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Tenn. Gun Rally Interrupted After Police Arrest Man Carrying AR-15

Feb. 10, 2013 11:06am Becket Adams

A peaceful pro-Second Amendment rally in Nashville, Tenn., hit a bit of a snag after a man showed up with a loaded AR-15, forcing police to arrest him on the spot.

“Organizers often request that people who show up to rallies leave their weapons at home, but one man didn’t get that message and now faces a misdemeanor,” WSMV reports.

“Troopers arrested Reggie Robertson of Byrdstown for carrying an AR-15 as about 100 people gathered to express their concern about the proposals in Washington to limit semiautomatic assault rifles and high-capacity magazines,” the report adds.

“The state troopers are doing their job, and while it’s legal to carry a gun around, it does upset some people so it’s best to keep it hid, I think,” attendee Jeff Quinn told reporters.

Robertson had attached a loaded magazine to the rifle and had two more clipped to his belt, the Tennessee Highway Patrol said.

“While permit holders are allowed to carry handguns on the Plaza, the THP said it’s unlawful to carry a loaded rifle in public places,” the report explains. “The man was cited for unlawful carrying and possession of a weapon, which is a misdemeanor.”

“Robertson … must appear for booking on March 4. He was a valid handgun permit holder, and this is his first offense,” the report adds.

Despite the minor mishap, the rally continued as protesters expressed their thoughts on the issue of gun control.

“I just feel as an American citizen if I have the right to life, I have the right to defend my life with the best tools available to me,” one protestor, James Anderson, told reporters.

“I realized kind of one night when I thought there was someone in my house – and thankfully there wasn’t – but that was the night I realized the scissors by my bed would do no good,” said Ellie Lentz.

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Featured image courtesy Getty Images.

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Comments (327)

CulperGang
Posted on February 10, 2013 at 2:42pm
The enemy within=politicians and their sychophants lackeys=cops.

Politicians have boots on the ground in 32 AFRICAN COUNTRIES engaging in genocide and sending our youth on suicide missions. ThePentagon/Wht/Hill ARE INSANE and they are the enemy of the world. Perpetual wars is not normal. NEVER GIVE UP YOUR RIGHTS EVER. We have psychopaths on the world scene again. These cops are ignorant morons. They should be throwing cuff on the out of control politicians.

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P4cooler
Posted on February 10, 2013 at 2:37pm
At least it was only a misdemeanor for Robinson. I am sick of the left obsession with AR-15 The name “AR-15″ seems to strike fear, because that’s the way our media (as per the Alinsky model) has been pumping up fear and demonizing our firearms. Another good example is the Democrat created term “Assault rifle”. Uuuuuu that sounds so scary (assault rifle). The Obama regime is nothing but hype & optics, no substance. ***Robertson probably made poor judgement if policy was hand guns only. I hope both Robertson & the law enforcement were polite/civilized.

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LameLiberals
Posted on February 10, 2013 at 2:26pm
Gun Smoke
The Rifleman
etc
ect

Anyone ever watch those old 1950 or 1960′s cowboy sitcoms? EVERYONE carried either a rifle or a hand gun and viewers did not protest these shows. Little boys played cowboys and Indians back then and didn’t get kicked out of school. The only thing that changed between the 1950s and 2013 is the progressive movement is progressively advancing their anti-gun movement.

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DefyTYRANNY
Posted on February 10, 2013 at 2:19pm
There were Pro Second Amendment rallies in almost all the State Capitols across the nation Friday, and this is the only story that is posted?!?

About one guy getting arrested, no matter what Bulls*** law they copped him on, it was UNCONSTITUTIONAL! Wake up!

The Blaze is officially now a MSM type liberal media organization, Congratulations!

I was at the Georgia Capitol steps with an AR-15 slung, with 3 magazines on my person. I did not have a magazine inserted by request of the organizers, but according to Georgia law I was well within my rights to do so, and MANY DID. I had a Glock 17 with one in the chamber in my SERPA holster, one mag in the gun, and two more on my side.

My gun, or the literally HUNDREDS of others in the hands of citizens, did not jump up and kill anyone of their own volition.

No arrests, even though The rooftop snipers, GBI bomb squad, Militarized Police with the very same AR-15′s they are trying to ban, were staring at us.

The news jumped all over one young ignorant chick who was a Competition Shooter saying that we shouldn’t be carrying around our guns like this. Just like The Blaze is doing with this one incident. WHERE NO ONE WAS IN DANGER.

