Secret Service and CCW's
- Thread starter berettaprofessor
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dogtown tom
Member
According to the Today Show this morning, NO ONE other than the Secret Service, the cashier and an AP photog were aware that the First Lady was in the store.
There were no metal detectors, body searches, patdowns, etc. She simply went shopping and left.
I would bet the first rule of the protective detail is keep a low profile.
They did.
There were no metal detectors, body searches, patdowns, etc. She simply went shopping and left.
I would bet the first rule of the protective detail is keep a low profile.
They did.
sjohn26
Member
VP coverage not as good - here's my account from 2009:
July 12th, 2009
sjohn26
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location:
The 'Burg-Northern Berks County, Pennsylvania
(Berks County)
Posts: 493
Thumbs up Citizens Bank Park(Phillies-Pirates JULY 11 game) Observations and a SURPRISE!
I went with my son(10) and a few friends to the Pirates-Phillies game last night----talk about a come-back win for the Phillies in the bottom of the 9th! A friend had some perk Diamond Club tickets - nice dining and seats - more of that later
Everyone here always asks about carry at zoo/museum/stadium so here's a pre-emptive experience for you!
I CC just about everywhere I can LEGALLY - I do not recognize policy as overly binding. This IS Philly after all! SO with my Kahr PM9 IWB under a tasteful Hawaiian shirt, we proceeded inside. Gate security only checked bags/purses/carried items- and poorly at that. No wand/no pats/.
We proceeded to the Club area - had a very nice meal - and time to relax before the game - the crowd/facilities/weather/mood were all excellent!
Now it gets interesting - our seats were GREAT - right behind the home-plate to 1st base line - lets say anywhere from row 4 to 8 (not specific for a very good reason!) Our group sat in seats 1-6 movement thru the evening had us in different seats over time.
As I look around to see the crowd - the following comes to light - row #1 - Seat #1-#4 - An older white-haired gentleman-red cap - on his left a woman - his wife - another woman - and another gent.
Row 2 - I counted up to 8 persons - inclusive of 2 women - some in sports coats - some polo shirts - some with an odd over-shirt/vest (PFG-logo on back?)
Row 3 - Man /wife and two early teen.........hmmmmmmmmm----wait a sec - the row 2 crew - ALL with flesh-tone/neutral colored wires to ear-pieces - some right some left . Notice some walking up or down the steps to switch off - same set-up. Closer inspection I see a tell-tale print on a few - some left-side----some right.
Row #1-Red cap gent - turns to guy in aisle for a soda - well - Hello Mr. Vice President!
Yep - Here is Joe Biden and wife and friends sitting in row # 1 - and me and my conceal-carry 3-7 yards behind him (trust me - was closer to the former).
Row 2 full of Secret Service - numerous "other" security in aisles at times and near entry points.
From what I could tell - no SS in other rows or behind me - not to say they were not there!
The VP was very pleasant/accommodating - signing autographs for kids and a few photo ops during team switches/inning changes. Stadium security worked well to hold back the crowds. My son had his ticket signed and a nice photo. Even had Tony Orlando there too - he had a photo op with the VP and mugged for the cameras a bit!
Let me be subjective now - I despise and disagree with the man-his boss the Prez - the administration and the policies - But I will still respect the office. I am a law-abiding , staunch 2A supporter - and at that point - just more that a little concerned as to where I may spend the evening if discovered!
Apparently - the VP must be more expendable then the Prez - many people with easy access to him all evening. Me - behind him - 3-5 yards away and CC - with a completely unobstructed view that varied from when he was sitting to standing - did I mention the nervous part? All SS were behind him to his left - not a one on his right. I chatted with people behind me as more realized who was in row #1. There is no way Obama would be THAT out in the open or approachable!
Long story short (too late?) I did move freely throughout the evening - restroom and snack breaks - and a night spent back in my own bed - and not the local federal facility! ALL of us stayed the entire game - Biden and crew included!
July 12th, 2009
sjohn26
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location:
The 'Burg-Northern Berks County, Pennsylvania
(Berks County)
Posts: 493
Thumbs up Citizens Bank Park(Phillies-Pirates JULY 11 game) Observations and a SURPRISE!
I went with my son(10) and a few friends to the Pirates-Phillies game last night----talk about a come-back win for the Phillies in the bottom of the 9th! A friend had some perk Diamond Club tickets - nice dining and seats - more of that later
Everyone here always asks about carry at zoo/museum/stadium so here's a pre-emptive experience for you!
I CC just about everywhere I can LEGALLY - I do not recognize policy as overly binding. This IS Philly after all! SO with my Kahr PM9 IWB under a tasteful Hawaiian shirt, we proceeded inside. Gate security only checked bags/purses/carried items- and poorly at that. No wand/no pats/.
