The Gun Toting U.S. Secret Service and Presidential and VP Candidates

“EXCLUSIVE: VP hopeful Kamala Harris- who says she supports defunding police – is seen in Miami being protected by dozens of cops as well as a Secret Service agent carrying an assault rifle, a weapon she’s vowed to ban,” the U.K. daily Mail reported.

That statement and article show the hypocrisy of U.S. anti gunners. No one wants harm to come to Harris or any other Official or candidate.

But a question often asked is, how do citizens, whose lives matter, and cannot afford an army of guards, let alone one guard, protect themselves? Americans have decided that response by purchasing self defense weapons at unprecedented numbers since the Pandemic and riots turned the U.S. landscape upside down.

Another question might be, why are Presidential candidates protected to such levels by the Secret Service at tax payer expense, rather than bearing the costs of their own protection? The answer is below with history of the Secret Service.

The U.S. Secret Service has grown from a small bureau staffed by a few operatives in 1865, to a law enforcement organization of nearly 7,000 employees worldwide. Today, the U.S. Secret Service fights crime on a global scale through its field offices located in the United States, Canada, Mexico, South America, Europe, Africa and Asia. The agency works closely with local, state and federal law enforcement organizations. These entities are valued partners of the Secret Service, and they are integral to the agency’s investigative and protective endeavors.

Permanent protectees, such as the President and Vice President, have special agents permanently assigned to them. Temporary protectees, such as presidential and vice presidential candidates/nominees and foreign heads of state, are staffed with special agents on temporary assignment from U.S. Secret Service field offices. Protection for the President and Vice President of the United States is mandatory. All other individuals entitled to Secret Service protection may decline security if they choose.

Broadly, the Secret Service Protects:

• The President of the United States
• The Vice President of the United States
• The President’s and Vice President’s immediate families
• Former Presidents, their spouses and their minor children under the age of 16

• Foreign heads of state and their spouses visiting the United States
• Major presidential and vice presidential candidates and their spouses
• Events designated as National Special Security Events by the Secretary, U.S. Department of Homeland Security

Title 18 of the United States Code, Section 3056, describes the agency’s authority as provided by law. Since the U.S. Secret Service’s protective mission began in 1901, the agency’s jurisdiction has expanded to meet the needs of an evolving security environment.

Using advanced countermeasures, the Secret Service executes security operations that deter, minimize and decisively respond to identified threats and vulnerabilities. The protective environment is enhanced by specialized resources within the Secret Service, including: the Airspace Security Branch; the Counter Sniper Team; the Emergency Response Team; the Counter Surveillance Unit; the Counter Assault Team; the Hazardous Agent Mitigation and Medical Emergency Response Team; and the Magnetometer Operations Unit. Other specialized resources also serve to provide protection from threats, including chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear materials and explosive devices.

• Who is protected.
• Protection is authorized by the DHS Secretary after consultation with the Congressional Advisory Committee
• The Congressional Advisory Committee includes: Speaker of the House, House Minority Leader, Senate Majority Leader, Senate Minority Leader, and one additional member selected by the others
• Whether the candidate has publicly announced his or her candidacy and has filed the appropriate documentation with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) and is in compliance with the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971, as amended, and related laws;
• Whether the candidate is actively campaigning on a national basis for the office for which his or her candidacy has been announced, as demonstrated by operating a national campaign apparatus, regularly appearing at public events in multiple states, producing and publishing campaign advertisements, and other similar indicia of a campaign;
• A threat assessment conducted by the Secret Service of general or specific threats directed towards the candidate. (for these purposes, “threats” should be defined as explicit threats of bodily harm to the candidate or indications of inappropriate behavior towards the candidate suggesting potential bodily harm);
• Whether, during and within an active and competitive major party primary, the most recent average of established national polls, as reflected by the Real Clear Politics National Average or similar mechanism, the candidate is polling at 15% or more for 30 consecutive days;
• Whether the candidate is the formal or de facto nominee of a major party for President or Vice President;
• Whether the candidate is an independent or third party candidate for President polling at 20% or more of the Real Clear Politics National Average for 30 consecutive days; 
• Whether the candidate is the Vice Presidential running mate of the above independent or third party candidate