Can POTUS CCW?

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TR carried. Long time gone, however.

There is a paragraph in one of the memoirs of an acquaintance of TR's (Oscar King Davis's RELEASED FOR PUBLICATION, I think, could be wrong as I read it 30 some years ago.) in which TR is out traveling while Pres. He and Davis repair to the hotel room wherein he is staying and Davis is amazed so see TR haul a long barrelled .45 Colt out of his coat and clap it on the dresser top.

This has been mentioned before either here or TFL or both: FDR's wife Eleanor carried whilst she was out touring around as his eyes and ears in the countryside. As I remember she asked for a gun and some training from the SS since she was in some rough areas from time to time assessing how hard the times were.
 
Oh, you might want to look and see what number Texas CHL's are reserved for GWB and Laura, and then see how long he has not had to protect himself.
 
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Denny:
Oh, you might want to look and see what number Texas CHL's are reserved for GWB and Laura, and then see how long he has not had to protect himself.
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001 and 002, respectively? And I believe neither has been issued.

Kharn
 
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I have no problem with the POTUS carrying with or without a permit.

Then again, I have no problem with ANY honest person carrying, with or without a permit.
 
jeff cooper made reference to having seen GWB"s 1911 sitting in his bedroom. or having that reported to him. Either way I have been told by someone i trust that in fact GWB has taken in range time while in DC.
 
Personally, I don't have any problem with a POTUS carrying if he choses to. He can write himself an Executive Order, or just plain ignore the limitations on the 2A. In fact, I'd like that knowledge to become public. If it's good enough for him without a permit, it ought to be good enough for everyone else.

That said, I'd wonder about the practicality of the whole venture. A President will always be a prime target, so carrying might be reasonable. But how often will he train with his Secret Service? In a pinch, will he do more harm than good? Just how much better will a bad situation turn out if he ends up pulling out his own gun?
 
This month's American Handgunner makes mention of a 1911 made up for W by the American Pistolsmiths' Guild (pg. 32), don't know if he actuall shoots it thought -
 
"I heard that GWB" and "Jeff Cooper said" are just so much BS. What you can take to the bank is that Govenor G. Bush didn't bother with a CHL and President George Bush has repeatedly stated his support of the AWB. Then within the last 6 weeks, he nominated a man for USAG who thinks the AWB should be renewed but stated to the Senate committee that he believed in gun control. Do you really believe that Bush was too stupid not to have thoroughly vetted Gonzales and knew Gonzales was anti-RKBA? Gimme a break. :mad:
 
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Eleanor Roosevelt carried.

Every jurisdiction that I've ever researched (including DC) exempts active duty military in the performance of their duties from carry bans. POTUS is active duty military, and as the CIC if he says it is "in the performance of his duties", it is.

Teddy Roosevelt apparently had brass cojones or a death wish. He used to go hunting with Quanah Parker, the last war Chief of the Comanches, a stone cold killer and a former enemy of the state. Must have given the secret service fits. He (Roosevelt) may have been born in New York, but he should have been a Texan.

http://www.lnstar.com/mall/texasinfo/quanah.htm

quanah.jpg
 
POTUS is active duty military . . .
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No he's not. Really folks where do you guys come up with this? The Commander in Chief (aka President) may have command of the military, but is NOT active duty military. If the Pres were active duty military they would have court martialed Clinton for getting a hummer, rather than impeaching him for committing perjury. :rolleyes:
 
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It just says he's the CINC not that he IS active duty military. In fact a little history of the President having control of the military is the founding fathers wanted CIVILIAN control of the military to help prevent a military coup.

Also reference Jeff White's earlier comment about Clinton.
 
Clinton got his trial deferred.



***
Paula Jones' sexual harassment suit against Bill Clinton will not go to trial until he is out of office. Both sides, however, can proceed with pre-trial fact finding, according to the decision issued by a federal judge in Arkansas


To protect the Office of President, however, from the potential
harm that could result from unfettered civil litigation, and to
give effect to the policy of separation of powers, it is
necessary to provide that the President cannot be tried in the
context presented here until he leaves office. President
Clinton's term in office, if he is re-elected in 1996, would end
no later than January 20, 2001. An earlier termination might
come on January 20, 1997, which is only slightly over two years
away. By permitting discovery as to all including the President,
the Court is laying the groundwork for a trial shortly after the
President leaves office.

In granting limited or temporary immunity from immediate trial
to President Clinton, the Court wishes to emphasize that it
holds no brief for alleged sexual harassment, a matter of
important concern to many people. The importance of such issue
is another reason why there should be no absolute immunity in
this case, but only a temporary Presidential immunity from
trial.
 
The President shall be commander in chief of the Army and Navy of the United States, and of the militia of the several states, when called into the actual service of the United States; he may require the opinion, in writing, of the principal officer in each of the executive departments, upon any subject relating to the duties of their respective offices, and he shall have power to grant reprieves and pardons for offenses against the United States, except in cases of impeachment.
Nothing in this makes him an officer or even a member of the military
 
Lets put TR's carrying in perspective.

He was president because his predecessor was shot. He was the 1st President to have Secret Service protection. A grand total of two agents.

It wasn't until 1906 that congress made the arrangement somewhat permanant.

Yes it was in character for the man, but he also didn't have the numbers of people providing him with protection.

Considering his predecessor was assisnated, having a gun on hand to defend himself with makes good sense.

President Bush has an entire detail assigned to him. Their primary job when faced with an assination attempt is to get him OUT of the situation as fast as possiable, not necessarily to engage in gun battles with assailants.

The president would never be able to make use of a personal weapon, because his security detail would either by laying on top of him or putting him in a vehicle that was about to make a fast exit.
 
Let's try to stay on task here, shall we? The question isn't whether the POTUS would want to carry or whether it would be "tactically sound" for him to do so. The question is whether his status as POTUS legally enables him to carry in circumstances where an ordinary citizen could not.
 
Plus, IIRC, an Executive Order only applies to federal employees.

TR was actually shot just before one of his speeches. He still made the speech.
 
would sure like to see him address both houses of congress with a 45 Peacemaker strapped openly on his hip
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and wearing a big Stetson and a bolo tie. That would really put some panties in wedgies. :p
 
Plus, IIRC, an Executive Order only applies to federal employees.
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It is a directive to a part of the Executive Branch on how to operate. It often affects the general public. For example, the ban on importation of certain military firearms. The basis in law for the order was the "sporting purpose" clause of GCA 68.
 
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