Free Republic

I never thought I'd be an open carry advocate. However, I'm a firm believer in working within the American political system in order to change the status quo. If the 2nd Amendment is cherished by millions of Americans, then why not use it to further certain liberal ideals? Protecting African-American lives and alleviating tensions between the black community and law enforcement should be a top priority of all Americans and especially Congress, however this is not the case. It speaks volumes that African-Americans vote over 90% Democrat during national elections, yet our future nominee in 2016 still hasn't addressed an...

Earlier this week, I climbed a mountain.  It is a locally popular way for people  to get some exercise and a nice view.  As usual, I was openly carrying a Glock 17.  I carry primarily for political purposes, so I wore a "Gun Guy" hat given to me by Dan Baum at the Shot Show a couple of years ago.  Another reason is that it can get windy on the mountain, and I have had broader brimmed hats blown off. As I arrived at the top, a pair of young ladies asked me to take their picture, to commemorate...

Arrest in Austin September, 2013 The State Trooper, center, has a holstered antique revolver in his left hand. About a year  ago, Open Carry Texas held a demonstration at the Texas State Capitol at Austin.  Several people were arrested.  Charges were slow in coming.  It appeared that they might be charged with the catch-all of "disorderly conduct".  The open carriers repeatedly said that they were doing nothing illegal. There is breaking news on opencarry.org.  It has been reported that seven people who were arrested over a year ago, in conjunction with open carry, have had all charges against them...

Warning shots are always controversial.   I generally caution against them, but I keep finding instances where they are used to good effect.  Here is one that was related on the opencarry.org North Carolina forum by tiggy1190.  It occurred in Buncombe County, NC: Forced to pull, and discharge outside of Asheville. I wont go into all the details, but long story short. Drunk, and drugged up moron threatens me with a knife, then a gun, and advances towards me. I never saw the weapon, but his hands were behind his back the whole time. I knew I was just in...

Link to video on YouTube Florida Carry has been litigating a case through the Florida court system, a case about whether a ban on open carry in Florida is constitutional under the State and Federal constitutions.  It is quite an accomplishment that the case is being heard by the Fourth District Court.   A few days ago, the oral arguments were heard by a three judge panel.  The video above, just under 39 minutes, is of the opposing counsels giving oral arguments before the three judge panel.  The case is State v. Norman.   From a discussion of the case on...

Texans marching in support of the right to keep and bear arms Some people may not know that the Texas revolution for independence against dictatorial rule, like the American revolution, started with an attempt to disarm the citizens.  It is not surprising that when Texas became a state, they had written the right to to keep and bear arms into their constitution. Prior to the losing the Civil War, or if you prefer, the War Between the States, Texas had one of the strongest right to keep and bear arms protections in its 1845 constitution.  It was:  "Every citizen...

Both Governor candidates in Texas endorsed the concept of legal open carry of modern pistols.   The open carry of long guns is protected by the Texas Constitution, and the open carry of antique pistols is allowed under current Texas law.   The conventional wisdom is that once elected, candidates avoid campaign promises.   Governor elect Abbot did not back away form his promise on open carry.  From dailytexanonline.com: Abbott also said if legislation allowing firearms to be carried openly in public came to him, he would sign it into law. “If open carry is good enough for Massachusetts, it's good enough...

In Michigan, it is legal for people who have a concealed carry permit to openly carry firearms on school grounds and into schools.   It is illegal for them to carry concealed firearms on  school grounds or into schools.   Some second amendment supporters have exercised their rights by carrying their personal defensive firearms openly while picking up their children or visiting schools for other reasons.  Banning guns from schools is a relatively recent  phenomena.  The idea started being pushed about 1990.   There was never any validity to it as a safety measure.   Mass shootings in schools have only gone up...

Texas Governor-elect Greg Abbott (R) says he will sign a bill to legalize the open carry of handguns as soon as the legislation reaches his desk. Abbott spoke to reporters in Austin the morning after he won the Lone Star State's gubernatorial election. According to WFAA 8 ABC, Abbot said: "If an open carry bill is passed by the House and Senate, I will sign it into law." Abbott added, "If open carry is good enough for Massachusetts, it's good enough for Texas." It is interesting to note that open carry of rifles is already legal in Texas. Moms Demand...

AUSTIN - Attorney General Greg Abbott affirmed his support for allowing Texans to openly carry handguns at his first press conference after being elected governor. “Throughout the campaign I announced my support for open carry in Texas,” said Abbott when asked about the issue at the Texas Capitol. Abbott said Texas is one of only a handful of states that doesn't allow open carry of handguns. “If open carry is good enough for Massachusetts, it's good enough for the state of Texas,” Abbott said. “If an open carry bill is passed by the House and Senate and arrives at my...

