AZ: Open Carry at Rest Areas Socially Accepted

Gun Watch ^ | 25 June, 2015 | Dean Weingarten

[marktwain]

On my recent vacation to Meteor Crater and environs, I stopped at the rest areas along the way to check and see if the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) had done its job.  They needed to replace old signs that illegally banned guns in the rest areas.  When other travellers were available, I had them take my picture for use in this and future articles.   After the pretty young woman holding the child took my picture, I asked if I could take hers.   She was happy to pose for me. 

Here is the picture she took of me at Painted Cliffs.  I asked her to be sure that the Glock was prominently displayed.

No one had any problem taking my picture with the openly carried pistol.  I asked men, women, white and black, and no one had a problem.   They smiled and happily helped out.  The idea that the public is terrified of openly carried weapons is a media produced mythology that has been promoted by Bloomberg and his paid groups.  If openly carried weapons do not terrify the population, then most of their emotional argument collapses.

A black man took my picture at the South Meteor Crater Rest Area.  It is one of the best that my volunteers took.  I wonder if he is a photographer.  His wife or female companion did not have a problem with it.  I checked the "rules" sign, as this is where one of the old signs was posted last year.  

A new sign was in place.  There is no ban on the exercise of the Second Amendment on this side.  Second Amendment supporters have made progress in restoring Constitutional rights that had been eroded.

I should have had the volunteer at Sentinel zoom in a little, but you can still see the Glock in the cross draw position.  

Maybe someone at ADOT read the previous article, because most of the rest areas had new signs that did not prohibit the exercise of constitutional rights.   I showed the old signs in an article about a year ago.

Cross draw carry works for travel in a car, because the seat belt does not interfere with the draw.  In the cross draw position, you can use either hand to draw the pistol.   The pistol is protected from any shenanigans on the part of a person in the passenger seat. 

The cross draw position was common in the 1850's and 1860's, according to Phil Spangenberger, in "Frontier Gunleather", an article in "Guns of the Gunfighters", published 1975.   It allowed for an easy draw while seated, and on horse back. 

I will have a report on a rest stop sign in New Mexico in a later article.

©2015 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice is included.  Link to Gun Watch

[marktwain]

Disarmist hate open carry because it is strong, symbolic, protected, political speech. It says to all who observe it: The Constitution means something.

It is especially important in these days when the Supreme Court seems to say that the Constitution means anything that they want it to mean.

[riverrunner]

Some times progress just takes time

[Vaquero]

I agree with open carry...

I just don’t do it myself (in most situations). Prefer stealth to get my drop on anyone who needs getting a drop on.

[Ghost of Philip Marlowe]

Only a year or two back, the USSC indicated support for same-sex marriage bans.

Yesterday, they contradicted themselves and usurped a state power.

They have also said recently that the 2nd Amendment pertains to the individual’s right to keep and bear arms.

Do not doubt for one moment that they will contradict themselves and usurp a power that the USC guarantees to THE PEOPLE.

We need a plan, FRiends, for the inevitable day when they try to say we do not have the right to keep and bear arms and they make the attempt to enforce that tyrannical ruling.

[jsanders2001]

> I agree with open carry...

I just don’t do it myself (in most situations). Prefer stealth to get my drop on anyone who needs getting a drop on.

Same here. I understand one has the right to walk around with an AR-15 strapped to his back in public, however I don’t think it’s the smartest thing to do in an utban area due in view of the current gun grabbing mindset. In a rural area in the proper context like hunting, camping, target practice / outdoor range, etc... carry it strapped to you to your heart’s content.

[BitWielder1]

The Media think they speak for the public. They don't.
I'm glad open carry is getting a new acceptance.
At the same time, be realistic, it depends on what you look like.
If someone looks like a dangerous ruffian and carry a gun, people will feel the need for caution. And rightly so. It's in our nature.
A harmless looking smiling old man will generally not have that problem.
It's not the gun, it's the person, but a gun can certainly add to whatever apprehensions you have about the person.

[clamper1797]

As it should be ....

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

NEVER stop at a rest area without firepower or some friends close by.

[Mariner]

"We need a plan, FRiends"

Keep your plan between yourself, lifelong friends and family.

Never share.

See my tagline and look it up.

[AlaskaErik]

I'm also a big fan of the cross draw. During the winter, in Alaska, I only zipped up the bottom of my coat and vest. That way I could easily access my Glock 23 at any time.

[Ghost of Philip Marlowe]

Yes, good point, and I should have clarified.

We need a local, state, and national plan to use the system as it was intended to halt and reverse the tyrannical takeover of our country.

We also need personal backup plans to regroup and survive should we fail, so that we can rebuild the country as the Founding Fathers set it up. The latter, as you said, is to be among members of the personal group only.

[Vaquero]

Dad was NYPD. He carried open for his job. When off duty he carried concealed. Very restrictive here. I carry concealed except when hunting with one of my biggies. Ruger Redhawk, Remington Rand 1911 or Ruger Vaquero (old style .45)..... Mostly though I just slip a 380 in my pocket so I doesn’t weigh me down. The older I get the harder it is to carry much else.

[jsanders2001]

I carry a .380 in my front pocket or in different holsters as the need arises myself.