Quit being scared little sissies and Wake the F*** up!

The more you bow and scrape to the “sensibilities” of these ignorant fools, the quicker your rights will disappear.

Your rights are like a muscle, if you do not use them, they will, wither, atrophy, and you will be at the mercy of

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- DefyTYRANNY
  Posted on February 10, 2013 at 2:20pm
  >> every bully in town.
  
  Report this comment
- DefyTYRANNY
  Posted on February 10, 2013 at 2:23pm
  All of you apathetic d bags who like to cry and whine about everything someone does on these forums needs to get off their as**s, get up and take action, make a statement, join organizations that make a difference.
  
  Or S..T..F..U!
  
  Report this comment
- Dismayed Veteran
  Posted on February 11, 2013 at 10:37am
  Defy
  
  I figure there are 4 pathways to take regarding personal commitment to the 2nd Amendment.
  
  1. Those willing to take preemptive action a la Timothy McVeigh.
  
  McVeigh stated in a letter to a friend: “Those who betray or subvert the Constitution are guilty of sedition and/or treason, are domestic enemies and should and will be punished accordingly. It also stands to reason that anyone who sympathizes with the enemy or gives aid or comfort to said enemy is likewise guilty. I have sworn to uphold and defend the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic and I will. And I will because not only did I swear to, but I believe in what it stands for in every bit of my heart, soul and being. I know in my heart that I am right in my struggle, Steve. I have come to peace with myself, my God and my cause. Blood will flow in the streets, Steve. Good vs. Evil. Free Men vs. Socialist Wannabe Slaves. Pray it is not your blood, my friend.
  
  2. Those willing to take defensive action in response to an armed attack.
  
  3. Those willing to surrender their firearms without taking action.
  
  4. Those who will not own a firearm.
  
  Each of us must decide which camp we will follow. I, for one, refuse to follow the example of McVeigh. His comments above are almost word for word like many of the comments posted in this story. I will fight only when provoked by an armed assailant.
  
  Report this comment
- DefyTYRANNY
  Posted on February 11, 2013 at 1:08pm
  Dismayedveteran – I have never read that letter, and in principle, he was correct.
  
  However, I don’t know how that translated into blowing people up. Those tactics have traditionally belonged to leftist groups such as the Weather Underground, the Oklahoma City bombing was the only such incident I recall to have ever happened.
  
  I will not perpetrate, or do not condone, blowing up people willy nilly (I don’t even know what he was looking to do as the building may have been a representation of the government to him, the people were just trying to make a living).
  
  If I were to ever take any action other than defending my life, liberty and property, or lobbying via membership groups, believe that I would not be looking for or starting any altercation.
  
  And I really don’t appreciate any suggestion my love of freedom and the constitution puts me in the same frame as Timothy McVeigh.
  
  He was a misguided individual.
  
  Report this comment
Johnnybravo
Posted on February 10, 2013 at 2:17pm
And you people just stood around and let the cops disarm a fellow citizen? So I guess when they come house to house you worthless protesters will give them up and close you blinds. You people are worthless Patriots…You should paint your houses pink and put an Obama sticker on your cars.

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Kinnison
Posted on February 10, 2013 at 1:51pm
The simple question is: is it legal to “open carry” in Tennessee or not? If it is, then the police overreacted and should have to apologize. If it isn’t, then the guy who was carrying the AR-15 was wrong and should be charged. Everything else is just opinion.

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- Saff SGT
  Posted on February 10, 2013 at 2:09pm
  read the 2nd amendment it syas nothing about cops taking any weapion for any reason, read it
  
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JediKnight
Posted on February 10, 2013 at 1:42pm
Good thing the video makes it clearer than the actual article. It’s unlawful to carry a loaded rifle in a public place with intent to do harm. So he was doing nothing wrong.

Thanks Blaze for missing that distinction!

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- Saff SGT
  Posted on February 10, 2013 at 2:11pm
  there was no intent, where is your evidence Lefty??
  
  Report this comment
- Saff SGT
  Posted on February 10, 2013 at 2:15pm
  give it a break Lefty you are going no wheres you are in American territory
  
  Report this comment
Saff SGT
Posted on February 10, 2013 at 1:28pm
The ballon is full of air and it will burst soon. What will happen I dont know but something has to give. We know the Communist Government will not give. Folks have to stand up like the Constitution says we are right they are wrong. How many ways can I state this its in the Bill of rights with very few words we the people are right. Tyranical cops and Gov are wrong. through and through.