We proceeded to the Club area - had a very nice meal - and time to relax before the game - the crowd/facilities/weather/mood were all excellent!
Now it gets interesting - our seats were GREAT - right behind the home-plate to 1st base line - lets say anywhere from row 4 to 8 (not specific for a very good reason!) Our group sat in seats 1-6 movement thru the evening had us in different seats over time.
As I look around to see the crowd - the following comes to light - row #1 - Seat #1-#4 - An older white-haired gentleman-red cap - on his left a woman - his wife - another woman - and another gent.
Row 2 - I counted up to 8 persons - inclusive of 2 women - some in sports coats - some polo shirts - some with an odd over-shirt/vest (PFG-logo on back?)
Row 3 - Man /wife and two early teen.........hmmmmmmmmm----wait a sec - the row 2 crew - ALL with flesh-tone/neutral colored wires to ear-pieces - some right some left . Notice some walking up or down the steps to switch off - same set-up. Closer inspection I see a tell-tale print on a few - some left-side----some right.
Row #1-Red cap gent - turns to guy in aisle for a soda - well - Hello Mr. Vice President!
Yep - Here is Joe Biden and wife and friends sitting in row # 1 - and me and my conceal-carry 3-7 yards behind him (trust me - was closer to the former).
Row 2 full of Secret Service - numerous "other" security in aisles at times and near entry points.
From what I could tell - no SS in other rows or behind me - not to say they were not there!
The VP was very pleasant/accommodating - signing autographs for kids and a few photo ops during team switches/inning changes. Stadium security worked well to hold back the crowds. My son had his ticket signed and a nice photo. Even had Tony Orlando there too - he had a photo op with the VP and mugged for the cameras a bit!
Let me be subjective now - I despise and disagree with the man-his boss the Prez - the administration and the policies - But I will still respect the office. I am a law-abiding , staunch 2A supporter - and at that point - just more that a little concerned as to where I may spend the evening if discovered!
Apparently - the VP must be more expendable then the Prez - many people with easy access to him all evening. Me - behind him - 3-5 yards away and CC - with a completely unobstructed view that varied from when he was sitting to standing - did I mention the nervous part? All SS were behind him to his left - not a one on his right. I chatted with people behind me as more realized who was in row #1. There is no way Obama would be THAT out in the open or approachable!
Long story short (too late?) I did move freely throughout the evening - restroom and snack breaks - and a night spent back in my own bed - and not the local federal facility! ALL of us stayed the entire game - Biden and crew included!
OP
OP
berettaprofessor
Member
Fraid I'm going with RNB65 and jenrick on this one.
tyeo098
Member
"Is that the First Lady?"
"What? Here? Naw..."
*carries on shopping*
"What? Here? Naw..."
*carries on shopping*
Shadow 7D
Member
NOTHING (unless you are stupid, but that tends to get thier attention anyways)
as for the military thing, PISSES ME OFF, did when I was in, still does now I'm out
Barny Fife, Sheriff deputy, volunteered by Mayberry PD to the state interdepartmental auxilery, can shake the Presidents hand while armed, GI Joe will be anal probed and strip searched before he even gets close. Yet said joe holds a TSC, and the .Gov knows every thing from his first steps to the last time he sneeze. Barny, the got a NADA, nothing, yet he gets to keep his gun.
Shopping, the SS is going to scan, and you may get someone screening you (keeping you from getting closer) but they are cops, they can't just strip you naked, no mater who they guard.
as for the military thing, PISSES ME OFF, did when I was in, still does now I'm out
Barny Fife, Sheriff deputy, volunteered by Mayberry PD to the state interdepartmental auxilery, can shake the Presidents hand while armed, GI Joe will be anal probed and strip searched before he even gets close. Yet said joe holds a TSC, and the .Gov knows every thing from his first steps to the last time he sneeze. Barny, the got a NADA, nothing, yet he gets to keep his gun.
Shopping, the SS is going to scan, and you may get someone screening you (keeping you from getting closer) but they are cops, they can't just strip you naked, no mater who they guard.
barnetmill
Member
- Joined
- Jun 6, 2006
- Messages
- 1,264
A couple of years ago in Pensacola, FL at the fishhouse restaurant the secret service was guarding I think the speaker of house (or maybe it was of the senate) and they were escorting the VIP past people that were queuing to get in and none of us were apparently given a second glance.
If the first lady was around me I would walk in the opposite direction so as to avoid any sort of confrontation.
If the first lady was around me I would walk in the opposite direction so as to avoid any sort of confrontation.
