Protester Carries Rifle To Protests Outside Pheonix Obama Event

A man who self-identifies as "Chris" is receiving criticism as well as praise for his actions at an Obama town-hall style event in Phoenix Arizona.  Chris attended protests outside the rally with an AR-15 semi-automatic battle rifle.  The rifle was carried in accordance with open carry laws and was completely legal. 

Chris has declined interview on any mainstream media outlets.  However, yestereday he gave an interview on the Alex Jones radio show.  Alex Jones is known for his anti-government views and is associated with 9/11 truth movements. When Chris was asked about his motivation for carrying an AR-15 to an Obama rally, he responded:

"I lost a lot of faith in the political process in America.  I tried to get involved locally with the Arizona Republican Party, but seeing things from the inside, seeing how things operate, I realized that this whole machine, this "left-right," democrat republican machine is just a ply to put us against each-other so that the winner is always the State.  The winner is always the government.  I think that voting and the political process just isn't going to work anymore.  I think it's time for people to just stand up and say "no" to the things they're putting upon us."

This act challenges the social stigma that allows for the State to retain a monopoly on the means of violence. by reaffirming the fact that the citizenry is armed.

When challenged by an apparent Obama supporter outside the rally, Chris reminded the women of the dangers of misinformed prejudice.  When she told Chris that his carrying of a rifle in public made her uncomfortable, Chris replied, "Well there was a time in this country when the color of my skin made people uncomfortable."  Chris' action was later (somewhat uncomfortably) compared by Alex Jones to the lunch counter sit-ins in the South during the civil rights movement. 

Chris not only continued the Civil Rights mentality of breaking fear driven social barriers through confrontational tactics.  As a Black man with non-mainstream political views, he effectively broke the stereotyping of gun-rights activists. 

"I got into a debate with someone about Libertarianism and I told him that I'm not a Libertarian.  If I had to put a label on myself I guess I would be an Anarchist."

Alex Jones, a known Anarchist-hater tactfully ignored the declaration.  Chris continued to comment on the police's inability to protect people.   Perhaps Chris' visual affirmation of the people's sovereignty will motivate protesters/activists to do the same to reset the scale between the people and the State. 

Minnesota is not a traditional open-carry state.  However, through obtaining a permit to carry, one may open carry a pistol or rifle anywhere besides a government building.

When asked "Was it empowering?" Chris responded, "It was empowering and inspirational to realize that I could still do this in America.  Here's a country where you can ride up the tyrant's front door and stand there with your weapon and not get stomped out.  It's kinda inspirational." 

The tyrant may always exist in some form or another, but with more people like Chris on the streets, the tyrant will be forced to think twice.