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Molon_labe_
Posted on February 10, 2013 at 1:18pm
Be Martin Luther King Be Gandhi give me a break have you looked to see who’s driving this train these men went up against governments that were mostly operated with restraint and respect for life, imagine Adolf or Stalin dealing with them. World history seems to say totalitarian tyrants deal with people quite differently and I would argue that we have an emerging tyrant on our hands, you keep telling yourselves be pacifists is the way and someday you’ll look back (if your not ground into hamburger meat under this train) and wonder why you didn’t do more. these protesters should have arrested the arrestors for breaking the supreme law of the land but no, no unity the pacifist marched on they had to get home to there football games & tv dinners in there split level homes so they couldn’t be bothered with such.at some point this pacifist crap is just something people tell themselves to comfort there cowardice. So now all you metro sexual conditioned men can commence attacking me as you’ve been trained

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SheepDogconfrontthewolf
Posted on February 10, 2013 at 1:06pm
what is the use of a gun without it being loaded? Hand gun permits only are for counselled carry that means hidden! You have the right to open carry a gun. The cowboys did it and they were loaded! I love the fact that a police officer can carry a gun in the open and loaded but a law abiding citizen can’t! why?

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- Saff SGT
  Posted on February 10, 2013 at 1:22pm
  they are using the bill of rights for their use but screwing your rights. This is Communist actions this violates the 2nd amenment rights all the way. All hell will bust out soon this cant just keep happeneing . This has to be stoped before it becomes an evryday occuarnce. The cops violated the 2nd amendm,ent rights and the Bill of rights simple and pure. You Tn folks need to get a million folks to gether and fix this Communist take over
  
  Report this comment
jungle J
Posted on February 10, 2013 at 1:05pm
only the very stupid or a progressive operative would do that. A provocative carry at this time is fuel for the haters fire. Would the man normally do that going to the mall? Act as you do everyday or be part of the problem.

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Saff SGT
Posted on February 10, 2013 at 1:04pm
if this guy was a plant some one in that rally must know him. Then we can find out if he was a plant. if no one ther knew him then he was probaly working for the Tn cops and obama.

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- SheepDogconfrontthewolf
  Posted on February 10, 2013 at 1:35pm
  bingo… “Staff Sargent” this stinks to high heaven. head on a swivel
  
  Report this comment
Lesbian Packing Hollow Points
Posted on February 10, 2013 at 12:46pm
Would have been completely within his rights to join in a peaceable public demonstration while bearing a loaded long gun in the state of Indiana, license to carry a handgun or otherwise.

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sandrunner
Posted on February 10, 2013 at 12:40pm
the cops acted stupidly.
I like to make a citizens arrest of the two cops with the guns. fair is fair.
cops are hypocrites

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BlackCrow
Posted on February 10, 2013 at 12:34pm
“it’s legal to carry a gun around, it does upset some people so it’s best to keep it hid”

SO? It “upsets” me to see hammer and sickle t-shirts so I should call the cops? How about my Reagan t-shirt. My pickup truck “offends” some people, BIG DEAL!

We have lost the old United States, time for a new one!

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Idadho
Posted on February 10, 2013 at 12:32pm
So, what is the definition of a loaded weapon ? Is it loaded because the magazine is loaded and locked into the weapon ? or, does it require a round to be in the chamber? What if the magazines were all on his belt ?
Sounds to me like the Tennessee law needs to be challenged. A loaded handgun is OK but a loaded rifle is not. Where is the sense in that differential?

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- OlefromMN
  Posted on February 10, 2013 at 1:11pm
  I have yet to see where it has been verified the magazines actually were loaded. He had an AR, he had magazines, yet the story doesn’t clearly show they were loaded.
  
  Report this comment
All Pro
Posted on February 10, 2013 at 12:30pm
Maybe somebody want to submit this to Becks, Theblaze tips line. I’m not going to. I’m so fed up with Beck you have no idea.

October 7, 2012
Share
Homeland Security graduates first Corps of Homeland Youth

October 7, 2012. Vicksburg. The federal government calls them FEMA Corps. But they conjure up memories of the Hitler Youth of 1930’s Germany. Regardless of their name, the Dept of Homeland Security has just graduated its first class of 231 Homeland Youth. Kids, aged 18-24 and recruited from the President’s AmeriCorp volunteers, they represent the first wave of DHS’s youth corps, designed specifically to create a full time, paid, standing army of FEMA Youth across the country.

