Posted on 09/15/2016 4:41:11 AM PDT by marktwain
I often open carry, especially in the summer when the temperatures make concealed carry a bit more cumbersome. I was open carrying at this Yuma, Arizona gas station when a man approached me.
He asked if Arizona were an open carry state. I said that it was, and went on to explain that most states were. He said he was from Colorado, where open carry was forbidden in some cities.
Yes, I said, the Colorado Supreme Court had made a weird decision that Denver could ignore state law. He said the city of Aurora also prohibited open carry in Colorado.
I told him that not only was Arizona an open carry state, but that we had Constitutional carry, and he did not need a permit to carry concealed, if he was over 21.
As he appeared to be about 45, he had a good chuckle over that. I explained that 10 states now had Constitutional carry, and that it was very likely that Missouri would be added in the near future.
I explained that I wrote professionally on firearms and firearms legislation, and gave him a copy of my card. He said he would visit the site.
This is an often underrated advantage of open carry. It is a way to meet interesting people, mostly friendly, and potential allies.
The gentleman mentioned that he had seen several people openly carrying in Arizona, and had wondered about it.
Now he knows more, and knows where to get more information.
About 95% of the contacts that I make while openly carrying are friendly and curious, as this gentleman was.
Second Amendment supporters vastly outnumber gun haters. But the gun haters have the backing of the elites, most of the media, and significant money. To overcome them, Second Amendment supporters have to build organization from the ground up.
Almost all state Second Amendment organizations are grass roots. A good case can be made that the NRA, which is elitist in its organization, is not controlled by the grass roots. But its power comes from its grass roots support and its nearly 5 million members. Its funding is almost entirely from the membership.
When it strays off message, the membership revolts, and it starts losing members and revenue. The NRA leadership has learned to please its members. It is big enough that competing organizations such as the Gun Owners of America, have informational resources inside of it. The NRA cannot work with hidden agendas any more. Society has become too transparent.
There is a vast sea of Second Amendment supporters that are not actively involved in the fight to restore and preserve Second Amendment rights. There are probably tens of millions of them.
If they can be mobilized and educated (they are moving in that direction) they become an unstoppable political force.
Hillary Clinton needs to keep pushing for more federal restrictions on gun ownership. It will help cement the support of her gun hater base, and inform the rest of the country about her attitudes toward the Second Amendment.
A Constitutional republic depends on informed voters.
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It is protected by both the First and Second Amendments.
You know, every person I’ve ever seen with a sidearm out in public, was wearing a hat. Just a funny observation. lol.
‘Second Amendment supporters vastly outnumber gun haters. But the gun haters have the backing of the elites, most of the media, and significant money. To overcome them, Second Amendment supporters have to build organization from the ground up.
Almost all state Second Amendment organizations are grass roots. A good case can be made that the NRA, which is elitist in its organization, is not controlled by the grass roots. But its power comes from its grass roots support and its nearly 5 million members. Its funding is almost entirely from the membership.
When it strays off message, the membership revolts, and it starts losing members and revenue. The NRA leadership has learned to please its members. It is big enough that competing organizations such as the Gun Owners of America, have informational resources inside of it. The NRA cannot work with hidden agendas any more. Society has become too transparent.
There is a vast sea of Second Amendment supporters that are not actively involved in the fight to restore and preserve Second Amendment rights. There are probably tens of millions of them.
If they can be mobilized and educated (they are moving in that direction) they become an unstoppable political force.
Hillary Clinton needs to keep pushing for more federal restrictions on gun ownership. It will help cement the support of her gun hater base, and inform the rest of the country about her attitudes toward the Second Amendment.
A Constitutional republic depends on informed voters. ‘
Well said and worthy of careful consideration.
‘About 95% of the contacts that I make while openly carrying are friendly and curious...’
Id like to hear about the 5%, how the conversation went etc. A liberal leaning friend at work and I had a conversation about guns. Clearly he depends on the MSM for his info. I challenged his ‘talking points’ and after we finished he had plenty to think about. The conversation began rather strained but ended very well. I think theres a group that would change their position if given the facts.
