Why Did Kenneth Tate Lose His Job?

Kenneth Tate, the dude who was on the elevator with President Obama at the Centers for Disease Control, carrying a gun, got fired from his job with a contractor working for the CDC. And Tate wants to know: Why?

Several things as first reported about the story appear to be wrong, according to the New York Times.

1. Yes, he was carrying a gun. But unlike the first impression conveyed to us, he wasn’t just carrying a gun. He was a security officer carrying the gun issued to him by the CDC.

2. He doesn’t have any felony convictions. In fact, he hasn’t even been convicted of a misdemeanor. He may not quite be a boy scout. He has been “arrested several times, including on charges of robbery and assault, but never convicted,” according to the New York Times. Still, innocent until proven otherwise.

3. It appears he was taking photos not in the elevator – which made him seem like some kind of personal-space-invading lunatic – but outside as Obama left. He claims he stood back when the Secret Service told him too.

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