Gun Rights Advocate: An Entire Armed Audience At A Presidential Event Would Be ‘Fine’

John Velleco, chief lobbyist for Gun Owners Of America, said on Hardball With Chris Matthews today that he would be ‘fine’ with the entire audience at a presidential event being armed with guns. Watch the video below.

“If it’s legal to carry guns in that location, absolutely,” he told Matthews, who pressed him on the issue. “It would be fine with you if everyone comes in with a gun? They should be allowed to sit in the first row with a gun?” the MSNBC host asked. Velleco responded that gun-owners in the U.S. are “the most law-abiding citizens.”

When Matthews asked how close armed people should be allowed to get to the President, the gun rights advocate said “as close as the Secret Service will allow.” Velleco also does not think the federal ban on assault weapons should be renewed.

Velleco is the Director of Federal Affairs for Gun Owners of America, a gun rights organization with over 300,000 members.