Idaho GOP Leader, Tea Party Organizer Arrested For Assault With A Deadly Weapon (a gun)

well,

the "work of groups and organizations this guy is or has been affiliated with" involves being sure that he can carry that gun.

granted, he wasn't representing the GOP at that very moment, but do you really think that his behavior on the job and his political activities can be compartmentalized given this intersection?

I don't believe it's right to try and sully the many by the actions of the few, in this case one guy who is a seemingly idiotic buffoon with a hot temper and an itchy trigger finger. This always seems to happen in cases of gun violence especially. Whackjobs shoot up innocents and the anti-gunners want to use those instances as reasons for more gun regulations. I'm just saying...

in this case one guy who is a seemingly idiotic buffoon with a hot temper and an itchy trigger finger.

so you don't think that the GOP's decision to make him a leader is somewhat suspect? How does an idiotic buffoon with a hot temper and an itchy trigger finger become a political leader? Who would elevate such a person?

again, he wasn't representing the GOP at the time, and thus it's not fair to try and pin this on the GOP directly; but don't they have ANY clue who this guy is and what he's like?

I guess they couldn't see in the future.

I guess they couldn't see in the future.

best predictor of future behavior is past behavior.

you're thinking that there was NO indication that this guy believes he has right to pull a gun on people?

If you were a betting person, what part of the roulette table would you place your chip on: the "has said things that indicate he would pull a gun on people" or the "there was no prior indication that he might do such a thing" square?

If you have some information that would show a predisposition to this act, other than his political affiliations, I'd like to see it.

I admit, this incident and his political activity are the only two dots we have to connect at this point.
well, and the fact that he carries a gun. I personally think that carrying a tool of any sort indicates a belief that one might need it. There's a reason I take my debit card to the grocery store and I don't take my reciprocating saw.

My question was, if you were to bet on whether or not the other dots in this guy's overall picture were connected for others, how would you bet?

I understand the nature and worth of speculation. I'm asking for your fair minded speculation; what do you think?

I think it's a great leap to criticize those who may have helped him into the position of power he holds or has held because they failed to see that he may be some sort of raging lunatic ready to blast granddad away.

Unless there is other information that comes out, which to this point I don't believe any has, alot of what I'm hearing is just generalization and speculation based upon this man's political beliefs.

hold on though,

you're assuming that this was some sort of "raging lunacy" rather than a rational decision to pull the gun on this guy's part.
according to what he said to his friend from jail, the homeowner was beginning to get out of control and the guy pulled his gun with a purpose in mind: "to de escalate the situation" iirc.

that to me sounds like purposeful, linear thinking. That type of thinking comes from planning, rehearsal, etc.
It would be different if the guy stuck with "I felt threatened" but he didn't.

Whatever your point is, I'm missing it. Sorry.

my point is that despite the fact that he clearly wasn't representing his political interests at the time he whipped out the gun, the case could easily be made that he had planned on doing just that in just such a situation based as evidenced by his political activity. Thus, it is relevant to link his political activity with this incident AND this behavior does reflect poorly on those who chose to elevate him to a leadership position.

So, GOP leaders and tea party attendees and organizers plan to pull guns on people for no good reason? Seriously?

more like:

they know the guy, they know what he's like, they've heard him make speeches about what's right and wrong, they oughta know he'd pull a stunt like this. They put him in charge and that reflects poorly on their judgment.

lunatics are just chomping at the bit to blow someones head off.........my wife would have been in the window covering me with her scope sites trained on him

is your wife one of the tea bagger types???

is your wife one of the tea bagger types???

(chuckle)

umm,

you probably should apoligize; I dunno, maybe you guys are really good friends, but generally speaking it's NOT ok to suggest that someone's wife does certain things, or to inquire whether or not... I mean, what happens in peoples' bedrooms really should be private...

I'm sorry she was chomping at the teabag rather than the bit???;}

you probably should apoligize

I apoligize that it was just, way too easy.

NEVER POINT A WEAPON AT ANYTHING YOU DO NOT INTEND TO KILL

and if you don't follow this simple rule, you should fully expect to be shot, forcibly disarmed or arrested.

Wow, brainfart!!! *LOL* I meant to say 2nd safety rule. the first is -

1. Treat every weapon as if it were loaded

and Safety Rule #1 applies for both the person holding the weapon and the person who's having said weapon pointed at them.

Exactly, Sgt. But, being from the Marines, as I also, we were trained not only to shoot well, but to respect the weapon. My last two years in the Corps was spent at Edson Range teaching recruits the use of the weapon. I loved it. I trained with the M-14. A very sweet, though heavy, weapon. I much prefer it over the M-16. Sorry I got out in '83, so not totally current with today's fire-power.

