The photo of the event shows the individual in question – the African American agent with the revolver – had his finger extended over the trigger guard, and not on the trigger.

Considering what he was going through, that’s quite a testament to their training.

That’s an event I’d just as soon not witness.

I’m pretty sure Bush had (at least the big gorilla in the back of the suburban) m4′s in his motorcade. I think it’s a function of living in a post-9/11 world.

I get pretty irritated with DHS/etc labeling people with views on the right potential domestic terrorists, but as far as the secret service goes, I’ll give them the benefit of the doubt. Maybe they had information on a specific threat- I’m guessing they don’t publicize them.

Plus, like Matt Groom said, I want Obama protected as well as possible. Not only because he is the President, but also to keep the words “President Biden” from ever being uttered.

I’ve seen them in the suburbans with them pointed up on rare occaison – mostly as a function of space (they want them available to bring to action, if the trucks crowded if could get tight bringing a gun up and out of the window). That said, I’ve NEVER seen a secret service agent with his finger on the trigger, and so am not too concerned with a ND occurring (considering one hasn’t yet – and these guys are armed for war at all times is pretty telling).

As far as this “controversy,” some people have too much time on their hands and/or are trying to drive page hits (which I can fully understand).

Heck, maybe it’s safer if BHO is overseas. In any case, I certainly prefer the current to President Biden. Grainy pictures and rantings of someone who thought they saw something on a particular day don’t really add up to any sort of statistical curve leading to some nefarious conclusion.

I have no problem with the president being protected with heavy firepower. I do wish he’d give us those same rights. But if the agents were pointing guns at the crowd, then that was wrong. Pointing a firearm at somebody is a violation of gun safety rules. It isn’t allowed at gun ranges. And if you do it out on the streets your gonna get your ass thrown in jail.

Those photos are two blurry to make out what is going on, in my opinion.

JFK (who was a damn sight better than BHO) was a terribly incompetent president when it came to foreign relations and put the whole country at risk by believing that we could negotiate peace with Khrushchev and the Soviets, but because he was shot by a Commie, suddenly he was the greatest POTUS of all time.Totally unqualified praise is lavished on Kennedy and his progeny based solely on the fact that he was assassinated. And let’s not even talk about all the idiotic left-wing conspiracy theories that have cropped up around it.