I read an article on the Reagan shooting back a few years after it happened, and the thing that the Secret Service interviewee said was that unannounced events and trips were easier because no one had any idea. But they just KNEW that the whole Reagan stopping to wave at the crowd was going to be a weak point because it was predictable. Sure enough that's when Hinkley (sp?) struck.
Point being it's probably the same thing here, no publicity so less of a chance of someone planning something. Not sure how that affects concealed carriers, but it should be factored into the thinking here.
But, as has been pointed out, no one really knows unless they were there, or are/were members of the detail and therefore know the procedures. But of course they'd probably not be allowed to talks so we may never know unless we're in the position of carrying around the protected. And I'm sure that's even less likely than needing your weapon.
Point being it's probably the same thing here, no publicity so less of a chance of someone planning something. Not sure how that affects concealed carriers, but it should be factored into the thinking here.
But, as has been pointed out, no one really knows unless they were there, or are/were members of the detail and therefore know the procedures. But of course they'd probably not be allowed to talks so we may never know unless we're in the position of carrying around the protected. And I'm sure that's even less likely than needing your weapon.
armoredman
Member
Only thing I can comment on with first hand knowledge is when I drove armored trucks. One, the first time Mr Clinton visited Tucson we were stopped a ways away from the motorcade route by LEO. They really didn't want an armored vehicle with armed persons in it too close to Mr Clinton, and I can't blame them one bit. I didn't want to get any closer to him either. I never saw any anti tank stuff pointed at us, just friendly local cops.
ON the other hand, a candidate stopped in at a local hotel we serviced some time later, with the SS detail they get. My messenger wasn't stopped/detained/nada, and I wasn't impeded with the vehicle in anyway, VERY visibly armed, with visible long guns in the truck.
That was 10 years ago, things may have changed...
ON the other hand, a candidate stopped in at a local hotel we serviced some time later, with the SS detail they get. My messenger wasn't stopped/detained/nada, and I wasn't impeded with the vehicle in anyway, VERY visibly armed, with visible long guns in the truck.
That was 10 years ago, things may have changed...
On another site people, some who even know what they're talking about, were dissecting photos of the first lady walking down the street. SS everywhere, like 14, and those were just the ones who wanted to be obvious. They're going to quickly pick out anyone that looks like they're up to no good.
I saw the Secret Service waiting for some diplomat from a tiny Caribbean nation to arrive at a place in NYC last year. In that case they kept very watchful eyes and made people show that the bulges under their shirts were cell phones, not anything else. I would guess anyone legally armed would be asked to leave and/or closely watched.
Isn't it nice how the elite get to travel everywhere in armored vehicles with multiple machine gun toting bodyguards, but in many of the areas they go, us common serfs are legally prohibited from carrying a 5 shot revolver for self defense?
One Saturday I ran into a Target in SE PA near the Delaware line. As I was walking past the card section I see two "security guys" eyeballing cards aimlessly. I notice the ear jacks and they make me eyeballing them. No danger so i just figure security was amping up.
Went to grab my merchandise and noticed my "shadow" monitoring the exit and main aisles. Made my purchase and leave.
In the fire lane three Suburbans and more suits. Apparently a Biden was in the store.
Was not stopped or spoken to, they knew where I was and I made a few of them. I missed many more. I'm sure they had eyeballs on me. Good lesson on situational awareness.
Went to grab my merchandise and noticed my "shadow" monitoring the exit and main aisles. Made my purchase and leave.
In the fire lane three Suburbans and more suits. Apparently a Biden was in the store.
Was not stopped or spoken to, they knew where I was and I made a few of them. I missed many more. I'm sure they had eyeballs on me. Good lesson on situational awareness.
HankB
Member
Quite some time ago, when ex-President Ford was still doing speaking engagements, he came to my company to give a talk, including a brief Q&A session afterwards. Secret Service was present, but not obtrusive; no pat downs, metal detectors, or questioning.
The speech was scheduled well in advance and I was sitting about 10 feet away from him before he went to the lectern.
Nobody came running up to Ford for an autograph or anything of the sort, the crowd was orderly and well-mannered. Of course, he was a former President at the time, but still, security gave the appearance of being relaxed.
I think security for this Michelle Obama was based on speed and movement - SS goes in and does a quick survey, M.O. comes in unannounced with no fanfare and does some quick shopping, pays for her stuff, and is out again before anyone is the wiser. Hard for a potential assassin to strike like that.
The speech was scheduled well in advance and I was sitting about 10 feet away from him before he went to the lectern.
Nobody came running up to Ford for an autograph or anything of the sort, the crowd was orderly and well-mannered. Of course, he was a former President at the time, but still, security gave the appearance of being relaxed.
