Wednesday, June 17, 2015

More Humorous Gun Lore - Ronald Reagan ‘Carried His Own Gun’ While President

Ammoland

While doing research for his newest book, The President’s Shadow (tiny.cc/3ksfzx), author Brad Meltzer came across an interesting fact at Secret Service headquarters: Ronald Reagan “carried his own gun” with him while president.

Meltzer was not able to determine if Reagan carried the gun from day one of his presidency, or if he began carrying after the failed March 30, 1981, attempt on his life.

According to the Daily Mail, Meltzer was in Secret Service headquarters looking at “the actual car door from the limousine where Reagan was shot.” He described the door as an “eerie keepsake,” but said it was nothing to compare to the surprise he received when an agent told him Reagan “carried his own gun.”

Meltzer said he did not believe it initially, and the agent said it was “a .38 [and] Reagan used to hide it in his briefcase and take it on Air Force One.”

13 comments:

  1. Considering that violent crime was about twice what it is currently and as evidenced, the ban on possession of handguns wasn't working so well, kudos to him. Of course, that didn't help the regular folk who had to muddle along without the protections he had.
    It seems quite reasonable for the President to carry since any added security political figures get is explained as being necessary due to his position. Carrying his own firearm would qualify as that.

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    1. In my opinion all presidents should have to provide for their own security should they deem it necessary ...they should also be expected to pay for their and their familys room and board and their familys travel and their travel when not related to their job and they certainly should not be getting lifetime health care and a pension for 8 lousy years of employment as well as lifetime security for the two of them...talk about living off the Gov teet Thanks there is the door job retraining will be provided should you choose it

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    2. You guys are hysterical. Remember that picture I posted about all the good guys with guns on the day Hinkley struck? This info just adds to the ridiculousness of your stubborn position that guns are the answer.

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    3. Ah yes, the "ridiculous" position that guns are useful for protecting the president. If only the Secret Service were as enlightened as you.

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    4. This info just adds to the ridiculousness of your stubborn position that guns are the answer.

      Whether or not guns are the answer kinda depends on the question, doncha' think? I mean, if someone were to ask me, "What's the best thing to use for shooting some subhuman dirtbag who's trying to disarm you?" it's hard to imagine a better answer than guns.

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    5. Yeah, Kurt, you're gonna shoot someone who's trying to disarm you. No one is doing that, but don't let me stand in the way of your fevered imagination. You must feel like a real man, defending your rights with violence (in your fantasy life).

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  2. In my opinion all presidents should have to provide for their own security should they deem it necessary ...they should also be expected to pay for their and their familys room and board and their familys travel and their travel when not related to their job and they certainly should not be getting lifetime health care and a pension for 8 lousy years of employment as well as lifetime security for the two of them.

    That's what you really believe? You are certifiable. Maybe you will like the next president a little bit more.

    My guess... You have little, if any,prospects for a decent retirement. You have no pension. You resent civil servants who have earned a lifetime of benefits. You are most likely jealous of the mail carrier and see him or her as a leach.

    It's spelled "teat." Just a little bit different than "tit."

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    1. Not jealous at all FJ.. Don't resent the average Gov employee at all ...however exorbitant perks at the expense of the people for some employees is unacceptable..I am just fine in the retirement category thanks though..My liking of the current,last or next pres has nothing to do with my opinion that we should stop paying for their and their family's lavish lifestyle

      Thanks for correcting my spelling Ill make sure to return the favor sometime

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  3. I doubt president Reagan could reach his briefcase faster than one of his SS agents could pull their gun out. His son RR jr. says his father NEVER carried a gun. There must be pictures of RR carrying (if he did it so commonly) but I have never seen any. The shooter was successful (thank God RR didn't die) even though RR was surrounded by gun carrying SS agents and other armed police near RR. That doesn't disprove gun control measures, it only proves the old saying, if you are willing to sacrifice your life, you can be successful in taking a life.

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    1. "His son RR jr. says his father NEVER carried a gun."

      Do you possibly have a source for that claim Anon? Considering that Jr was a grown adult when his father was in the White House, and doesn't seem to have resided there. As opposed to the observations of the Secret Service agents who spent a lot of time with him daily.
      I think it would be pretty cool seeing some photos like that. Maybe practicing at the SS range. That is one of the few things that I'd consider to be a positive in being President. Getting to play with some cool stuff. Maybe an A-10 ride, etc.

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    2. He said it publicly on his radio program, which is better than an unnamed source, especially since he is his son. If you want to claim RR jr. is lying, take it up with him.
      "There must be pictures of RR carrying (if he did it so commonly) but I have never seen any." The fact that none exist tends to prove he did not. Was the .38 a revolver? Did he carry everyday? Why no picture of him practicing shooting? We have other presidents photographed practice shooting (like Obama). The details seem lacking. To carry in his briefcase seems too unavailable considering he has SS guys always around him and able to react much quicker. I'll believe his son, you can believe unnamed sources from the media.

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  4. Reagan as Gov. of Calif. signed the Mulford Act which prohibited people from carrying guns on their person, in their car, or in public places. Seems Reagan spoke directly to this issue.

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  5. It appears that the Secret Service is throwing Mr. Melter under the bus.

    "The Secret Service says an author’s claim that Ronald Reagan carried a gun as president is inaccurate."

    "In an interview with a Fox affiliate in New York Monday about his book The President’s Shadow, author Brad Meltzer said that Reagan carried a gun with him after his 1981 assassination attempt. He claimed that a Secret Service employee at the agency’s museum told him about it."

    "But Secret Service spokeswoman Nicole Mainor tells TIME otherwise. “We don’t know where Meltzer is getting his information. Meltzer didn’t reach out to the Secret Service,” she says.
    Those who were closest to the former president agree that Meltzer’s claim is “absolutely crazy.”

    http://time.com/3923183/ronald-reagan-gun/

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