Beto: "Wake the fuck up America!"

[Dennis Donovan]

Link to tweet

Beto O'Rourke ✔@BetoORourke

Wake the fuck up America!

Getty Images News ✔@GettyImagesNews

Gun rights activists carrying semi-automatic firearms walk through the Capitol Building on January 31, 2020 in Frankfort, Kentucky. 📷: @woolstonphoto





4:24 PM - Feb 1, 2020

Texas, and America, need a Senator O'Rourke.

[Aussie105]

1. The appropriate 'Wake up America!' moment passed a long time ago.

When the second amendment was first interpreted wrongly, and allowed scenes like the above.

The appearance of such masked and gunned up individuals in a public place anywhere else in the world would bring out special armed police forces within minutes.

The stupid show of stupid force by stupid people was meant to intimidate.

Beto is right. But quite a few years too late.

Only in America!

Beto, we know what the problem is. Now go find someone to do something about it!

[Laura PourMeADrink]

4. Beto is the ONLY one who keeps the fire alive. Pity those poor kids who tried to do that in Florida

[malaise]

10. THIS

is the truth

[NCLefty]

17. We did nothing when little kids were slaughtered. I really think it's an issue of addiction.

If you can't give up something that's harming you or others, your ass is addicted to it.

[Ohiogal]

2. WTF was the purpose of this?

They should have all been immediately arrested for bringing loaded weapons inside a state capitol building! What a bunch of effing idiots! Where are Kentucky’s capitol police?

[dustyscamp]

3. This is crazy

Link to tweet

[KPN]

15. Lol. Idiocracy at work! That's rich.

[Bettie]

51. Why even bother with a metal detector?

Seriously stupid.

[CanonRay]

5. They are j1ihadis, not Americans

[TexasTowelie]

6. There won't be a Senator O'Rourke in 2020

since the deadline for filing has passed. Texas also will not elect a senator in 2022. However, it's great to see Beto condemn this stunt.

Right-wing Twitter would have exploded with condemnations if the group of activists were from a Muslim group or the Black Panthers.

[Ferrets are Cool]

7. I always ask this question. If the "persons" in that picture were anything but WHITE

would the same "freedom" be allowed? I think we all know the fucking answer to that.

This kind of SHIT makes me so fucking ANGRY. This is just so GD'd wrong.

[LastLiberal in PalmSprings]

27. If it had been a group of unarmed black men, they would have been shot on sight. nt

[tulipsandroses]

28. We have seen that already. We got the Mulford Act and a number of arrests

In order to voice their opposition to the bill and raise awareness of the brutality that African Americans faced at the hands of law enforcement, the BPP decided to travel to the state capitol in Sacramento. The family of Denzil Dowell, an unarmed black man who was shot and killed by a California police officer, had approached the BPP for aid earlier that month. In response, the BPP met with the county district attorney and appealed to the sheriff’s department for further investigation into the shooting. Having exhausted the appropriate legal channels with no success, the BPP decided to use the trip to Sacramento to publicize the issue. The threat posed by the Mulford Act resonated even more within the context of the Dowell shooting. Members of the BPP traveled to the capitol on May 2, 1967, and boldly entered the building armed (Figure 1). Seale delivered a passionate executive mandate to legislators and the media, declaring that “the time has come for Black people to arm themselves against this terror before it is too late” and that “the pending Mulford Act brings the hour of doom one step nearer.”7

Seale’s statement highlighted the importance of self-defense in the lives of African Americans and underlined the fact that the Mulford Act did not only pose a threat to the BPP but entire communities. The demonstration in Sacramento was legal, but upon departure, BPP members failed to remove the ammunition from their firearms, violating an obscure fish and game code.8 This mistake furnished an opportunity for authorities to arrest twenty-four members of the group. Even before the Mulford Act had taken effect, the authorities pursued legislation as a means to suppress BPP activities.
[link:https://www.explorationsinteractive.com/picking-up-the-gun-the-black-panther-party-and-the-mulford-act.html|

[Straw Man]

48. Right. That was the beginning of California's role as a national leader in gun control.

https://www.history.com/news/black-panthers-gun-control-nra-support-mulford-act

It continues to this day.

[bdamomma]

29. I hear you Ferrets are Cool

Make America Gr.....White again

[salin]

8. Imagine you are a security guard, or a secretary in an office, or work at the information desk here.

You can't ditch your job in the middle of the day. You don't make enough money to "opt out." So you have to pray for the best amidst a show of a potential armed takeover of the capitol (because isn't that what this is - a threat - we could/can take this over by armed force?) Will the next public lands takeover/standoff be in a red state capitol building? Two weeks ago, this fleeting thought wouldn't have entered my head, let alone would I type/speak the thought out loud.

[Nay]

37. According to a report I read today, the security guards VOLUNTARILY LET THEM IN.

Just chew on that for a minute.

[salin]

38. That was my poibt. What else could they do? This is apparently legal in Kentucky.

https://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/politics/ky-legislature/2020/01/08/kentucky-state-capitol-photo-circulates-men-guns/2843722001/

This is seriously f-ed up. And the employees at the capitol have no power to stop it. But they are at their job - and can't avoid the capitol during this display, and threat of violence.