I think security for this Michelle Obama was based on speed and movement - SS goes in and does a quick survey, M.O. comes in unannounced with no fanfare and does some quick shopping, pays for her stuff, and is out again before anyone is the wiser. Hard for a potential assassin to strike like that.
Secret Services isn't always real sharp either. I work freelance in the media, and was called to provide a feed for C-Span when President GW Bush spoke in my city a month before 9/11. In the screening process, I was asked my full name and place of birth. I told them I was Harry X. Xxxxx. The screener says "Is that short for Harold?" I said no, my given name is Harry. "Are you sure that's not short for Harold or Henry?" I think I know what my name is. The day of the speech, we all show up 0500 to pick up credentials. I pick up my credentials, and what name do you suppose is on there? Yep. Harold. Impressive. I made a remark that probably would have gotten me arrested a month later. My tech friends thought it was funny, but none of the SS people did.
Ringolevio
Member
First Lady's visit to Target
According to an article in today's American Thinker
http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2011/10/michelles_photo-op_at_target_store_was_staged.html, quoting Yahoo:
The White House claims, however, that it is "not unusual" for the First Lady to "slip out to run an errand"; Riiiight!
'Remember when Queen Hillary claimed that she and Chelsea liked to "ditch" their Secret Service detail and "slip out" for ice cream? That story stinks also. It's a testament to the professionalism of the Secret Service that they protect even those who hold them in contempt and who paint them as Keystone Kops.
According to an article in today's American Thinker
http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2011/10/michelles_photo-op_at_target_store_was_staged.html, quoting Yahoo:
The White House claims, however, that it is "not unusual" for the First Lady to "slip out to run an errand"; Riiiight!
'Remember when Queen Hillary claimed that she and Chelsea liked to "ditch" their Secret Service detail and "slip out" for ice cream? That story stinks also. It's a testament to the professionalism of the Secret Service that they protect even those who hold them in contempt and who paint them as Keystone Kops.
The_Armed_Therapist
Member
To point out the obvious, anyone with a CCW would never make an attempt on the President... or ESPECIALLY the President's wife. Anyone who has ever made an attempt on the President has been either 1) Psychotic or 2) Paid by someone powerful. The only people not fitting those categories capable of doing this--inner city murdering drug dealers and gang members--all vote for Obama. LOL
That and...........
The Secret Service knows who and where the "persons of interest" are in the area. Those persons are either detained, removed from, or prevented from entering the perimeter. If there were any Target customers or employees that were "persons of interest" they simply wouldn't have been there.
Intelligence. The Israelis make great use of this simple concept. Now, if we can just convince the TSA of it's virtues.
This. Honestly, I seriously doubt you'd be asked to leave or even confronted unless you started to match a dangerous behavioral profile or activities. I'm sure you would be watched and even shadowed, but not confronted until you gave them a reason to be confronted.
Purely conjecture on my part based on exposure to other security details, however. Now if it were pre-staged, that's an entirely different rule set.
Well, so much for spontaneity. Looks like the Whitehouse tipped off AP for the photo op.
AKElroy
Member
I was passing through Farmington, NM when W was running for his second, and security could not have been tighter in hell itself. They even had mainstreet (and all the side-streets to it) blocked off with full concrete mixers, nose to tail. Every building, including the one I was there to visit were room to room searched and the occupants interviewed. The airport and all air traffic around it were shut down, while the town itself took bets as to whether the tiny airport itself could handle the Presidents smaller "puddle jumper" (LT11?) while AF1 sat on the tarmaq @ Albuquerque.
I have a hard time believing that the press would be tipped (serious breach #1) and that she would then just walk in to an un-screened venue.
I have a hard time believing that the press would be tipped (serious breach #1) and that she would then just walk in to an un-screened venue.
Hoppes Love Potion
Member
This was staged, of course. All these impromptu moments are staged. The SS agents were "disguised" as shoppers; that should tell you all you need to know.
The "secret" was leaked to the AP so photos could be taken.
First Lady was getting all kinds of bad press for spending millions on high-end vacations. First Lady told Oprah that she DOES NOT get to go out and shop, because of the security nightmare and the unfairness to the other shoppers.
Totally staged.
The "secret" was leaked to the AP so photos could be taken.
First Lady was getting all kinds of bad press for spending millions on high-end vacations. First Lady told Oprah that she DOES NOT get to go out and shop, because of the security nightmare and the unfairness to the other shoppers.
Totally staged.
^Well of course it was staged. Do you think she NEEDED to go to Target...maybe the Whitehouse ran out of toilet paper? 
I personally wouldn't vote for a president whose spouse shopped at target, or dressed in Target clothes. Who wants an "average american" running the country---not me.
I personally wouldn't vote for a president whose spouse shopped at target, or dressed in Target clothes. Who wants an "average american" running the country---not me.
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