About us Login Get email updates
Quick Clip
Print

Matthews slams people bringing guns to Obama events: "The number of assassinations in our history is extraordinary"

August 19, 2009 5:55 pm ET

From the August 19 edition of MSNBC's Hardball with Chris Matthews:

Please upgrade your flash player. The video for this item requires a newer version of Flash Player. If you are unable to install flash you can download a QuickTime version of the video.

EMBED
Expand All Expand 1st Level Collapse All Add Comment
    • Author by reanna-mator (August 19, 2009 5:57 pm ET)
      2  
      For once, Chris-- thanks.

      It's only common sense to be appalled by this, but thanks.
      Report Abuse
    • Author by worrierking (August 19, 2009 6:03 pm ET)
      1  
      This guy drives me crazy. Half the time I can't stand him and the rest of the time he's pretty astute.

      This is one of the times I'm crazy for him. And don't start getting that tingling in your leg Matthews just because I said that.
      Report Abuse
    • Author by New2politics (August 19, 2009 6:06 pm ET)
         
      You got that right!!!
      Report Abuse
    • Author by dave (August 19, 2009 6:08 pm ET)
      1 3
      How many people get murdered in this country every year by legally owned guns, Chris?
      Report Abuse
      • Author by snoopy (August 19, 2009 7:10 pm ET)
        1 1
        30,000+ gun deaths last year, with roughly half being suicides. I believe there was a spike in suicides November 8th last year...
        Report Abuse
        • Author by dr. matt (August 19, 2009 7:16 pm ET)
          3  
          The guns that are being shipped to Mexico to fuel the drug wars are bought legally....most coming from Texas.

          Report Abuse
          • Author by dave (August 20, 2009 12:50 am ET)
            1 1
            Bought legally and shipped to Mexico? How many deaths in the "US" are the result of legally "owned" firearms?
            Report Abuse
            • Author by dr. matt (August 20, 2009 8:12 am ET)
              1  
              Why did you put quotes are 'US' and 'owned'? You look obtuse.

              Anyhow, considering we have a 2nd amendment, most are legally owned. And yes, those firearms were legally bought by so-called "law abiding citizens" following the laws of the State and Feds...then shipped to Mexico to fuel the drug wars. Hence, there is a serious problem with our laws and rules regarding the purchasing of firearms.

              You have just been completely demolished.
              Report Abuse
              • Author by dave (August 20, 2009 8:58 am ET)
                  1
                How is that? Matthews asks "Do you know how many people are murdered in THIS country every year by guns" and you go off about Mexican drug wars. How are these two related? The quotes around US and legally owned were there because you appearently didn't get Matthews nonsense statement the first time so I thought I'd help you out. I'll go with Snoopy's number of 30,000....what percentage were by lawabiding citizens with registered firearms....1%? 2%?
                Report Abuse
                • Author by bintx (August 20, 2009 11:13 am ET)
                  1  
                  Most folks who kill someone with a gun are "law abiding" citizen until they kill someone with a gun.

                  I work with cops . . . they HATE people having loaded guns in their homes. As they always say, the person most likely to be killed with a homeowner's gun is the homeowner or one of his family members.
                  Report Abuse
                  • Author by dave (August 20, 2009 11:46 am ET)
                    1 1
                    But Matthews didn't say kill, he said murder. How many people are murdered in the US every year, and my thoughts were how many were by legally registered guns and gun owners vs. how many are illegally owned. And I disagree with your statement "law abiding". If you have an illegal gun on you, you are not law abiding, even if you don't use it.
                    Report Abuse
    • Author by peace4all (August 19, 2009 6:11 pm ET)
      4 1
      these morons carrying assult weapons to a presidential town hall should be ashamed of themselves. lets say that the ones there are perfectly sane and normal people. but, what about the nutcase that does show up with the intenet to kill the president. well, guess what? because the secret service and the police have to keep their attention on the "ahh have mah right to carry a gun" nutjobs, they may miss the guy who kills the president. then they should be arrested for obstuction of justice. not to mention the fact that these idiots carrying their guns would probably start shooting as soon as they heard the 1st shot and turn the whole thing into a gunfight at the ok corral. here's a question for our resident wingnuts. would you guys have a problem with me taking my rifle and sitting outside of bush or cheneys house?
      Report Abuse
      • Author by dave (August 19, 2009 6:18 pm ET)
        1 3
        You start out by they are sane and normal and then go on to say they would start shooting after the shot is heard? That doesn't sound sane and normal. But assuming you are "sane and normal", you go sit at Cheney's house....I would assume you wouldn't start shooting for no good reason.
        Report Abuse
        • Author by peace4all (August 19, 2009 6:26 pm ET)
          1  
          lets say that the ones there are perfectly sane and normal people

          thats what i said. for the sake of arguement. i in no way implied that i believe them to be normal or sane. any idiot that would take an assult rifle in public, let alone a place where the POTUS is have at the very least got some real fear and paranoia issues.

          I would assume you wouldn't start shooting for no good reason

          i have no idea why you would assume that. i would be sitting in front of a public figues house with an assult rifle. what would possibly make you think that is sane or normal behavoir?
          Report Abuse
          • Author by dave (August 19, 2009 6:33 pm ET)
            1 2
            You stated "Let's say the ones there are sane and normal". I took that to mean that you believed that some there were sane and normal....you didn't only imply it, you stated it. And if you have an assault rifle near Cheney's house and legally possess it, sit there all day. I don't care why you're there, but its your right to waste your time as you please.
            Report Abuse
            • Author by nerzog (August 19, 2009 7:41 pm ET)
              1  
              Sane and normal are relative terms.
              Report Abuse
            • Author by bintx (August 20, 2009 11:16 am ET)
              1 1
              Everyone, given the right circumstances, is capable of murder. Even the "sane and normal" ones. Having a stupid gun strapped to his/her leg as a show of intimidation ups the possibility that the person will USE said gun.

