One of the most awesome rights we have in this country is the right to be a moron. That right is mostly protected in the First Amendment which provides about as much rope as a fool is willing to wrap around their own neck. But the second most powerful right is the right for people to carry their guns to Presidential speeches and political protests.

UPDATE 08-18-09: The video clip to the right is from today’s Morning Browser (August 18, 2009).

About a dozen people carrying guns, including one with a military-style rifle, milled among protesters outside the convention center where President Barack Obama was giving a speech Monday—the latest incidents in which protesters have openly displayed firearms near the president.

Gun-rights advocates say they’re exercising their constitutional right to bear arms and protest, while those who argue for more gun control say it could be a disaster waiting to happen.

Phoenix police said the gun-toters at Monday’s event, including the man carrying an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle slung over his shoulder, didn’t need permits. No crimes were committed, and no one was arrested.

I never really saw this constitutional right exercised much when President George Bush was in office. What to me seemed all the rage on the streets of Iran or the West Bank has now come to America where opponents of President Barack Obama would like to make a point.

I can only assume that point is that they no longer fear being shoved blocks or miles away in caged free speech zones that President Bush established to protect him from carry permit holders. It could be much more simple than that. The desire to bring guns to political protests could simply reflect a desire to live like they do in the Holy lands where Jesus was crucified and where children barely have a future to speak of under the vicious centuries old cycle of taking an eye for an eye.

The other day, I pointed out how CNN’s Lou Dobbs defended people’s right to bring their guns to health care town hall meetings here in the United States of America. It looks like Dobbs has rallied his fans. He must be awefully proud of himself, and I’ll never let him forget it.