Pistol-Packing Protesters Target Obama's Texas Visit For Rally

AUSTIN, TX -- Advocates of the newly passed “open carry’ law in Texas -- allowing gun owners to carry their holstered guns while out in public -- have scheduled a rally to assert those rights to coincide with the arrival of President Barack Obama to Austin.

The rally is scheduled on the grounds of the downtown Capitol building at noon on Friday.

“The fact that President Obama is going to be in Austin at the same time changes nothing,” an administrator for the group’s Facebook page wrote on the social media site. “We won’t be deterred or barred from exercising our liberties. In fact, if Obama sees us, we look forward to him approaching us, shaking our hands, and thanking us for exercising our rights in a safe and legal manner in the way he is tasked with supporting and defending.”

That envisioned encounter isn’t likely. President Obama will be at the Long Center at the other side of town to speak at a SXSW panel discussion on civic engagement. After that, he's scheduled to visit the downtown Opera House and then attend a private fundraiser at a West Austin home of a political supporter.

Championed by the GOP-controlled Texas Legislature, the “open carry” law was enacted on Jan. 1 -- giving gun owners the ability to walk around in public with their firearms in full display -- except at a growing list of businesses choosing to opt out of the law by posting the requisite signs.

Despite having secured this long-sought right, gun advocates are strident about asserting their new-found freedom, as illustrated in the Facebook post announcing their latest rally.

“He could even benefit from reading our materials, and we’ll have extra copies of the constitution [sic] for him and his armed security since he seems to have misplaced (or shredded) his own.”

And then, the language softens somewhat in explaining they are not condoning violence but simply aim to promote the idea of gun rights.

“The fact that a man who wears a title bestowed upon him by the people will be in town at the same time doesn't change our mission, event, or action in any way,” the Facebook page administrator writes. “We condemn in the strongest terms any language designed to suggest or threaten anyone with being shot. Guns are self defense tools and should only be used in those circumstances or for survival.”

The gun rights advocate was palpably excited to be able to carry his holstered gun at this year's version of SXSW, something they weren’t able to do before passage of this year’s “open carry” law, he asserted.

“Texans have been open carrying at SXSW for the past three years,” the post reads. “This is nothing new. The only difference is that in the past, we could only carry rifles. This year, we get to carry holstered handguns instead."

This actually isn't true. Reached Thursday afternoon, SXSW officials reiterated their long-standing policy on guns during the event.

"SXSW has a strict weapons-free policy," the policy reads. "SXSW is a private event and attending Participants are prohibited from carrying weapons of any kind, including concealed or displayed firearms."

The gun rights advocates' events page dubbed “SXSW Open Carry/Gun Awareness Education,” is linked to the main “Open Carry Texas” page.

Neither page takes too kindly to critics.

“Are you people really this dumb.it's like your [sic] looking for trouble .grow up and be MEN . NOT LITTLE GIRLS,” wrote another critic, John Blunk.

The response from Open Carry Texas attributes Bunker’s dissension to his perceived psychological state.

“Poor John,” Open Carry replies. “Probable [sic] wasn't loved enough as a kid. If you need a hug, please meet us tomorrow at noon. We're more than happy to contribute to your self esteem.”

Beyond the confines of the social media forum, Open Carry Texas has gained critics in other quarters for its insistence to demonstrate its newly secured sight to show off their guns. Andrea Brauer, executive director of Texas Gun Sense, said the demonstration has nothing to do with educating the public.

“Open carry was implemented in Texas to give gun owners the flexibility to carry a firearm in self-defense,” she said in an email. “It’s not about making a statement.”

Brauer decried the gun advocacy group’s efforts to make their presence known at SXSW.

“Inserting yourself into an event where the organizers would prefer they don’t is oppositional,” Brauer said. “It may cause dangerous confrontations in the expected crowds.”

She worried about the impression an international crowd at this year’s SXSW would take by seeing gun-toting demonstrators at an annual event celebrating arts and music.

“SXSW is an international event,” Brauer said. “We want to make sure that people visiting Austin and around the world know that there are a great many Texans who support sensible gun laws like universal background checks.”

The goal of the Open Carry Texas is not meant to inform, she said: “This is not firearms education.”

For their part, Texas Open Carry officials make plain their aim in carrying their guns openly: “We simply refuse to be victims,” the administrator writes on the group’s Facebook page.