Gun Carried Into Dem Congressman's Town Hall -- But Did Not Pose Any Threat
Following a tense town hall meeting by Rep. Steve Cohen (D-TN) in Memphis over the weekend, local TV reported that one attendee was packing heat and had been escorted from the room -- which if true, would be a dramatic escalation in the increasingly confrontational health care debate. However, TPMDC has learned that there was not in fact any threat made, nor was it a cause for immediate alarm in its full context.
While one attendee did indeed possess a firearm, he did so in accordance with the state's conceal and carry laws, and was fully cooperative when asked to take it to his car due to a no-guns rule for the meeting.
"The gun issue was handled before the meeting," Shelby County Sheriff's Department spokesman Steve Shular told TPM. The audience was asked at the beginning whether anybody had a gun. One man replied that, yes, he was carrying a gun. He was told to leave it in his car for the meeting, and then did so. An officer followed him to his car, made sure that his permit was in order, and he was then allowed to re-enter the event.
Here's a video from NBC station, of just how contentious this whole thing was:
"Please don't yell out," Cohen commanded. "This is America. This is Memphis, Tennessee. Take two Aspirins and come back in the morning."
According to the Memphis Commercial Appeal, the largely white and conservative audience was not politically reflective of Cohen's Democratic, majority-black district. In fact, multiple people came in who didn't actually live inside the district.
Josh
Matt
Eric
Brian
I'm not worried about the ones who admit they're packing; I'm worried about the ones who won't.
August 10, 2009 2:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
Well, if you're that "worried" have the SEIU thugs to take them down. SEIU is great at what unions do.
August 10, 2009 2:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
Seriously man, did you and the rest of the Republican bozo's that go on about union thuggery come out of the 40's or something when some unions were taken over by the mob?
Is this where this outdated ridiculousness comes from?
Or are you basing this off of a video clip of the ending of an event that we don't know what exactly happened between the SEIU member and the conservative that fought?
August 10, 2009 2:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
So what are you basing his defense of him on? Something others haven't seen?
August 10, 2009 3:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
Defense of who? What are you talking about?
Here's the tape.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zTXBOgPCh9w
I see an SEIU guy on the ground with the black conservative and another guy in a pony tail straddling him while he's on the ground. The SEIU guy goes to grab the black conservative off of the SEIU guy on the ground and falls backwards in the process.
So, from this, you have came to the conclusion the SEIU are thugs.
What alternate universe did you come from where one guy helping out another on the ground turns them into a thug?
August 10, 2009 3:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yeah, he just tripped and accidentally fell. And the "uninsured activist" guy who was handing out Gadsden flags simply happened to be in the vicinity.
August 10, 2009 3:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
Who tripped? The SEIU black guy on the ground or the SEIU guy who tried to pull the black conservative off of the SEIU guy?
I don't get what you're trying to argue.
August 10, 2009 3:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
SEIU Thugs
More fact free froth from the Fruitbats
Don't leave out the ACORN who took America away from them
The tell here is that the GOP powers that R are beginning to realize that their Stoßtrupp are out of control and have become a major embarrassment
So they accuse SEIU of the very thuggery that has been playing out daily across the country
August 10, 2009 3:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
ACORN, Soros, the whole gang. They are mobilized, they are "authentic" and they are "progressive".
August 10, 2009 3:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
Odd this obsession with Soros you have. I remember last year you said he was a bit "nosey" in his attempts to influence American domestic politics using his financier wealth.
What is it about him that pulls your goat so much?
August 10, 2009 3:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
He only likes Pirates from Australia influencing him.
August 10, 2009 3:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
LOL.
I'm flattered you have a file on me. Did you already use the snitch email and sent it along to the White House? Or are you still collecting?
August 10, 2009 4:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
We're ridin the Cuckoo Train
August 10, 2009 4:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
Lalo,
explain your reference to Soros, is there something about Soros that is unethical, unAmerican, illegal, immoral? What?
August 10, 2009 4:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
The only thing wrong with Palin's baby
http://www.upcominghorrormovies.com/movies/itsalive.jpg
WOO HOO
August 10, 2009 4:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
Step aside Yankees..
I grew up with semi-literate angry white people...they were victims of the Jewish Communist conspiracy then, they are victims still
August 10, 2009 4:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
not to mention "outside agitators"
It really is an old, tired story
August 10, 2009 4:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yes, the SEIU is very good at what unions do: collective bargaining, worker advocacy, etc.
So, let's see here. Given that the teabagger side is the one bringing the guns, leaving threatening messages for congressmen, and twittering "hurt them bad" to each other, is your mind really so warped that you think the unions are the "thugs" in this situation? Or are you just pulling our collective leg?
August 10, 2009 3:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
Lalo's got a history of supporting thuggery, even a year ago claiming that physical assault and assassination threats against political figures might be justified if it meant protecting the USA from tyranny.
