While there may be safety in numbers, providing safety for a large number of Republicans has become absurd. In fact, if you plan on attending or being near this summer’s Republican National Convention, leave your spears and clubs at home.
The restrictions, which seem anti-caveman, have been produced by overzealous government agencies and will do little to improve safety.
It all began when The Department of Homeland Security called the Tampa, Florida convention a “National Special Security Event.” In Homeland speak that means there could be “the potential for major disruptions including possibly violent anti-government protests or other civil unrest.”
Tampa City leaders decided the best way to beef up security for the event is to disarm potentially violent protestors. Some special zones were set up in the downtown area where people won’t be able to carry weapons. Well, not exactly.
It turns out that city leaders don’t have the power to keep out guns. The right to bear arms is guaranteed by the Constitution and the Governor of Florida has to give the okay for any restrictions to occur. He’s already shot down any restrictions on firearms.
What remains of the safety plan is a curious mix. Clubs, spears, squirt guns, air pistols, masks, plastic and metal pipe and string longer than six inches are all banned. Many of these items you’ll find at an elementary school birthday party.
If you have a gun permit, then it’s fine to bring your firearm. If I had choice of weapons and I wanted to do some major violence, I would probably choose a gun over a six inch piece of string. Thus, the city’s restrictions seem a bit silly.
With all due respect to the city of Tampa and Homeland security, Americans have the right to protest and the right to bear arms. I get very nervous when anyone tries to restrict either of these rights.
If a protestor breaks the law then he or she should be arrested. I’m sure the politicians will have good security and will be kept far away from the protestors. We already have procedures in place to control the situation. We don’t need government adding extra layers of complexity.