The Unconcealed Truth About Carrying Guns

Real Clear Politics ^ | March 31, 2011 | Steve Chapman

[Second Amendment First]

"Experience is a dear teacher," said Benjamin Franklin, "but fools will learn at no other." Give some credit to fools: At least they eventually learn from experience. What would Franklin say about people who don't?

By that, I refer to gun control advocates alarmed that the Illinois legislature may vote to let licensed individuals carry concealed handguns. The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence calls the measure "dangerous." Kristen Rand of the Violence Policy Center says that it would lead to Tucson-style mass shootings as well as the killing of police.

But concealed-carry, as it is known, is not a radical notion in most of the country. Thirty-seven "shall-issue" states grant permits to carry to anyone meeting certain requirements, and 48 allow citizens to carry guns under some circumstances. The two holdouts? Wisconsin, where Republican Gov. Scott Walker has endorsed the idea, and Illinois, where Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn has not.

[jagusafr]

My favorite is, “Experience is that thing you have just after you need it”. Unfortunately, that can be deadly in a scenario involving the defensive use of a weapon. As Lt Col Jim Grossman says, “if you are legally authorized to carry a weapon and you go outside your home without it, you have chosen to be a sheep.”

Colonel, USAFR

[mbynack]

They're debating open carry here in Florida. The head of the police union wanted to require everyone who wants to carry openly to attend forty hours of training on gun retention. He's afraid bad guys will grab the owner's weapon and start shooting.

Instead of relying on data from all the other states that allow open carry, a "trained" police officer is concocting wild "what if" scenarios in his head and presenting them. Maybe he should cut the amount of time he spends on weapon retention training and use it to take a college class in research.

[Tribune7]

Murders in Philadelphia. Note the state applied Right to Carry to the city in 1995.

1959 54 (murder) 68 (manslaughter) in a population of 2 million
1990 500
1995 432
1996 423
1997 418
1998 338
1999 292
2000 319
2001 309
2002 288
2003 348
2004 330
2005 380
2006 406
2007 392
2008 322
2009 302 in a population of 1.5 million

For the graphically confused, there were 130 less murders in '09 than there were in 1995 when Philly didn't allow concealed carry.

[Redleg Duke]

Cowboy Wisdom: “Good judgement comes from experience...Experience comes from bad judgement.”

[Tribune7]

Of course, there were still twice as many murders in ‘09 as there were in 1959 when abortion was illegal and prayer was said and the Bible was read in public school.

[Tribune7]

Ping to post 4

[USS Alaska]

I live in PA and always carry, mostly concealed, infrequently, open.

This week I happened to take my vehicle into a local garage, and since it would have been out of my control, I had to take my second gun {357 magnum with a 4" barrel} out of the car and it's too tough to conceal.

I had it in an exposed holster, and my concealed snubby was in my boot.

There was a lawyer present, also a customer, and no incident occurred but he did eyeball my weapon.

I'm not really comfortable with open carry in PA, it draws too much attention, and it really takes away any element of surprise and I think makes you more of a target.

I know local guy, not really a friend, just a guy I see at the range, and he loves to open carry, and has an beautifully engraved, leather gun belt and holster. He looks kinda like Marshall Dillon. It works for him, about 6' 4", 270-300 pounds, gnarly face, and great big pistol strapped on his hip.

I don't think this guy needs the pistol, but I'd never tell him that.

[Still Thinking]

The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence calls the measure "dangerous".

When they make statements so absurd everyone can tell they're agenda driven, they just reveal what tools they are. Fools are bad; tools are much worse.

[Second Amendment First]

I remember in the mid 70's carrying openly in a bank in central PA small town and nobody thought anything about it, but I wouldn't consider that now.

Also was carrying concealed in the late 80's after fishing and went into a tavern to eat. Ran into Jimmy Carter, who had been fishing there also, and spent a couple minutes talking with him at the bar. Secret Service didn't appear too concerned and we were in a booth opposite Rosalynn.

[Oldpuppymax]

Well gee whiz, it’s not like Illinois has any DANGEROUS cities after all!!!

[Jeff Winston]

If I were Secret Service guarding Jimmy Carter, I wouldn't be too concerned either.

I mean, by the late 1980s, who would've wanted to off Jimmy Carter?

Granted, he was a terrible President, but he wasn't that terrible.

[Jeff Winston]

This is an outstandingly excellent article. If you haven’t read the full thing, you ought to.

[Second Amendment First]

I love it when the brady bunch’s statistics are dissected. This sneaky organization has a history of nothing but lies. They should go back to their original name: Handgun Control.

[neverdem]

BTTT!

[B4Ranch]

I wish Nevada “Open Carry” did not have the restriction that you cannot use a IWB holster. Imagine concealing 60/70% of your weapon. You could walk past the majority of people who are apt to get flustered at open carry and they wouldn’t even notice especially if you were wearing a shirt that matched the color of your grips.

But no, an OWB holster attracts nothing but attention from the unarmed.

[marktwain]

I wish Nevada “Open Carry” did not have the restriction that you cannot use a IWB holster. Imagine concealing 60/70% of your weapon.

I expect that with a Nevada permit, you could carry that way. Is there some sort of catch 22 that says that an IWB is concealed for open carry, but open for concealed carry?

[Squantos]

Not sure of NV’s laws but sounds like BS piled on to harass open carry choice. You HAVE to have a holster ??

...Carry IDF style....chamber empty magazine full and NO HOLSTER at all.......:o)

Then there is always the old OSS string holster !

Or my favorite.....she calls me bawana !

http://www.eglobe1.com/word/wp-content/images/photos/gun-holster.jpg

Not to worry we have lots of spare silicone if it goes off.

< / sarcasm>

[mbynack]

I would like to be able to use a belt holster and cover it with a long shirt. It’s comfortable, accessible, and the only way anyone will see the weapon is if your shirt blows up or you stretch. That’s not legal in Florida right now. Guys have been arrested for reaching for something on a top shelf at the grocery store and someone saw their pistol grips. They then get charged and loose their CCW.