PA is open carry, other than the cities. This is what open carry means. Although looking it up, maybe it’s 21+ (there was some litigation for 18-20 year olds). But under open carry scenario, walking around carrying a rifle whilst “looking suspicious” isn’t a crime. Nothing much police can do, not until he climbs the roof anyway.
Think I read that Penn law allows open carry of rifles. Not sure how typical it might be for people to walk around with them in that area. At the very least, if people are open-carrying rifles out there, it seems like they could have set up a larger security/gun check perimeter?
It is a rural area, Trump won Butler county 2:1. Open carry. Unless he tried to get into the security zone at the rally, no one was going to question it. That said, peeps in the crowd pointing out the guy on the roof with a rifle and nothing being done about until shots were fired obviously needs to be looked at.
absolutely not correct. With a principal in area, in this case the president, you cannot just walk around with a rifle. Not sure if you’re just trolling.
Chatgpt to the rescue: In Pennsylvania, open carry laws generally allow individuals to openly carry firearms without a license, except in certain restricted areas. However, when it comes to areas where the President of the United States (POTUS) or other principals are present, there are federal laws and regulations that come into play, which can restrict firearms possession and carry. Under federal law (18 U.S. Code § 1752), it is illegal to possess a firearm or dangerous weapon in a federal facility or while attending an event where the President, Vice President, or other protected persons are present. This includes areas under the jurisdiction of the Secret Service. Violation of these federal laws can result in criminal penalties. Therefore, even though Pennsylvania generally allows open carry in many public places, including without a license, this does not apply in areas under federal jurisdiction where the President or other protected persons are present. In such situations, strict federal regulations govern firearms possession and carry. It's important for individuals to be aware of these regulations and comply with them to avoid legal repercussions.
A topic for another thread but government officials sure restrict who can have guns around themselves.
According to this article the rooftop was OUTSIDE of the “security perimeter” which would I assume means the Secret Service jurisdiction. Secret Service identified rooftop security risk before Trump rally shooting If that’s the case he walked up with that AR-15 perfectly legally. lol what a country!
In this case the local LE as well as SS can absolutely turn him away and tell him to leave the area The idea that local deputies or police “couldn’t do anything because it’s open carry” and just watched him walk by because there’s nothing they can do is unserious and clearly someone trying to mock
that’s not how it works. The SS is completely in charge of all The surrounding area. They would command the locals With precise instructions. They wouldn’t just say. “You got that “.
1st off, Trump is not the President. He is a candidate. Obviously the POTUS gets huge zones of protection, and likely eyes in the sky anywhere they are. They even shut down the airspace whenever the President travels and for miles around wherever a POTUS speaks. Trump is a secret service protectorate (both as a former President and candidate). But it’s not the same resources nor protection levels as the sitting POTUS. It’s still serious business with a convoy of agents and snipers, but still vastly different. But even for a sitting President that security perimeter needs to be defined somehow. Outside that perimeter, how do you think existing state law doesn’t apply?
it’s why I used the term principal. You’re clearly Trying to Twist this into a passive argument with your ‘you get what you get with open carry states’ and I’m uninterested in that debate. This was a major Fup by SS all the way around and of course both local and feds had authority to turn someone away carrying a rifle.
Do we know if he was actually walking around and open carrying the rifle? If he had it in some kind of case, not all of them scream rifle, especially from a distance. Some are actually shaped like guitar cases, tennis racket bags, etc.
they don't want to rely on a good guy with a gun do they? Nope, no guns allowed...second amendment my ass...
That might have been poor choice of words, I mean clearly they could have approached him and said “you don’t look 21, let’s see some id son”. I wasnt implying they couldn’t do anything. It also could have been called in and Trump rushed off the stage as soon as a gunman was spotted. Another thing that could and should have been done right away. But in terms of his “1 mile walk”, again, it’s an open carry state. So literally a person can do that right up to the established secret service perimeter, whatever that may be. It’s not a crime (barring the 20 vs 21 years old thing), so all the police can really do is talk to him and try to get him to state his business. Secret Service in the meantime could have whisked Trump out of there. Their communications obviously sucked a$$.
