[BlackDeath3]

I missed that important bit, my apologies. Though it seems a little fucked up that public places can just sort of be snatched up as restricted zones.

Also, I didn't realize that DC doesn't allow carrying of legal weapons. That's unfortunate. What if this had happened somewhere else?

[leephillips]

I lived in DC for a while. You have to deal with motorcades, not just for the president, but anyone the SS thinks needs protection. As a pedestrian I've been forced to stop and wait on the sidewalk for ~20 minutes while the street was prepared for the motorcade, then while it passed by. This is part of life in DC. As a driver I've had a DC metro policeman, clearing the street for a motorcade, sideswipe my car in his motorcycle and just keep on going.

As to weapons, after DC vs. Heller some of the unconstitutional restrictions were nullified, but the prohibitions against carrying are still in place. It took decades of activism for DC residents to even regain basic civil rights, such as the right to keep handguns in the home.

If this had happened somewhere else (a place that allows concealed carry, I presume you're thinking), then I guess you would just be invited to leave the area before the president entered. Or maybe let an SS agent hold your gun for you.

[dhugiaskmak]

  It took decades of activism for DC residents to even regain basic civil rights, such as the right to keep handguns in the home.

I've lived in DC since 1999. I'll be charitable and say that this comment is misleading at best. It might be very narrowly and technically correct to say that there have been "decades of activism" on the subject, but it's about on the level of that one guy who sits in a tent in front of the White House every day. The overwhelming majority of DC residents were in favor of the law.