Free Republic

Open carry activists at the State Capitol in Austin. The movement to restore open carry to Texas has heated up in the last year and a half.  It arguably accelerated with  C.J. Grisham being accosted by a police officer in rural Bell County.  An army veteran whose family owns thousands of acres in Bell county,  Grisham was eventually convicted of "interfering with police duties" after a second jury trial.  He is paying a $2,000 fine.  On the installment plan.  In nickles.   The results are still under appeal.  Many who have watched the video of the event think the police...

Image from spokesman.com A couple of days ago, on the 16th of January, 2015, Washington State Lt. Governor Brad Owen (D) publicly announced that the open carry of firearms is a form of free speech, protected by the first amendment of the Constitution.  He did it as a way to crack down on and destroy that speech, but he did it none the less, and what he said is true.  The Democrats objected to the open carry of firearms in the Senate chamber's gallery.   From seattletimes.com:  "We're just noting that open carry is a form of demonstration and it's...

Several months ago, Elijah Woody was arrested for carrying a concealed weapon.   Elijah Woody is an active member of an open carry group, Hells Saints, in Detroit, that was featured in an MSNBC video about open carry.  I wrote about Elijah's arrest and allegations of misconduct by the Detroit police officers, all of whom are black, as is Elijah.  The trial ended yesterday, Friday, the 16th of January, 2015.  I found the story riveting.  It makes you appreciate juries.   This is the sort of story that Eric Holder should be concerned with, but will never be investigated by...

Jets running back Chris Johnson was charged and booked in his native Orlando, Florida, on Friday on a second-degree misdemeanor charge of open carrying of weapons/firearms, according to the online records of the Orange County Clerk of Courts. Orlando Police Department Sergeant Wanda Ford confirmed to NFL Media that Johnson was arrested Friday night. NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport reported that the 29-year-old was pulled over for rolling through a stop sign, per a source close to the player. The police officer asked to search his car. Johnson cooperated, as he had nothing to hide. The police found his licensed...

Not a video Elijah Woody circled Are black people who legally carry guns discriminated against?  There is anecdotal evidence to indicate that it happens, particularly in crime-ridden urban centers.  Students and retired police friends and acquaintances have told me that when guns were found in the possession of black men, in most urban centers, three or more decades ago, the guns were confiscated, legal or not. That was before the concealed carry revolution, when only a few states issued concealed carry permits, and they were often issued only at the discretion of the police chief.  Many of the gun...

Another concealed carry failure happened that might have been prevented by open carry.  In this rare event,  a concealed carry weapons (CCW) permit holder was robbed of his defensive firearm.   He was pistol whipped to the head before he could draw, indicating that his attackers did not wish to draw attention with a shot, and/or they did not wish an obvious murder.   It is likely that if the victim had been openly carrying his firearm, the robbers would have chosen less dangerous prey.   From uptownmessenger.com: The victim, a man in his 40s, was near Henry Clay and Coliseum...

The open carry movement existed in Texas before C.J. Grisham was set upon by a Temple police officer in rural Bell County.  Grisham was eventually convicted of "interfering with police duties" after a second jury trial.  He paid a $2,000 fine.  Many who have watched the video of the event think the police officer is the one who should have been reprimanded.  The video went viral, and Grisham's zeal for open carry has blossomed into thousands of armed Texans marching to demand their second amendment rights. Texas is one of only six states that mostly ban the open carry...

On December 9th, radio station KFYO ran an Internet poll on whether or not Texans should be required to have a license in order to openly carry arms in Texas. Here is the question from kfyo:  If Open Carry passes, should you have to get a license to carry? Let us know in today’s KFYO Poll of the Day. The poll still appears to be open.  I do not see absolute numbers, but the sentiment that Texans should not have to pay for a license to exercise a right is winning by nearly five to one. Here is a...