Yep, if you were to pull a weapon on a cop they can and probably would shoot you, whether it was loaded or not. You HAVE to assume it's loaded if someone is pointing it at you.

Is anyone really surprised that A right wing organization would outright lie to get support and raise money ?

I wonder if purposely lying to raise money is considered intent to defraud or outright fraud? And if it is fraud and someone mails in a donation using the USPS does it become a federal offence? A Right wing organisation getting a Federal indictment for Fraud, Now that would be Justice!

Cops don't arrest you for having a legally registered gun in plain sight in your car.

Challis wouldn't need a CCP if the gun was sitting in plain sight in his car, it wouldn't be an issue and wouldn't need mentioning if that is what happened.

The inconsistencies here point to McAffee not Lutes.

solchef, except in some states ammunition and the weapon have to be stored seperately (In CA for example, if the open view weapon is on the seat, the ammunition has to be in the trunk and visa versa) the CCP negates that limitation.

In oklahoma I think you have to have it unloaded and the breech open and ammunition seperate, at least that is what I was taught. A loaded gun, a rough road = unintentional discharge.

I think part of the reason is to prevent hunting from the vehicle.

reddirt,

In Iraq, every time we leave the wire, we're at condition 1 (magazine inserted, round in chamber, bolt forward, safety on, ejection port cover closed) and I'm pretty sure the roads out there are rougher than anything in oklahoma, and our vehicles have nearly NO suspension, so it's a rough ride. However the only times I've ever seen an accidental discharge is when someone accidentally squeezed the trigger of a known 'red' weapon (for you army types) or knowingly squeezed the trigger of a weapon that they THOUGHT was cleared. (If you pull the charging handle back with the weapon tilted towards the ground, the round will sit in the breech, and not extract) In fact I've never seen a weapon that discharged in any other way than squeezing the trigger that didn't have a mechanical defect of some sort.

Don't get me wrong, carrying your weapon the way you mentioned is smart, and safe. But if a bumpy road can accidentally discharge your weapon, it's time to see your friendly gunsmith. Something's broken (my guess would be the trigger sear, as it easily gets worn out from repeated use and prevents the firing pin from bouncing off of the primer, one too many bounces and BANG!.)

I assume you are holding the gun. That is a bit different than having the gun lying on the seat,floor board, or behind the seat where something can hit the trigger. I only know of one time this happened and that was over 30years ago. An old rancher that lived near by kept a shotgun behind the seat it went off while driving through the field. It was a 10gauge double barrel. the only reason I remember that is because it was a 10 gauge and I had never seen one before. The thing looked older than god.

accidentally squeezed the trigger

couldn't that happen due to a bump?

You are a professional that handles a weapon daily(?) a little different than some guy that practices once a week, month, or never but still carries a loaded gun.

Keep safe!

It doesn't mention if the gun was loaded or not, one can assume yes or what's the point.

Thanks for the clarification as to CCP rules, I know the ammo needs to be separate. I went down that road after a trip to the range with a friend ,and a routine traffic stop. Gun and Ammo in the glove box, weapon wasn't loaded but the cop wasn't amused. The weapon was registered so he let my buddy go with a warning.

Anyway, my point being, it is all a little convienent and irrational. I don't know too many people that encroach upon a strangers house, do something suspicious (take pics), have a readily accessible weapon, pull it on an unarmed man, then claim that they were acting within reason and not looking for trouble. Besides if you are in your car and you feel threatened...drive away.

reddirt, you are correct...but that brings us to weapons safety rule #3

3. KEEP YOUR FINGER STRAIGHT AND OFF THE TRIGGER UNTIL YOU ARE READY TO FIRE.

the instances of negligent discharges where the weapon is known to be loaded are very rare indeed, but when they happen, its when a APC or hmmwv is unloading Marines into the middle of a firefight..you're trying to aim in, maintain situational awareness AND climb out of a moving vehicle with nearly your body weight in armor, with rounds snapping off around your head...they have a tendency to put a round through the tailgate.

Actually, the Marine Corps only requires that you qualify with a weapon once a year. About 80 % of the military otherwise don't touch a weapon in the course of their duties.

Make an example out of him so that other "patriots" at these tea parties think twice-hang him high.

Oh no don't make them think it will hurt their brains, then they might have to go to a doctor to find out why their head hurts only to discover that their insurance won't cover the doctor's visit. .

CONservatives don't have brains. They have faith in a God who could care less about them-only most of them are too stupid to realize it.

Make sure you keep up with your state's gun laws, because each state is different on how they handle concealed weapons, and weapons in the vehicle...

You are right David, I am trying to educate myself before I actually do anything. I haven't even been seriously looking yet.

There are still so many pros and cons.

but being a single female I do think it would be a good idea.