              BTW, the Second Amendment doesn't stop at the comma. Read the entire sentence . . . it doesn't say what you and the activist Roberts' court has determined that it says. You have to read the WHOLE THING all the way to the period.
              Report Abuse
              • Author by dave (August 20, 2009 12:10 pm ET)
                  1
                So true. But since US citizens are allowed to own and carry guns, so be it. The difference for me is that Matthew's stated that alot of people are murdered here every year, but didn't state that only a tiny fraction of them were actually murdered by legally owned firearms...which these folks at these rallies seem to be. Nobody was murdered in my neighborhood last night, nobody ever has been, and we have guns, plenty of them.
                Report Abuse
      • Author by foghornleghorn (August 19, 2009 6:19 pm ET)
        2  
        Well, you know the old saying that needing to carry a gun makes up for having a small...
        Report Abuse
    • Author by rkallen09 (August 19, 2009 7:06 pm ET)
      2  
      "The number of assassinations in our history is extraordinary. Lincoln. Garfield. McKinley. Teddy Rosevelt was shot at. FDR was shot at and they shot they Mayor of Chicago by accident. Harry Truman was shot at. They killed the secret service agent... a Peurto Rican Nationalist. Jack Kennedy was killed. Jerry Ford was shot at twice. Ronald Reagen was almost killed and had it not been for the secret service agent, he would have been dead. We live in a dangerous society when it comes to eleceted officials."
      Christ! Watching Hardball and trying to like Chris Matthews is like playing a very frustrating game of "Chutes and Ladders."
      Report Abuse
    • Author by dr. matt (August 19, 2009 7:11 pm ET)
      4  
      This is simple: Bringing firearms in proximity to ANY president is simply stupid. Fact. The teabagging hicks that are bringing firearms to these protests ARE terrorists. Fact. When you inbred hicks start seeing legislation to limit your "rights" to carry firearms, it will be YOUR fault you reich-wing losers.

      Report Abuse
      • Author by snoopy (August 19, 2009 7:26 pm ET)
        2  
        Exactly. The idea of "concealed" firearms and right to carry is about safety, so they say. Bringing loaded weapons to an event that involves the FBI and local law enforcement isn't about safety, it's about provocation and protest. The big joke being the item they are protesting isn't happening, it's just another in a long line of strawmen they create so they can justify acting like total @$$holes.
        Report Abuse
        • Author by nerzog (August 19, 2009 7:45 pm ET)
          2  
          For every person who conceal-carries for safety reasons, there are probably five who do it because it makes them feel all big and manly. It's the ultimate high for some of these Town Hall Teabagging Troglodytes.
          Report Abuse
        • Author by oscar the grouch (August 19, 2009 7:48 pm ET)
             
          It also could turn into a "suicide by police" moment. Very stupid move on the part of the toters. These are the real "descenters".
          Report Abuse
      • Author by dave (August 20, 2009 1:01 am ET)
          1
        Fact. Bringing firearms in proximity to president is legal so far. Not smart, but legal.
        Report Abuse
        • Author by dr. matt (August 20, 2009 8:13 am ET)
          1 1
          Please show us where someone said it wasn't legal? You're not very good at this.

          Report Abuse
          • Author by dave (August 20, 2009 9:53 am ET)
            1  
            Peace4all did..."they should be arrested for obstruction of justice"
            Report Abuse
        • Author by political_left-religious_right (August 20, 2009 11:29 am ET)
          1  
          I'm glad to see that you say it's not smart. Would you also agree that the people who bring guns have no interest in actually debating the issues, much less learning anything, and thus have no logical reason to be there at all?
          Report Abuse
          • Author by dave (August 20, 2009 11:39 am ET)
            1 1
            Sure I would. Bringing a gun to these rallies makes no logical sense, kind of like bringing one to a bar. I don't know if they're interested in debating issues or learning anything, but as was posted above, it certainly stirs up provocation and protest. IMO, that's what they are going for, but still have every right to be there armed.
            Report Abuse
            • Author by political_left-religious_right (August 20, 2009 12:40 pm ET)
                 
              Fair enough; we seem to have some common ground. I'll have to admit being rather foggy about laws, but I would hope that there are certain situations that it's illegal to carry firearms. Further, I would hope that townhall meetings would be among them. I fear that, if the trend continues, the law of averages is going to kick in some day and there will be actual shootings. And frankly, I think we should do whatever is necessary to prevent them.
              Report Abuse
    • Author by toombsie (August 19, 2009 11:08 pm ET)
         
      the fascination with guns in this country is unbelievable. i honestly don't understand why you would ever want a gun at a public event. a gun serves one purpose - to kill someone (i'm not talking about hunting in this case - I am talking about in the public among people). unless you plan on killing someone it serves no purpose at all. there would be so much less violent crime in this country if guns were completely illegal. people who think having a gun on them makes them safer are lunatics.
      Report Abuse
    • Author by Digital Jedi (August 20, 2009 6:07 pm ET)
         
      I'm sorry, I know you guys like to rag on him, but I love Chris Matthews, just for reasons like these.
      Report Abuse