Carrying Guns In The Open-It Is A Right & Just Plain Crazy

http://regularfolksunited.com/index.php?tab=article_view&article_id=216 ^

[nateriver]

“A Sheriff revoked the concealed handgun permit of a woman who insisted on open carrying her gun to her daughter’s soccer games”. Is the Open Carry movement making matters worse for legal gun owners?

[Gaffer]

In some states, you gotta be careful, even with a permit, HOW you carry. For example, a loaded pistol in a concealed holster versus carrying bare in the pants pocket. I think the operative word here would be “in a device designed to hold” the weapon.

[SoConPubbie]

Well, the perfect retort to this silly statement is:

“Can you guarantee that a Terrorist or other type of Felon will never show up at my son’s soccer game and that there will be appropriate police protection at that time?”

[InABunkerUnderSF]

Exactly.

In states with rational concealed carry laws as a rule no more than 2 or 3 percent of the people are carrying at any given time - if that many.

With concealed carry the would be perp is never quite sure whether the half dozen patrons at the local convenience store he plans to rob are defenseless or if they’re actually the local NRA Tactical Pistol team just stopping by for munchies on their way to a shoot. Uncertainty can be a good thing.

There are also cultures where openly carrying a weapon is considered a provocation that demands a response. You may be trying to say “I’ll defend myself if I have to” but what they see is “I want to fight you”. Maybe if you live in a town with a nice homogeneous population this is not a problem but some of us don’t have that luxury.

[Niteranger68]

Completely disagree with you.

Make that two. I was OC'ing at a local car wash a few years ago when a street thug (who was known for harassing people) took a detour off the main road and headed my direction. When he got within about 50 ft of me, I moved to the other side of the truck, which exposed my holstered pistol. He quickly changed his angle and headed off in another direction. Avoiding a conflict is the best advantage you can have.

[Jagdgewehr]

Does no one think things through any more?

Yes. I am in agreement with you about the average criminal mind. They are creatures of opportunity. They typically prey on the weak and unsuspecting. Open carry may very well deter most criminals looking for easier pickings.

However, most people who carry weapons usually do not train in weapon retention techniques. Law enforcement and military personnel do. Criminals being what they are (opportunistic) may seize the opportunity to snatch a weapon from an individual.

As many people will lose their focus on their weapon as easy as they do their wallets and purses. I think it would be prudent for the typical person to conceal their weapon primarily for this reason. I’m not against open carry, but I feel one has a greater advantage if it’s concealed.

[ArmyTeach]

I'm sure that it's obvious to everyone by now that ‘gun free zones’ are in fact free-fire zones for criminals and crazies. The right to keep and bear arms -concealed or open carry - is a necessary right. Without that right, our very right to life is a moot point.

[ArmyTeach]

I agree that your arguments have merit. I prefer to carry in my bag rather than a holster. BTW, I really enjoyed the quotes on your page. Hope a lot of people read them.

[theBuckwheat]

>> Why isn't it legal to carry a concealed weapon without a permit? <<

Your question kind of answers itself. Because when government can get away with it, it restricts the right to carry through permits, regulations and prohibitions. A right cannot be subject to the capricious granting or withholding of a "permit". A few states such as Alaska and Vermont have kept this simple: if you are legally able to possess firearms, you can carry however you please.

[Billthedrill]

I do think the right to open carry is a logical extension of "keep and bear arms," but along with that right comes responsitility. The real difficulty is that people carrying openly have to take responsibility for weapon retention. Same rules apply to LEO's, of course.

Nevertheless, the presence of firearms does act as a crime deterrent. Ever been to a range or a gunstore where the staff are all armed? There's a reason - it works.

[LeGrande]

Because to a liberal, carrying concealed means that you are up to something nefarious and therefore should be ‘regulated’.

Aren't we missing something about the "the right of the People to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed." If I have to get a permit to put a gun in my pocket, isn't that infringing on my right to "keep" a gun?

If it is a right. I don't need a permit.

[LeGrande]

A few states such as Alaska and Vermont have kept this simple: if you are legally able to possess firearms, you can carry however you please.

That is how it should be. When we let the State issue 'permits' we are giving away our Liberty.

[Albion Wilde]

...when a street thug... got within about 50 ft of me, I moved [and] exposed my holstered pistol. He quickly...headed off in another direction. Avoiding a conflict is the best advantage you can have.

Couldn't agree more. I recently had the bizarre experience of parking on a private lot in downtown Philadelphia next to a car of the exact same make and model. When I came out the next morning, the other car had the front window smashed and the inside looted. My car was untouched. On my back bumper? An anti-gun-control sticker and two pro-military stickers.

[gieriscm]

Why isn’t it legal to carry a concealed weapon without a permit?

Many states passed discretionary CCW laws during Reconstruction so that certain people couldn't legally carry a weapon. See The Racist Roots of Gun Control for more info.

[Dead Corpse]

Not if they want to grab someone’s gun to use it to commit a crime.

Silly way to commit suicide. Weapon retention is pretty basic. Having a badge doesn't confer one with super powers not available to civilians...

[Dead Corpse]

I carry in a SmartCarry. I'd prefer an El Paso Saddlery Strong Side Select in tooled black leather.

Functional AND a fashion statement.

[Dead Corpse]

However, most people who carry weapons usually do not train in weapon retention techniques.

Most people don't train because it is getting increasingly difficult to find ranges that allow you to run practice drills due to more and more anti-gun bias.

[Gaffer]

I totally agree. One of my favorite quotes is “An Armed Society is a Polite Society.” A firearm reminds everyone that their actions, by word and deed have potentially deadly consequences. It is the primary reason why violence decreases in a community where carrying is completely legal and not hampered by police.

[GovernmentShrinker]

Yes, weapon retention is pretty basic. And one of the basic steps for retention is not to wear it outside your person when you’re going to be in a crowd and distracted by your primary purpose in being there. A kids’ sports event is a setting where parents are usually very focused on what’s going on in the competition, and lots of siblings of various ages are running around while their parents’ attention is focused elsewhere, and in outdoor settings there is usually no restriction on entry to the spectator area by any random individual.

[LeGrande]

Many states passed discretionary CCW laws during Reconstruction so that certain people couldn't legally carry a weapon. See The Racist Roots of Gun Control for more info.

Ahh that was very informative. Thanks for the link. So we lost rights because we took them from the Blacks. That was smart (not).

[MarkL]

Defeats the element of surprise.

Agreed... Plus, it makes the one carrying openly a potential target.

Think about it... There are a limited number of Air Marshals available for airline flights. If they carried openly, it would reduce the effectiveness of the program.

Mark