Retired Army general: ‘We can’t have demonstrators showing up at a state Capitol with damn long guns’

The retired Army general tapped to lead a review of the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol said Sunday that rules need to change so protesters can’t carry long guns to state Capitols.

“We can’t have demonstrators showing up at a state Capitol with damn long guns,” Retired Lt. Gen. Russel Honoré said. “Your First Amendment right don’t give you the right to carry long guns to a demonstration, and that is confusing the hell out of police and intimidating people. Remember, one of the objectives of a terrorist is to intimidate, if not to cause violent harm.”

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) tapped Honoré on Friday to lead a review of the deadly Capitol riot that will focus on “security infrastructure, interagency processes and procedures, and command and control.”

Honoré also said authorities must work to identify “people with terrorist intent” before they arrive at a state Capitol or the U.S. Capitol. Officials have beefed up security in Washington, D.C., and across the country as the FBI and Department of Justice (DOJ) warn about demonstrations surrounding President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration this week.

“The definition of terrorism is people who use violence and intimidation to achieve a political or religious objective,” said Honoré while appearing on “The Sunday Show” with Jonathan Capehart on MSNBC.

“We’ve always worked those tests in the Army I was in, in foreign countries. Now we have to look into it, and that’s going to cause some hard work by the Congress and the DOJ to make sure that we’re actively working those people with terrorist intent before they show up at the Capitol.”

.@ltgrusselhonore: My note to the American people–see something, smell something, hear something, say something. Call 911, take a video, provide first aid, and run like hell. In the meantime, enjoy yourself America. The country is safe. #SundayShow pic.twitter.com/l7nV0tUy3D

— The Sunday Show with Jonathan Capehart (@TheSundayShow) January 17, 2021

Honoré is best known for serving as commander of Joint Task Force Katrina, which coordinated relief efforts for those affected by Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

There have been multiple investigations launched into how a pro-Trump mob was able to gain access to the U.S. Capitol and pause the counting of Electoral College votes by Congress. At least five people died as a result.

The sergeants-at-arms for both the House and Senate, Paul Irving and Michael Stenger, have either resigned or been forced out since the Capitol attack. Capitol Police Chief Steven Sund resigned quickly after the breach.