Liberty4Ever
Regular Member
imported post
I appreciate the idea that everyone needs to see ordinary people going about their normal business peaceably armed. To me, that is the goal. However, where I live, open carry is completely legal, yet it is simply not done. Ever. To do so would cause alarm, and would result in police intervention. It would result in either open carry converted to closed carry and a stern warning (assuming a CCDW), expulsion from a business, or a high profile arrest. None of those would send the correct gun rights message, nor would they help educate people about the 2nd amendment.
I think we want the same thing, but I see the need for a two step process in some areas like mine. If you can openly carry without any of the unpleasant consequences I described, please do so. You are fortunate to be in such an enlightened location, and you have lost a lot less than the rest of us. Carry openly to guard against an erosion of your rights.
I'm stuck in the middle. People don't carry openly here, but the laws in a lot of states completely prohibit citizens from open carry.
In my experience, the more urban the area, the more resistance there is to open carry. My comments refer to those urban areas that already have a deep seated fear of guns in most of the population.
I appreciate the idea that everyone needs to see ordinary people going about their normal business peaceably armed. To me, that is the goal. However, where I live, open carry is completely legal, yet it is simply not done. Ever. To do so would cause alarm, and would result in police intervention. It would result in either open carry converted to closed carry and a stern warning (assuming a CCDW), expulsion from a business, or a high profile arrest. None of those would send the correct gun rights message, nor would they help educate people about the 2nd amendment.
I think we want the same thing, but I see the need for a two step process in some areas like mine. If you can openly carry without any of the unpleasant consequences I described, please do so. You are fortunate to be in such an enlightened location, and you have lost a lot less than the rest of us. Carry openly to guard against an erosion of your rights.
I'm stuck in the middle. People don't carry openly here, but the laws in a lot of states completely prohibit citizens from open carry.
In my experience, the more urban the area, the more resistance there is to open carry. My comments refer to those urban areas that already have a deep seated fear of guns in most of the population.