Posted on 03/22/2011 5:36:03 AM PDT by marktwain
WINTER PARK, Fla. -- In Florida, gun owners can't holster their guns outside of their clothing, but that could change if a piece of legislation turns into law.
It's called "open carry" and it's drawing plenty of attention from advocates and opponents alike.
Charles O'Meara of Shoot Straight, a firearms store, thinks the law would scare those who don't own guns and create opportunities for crime.
"I don't think it's fair to make those people feel uncomfortable, but the bigger part is, what happens when someone walks up behind the gun owner and pulls the gun out of its holster? Now you have someone who should not have one, with a gun in their hands," said O'Meara.
SURVEY Do you think open carry should pass? Yes No Results | Disclaimer | E-Mail
Under House Bill 517, which has already passed in the House Criminal Justice Subcommittee, a person would need to have a valid concealed weapon or firearm license in order to carry a weapon or firearm openly.
(Excerpt) Read more at wesh.com ...
I’ll keep mine concealed, thanks.
Others may look at it differently, but I never want to give away the element of surprise.
As is your right. I actually agree with you. Not everyone does, and who gave the government the right to tell them or anyone how they may carry? IMHO that would be an infringement. This law spells that out for semiliterate judges who can't figure out a simple declarative sentence. Everyone who is pro 2A should support it on that basis.
I understand your concern for surprise. But there is another issue here; that of visibly exercising our right to carry so that the public never forgets.
Here in Connecticut we have a carry permit law which covers both concealed and open carry. Some here occasionally carry openly just to emphasize to everyone that we have that right. If we don’t, it’s easy to lose the right over time.
I’m glad others feel the way you do. But I’ll be the guy who pulls it out by surprise.
I watched the NRA representative at the Florida Senate Criminal Justice Committee when they were debating this bill. She recounted how a concealed carry holder was waiting in a hospital emergency room for a fishing buddy who had been injured. His concealed gun was in his pocket, but the barrel had worn a hole in his pocket. As a result, about 1/4 inch of the barrel could be seen. A security guard in the emergency room informed the individual and suggested he take the gun to his car. The individual agreed. The security guard had previously called 911, so as the individual exited the emergency room, a swarm of police officers made a felony arrest, threw the poor fellow on the ground and cuffed him. The cuffs were applied so tight that it resulted in nerve damage to the guy’s hands.
In the end, the charges were dropped and he sued and won a civil suit against the officers and the department.
This is an example of why this new law is necessary. The police have no common sense when it comes to accidental firearm exposure.
When all is said and done, only a tiny minority of CCW permit holders will choose to carry openly, but it will protect those of us who conceal carry and accidentally expose our weapons.
Florida will be the 44th state to allow open carry in some form or other. It’s not a problem in the other 43 and won’t be a problem here.
I support open carry for everybody who wants to open carry.
Personally, I want mine to come out as a big shock to the guy(s) on the other end of my barrel.
I never said it would be a problem, I support open carry laws.
I want folks to be legally able to carry an AR-15 down the street on a sling.
I’m just not doing it.
Me too - almost always - though I can envision numerous situations where being able legally open carry - where we can't now - will be very convenient.
I couldn't believe this:
Charles O'Meara of Shoot Straight, a firearms store, thinks the law would scare those who don't own guns and create opportunities for crime.
"I don't think it's fair to make those people feel uncomfortable, but the bigger part is, what happens when someone walks up behind the gun owner and pulls the gun out of its holster? Now you have someone who should not have one, with a gun in their hands," said O'Meara.
I've given my local Shoot Straight a ton of business over the last few months. I sent them a polite but very firm email noting my extreme displeasure at seeing this jackass employee of theirs shooting his mouth off.
I’m a whole heck of a lot more uncomfortable seeing people texting while driving than I would be seeing a holstered firearm. One of those is going to kill innocent citizens.
I respect your decision.
I will carry mine concealed most of the time, but I do intend to carry openly on occasion. I’m currently looking at level-2 retention holsters for my Springfield XDM.
My wife is the manager of a large department store and sometimes gets calls from the alarm company at 2:00 a.m. telling her that an alarm is going off in the store. The last two times I went with her the police hadn’t arrived yet. I would like to be able to grab my pistol and flashlight in the paddle holster and go without having to worry about concealment and finding the right shirt that won’t allow the pistol to be seen.
There are also times when we’ve had a missing child and we need to go looking through the woods to find them. It seems silly to have to hide your pistol inside your britches during these searches.
I have an XDm (9mm) and two XD Subcompacts (9mm and .40 S&W). My favorite carry gun is my XD 40 Subcompact. Yesterday I received a Serpa CQC and am really happy with how it holds the pistol next to my body, comfort and retention. It comes with both a belt loop and paddle option, but I found the paddle option best for me. The friction fit is adjustable and the trigger guard clip works like a champ. I think this is one option you should look at.
See: http://www.xdtalk.com/forums/xd-m-discussion-room-xd-m/97605-will-blackhawk-serpa-hold-xdm.html
I support concealed carry without a permit. Although I would not do it myself, I firmly support open carry.
I did the poll and chose yes.
Did not see an option for Hell Yes!
Being the 2nd Amendment already covers such.
I OC whenever I can as we have a lot of NY/NJ transplants here in PA who not only bring their belongings when they move but also their warped ideas about guns.
Seeing guns in the hips of law abiding good people is the only way to change that misperception.
More gun owners need to OC IMO.
There is less of a chance you will ever need to pull it out if you OC as BG’s like easy marks.
Do you honestly believe they will go after me, who OC’s?
Or someone like you who appears to be unarmed?
Forgot to add, would love to see all of the stories of people who OC and are attacked. I always see stories of people who CC and are attacked, but not of those who OC.
Maybe you have seen some. I know I haven’t.
BG’s are lazy....but not entirely stupid. Most do not have death wishes and most will not go after someone openly showing a weapon and who looks loke the know how to use it.
Thanks for the advice. My normal carry weapon is a Sig P239 SAS in .40 S&W. The nice thing about open carry is that I can carry a larger pistol with higher capacity, like the XDM.
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