Do you have no shame?
August 10, 2009 3:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
LOL, nice try.
Unlike you, I never said Palin should have drowned her baby in the toilet once she found it he was disabled.
August 10, 2009 3:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
I recommend the Eskimo Method
Love that Mob Slideshow
The GOP's booked express ride on the Cuckoo Train
August 10, 2009 3:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
You did, however, once provide a link to a Stormfront article claiming that Obama was a crack baby. Doesn't that implicitly mean you think as an infant he was less worthy of life than others?
August 10, 2009 3:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
Good to know you don't give up on BS, soldier! In any event, Obama couldn't have possibly been less valuable than Trig, could he?? What with fabricated birth certificate and all...
August 10, 2009 3:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
Lalo,
I think you're losing it man, your comments of late have been more like something from a birther or teabagger than from your adult (relevant but argumentative) posts of the past.
August 10, 2009 3:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm just mocking the idiotic, panicked, frenzied liberals.
Pelosi: "Drowning out opposing views is simply un-American" (TPM: grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr)
http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/08/gop-democrats-are-questioning-peoples-patriotism.php?ref=fpa
Democrat Himes: "..come out in strong numbers to drown out their voices." (TPM:???)
http://www.seiu2001.org/Healthcare_Town_Hall_Forum_with_Congressman_Jim_Himes.aspx
===
I hate taxes, but I agree with those who propose taxing stupidity.
August 10, 2009 4:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
That position would put YOU on the dole.
August 10, 2009 4:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
No. "That position" only means that liberals talk out of their asses.
August 10, 2009 4:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
By all means, please volunteer to pay more. Someone has to. Just make sure it gets rated by how stupid people are, so you pay the maximum allowed.
August 11, 2009 1:48 AM | Reply | Permalink
TN is a right to work state, so we have no union presence here. You will have to find a different boogey man here.
It was not lost on those who attended this meeting or our Rep. that the anti reform protesters were from outside the district.
August 10, 2009 3:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
You are great at what you do Lalo, spew worthless Bush Base nonsense.
You got the hat but not the cattle, white boy.
August 10, 2009 3:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yeah those nurses, public servants and cleaning crews can be SCARY!
Where'd you get your knowlegde of Unions? That "Hoffa" movie?
August 10, 2009 3:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
What's your source? Facts, please. No bullshit.
August 10, 2009 3:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
Rage Against The Dying Of The Right Kleefeld Rulz
August 10, 2009 4:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
AmericaBlog just posted a new story about someone dropping a gun on the ground and police being called at an event hosted by Arizona Congresswoman Giffords.
http://www.americablog.com/2009/08/gop-mob-member-brought-gun-to-dem.html
August 10, 2009 2:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
"dropping a gun"
- Well, I guess he wasn't "just happy to see her".
August 10, 2009 3:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
Blogger Left Wing Cracker (http://leftwingcracker.blogspot.com) was there and took pictures. He talked about the guns issue, said that security was in place and they had uniformed police officers there to keep the peace. Note the difference from the plainclothes officers at Kathy Castor's meeting in Tampa, and how things turned out there.
August 10, 2009 2:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hate to throw race in here, but could you imagine the reaction if a black urbanite had brought a gun to a Sarah Palin rally?
August 10, 2009 2:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
I was at that townhall, and it wasn't lost on anybody that the crowd was mostly white in a district that's about 75% African American. It also wasn't lost on anyone that 20 minutes into the Q&A teabaggers started leaving the event. The A/C was crappy, and since they didn't really come there to hear what Cohen had to say, they wimped out and left.
August 10, 2009 3:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
I also liked the way they screamed down the people who agreed with them. Idiocy knows no limits.
August 10, 2009 3:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
Sweatty teabags?
August 10, 2009 3:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
Oh and CONGRATS!
Baggers hard to come by around SF
Have to travel to Fresno ...100 degrees
August 10, 2009 3:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
Send her to one of the secret ACORN re-education camps now nearing completion thanks to the Stimulus
August 10, 2009 3:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
How many rights does this guy think is necessary to sport at a health care town hall?
Right to exercise free speech.
Right to bear arms.
I wish some thugs that show up to these town halls spouting lies would exercise their right to remain silent.
August 10, 2009 3:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
"I expected it to be a lot worse," Cohen said.
That's my Rep.
August 10, 2009 3:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
In TN the new law says that you can carry a gun into a bar or restaurant, if you promise not to be tempted to start drinking there. That's because alcohol and guns together makes for such interesting conversation.
Some sane municipalities, as well as some restaurants who don't want to scare away non-heat packing customers, are trying to have gun-free alcohol establishments.
August 10, 2009 4:51 PM | Reply | Permalink
alcohol-free gun establishments might help too.
August 10, 2009 5:45 PM | Reply | Permalink