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Greg Evans
Jun 02, 2020
Donald Trump has threatened to deploy the military against protestors in the US if local officials cannot quell the riots that have swept across the nation in the past few days.
In an address at the White House the president said:
[I am mobilising] all available federal resources — civilian and military — to stop the rioting and looting, to end the destruction and arson, and to protect the rights of law-abiding Americans, including your Second Amendment rights.
Trump's threat against peaceful protestors in his own country is an alarming moment during this crisis but his mention of the second amendment is what has got many people worried.
For anyone that doesn't know what the second amendment this is what it says when it was first ratified in 1791:
A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.
Effectively Trump is saying that he is willing to deploy the military in order to protect some citizens' right to bear arms.
This is obviously worrying and Trump's words have understandably got many people concerned about what the implications of the president's speech could be.
This Rose Garden speech has literally expressed more concern about 2nd amendment rights than racism and police brut… https://t.co/1UFY9o9rCN— John Fugelsang (@John Fugelsang) 1591051819
The fucking President of the United States has all but declared martial law. But not if you’re a gun-toting white p… https://t.co/tuLEyTBBKS— Elliot Blake (@Elliot Blake) 1591052000
Trump mobilizing armed forces against our own citizens and then carefully mentioning “2nd amendment rights” which h… https://t.co/HBmpIZWlcJ— h (@h) 1591052342
What ... does the 2nd Amendment have to do with anything he's talking about???— Joy-Ann (Pro-Democracy) Reid 😷 (@Joy-Ann (Pro-Democracy) Reid 😷) 1591051691
This jackass just managed to squeeze 2nd Amendment rights into his speech and said he's sending armed forces into o… https://t.co/YPrcEUdgyR— BrooklynDad_Defiant! (@BrooklynDad_Defiant!) 1591051865
YOU CAN'T CALL FOR PEACE AND INVOKE THE 2ND AMENDMENT IN THE SAME BREATH.— March For Our Lives (@March For Our Lives) 1591061262
Trump just defended the 2nd Amendment in his rant. It’s one of the most awful and tone deaf “statements” he’s ever… https://t.co/MCSBqKxPCD— Scott Dworkin (@Scott Dworkin) 1591051897
Can someone please rationalize why the President of the United States is mentioning the 2nd amendment while he's ta… https://t.co/9SjNT2vpAz— Anshel Sag (@Anshel Sag) 1591052032
Trump's words could just be a threat but it is worrying to think how they could be misinterpreted by some of his most ardent followers.
The Justice Department did later reiterate the statement, but didn't mention the second amendment:
Today, President Trump directed Attorney General Barr to lead federal law enforcement efforts to assist in the restoration of order to the District of Columbia.
Beginning tonight, the Department of Justice has deployed all of its law enforcement components – FBI, ATF, DEA, U.S. Marshals, and BOP – and is closely coordinating with the Department of Defense and the Department of Homeland Security to maximize federal security presence throughout the District.
The Department is working hand-in-hand with the Metropolitan Police Department, the Capitol Police, the Federal Protective Service, the U.S. Secret Service, and the D.C. National Guard.
During a phone call to governors, Trump blasted them for the protests calling them 'weak' and a 'laughing stock.'