I've run into that with a few people. I'm passionate about firearms. They appeal to me in many ways.
So knowing I'm passionate about firearms I always try to remain calm but let some of that passion through in a positive light when talking to an anti-gunner. You just have to remember, most of them mean well, they are just wildly, stunningly un-informed or worse, mis-informed.
Sure, there are fascists out there that want people disarmed and bending to the will of the government. These people are the enemy. I've talked to a few, merely to get their measure. They are not going to be swayed by facts, figures, or rational arguments reasonably presented. They like/want all the negative things about "gun-control."
Most people really are just in need of some facts, calmly yet enthusiastically delivered. Most anti-gunners have some very strong, very negative preconceived notions about us. It is actually a lot of fun and satisfying to shatter those notions. Even more rewarding when you can see that you're actually making them think.
Tennessee is an open carry state, but businesses have the option to put up NO Gun signs. I boycott those businesses.
You see the signs up at malls, doctors offices especially and hospitals. Of course you cannot carry on a Military Base or state or federal bldg.
I carry, both my neighbor’s carry and they are black, work in Memphis, we have a block walker who does too all open carry. We live in one of the next counties over from Memphis.
“You know, every person I’ve ever seen with a sidearm out in public, was wearing a hat. Just a funny observation. lol.”
That’s to hide the backup weapon... concealed!!!
Minnesota is an open-carry state but I choose to conceal carry. I don’t want to be a target.
You say it so well,
I run into misinformed types
and my reasoning seems “Gone.”
I’m working on it,still.
We have those signs also in Illinois.
I haven’t been able to find an answer to the question:
If a business has a “no guns” sign, is the business owner prohibited from have a gun on the premises ?
I loved this truth to power statement!
I’ve had many a discussion with anti-gun relatives, friends and colleagues, who told me that the “Gun Lobby” is preventing “reasonable” law from being passed.
I didn’t let that statement just lie there.
I asked them, “So what or who is the gun lobby?”
They replied, “The NRA.”
so I asked, “Well then, who’s the NRA?”
And they replied, “All the gun makers. They just want money, even if millions of people have to die! They joined together and created the NRA, so they could bribe Congress to prevent reasonable laws from being passed.”
So I told them they were wrong. The NRA isn’t an association of gun manufacturers at all, but rather about 4 million or so individual people.
They absolutely didn’t believe me, exclaiming, “How can a lobby be made up of individuals? All lobbies are different industries or owners of some kind!”
I told them, “Well, good point. So why does the media call it a lobby, given that definition, when it’s made up of individuals? Maybe they WANT you to think it’s made up of companies that make guns, but that just isn’t so, factually. You can look it up on your own. Try Wikipedia, or just go to the NRA web site.”
I also told them if I was wrong, then I’d buy them all dinner at the Ruth Chris steakhouse. Just prove to me that the NRA is made up of gun manufacturers and not people.
So far, I haven’t had to spend a dime!
Spread the word. The gun lobby is people!!!
Colorado resident & I open carry often! I know that Denver has banned open carry, not sure what other cities. Over here on the Western Slope - REAL Colorado - we exercise our right to open carry regularly. In some cases, in the rural ranches and such, it’s still a necessity. Firearms are just another tool of most the cattle ranchers over here.
“A Constitutional republic depends on informed voters.”
Indeed it does.
It keeps our brains from becoming addled, as most liberal's are.
Could be because, when OC'ing, I frequently forgo the P7 in an external Alessi holster and go with a M&P Shield in a black, canted IWB holster -- and I wear a black Tee and black slacks... Works very nicely when I feel like shedding my covershirt or jacket...
Nothing wrong with a bit of "camouflage"... '-)
We could really use some help here in California but I don’t even know where to start, other than calguns.net. They’re doing the best they can fighting back against horrible legislation but NOBODY is doing public outreach that I’m aware of.
California is so bad, we may have to reform them from the federal level.
It is one reason I push for National reciprocity.
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