No discussion of the advantages and disadvantages of open and concealed carry used to be complete without the obligatory theory that open carry was more dangerous.  It was asserted that a criminal will target the open carrier because they are armed.   Here is an example from freerepublic: Why would anyone want the bad guy to shoot him first? Fortunately, the gun culture is becoming educated in the matter.   People now realize that open carry promotes tactical deterrence.  There have been two known instances where open carriers have been targeted, but they are very rare.  The other side of...

In Tacna, Arizona, I saw this fellow openly carrying what appears to be a stainless Colt Mustang in .380.  I asked, and he said that he had served in the Marine Corps, as indicated by the tattoo.  He was driving the four-wheeler, which can be licensed for dual use, on and off road, in Arizona, a capability not available in many Eastern states.  Notice the folding, lockback pocket knife clipped in his front right pocket for ease of access, one handed opening, and safe use while the blade is locked. It is a snapshot of freedom that has been...

"Long depicted as the rootin'-tootin' capital of American gun culture, Texas is one of the few states with an outright ban on the open carry of handguns. That could change in 2015, with the Republican-dominated Legislature and Gov.-elect Greg Abbott expected to push for expanded gun rights. 'If open carry is good enough for Massachusetts, it's good enough for the state of Texas' Abbott said the day after his election last month."

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) -- Long depicted as the rootin'-tootin' capital of American gun culture, Texas is one of the few states with an outright ban on the open carry of handguns. That could change in 2015, with the Republican-dominated Legislature and Gov.-elect Greg Abbott expected to push for expanded gun rights. "If open carry is good enough for Massachusetts, it's good enough for the state of Texas," Abbott said...

The case started back in 2012, when Dale Lee Norman walked down the street with his pistol showing.  He had recently obtained his concealed carry permit, and did not realize that his firearm was completely exposed. He was convicted of the open carry of a firearm.  His case was appealed to the 4th Circuit court of appeals.   The state Advocate General fought very hard to keep the case from being appealed.   The issue went all the way to the State Supreme Court, which ruled for Norman, to allow the 4th Circuit to hear the case. The 4th Circuit has...

The above flyer was being handed out to local businesses in Alexandria Virginia  recently.   A VCDL member observed it and was able to take a picture of the flyer, with the cooperation of the local business owner.  From an VCDL email: The flyer particularly endangers 18 to 20 year olds as it incorrectly tells a store owner that if they see someone under 21-years-old with a handgun on their hip, that is illegal! That is NOT true and having the police show up on a bogus “man with a gun” call endangers everyone unnecessarily. The flyer also makes these...

My favorite restaurant in Yuma is the Yummy Yummy at 2241 Avenue A.  It is in the corner of the strip mall and easy to miss.  It isn't a fancy place, rather utilitarian, with ridiculously low prices and excellent food.  The service is good, but as the place is litterally a mom and pop (the mother speaks English, Spanish, and Chinese fluently), do not expect to have her hovering over your table.   For the cost of a drink at most bars, you can get a complete meal, if you drink water.   They have $5 specials that are always available,...

An open carry group in Michigan has done a remarkable thing.  True, they built on the accomplishments of a great many before them.   They have made the open carry of long guns in Detroit cool and hip on an MSNBC video. Here is a link to the video: The video is done by Ronan Farrow, featuring 22 year-old activist James Baker.  He is well spoken, photogenic, and persuasive.  He and a couple of other people formed the group, Hell's Saints, in July of 2014.  He comes across as cool and hip.  He narrates much of the video.   He reminds...

Sign during the chaos of Katrina. One of the primary purposes of the second amendment is the ability to form militias in to enforce public order.   The formation of informal militias during times of disorder, such as during natural disasters and riots is a completely natural and expected act.   Productive people have invested their lives in their property; when that property and their lives are threatened, neighbors band together to protect themselves and each other. You do not see riots and looting in the suburbs and small towns, because there is no incentive to destroy what has been painstakingly...

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...