Texas Governor-elect Greg Abbott (R) says he will sign a bill to legalize the open carry of handguns as soon as the legislation reaches his desk. Abbott spoke to reporters in Austin the morning after he won the Lone Star State's gubernatorial election. According to WFAA 8 ABC, Abbot said: "If an open carry bill is passed by the House and Senate, I will sign it into law." Abbott added, "If open carry is good enough for Massachusetts, it's good enough for Texas."(continued)

Author with Bike and Gun Moms Demand Action (MDA) disarmenters have threatened to make false 911 calls to police,and encouraged others to do so.   In at least one case, perhaps more, an innocent man was killed by police as a direct response to false allegations in 911 calls.  Last week, in Virginia, an open carrier was falsely accused of robbing a 7-11, in a 911 call.   Fortunately, he was not harmed. Here is his account, from Robert Dickens, as related to the Virginia Citizens Defense League, recounted at opencarry.org:  (PVC stands for  Philip Van Cleave, president of the Virginia...

The open carry march in St. Louis went off without a hitch on Saturday, 25 October.   In stark contrast to unruly and violent Ferguson demonstrators, the open carry marchers, who celebrated the restoration of constitutional rights under the newly passed amendment 5, were polite, considerate, peaceful, and had no violent interactions with the police.  From stltoday.com, a counterprotestor complained: Counterdemonstrator Tef Poe, of Hands Up United and the Organization of Black Struggle, said the calm police reaction was in contrast to police behavior at protests in Ferguson.“When we protest in a similar manner, without guns, they proceed with aggression...

Open Carry at an Arizona Gas Station A poster at opencarry.org, Southern Covenanter, recounts an ironic experience in Charlotte, South Carolina.    From opencarry.org: I made it a point to stop and meet my parents for lunch in Pineville while I was passing through town, and after I left, I stopped at the QT on Woodlawn Road (right off I-77 where Woodlawn turns into Billy Graham Parkway) to gas up the Blue Bullet. This QT is in a somewhat sketchy part of town, so I was already on high alert when I pulled up to the pump. About the...

About 40 demonstrators armed with pistols and rifles — and a 19-month-old toddler with a toy gun — took to the streets of downtown St. Louis on Saturday afternoon to assert their right to carry guns openly in public. The crowd walked peacefully along sidewalks from Citygarden to the Gateway Arch, surprising tourists along the route. The heavily armed crowd shouted “Congrats!” to surprised wedding parties posing for pictures in Kiener Plaza. They carried pistols in holsters and long guns slung from their shoulders. About 10 St. Louis police officers watched the gathering at Citygarden but didn’t interfere or follow...

On my way back to Yuma, I switched from concealed carry (open carry of modern handguns is illegal in Texas) to open carry.   Just past the New Mexico border, in Arizona, is the San Simon rest stop, at exit 388 on I-10.   I have been to this rest stop many times.   The Rest Area Guide is old and weatherbeaten.    There is no prohibition on the carry of arms, because of open carry activists actions at the Sacaton rest stop in 1998.   No one had a problem with me having a pistol in the rest area.  A friendly truck driver...

A week ago I wrote an article about the unicorn event of an open carrier having his firearm stolen by an armed robber.   It is only the second event that has been documented.   Numerous pundits sided with those who want their political opponents disarmed.   An important detail was left out of the story. Multnomah County, where the robbery took place, requires that openly carried guns must be unloaded.   The ordinance makes it an offense to possess a loaded magazine or speed loader if you do not have a concealed carry permit.  As the open carrier was barely old enough...

So claims Charles Gallagher, a sociologist at La Salle University.  From CNN: "Whites walking down Main Street with an AK-47 are defenders of American values; a black man doing the same thing is Public Enemy No. 1," says Gallagher, a professor at La Salle University in Pennsylvania. Fortunately, we know that Charles Gallagher is wrong.  See the picture above?  It was taken in August of this year.   The article reports that members of the gun cub went to a restaurant and ate while openly carrying their guns... next to a group of police officers.   Nothing happened. Not exactly what...

While visiting Wisconsin, I went out to dinner with some of my favorite relatives.   Pat is my cousin, and Dan is her husband.   They are wonderful people, competent, smart, careful, considerate and polite.   Dan retired a couple of years ago.  Pat is still working.   Dan is a boating enthusiast, keeps himself in great shape, and participates in 50 mile bike races.   They have a vacation home on a nice lake only a few miles from the property where I grew up.   I made a point to contact them when I came up to Wisconsin, and we made a point...

Open carry event in Colorado In a nation of over 300 million people, rare events happen.   Yesterday, another rare event happened.   A person openly carrying a gun was held up at gun point and their gun was stolen.  It last happened, that I know of, in Milwaukee in 2010, before the state passed their shall issue concealed carry law in 2011.   In the Oregon event, 21 year old William Coleman had just purchased a pistol the previous day, and was openly carrying it in the Portland metropolitan area, in the early morning hours.  From oregonlive.com: According to Gresham police,...