Tea Party protesters in New Mexico bring their big guns

by Rory Cripps | January 3, 2010 at 04:37 am

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The Otero Tea Party Patriots and the newly formed Alamogordo Second Amendment Task Force held an anti-Obama protest rally on Saturday in Alamogordo New Mexico.

Several hundred people, many carrying rifles and handguns, attended the 2-hour event. There were no reported incidents of violence.

Leslie Feilner, who recently moved to Alamogordo from Alaska with her husband, said about the .454 Taurus Casull that she was carrying, "It's a bear gun. We've never had to use it."

Feilner's English Pointer had a 9mm strapped to his side and a sign that read, "Bring it on, Obama." Feilner told reporters, "I'm a Christian and a peace-loving person, but I enjoy the right to buy and carry them."

Ron Browne of Alamogordo, who attended the event, said, "You have the guns. Eventually, you'll have the hate, then someone will actually take it one step further and try to hurt the president." Browne commented further, "Hate has to start somewhere and grow. This is it, right here. You're looking at it."

Jim Kizer, of Alamogordo, carried his .444 Marlin rifle and .41 Smith and Wesson Magnum pistol to the event.

"I don't like what the Democrats are doing to our country," said Kizer. "I'm a Korean vet and I grew up in Alaska during World War II. I've fought Communists all my life, and now our government is being taken over by them. That's why I'm here."

Ron Browne of Alamogordo, who attended the event, said the two groups have a right under the Constitution to freely assemble. But he said the presence of guns looked like the start of homegrown terrorism.

"You have the guns. Eventually, you'll have the hate, then someone will actually take it one step further and try to hurt the president," Browne said. "Hate has to start somewhere and grow. This is it, right here. You're looking at it."

Kizer, the Korean War veteran, said he only wanted to have his voice heard.

"I'm not trying to start a war," he said. "I just want to make a point."

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t k kidwai

at 17:32 on January 4th, 2010

Rory,thanks for your comments.With Obama's ascedency to power nothing has shifted beneath the ground.Neo-cons are in full control of US state machinary,Chenny is out of power but Chennyism is ideological vehicle which fuels war engines and Obama doesn't want war engines brought to complete halt.Rory,the Jinn was let out by Ronald Regan and no administration can bring it back in the bottle.Talibans,neo-cons' shadow are haunting neo-cons,call them Islamist Jihadees or whatever you like.

Rory Cripps

at 15:57 on January 5th, 2010

t k kidwai: I respect your opinion and I'd really like to learn from it. So please bear with me.

Here's what I don't understand: How can neocons be in full control, as you say, when Obama is president and both the Senate and Congress have Democrat majorities?

Most Americans consider Obama and the majority of Democrats in the Senate and House to be left of center and most Americans consider neocons to be right of center.

Can we agree that there are many terrorists in the world today that want to kill Americans? And that virtually all of those terrorists are Muslims and are engaged in a jihad?

Are you of the belief that were it not for conservative Republicans such as Reagan, Bush, Cheney, etc. there would be no terrorist threat to the U.S.?

Thanks for your comments.

t k kidwai

at 10:20 on January 6th, 2010

Rory,thanks for raising a pertinent question.Obama is president,Democrats are in majority in the Congress.But what about bureaucrats and those corporate houses who financed Obama's compaign and election?And corporate controlled media?

Do you see any changes in US foreign policy?Change of administration doesn't mean change in policies.If Obama is continuing same policies as those of Bush Bin Satan,where lies the line of demarcation between the two?A president is known by his policies not rhetorics.

Thanks for your comments and question.I very much appreciate.

Chris Dudley (not verified)

at 22:52 on January 4th, 2010

Two issues that came up during several of the interviews was the way political campaigns are financed and the undue influence of lobbyists. Perhaps there is common ground between the divide, after all.

Rory Cripps

at 16:22 on January 5th, 2010

Chris Dudley (not verified):

Thanks for your comment. I agree! Campaign finance can stand some reform. However there are those that consider lobbyists as "pressure groups" simply exercising their right of free speech.

Both the Democratic and Republican parties are equally guilty when it comes to taking money in one form or another from lobbyists. And unfortunately the politicians that are in the back pockets of lobbyists are the very ones that write the laws (i.e. pork barrel projects, etc) that will affect the amount of money donated to their campaigns and, therefore, their reelection prospects.

America could benefit from more "citizens" in congress as opposed to career politicians.

duelles (not verified)

at 23:01 on January 5th, 2010

I finally live in a right to carry state - NM , and intend to take a class with my wife and become an armed citizen. We have always gone birding and duck hunting so the shotgun is like part of us. Handguns will just feel good to have and to hold.I'm not sure I like being profiled by anyone as something I'm not because I own guns ~) Certain youthful ages of males are much more likely to bring on pain to a community than the eldery [61yrs] like me.Rory, you are right on - the real stats of crime point to a small minority of repeat offenders who will offend no matter the laws. I spent two months in England last year. While they don't have guns they do carry all types of knives, shives, and pointy objects AND they use them up close and personal. In the 60's in LA the Black Panthers were able to march through town with rifles and shotguns - peacefully! Peace is not the absence of violence. Peace is won and maintained. I will retire with my money - not the governments and I will protect myself and my family when needed. Duelles - Capt USAF