Posted on 07/20/2004 8:35:08 PM PDT by mariejlt
Police commanders have since issued a reminder to officers that "open carry" is the law of the land in the Old Dominion.
In Virginia, as in many states, carrying a concealed weapon requires a permit, issued by a local court. But no permit is required to simply wield a gun in the open, a right reinforced by a state law that took effect July 1
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
Open Carry may be the law, but just try and go into a grocery store on your way home from the range with a gun on your hip...
The way our law reads here (Washington), it has what I like to call the "Pants-wetter" clause that basically states you are in violation of the open carry law if someone "feels" unsafe...
RCW 9.41.270: (1) It shall be unlawful for any person to carry, exhibit, display, or draw any firearm, dagger, sword, knife or other cutting or stabbing instrument, club, or any other weapon apparently capable of producing bodily harm, in a manner, under circumstances, and at a time and place that either manifests an intent to intimidate another or that warrants alarm for the safety of other persons.
So, you can openly carry a weapon, but if someone wets their little panties because they see a gun in your holster, well, you could be arrested.
bang
It would be an interesting court case. I'd like to hear how the complaintant was "offended" by your gun, but not the guns of the cops that arrest you.
You might even have grounds to press federal civil Rights charges against the complantaint and the arresting cops.
It's a really sick situation when exercising your natural, constitutionally guaranteed right to self defense "feels strange".
Actually, it's not a new Freedom. Americans could carry either openly or concealed until states in the south started passing laws against it after the civil war.
Of course, these laws really weren't enforced unless you happened to be black.
Tyrannical politicans slowly eroded our Rights to carry openly all throughout the 20th century. But fortunately, it is still legal in several states.
... might be a little scary to be in a crowd of folks with guns strapped to their belts...
That just means that *you* need to start carrying a gun. Anyway, those that carry openly are among the most decent and honest people in this nation. You have nothing to worry about.
The *only* times I've ever been harassed by anyone that openly carried a gun, was when they were a cop.
True enough. That RCW has a loophole in it big enough for Linda Ronstadt to walk through...
It's weird though, because for all the Hippie-dippy granola-eating, America-hating, Terrorist-friendly Leftists in Seattle, we still have Open Carry AND we are a shall-issue state with regards to concealed carry....
I like it. Can't see anything about it feels strange to me. I actually feel safer knowing that my fellow law-abiding citizens are armed. Call me crazy, but I'm like that ;0)
My sons had a fencing demonstration at school. Swords included.
Yes, they took their swords to school.
Washington state has one of the highest rates of CCW holders anywhere in the country. I think it's somewhere around 5% of the adult population. (I believe the main reason for this is because the license fee is not that expensive).
Oh heck, I remember being able to bring my hunting rifle to school during various seasons... Times sure have changed... and not for the better.
There was a time in this country when taking a gun to school was no big deal.
Things sure have changed, for the worse, in that regard.
School offers fencing lessons.
The fee certainly isn't prohibitive, and the process itself is not as painful as it could be...
Back when this was a Free country, kids carried guns all the time to school. And there were no school shootings.
Carrying openly is your right. But, it defeats the purpose.
Carry openly and everyone knows.
Carry concealed and only you know. And, the BG's haven't a clue.
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