Los Angeles Times: Citizens Check Guns for Cheney Talk

http://latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/wire/sns-ap-cheney-utah0825aug25.story?coll=sns%2Dap%2Dnation%2Dheadlines

Citizens Check Guns for Cheney Talk
By PATTY HENETZ
Associated Press Writer

August 25 2001

SANDY, Utah -- Bowing to Secret Service requests, Utah Republicans checked their
weapons at the door Saturday to listen to Vice President Dick Cheney tout the
administration's plans for missile defense and increased military spending.

Two knives, 25 guns and ammunition clips, brought to a state party convention by
Utah residents with concealed weapon permits, were stored in lockers outside the
hall.

Gun owners had complained following Secret Service suggestions that people
licensed to carry concealed weapons leave them in their cars while the vice
president addressed the convention. The Utah Gun Owners Alliance urged members
to picket the convention with signs including "GOP Doesn't Mean Gun Owners
Prohibited."

Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff paid for the lockers out of campaign funds
as a way to defuse the controversy.

During his 15-minute speech, Cheney described the Bush administration's
positions on education, energy, Social Security and military reform.

"National security begins with a military that is well-paid, well-housed and
well-treated and is led by a commander in chief they can respect," Cheney said
to loud applause.

Cheney promised that the administration would work to pass a patients bill of
rights and work for education and Social Security reform.

He also praised Bush's energy policy proposals, saying the administration would
work to increase energy efficiency and conservation as well as to develop new
energy sources.

After Cheney's speech, Bill Clayton retrieved his weapon and headed back inside.

"I wasn't concerned about being in the building, because there's plenty of
security in there," Clayton said as he reloaded his .45-caliber revolver and
stuck it into a hip pack. "It's just traveling to and from."

David Root, of Providence, said he always carries the 9mm handgun he checked
before the speech.

"I'm an asset to the community. I feel that if I have the permit, I should
carry. Criminal behavior is kept in check if they fear an armed, law-abiding
populace," Root said.

Copyright 2001 Associated Press

Slowly but surely.

Norm