knife.

My point is that it is a much more stress-free way of living. Knowing 99% that 99% of people walking around you are not carrying a gun. Most guns are smuggled up from the US and most gun violence is gang on gang.
Common criminals have almost as much trouble finding a handgun as the rest of us. And THAT is worth the trade off of being able to have the right to brandish such a powerful deadly weapon. I admit it may be fun to fire one, I've always thought it would be interesting to try one at a firing range. But I gladly give up the right to ever experience that if the alternative means always having the anxiousness of not knowing how many of my fellow citizens are carrying a gun, and more worrying, how many of those are angry/disturbed/mentally ill.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

10. Don't get me wrong.

I'd cheerfully confiscate all guns. But there's a huge disconnect on the part of so many Americans about making all guns legal, including making it legal to carry them anywhere, and how safe we really are.

Oh, and the hypocrisy of wanting open carry and then freaking out over it.

You've reminded me that I sometimes consider moving to a more sensible country, like Canada.

[LiberalLovinLug]

15. Well its all so sad really

I fear the toothpaste cannot be put put back in the tube now. But I hope a few sensible regulations could at least be enacted federally, like another assault weapons ban and background checks and trade show loophole closures.

Also reminds me of your healthcare system. You all should have changed over to the cheaper, more efficient single payer when everyone else in the western world set it up in their own countries. Now the private insurance industry is entrenched and employs so many plus the problem of richer hospitals and doctors having to share the wealth.

Come up anytime

[Buckeye_Democrat]

13. "In-fucking-sane."

Some of us in the USA feel the same way.

People are allowed to bring guns into bars in Ohio now. Bars, where many people get drunk!

The Ohio legislators have kept it illegal for regular citizens to carry guns into government buildings, though. That might affect THEM!

[LiberalLovinLug]

16. I think those Ohio legislators have watched too many old time TV westerns

[BumRushDaShow]

5. "at Andrews Air Force Base"

OFFS. Come on media! Re-hire some of those laid-off editors. It has been called "Joint Base Andrews" for the past 7 years.

[melm00se]

6. summary of DC gun laws

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gun_laws_in_the_District_of_Columbia#Summary_table

[Kennah]

14. Could the man be described as a giant Cheetoe? (n/t)