POTUS ccw?

[a1c]

I think I read Teddy Roosevelt carried a .38 sometimes - he became President through the assassination of McKinley. He almost certainly had a bedside gun.

I'd be much happier if POTUS carried.

Hey, the guy led the Rough Riders in Cuba. That's his street cred for occasionally carrying, and he gets my respect for that, even if I think the Spanish American War was a much of a scam as the Iraq War.

[ZirconJohn]

As silly as I think that is, I still think it's awesome.

Oh I hear ya... with all that Secret Service all around the POTUS and stuff...
and yet still carry a personal protection piece... that is very cool...!

And why NOT...! - The President of The most powerful Nation on the Planet
carry a couple'a chrome single action revolvers... two Colts with pearl grips...
Just like what Gen. Patton did... ya...!

[Curley Red]

HHhahaaa... I found it

Copy/paste from: http://www.ontheissues.org/Archive/S...un_Control.htm

In the President`s Secret Service, by Ronald Kessler: on Gun Control

Ronald Reagan: Carried a pistol as president on his ranch & to the USSR
A former Secret Service agent remembers that when Reagan was running for
president the first time, he came out of his home in Bel Air to drive to Rancho
del Cielo, the 700-acre Reagan ranch near Santa Barbara. Another agent
noticed that he was wearing a pistol and asked what that was for. "Well, just
in case you guys can't do the job, I can help out," Reagan replied. Reagan
confided to one agent that on his first presidential trip to the Soviet Union in
May 1988, he had carried a gun in his briefcase.
Source: In the President`s Secret Service, by Ron Kessler, p. 87-88 Jun 29, 2009

To bad Reagan took away our right to loaded open carry. I guess what is good for the goose is not good for the gander.

[Turo]

I doubt the current prez carries, but I wouldn't be surprised if a few of the better past presidents did.

[Kala]

If I were president, I'd carry a full blown uzi!

As for Obama, I dono, I'd doubt it though.

[Plisk]

During such a budget crisis, he's prolly carrying a Jennings or a Raven.

[FNH5-7]

To bad Reagan took away our right to loaded open carry. I guess what is good for the goose is not good for the gander.

Please elaborate

[tacticalcity]

Some of the responses are interesting. Some people are far too willing to put their safety in the hands of others and make it some else's responsiblity, just as too many people put the responsibility of their safety in the hands of their local police department. Unfortunately, politics demands that while he is in office he has to give up certain rights including the right to protect himself. His part wouldn't go for it nor would his base. Once he leaves office he could do as he wishes, but even if he were inclined I suspect politics would still be the deciding factor for him. You don't get to that position without being a political animal to your core. Even if he never plans to run for office again, he would place politic perception and his legacy ahead of all else. Plus he will be very young. He may decide to seek office again, either in congress, the senate, an amasadorship, a judgeship, who knows? Might sound strange now, but past presidents have done it so you can't rule it out.

[Curley Red]

Please elaborate

I believe it was 1967 when Reagan was governor he signed AB1934 to ban the open carrying of loaded firearms. I also believe he was one of the major supporters of the "assualt" weapon ban.

[Oceanbob]

I believe it was 1967 when Reagan was governor he signed AB1934 to ban the open carrying of loaded firearms. I also believe he was one of the major supporters of the "assualt" weapon ban.

...and President George H.W. Bush banned certain imported assault weapons.

(in 1989)

[erik_26]

You think this man is packing? And if so what would you carry if you were POTUS?

I don't care thing one about how much secret service I have, if I was in that position, I would have a sidearm at all times.

I think a 4 inch 1911 of some sort would be fitting as POTUS with some 10 rounders for backup/reload

I don't think the POTUS is bound by the same rules as us in CA. I am pretty sure if the POTUS did carry, he wouldn't be worried about 10 rd magazines.


I don't think the POTUS does carry though. They have a bubble they live in.


If I was POTUS, I don't think I would carry. Unless I was trying to enforce 2A rights. I doubt as the POTUS I would be able to maintain situational awareness just because of being such a high profile person.

[BigDogatPlay]

Any number of POTUS have been known to carry through the years. A FLOTUS or two have as well.... Eleanor Roosevelt was well known for carrying a revolver in her purse, for instance.

Since the real rise of the Secret Service into it's protection role over the course of the 20th century, I'd imagine there would be less and less of it. These days I can't imagine that the service would be very happy with POTUS carrying and would do everything within their scope to keep that from happening.

And I doubt that the current president even understands which end of the gun a bullet would come out of, let alone owning/carrying one.

[Untamed1972]

I don't think the POTUS is bound by the same rules as us in CA. I am pretty sure if the POTUS did carry, he wouldn't be worried about 10 rd magazines.


I don't think the POTUS does carry though. They have a bubble they live in.


If I was POTUS, I don't think I would carry. Unless I was trying to enforce 2A rights. I doubt as the POTUS I would be able to maintain situational awareness just because of being such a high profile person.

I would disagree....CA law exempts LEOs and Military for official duty. The POTUS is neither a LEO, nor military. He may be the POTUS, but he is still "just a citizen".

[nrandell]

Why not? When milliseconds count, the secret service is only seconds away.

[DannyInSoCal]

Obama couldn't shoot without permission from Soros anyway....