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chasbronson
Posted on February 10, 2013 at 12:28pm
The Constitution is really now just an Illusion.We no longer have Constitutional rights.If we want it back people will have to die on both sides.

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MrKnowItAll
Posted on February 10, 2013 at 12:27pm
There goes his Concealed permit. He will be deemed Dangerous.

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dlivelli
Posted on February 10, 2013 at 12:22pm
I don’t think these rallies help. The right to own a weapon already exists. It will remain enshrined in our rights as long as we live by the supreme law of this land…our Constitution. I think it will be better time spent organizing and implementing a plan to stop obama and co. from destroying our Constitution one line at a time….. Freedom will only die if we allow it to, We must spread the values and principles of freedom, self reliance and free markets. The progressives have waited and worked 100 years to get where they are. We must be smart, persistent and patient in our fight. Do not be intimidated by the threats of the left. They know they are wrong that is why they govern on fear and emotion not logic. Start with your family and get every book on TRUE freedom and our founders ideas….prove your point with facts but do not dismiss the emotion part. We must use both to get people to see what is happening. The logic and the contentment with sound money and a free populace will once again rule America.

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- Saff SGT
  Posted on February 10, 2013 at 2:08pm
  Facts read the 2nd amendment it is short and to the point what part does no one understand?????
  
  Report this comment
grimmster
Posted on February 10, 2013 at 12:21pm
This would not have happened here in Texas,as you came carry any loaded long gun,anywhere on the streets, except where prohibited, ie.. courthouses etc….as long as you do point it at someone, or make a scene with it.And the same goes for your property in the cities.

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OldSurfRat
Posted on February 10, 2013 at 12:20pm
Hi there Mildot
How you been?

Fair enough.
Did not question his patriotism in any way. However it would seem that he could have simply brought his weapon without being loaded to the meeting.
We need to show all the other anti-gun wussies that we can be and are responsable with decrement.
His actions will only make the MSM say “See I told you so. Just a bunch of backwoods YO’s”

@lord
Give it a rest.
As Mildot pointed out to me (rightfully so) about Mr Roberts. You do not know me or how many guns I own. I only questioned his commom sense.

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- Lordchamp
  Posted on February 10, 2013 at 12:28pm
  Nope we’ve rested for far too long. No more.
  
  I want the Country the Founders intended for us to have. For our children and grandchildren to know a better life than we have had.
  
  If you are not up to that task, that’s your individual decision.
  
  If one person wakes up because of statements or discussions, then it’s worth the effort. We’re not alone in this.
  
  Report this comment
Lordchamp
Posted on February 10, 2013 at 12:16pm
This is where the rubber meets the road.

Are they OathKeepers or OathBREAKERS? In this instance, it’s obvious what they were and are.

This is where the LEOs need to stand up and be counted. This is why people are questioning what side of this they really are on. They should refuse to enforce what they know are unlawful, unconstitutional laws.

Glenn has said before to choose sides. Now more than ever, that is important. It’s accelerating at light speed right now.

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Alternative_Thought
Posted on February 10, 2013 at 12:14pm
That’s the problem with law enforcement. All someone has to do is write a law that they know is wrong on a piece of paper & they say “yes master” & start enforcing it. Keep & BEAR arms.

Unfortunately they are the ones that will be used to steal our rights.

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Roundup_Logan
Posted on February 10, 2013 at 12:12pm
As the heat intensifies, the water starts to boil. When the pressure builds up too much, the kettle is liable to explode. THEM = 1 GUNNERS = 0. If you throw in NY it’s THEM = 2 GUNNERS = 0. Now California is up to bat, will it be THEM = 3 GUNNERS = 0? I’m seeing a trend here. Who’s going to win?

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- Lordchamp
  Posted on February 10, 2013 at 12:22pm
  We as conservative Constitutionalist are naturally slow to anger. Unfortunately, sometimes too slow in my estimation. We have allowed this assault on our rights to go on far too long.
  
  However, once fully awakened and active we will get the job done yet again. It’s not going to be pretty nor is it going to be pleasant but we will do it in the end I believe.
  
  It’s already begun it seems. Hopefully it can remain mostly peaceful but that’s up to them. We will merely defend ourselves as is our right to do.
  
  Report this comment

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