POTD: Reagan's Rifle on Air Force One
Here’s not something you see every day: a President aiming a rifle on Air Force One.
And yet, that’s exactly what this is. On a trip to California in November 1983, President Ronald Reagan was photographed aiming a bolt-action rifle out one of the windows aboard Air Force One. Staffers watch on and smile – even as one moves out of his line of fire. Reagan was left-handed, but he adapted well to shooting with right-handed arms because left-handed ones were (and often still are) harder to come by.
After an attempted assassination in 1981, there’s been some debate about Reagan carrying a .38-caliber revolver in his briefcase, often taking it with him on Air Force One and elsewhere. The story originated with Jim Kuhn, one of his longtime executive aides. However, other sources close to the President report never having seen it. You can be the judge on that one.
Anyway, back to the rifle: I haven’t been able to find out why he had the gun on the plane. If anyone knows, please chime in!
T. Logan Metesh is an historian and writer who runs High Caliber History LLC. He has worked for the NRA Museums, the Smithsonian Institution, and the National Park Service. He has also served as an historic firearms facilitator for television shows such as Mysteries at the Museum, Gun Stories with Joe Mantegna, NRA Gun Gurus, and American Rifleman TV. Contact him at highcaliberhistory@gmail.com
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What's funny about some conservatives is their affinity for Reagan but they intentionally gloss over him signing FOPA 86 with the Hughes Amendment while he was president, the fact he signed the Mulford act into law and his support for the 90s AWB. Newsflash gun control is a problem when both mainstream parties do it! Not just the liberal democrat you dislike!
Diane Sawyer doesn’t seem to be bothered by the presence of weapon. Guess it was to her political advantage.