Man protests President Obama's Phoenix speech with rifle - Phoenix Arizona news, breaking news, local news, weather radar, traffic from ABC15 News | ABC15.com
PHOENIX -- President Barack Obama criticized the defense industry and a free-spending Congress during a speech in downtown Phoenix Monday.
In a speech to tens of thousands at the National Veterans of Foreign Wars Convention, the president told veterans our tax dollars were being wasted like America was still in the Cold War.
His speech, in the convention center in downtown Phoenix, was respectfully received by the veterans, who frequently interrupted him with polite applause.
Outside the Phoenix Convention Center, protesters held signs against Obama's health care proposals while others are calling for a withdrawal of troops from Iraq and Afghanistan.
Protesters and supporters gather for Obama speech
One protester who didn't want to give his name was walking around with a rifle in full view.
One protester who didn't want to give his name was walking around with an assault rifle – in full view.
"I'm exercising my right as an American in Arizona," he said. "I'm actually totally against healthcare in this way, in this manner, stealing it from people. I don't think that's appropriate."
The man also carried a hand gun on his hip and a round of ammunition in his back pocket, all completely legal.
He said he's fighting both health care and his right to carry a firearm in public.
Man protests Obama's Phoenix speech with rifle
"I come from another state where open carry is legal, but no one does it, so police don't really know about it, and they harass people and arrest people falsely," he said. "In America, people have the ability to fight back and resist."
Read the whole story: Man protests President Obama's Phoenix speech with rifle - Phoenix Arizona news, breaking news, local news, weather radar, traffic from ABC15 News | ABC15.com
PHOENIX -- President Barack Obama criticized the defense industry and a free-spending Congress during a speech in downtown Phoenix Monday.
In a speech to tens of thousands at the National Veterans of Foreign Wars Convention, the president told veterans our tax dollars were being wasted like America was still in the Cold War.
His speech, in the convention center in downtown Phoenix, was respectfully received by the veterans, who frequently interrupted him with polite applause.
Outside the Phoenix Convention Center, protesters held signs against Obama's health care proposals while others are calling for a withdrawal of troops from Iraq and Afghanistan.
Protesters and supporters gather for Obama speech
One protester who didn't want to give his name was walking around with a rifle in full view.
One protester who didn't want to give his name was walking around with an assault rifle – in full view.
"I'm exercising my right as an American in Arizona," he said. "I'm actually totally against healthcare in this way, in this manner, stealing it from people. I don't think that's appropriate."
The man also carried a hand gun on his hip and a round of ammunition in his back pocket, all completely legal.
He said he's fighting both health care and his right to carry a firearm in public.
Man protests Obama's Phoenix speech with rifle
"I come from another state where open carry is legal, but no one does it, so police don't really know about it, and they harass people and arrest people falsely," he said. "In America, people have the ability to fight back and resist."
Read the whole story: Man protests President Obama's Phoenix speech with rifle - Phoenix Arizona news, breaking news, local news, weather radar, traffic from ABC15 News | ABC15.com
