You can bet that the anti freedom folks from the Violence Policy Center will make this a centerpiece of their efforts to restrict open carry and ccw permits.
Happens to cops too. Not so often now with better equipment and training but does happen.
I take your point, but the point should also be made that carrying - like exercising other freedoms - does not automatically make you invincible or smart. Tyler made a number of significant mistakes that cost him his life.
I take your point, but the point should also be made that carrying - like exercising other freedoms - does not automatically make you invincible or smart. Tyler made a number of significant mistakes that cost him his life.
IMHO, if you are going to open carry, employ a SERPA holster or similar to prevent someone from grabbing your weapon and easily removing it.
ANY time my pistol is on my hip, it is in my SERPA.
Sad story nonetheless.
I have mixed feelings about the public relations aspects of open carry in public places. I understand that many who choose to open carry are trying to assert their 2nd amendment rights; and, in many cases, attempting to “de-stigmatize” firearms. After all, firearms are merely tools that have been unfairly demonized by the media and various anti-gun organizations. They are certainly no more dangerous than many power tools or driving a 2000 lb vehicle.
I certainly support the right of an individual to open carry if one chooses to do so. That said, I'm not sure how the general public will react to this situation. Whether we 2nd Amendment advocates like it or not; we are in an ongoing battle to win the “hearts and minds” of the public at large.
“Youths” convicted of felonies, any felonies, should be locked up until they are middle aged. Letting them go after a short stay in juvie or with probation just gets more people killed, maimed, and robbed. No second chances.
Unfortunately, such incidents do occur-rather rarely thankfully.
However, the equation involved when one carries openly is made more complex-wearing a firearm openly requires the actor to increase thier situational awareness and alertness exponentionally to recognize not only potential threats that may require “unconcealing and responding” as in the case of a CCW practioner, but also the threat of “targeting and attack” by someone intent on either teaching the open carrier a lesson (politically or personally as the case may be) or criminally relieving him of his weapon as in this case.
I guess this type of incident makes the case for open carriers to conceal one as well as the tactics may require such consideration..
As others have mentioned, open carry also then by default requires the actor to be that much more proficient in retention techniques and perhaps unarmed techniques as well, not normally included in a standard training program.
My condolence to the families of both victims. I hope the estate of the first victim is not found liable for the death of the second victim, but there may in fact be such linkage under liability law.
I recommend concealed carry for self defence at large, open carry for hunting and field work (as in farming etc)as the likely required use is varied in such applications. Human predators are thinking, planning and rational albeit perverse, while an attacking rabid coyote or skunk is driven by other forces and mostly irrational.
I assume some may rail at my postion, but it would be good to see comparative evidence of violent loss of a concealed weapon to a criminal under similar conditions if someone wanted to argue the point...
Post script- from re-reading the article it is not obvious that Mr. Tyler was carrying openly. It may be that he was carrying cmncealed and his weapon became visible or printed etc in the moments leading othte violent encounter.
If he was indeed carrying concelaed and his method failed, it is a lesson in itself. Printing/non-intentional display of a CCW may not result in a similar situation (maybe an anti-crying “wolf” and a brief interview with the local PD), but in the extreme it may also prompt an attempt by trash to obtain it from you.
Although common practices employed to protect your arms (concealed or nnot) may indeed be an indicator to others in the business that you may be carrying, most folks would not register the fact.
Think through how you stand in a queue at the gas station, how you position yourself in room, restaturant, how your stance is built in simply talking to someon on the street or office or wherever.
Life is tactics. Be prepared.
I don’t open carry, and never have.
But weapon retention is one of my major concerns. This is why when I carry it is in the appendix position. It is a lot harder to get to my weapon when it is on the front of my hip, instead of behind me at the 3 o’clock or higher position.
My hands naturally rest near the pistol. It is much harder to get your arms around someone and cleanly draw from their body if the weapon is in front of your hips.
And if they do want to wrestle for it, that’s what the Benchmade in other pocket is for.