GOP Rep. encourages guns at town hall meetings

By David Edwards and Stephen Webster

Asked by an MSNBC anchor on Monday, a Georgia Republican member of Congress actually encouraged Americans to attend public forums packing heat.

“It just so happens those same people would take that weapon anywhere they go,” said Rep. Phil Gingrey (R-GA), speaking to Chris Matthews during a Monday broadcast. “They are permitted to carry a concealed weapon. They have the right to do that…”

Matthews interrupted him. “They’re not concealed. … We’re looking at gentlemen here that have guns on them, in their holsters. They’re not concealed. They’re basically displaying their weapons. Armed weaponry at these public meetings. I’m just asking, why is it going on? …”

Gingrey replied: “Well Chris, they have the right to do that. I have no fear of it. I’ve already had five town hall meetings; I have six more planned. I don’t plan on wearing a bullet-proof vest. In fact, I usually get standing ovations when I come into these meetings … I have no fear.”

“Okay,” began Matthews again. “Would you discourage Americans, no matter race, color, creed or political identification, not to come armed to public meetings? Would you discourage them from doing that?”

Congressman Jim Cooper (D-TN), who has not been holding town hall meetings on health care, replied, “My answer is yes…” He was cut off by Gingrey.

“No, I would not di … Oh,” the Georgia Republican trailed, before concluding that Americans should “exercise their Second Amendment rights.”

At The Atlanta Journal Constitution in Gingrey’s home state, writer Jay Bookman takes issue with the increasing trend of Americans coming to public meeting with deadly force in-tow.

“It is attempted intimidation,” he wrote. “It is an acknowledgment that, lacking the intellectual firepower and ammunition to carry the day, the person in question is prepared to try to settle the issue using the kind of firepower and ammunition that any idiot can purchase at a local gunshop.”

Bookman continues: “It also reflects a growing mindset among some that the government just isn’t listening and thus must be made to listen, one way or the other. There’s a fundamental childishness to that attitude, a notion that equates listening to agreement. The person in question is not prepared to accept the idea that having listened to him, a majority of his fellow Americans might decide that he is wrong. So he reserves the right to try to impose his view at the point of a gun.”

This video is from MSNBC’s Hardball, broadcast Aug. 17, 2009 (h/t Talking Points Memo).

Download video via RawReplay.com