Sign the White House petition: Provide Secret Service protection for Bernie

[LongTomH]

On Friday, January 8, police in Las Vegas responded to a bullet hole which had been fired through the window of Presidential hopeful and lifelong Independent, Senator Bernie Sanders' campaign office.

Despite their apparent initial confusion of the bullet hole's source and basic ballistics, it is obvious to thinking American Citizens that guns are where bullet holes come from.

Secret Service protection is normally provided to candidates at 120 days prior to the general election. However, Ben Carson and Donald Trump have been protected since October of 2015.

This is the first and only such event of the campaign, and Mr. Sanders is obviously the one who needs the most protection, as he is the most credible threat to establishment politics and gun nuts.

Please protect Mr. Sanders!!

https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/provide-secret-service-protection-bernie-sanders

[Faux pas]

1. Done!

Thanks for posting this!

[Phlem]

2. Done!

[MissDeeds]

3. Double done!

Got my husband to sign too.

[Ed Suspicious]

4. I heard that all he needs to do is request it. Not sure we need a petition. But if it's required

I'll sign.

[mikehiggins]

5. Has he asked for it?

If not, and I haven't heard that he has, he doesn't feel the need for it. Politically, I hate to say it but having someone from SS by my side all the time might have a chilling effect on what I can say or do.

A SS agent does NOT work for the candidate but for the government.

Ahh, maybe I'm just too cynical. Just as long as Bernie doesn't take small planes anywhere I'll try not to worry too much.

[roguevalley]

6. needs 3177 more votes to be sent onward. COME ON, DU! I lived through RFK and MLK. Never again. Sign

[Yupy]

7. Why it was given to Trump? Why there has to be a petition, he should get it without a petition!

[thereismore]

9. I am sure he requested it. nt

[thereismore]

8. Done.

[TriggerGal]

10. While a nice idea ...

It's as useless as teats on a bull.

ONLY Bernie can request the protection

AND

ONLY if he's received a credible threat.

That's just the way it goes, folks.

[Melissa G]

11. Done. 96,711

[Nye Bevan]

12. Based on the Secret Service website, it seems almost certain that he is qualified for protection.

Who receives protection?
The Secret Service DOES NOT determine who qualifies for protection, nor is the Secret Service empowered to independently initiate candidate protection.

Under 18 U.S.C.' 3056(a)(7), "[m]ajor Presidential and Vice Presidental candidates," as identified by the Secretary of Homeland Security, are eligible for Secret Service protection.

Title 18 U.S.C.' 3056(a)(7) authorizes the U.S. Secret Service to provide protection for major presidential and vice presidential candidates:

Protection is authorized by the DHS Secretary after consultation with the Congressional Advisory Committee
The Congressional Advisory Committee includes: Speaker of the House, House Minority Leader, Senate Majority Leader, Senate Minority Leader, and one additional member selected by the others
Criteria have been established to assist the DHS Secretary and the advisory committee in their decision making (as of 2008). Candidates must:

Be publically announced
Have some degree of prominence as shown by opinion polls
Be actively campaigning and entered in at least 10 state primaries
Be seeking the nomination of a qualified party
Have qualified for matching funds in the amount of at least $100,000
Have received contributions totaling $10 million
Title 18 U.S.C.' 3056(a)(7) states that the U.S. Secret Service is also authroized to protect spouses of major Presidential and Vice Presidential candidates, as identified by the DHS Secretary, within 120 days of the general Presidential election. Some candidates have received protection earlier in the campaign pursuant to Presidential memoranda.

http://www.secretservice.gov/about/faqs/

It looks like all he has to do is ask. Part of it might be that (to his credit) much of his appeal is mixing with ordinary people, flying coach and so on, which having SS protection might curtail. In any case, petitioning the White House seems like a useless waste of time.

[Pastiche423]

13. Signed!