GOP rep: ‘Dangerous’ to have open carry near convention site

Rep. Pete King (R-N.Y.) says Ohio’s open carry law is adding to the security risks at the Republican National Convention.

“I think it’s dangerous, but then again I have my own views on guns,” King said Monday on Fox News’s “Outnumbered.”

{mosads}“I think the cops and the ordinary person is not going to know who’s good and who’s bad,” King added.

“If you see a guy running at you and he’s got a rifle over his shoulder, or an automatic weapon, is he a good guy or a bad guy? Is he there to kill you, or is he running away, or is he trying to help you?”

King said Ohio should have temporarily suspended the law for the duration of the convention.

“If it could be done legally, I would,” he said. “I don’t think open carry makes sense anyways, but that’s a separate issue. At a time like this especially, I don’t think it’s right to have open carry.”

King said turmoil between various factions near the convention could provide an attractive target for terrorists.

“All of this has the risk of more disturbance,” he said. “That’s the time a terrorist can work his way in.

“With all of the confusion going on, if there is a real riot or disturbance, one person with a, you know, body bomb or something could be a disaster. I’m not trying to scare people, but that’s what’s facing security forces today.”

The Cleveland Police Patrolman’s Association on Sunday urged Gov. John Kasich (R-Ohio) to suspend the state law allowing the open carry of guns. Police union president Steve Loomis said Ohio’s policy makes it “much more difficult” to protect the convention, which runs Monday through Thursday.

“Somebody’s got to do something,” he said. “What we have now is completely irresponsible.”

Kasich’s press secretary, Emmalee Kalmbach, on Sunday said the governor doesn’t have the authority to suspend the open carry law.

“Ohio governors do not have the power to arbitrarily suspend federal and state constitutional rights or state laws as suggested,” she said in a statement.

Ohio state law allows people to carry firearms in plain sight on most public property, including areas surrounding the convention. The Secret Service will prohibit firearms closer to the convention’s main arena, however.