This is not a joke.

Man brings his 12 year old son to the Phoenix Airport. Son is carrying a semiautomatic firearm. Dad was packing a rifle. Coming on the heels of the LAX shootout, some people waiting to board planes were not amused:

ABC15 spoke to a woman who saw them both. She’s asked to remain anonymous.

She was there when a man with a rifle slung over his shoulder showed up with his young son, who had a handgun holstered to his hip at Terminal 3.

She said she was very uncomfortable and was not the only one.

“I was outraged by it and others around me were outraged,” she said.

But not to worry. It’s perfectly legal to carry guns into airports in Arizona. Besides, the local law enforcement had it covered:

The Phoenix Police Department confirmed that the man and his son were at the airport waiting for a passenger on one of the flights. The man reportedly told police that he brought the weapons because he feared for his family’s safety while at the airport.

“The vibe that I received from them was that they were rather smug about what they were doing that they knew the law. They knew what they could and could not do,” the woman who witnessed the incident explained. “I think there are circumstances where people should be able to carry guns and have guns, but I don’t think this is one of the good ones.”

Police escorted the two out of the building after their passenger arrived. Authorities said that no laws were broken because Americans have the right to carry guns in unsecured areas of the airport.

You know, one of these days two or more of these idiots in Phoenix or Tuscon are going to bring fully loaded guns to the same airport, and one of them is going to get the wrong idea about the other “man (or woman) with a gun over there.” Or maybe a law enforcement official will get the wrong idea about these idiots’ intentions. And that’s when a gunfight at the Sky Harbor International Corral is going to break out. Sadly, when that day comes (and these gun “enthusiasts seemed determined to make sure it does), many innocent people will be caught in the crossfire. All because some bozos think its the “cool kid” thing to do to parade their AK-47 knockoffs and Glocks at a public facility filled with thousands of people. Mark my words.

Is this really the kind of society you want to live in, America? Most of us say “hell no!” even in Kansas. Unfortunately, a few cowardly and/or well paid politicians and the NRA lobby insist that we all must live in fear of incidents like this one, or shootings at schools, malls or anyplace else (even where we vote) where large crowds of people gather. And this isn’t limited to the wild, wild west. Just ask the good folks of Kentucky.

Firearms that are openly displayed can now be carried into facilities that are owned by municipalities.

That means people can openly carry weapons into facilities owned by municipalities, such as libraries, parks, the zoo and city halls.

I guess this is a one way to get people to buy body armor for their personal use. You know, as a Christmas present for that frequent flyer in your family. Or Mom when she goes shopping at the local mall. Or for the school teacher in your family. Or maybe just for yourself, because – you know, Guns = FREDUM! The freedom to be shot in particular by people exercising their 2nd Amendment rights. I mean, it’s not as if we haven’t made it about as easy as it can be to allow criminals, domestic violence offenders and mentally disturbed individuals to buy guns thanks to the private sale loophole and non-enforcement of straw purchases, etc.

In fact, in states like Kentucky, Kansas, Florida, Arizona and many other states where anyone can carry their “personal protection device” openly in public I highly recommend you invest in body armor. Just remember, as the body armor manufacturers will tell you none of their products are completely bullet proof. Still, when your government at all levels, state, local and federal, continues to allow itself to be bullied into allowing the authorized carry and use of guns in public, what other option is available to you? Sure you can carry your own gun around, but statistically speaking, owning a firearm increases your risk of being wounded or killed, not lessens it.

The first anniversary of the Newtown shootings is rapidly approaching. Can anyone say we, collectively, as a nation, as a people, as human beings living in our society, have learned any lessons from that tragedy? That our lives have been changed for the better? That our children, teachers, travelers and shoppers have been made safer. Sadly, my answer to those questions must be a resounding no.

Just ask Mr. “I can parade around with my rifle and my son can carry a pistol at Sky Harbor International Airport and there is nothing anyone can do to stop me” guy. Or ask George Zimmerman, the man who saved us all from a hoodied black kid armed with Skittles and a can of Iced tea. Arizona Ice Tea. Now that is ironic.

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