[Nay]

41. It's legal to hide your faces and bring guns in? Betcha black guys can't do that. At

least without getting all shot to death.

[Dem2theMax]

9. There's another state I won't ever be visiting.

[lpbk2713]

11. In some jurisdictions it's illegal to wear a mask while carrying a firearm.

Apparently not in Kentucky.

[Fla_Democrat]

12. Looks like they are.

[VOX]

13. (White) American Taliban, high on testosterone and brandishing weapons.

When exactly did gun ownership demand the full-on jihadi cosplay treatment?

Not a good look. At all.

[musicblind]

14. I would love a Sen. O'Rourke

But hasn't the filing deadline passed ?

[TexasBushwhacker]

25. If he can't beat Cruz, he can't beat Cornyn

It was much easier for him to run against asshole Cruz.

[musicblind]

39. We don't know that.

His public profile has been raised since he ran against Cruz.

[nini]

16. Why do they need masks.

???

[moondust]

18. Somebody with an attitude

and an assault rifle is liable to get ideas.

Shouldn't the laws (or lack thereof) that apply to the KY Capitol also apply to the U.S. Capitol?

[Tipperary]

19. Yeah, that tweet will show 'em.

[phleshdef]

44. Yea, he didn't charge down there with his superhuman martial arts abilities and beat their asses.

What an asinine response.

[Tipperary]

49. Lol, sensitive much?

Maybe he should have sent thoughts and prayers.

[LanternWaste]

52. The important thing is to trivialize and minimize...

rather than discuss. Truly the mark of an insightful and perceptive mind.

You sure showed 'em...

[Tipperary]

55. As you just did.

Oh my, the irony.

[Igel]

20. Sorry, O'Rourke.

I want the fuck up to continue to sleep--or, even better, go to sleep. When you wake a fuck up, all you get is more up-fucking.

[MagickMuffin]

21. Whoever let them pass through security and given a PASS

should be fired.

What if they had gone on a shooting spree?

Would the person who let them roam the halls of the capitol be charged with anything that happened?


They look russian to me. Perhaps these are McConnell's new hired body guards from his besty Oleg Deripaska.

[bdamomma]

32. Kentucky???

Moscow Mitch's Taliban.

[SuprstitionAintthWay]

35. It's the AK47s.

Automatic Kalashnikov Rifle Model 1947.

An object of worship and fetishizing for a lot of inferiority-plagued male dipshits worldwide.

[Straw Man]

47. Here's the thing.

Whoever let them pass through security and given a PASS

should be fired.

What if they had gone on a shooting spree?

If their purpose were to go on a shooting spree, what makes you think they would've stopped for a pass?

If open carry is legal in Kentucky, then the guards did the right thing. Let them come through and do their silly little march, and then be on their way. Teapot, meet tempest. Done.

[Mr. Ected]

22. Imagine, if you will, a group of 8 Iranian-Americans, camoflaged head to toe, at that capitol

Decked out with assault weapons and loudly speaking Farsi.

Would they have been shot by security as they entered the courthouse?

Let's not pretend that the 2nd Amendment and the 14th Amendment intersect anywhere except White Man USA.

[zackymilly]

23. It's okay. They have their "Visitor" stickers on. n/t

[dalton99a]

24. Kick

[Paladin]

26. Full-on fascism is just around the corner in this once-great country.

Where will our deliverance come from? What's it going to take?

[triron]

30. Getting closer day by day.

[Skittles]

31. Beto should still be in the race

seriously

[live love laugh]

33. He was my choice. nt

[Skittles]

34. I can't believe who has left and who is still running

it is disconcerting

[live love laugh]

36. Yes the whole discussion of the process needs to be

had. It seems disadvantageous to require declarations almost two years in advance guaranteeing all $$$ will be spent by election time. I don’t know who makes these rules but I think future candidates ought to consider breaking them—like Bloomberg and other latecomers.

[betsuni]

40. I saw that on the news with the sound on low and assumed it was in someplace

like the Ukraine. What a shock to see Kentucky on the screen. Horrible.

[Polybius]

42. He curses too much

Even on live TV with his concession speech against Cruz.

[phleshdef]

45. The concept of "cursing" is fucking stupid to begin with.

Harmless words. Get over it.

[Polybius]

58. For us, sure

For politicians and especially Texas, no.

[cwydro]

50. He got so much attention last time he said it.

Guess he’s hoping for another reaction.

Maybe he’s afraid he’s being forgotten.

[tblue37]

43. How long before terrorists disguise themselves as groups of gun rights activists?

if they were dressed like those guys are, you'd have no way of knowing they intended to kill people rather than just prancing around showing off their guns.

[bdjhawk]

46. Need to start publicly and consistently calling them out for what they are

Micro-penises.

[octoberlib]

53. This would be a great campaign slogan!

I like Beto.

[Dukkha]

54. Hey camo cosplaytriots

I can still see you!

Seriously grow the hell up and get a job!

[crickets]

56. Behold home grown terrorism on display. nt

[aikoaiko]

57. I'm sure DU is very happy that no shots were fired...

... and no one was injured or killed.