fitz
Regular Member
imported post
Here in NH, there is a group called the New Hampshire Firearms Coalition (NHFC) http://www.nhfc-ontarget.org/
We had heard of this organization before, and we are considering joining them, but now we are not too sure. I'd like to get some opinions from the folks here.
The wife and picked up a couple of their publications at the range the other night and in one of them, there was an article that bothered us a bit. The following exchange is my email to the organization and a response from their treasurer explaining their position. My question is, does the response make sense or does it sound to you like more appeasement of the very people who are hostile toward the 2nd amendment? I look forward to your comments on this one.
*******************************************************************
Mark A. Krochmal & NHFC,
My wife and I are considering joining your organization. We both possess NH CCW permits and are avid defenders of the 2nd amendment. We also shoot weekly at the Manchester Firing Line and recently picked up your On Target publications Vol. 2005 – Issue 1 and Vol. 2006 – Fall Issue.
It is with regard to the Vol. 2005 – Issue 1 that I inquire. In reading your web site, I discovered your list of stated goals. We wholeheartedly agree with and support each and every one. But we are a bit confused. The goal listed second is:
*expanding New Hampshire residents' right to carry firearms, openly or concealed;
However, we read the article that appeared in the 2005 On Target entitled “Appearing on a store front near you…?”. Within this article the following is stated:
“A wise man once said “…carrying concealed means just that – concealed!” Unfortunately, there are some individuals whose concept of “concealed” is to have their “hogleg” jutting out of their belt. Perhaps they get some kind of cheap thrill at showing off their “piece”. Of course, open carry is not illegal in N.H. – but does the kid at Orange Julius at the mall really need to see your custom grips?”
So the question is, does NHFC support open carry or not? As correctly pointed out in the article, open carry is not illegal in the state of NH, and we are bit offended by the flippant and demeaning remarks associated with those of us who deem it a right as protected under the constitution of the US to do so. In fact, some of us out here think that the State and Federal governments have way overstepped their constitutional boundaries by passing laws which restrict the 2nd amendment in any way, chiefly, laws surrounding concealed carry. While we have obtained CCW permits, we also fight vigorously to see these infringements on the 2nd amendment repealed as unconstitutional. It is our considered opinion that CCW permits have reduced a clear constitutional right to a mere privilege.
The reasons to open carry have little to do with “cheap thrills” or “showing off our custom grips”. There are numerous positive reasons for carrying in this fashion:
-more comfortable to carry
-easier to arm myself
-crime deterrent
-easier to draw
-shows the averagecitizen that gun owners are not criminals
-openness about firearms can raise positive interest in guns from gun neutral people
-it is a right that we (at least in NH) can exercisewithout the permission ofthegovernment
-A right exercised is a right retained
Many will debate the tactical advantages and disadvantages of open vs. concealed carry, and arguments can be made for both. On these things we can agree to disagree, they have no bearing on the larger question of the right itself. And by the way, we both carry concealed the majority of the time, but enjoy the freedom to carry openly at will.
I sincerely hope that NHFC will continue to support open carry in NH and be a bit more careful in the future as not to divide the RTKBA community. We are all in this together and it seems un-wise for us to be divided on such trivial issues.
I look forward to your response,
William and Angela Fitzpatrick
******************************************************************
Good Afternoon,
Thank you for your email message.
I have forwarded your message to Mark Krochmal. I am sure that he will respond. I will however
take this opportunity to respond for the Board of Directors.
We support open carry, period! No exceptions.
The article you read mentioned the mall. If you carry for personal protection it is wise to keep the gun concealed. Why would a defender wish to telegraph to his attackers which self defense weapons he / she has at their disposal. In fact, concealed carry leaves muggers and rapists not knowing if the intended victim has the means to fend off a violent attack.
If you are trying to make a political statement, educate the public about open carry it is best for now to practiced in more rural areas. Get some favorable publicity and then move to the malls and downtown areas.This is something that has been well done in other states and something that we are looking into. The solo open carrier at the Mall of New Hampshire will generate far more negative publicity then favorable. Conversely, the solo open carrier in Wolfeboro or Moultonboro will generate the positive interest in guns from gun neutral people. This interest will persuade more folks to carry openly and thus will spread to the more urban areas. And acceptance will grow!
When we learn of a local business (usually part of a national chain based in an anti gun state) that installs signs prohibiting firearms we advise to carry concealed. Why? There are several reasons, first, the sign means absolutely nothing and boycotts simply do not work. You can carry in that establishment. Even though open carry is perfectly lawful in NH if a business dislikes you or your firearm they will call the police. They can ask you to leave and if you do not leave they can and will charge you with criminal trespass. Please understand, you will not have violated a firearms
law. You will have violated a trespass law if asked to leave and don't. If the firearm is concealed you can go about your business and the anti gun folks are none the wiser.
Open carry needs far more publicity and the public needs far more education on the issue. It is common in the more rural areas of the state. The gun is hardly noticed. It is on your body like an article of clothing. In the more urban areas such as Nashua and Manchester the previously mentioned calls to police will occur. To educate the public on open carry we feel that it should be promoted as discused above.
I hope this answers your question and addresses your concerns.
Alan Rice
Treasurer - New Hampshire Firearms Coalition, Inc.
*****************************************************************
To us this sounds like appeasement. Doesn't it sound as if he is encouraging me to NOT carry open where I have a right to carry open? Why would I shy away from exercising my right? I have no intention of violating any trespass law. If asked to leave an establishment, you can believe I will. And they will not get my business, and I will tell everyone I know not to do business with them either. But I'm not going to alter my lifestyle to appease people.
Why is he so worried about the police being called? How dare they challenge my right to open carry!!In the Mall, in the restaurant, in the street...this is my right! Appeasement rarely works. Our founding fathers tried appeasing King George, but in the end, the exercise of their God given rights was needed to secure freedom.
(I must give credit to a forum member here from whom I borrowedmuch of the list of reasons to carry open)
PO'd in NH,
Fitz
Here in NH, there is a group called the New Hampshire Firearms Coalition (NHFC) http://www.nhfc-ontarget.org/
We had heard of this organization before, and we are considering joining them, but now we are not too sure. I'd like to get some opinions from the folks here.
The wife and picked up a couple of their publications at the range the other night and in one of them, there was an article that bothered us a bit. The following exchange is my email to the organization and a response from their treasurer explaining their position. My question is, does the response make sense or does it sound to you like more appeasement of the very people who are hostile toward the 2nd amendment? I look forward to your comments on this one.
*******************************************************************
Mark A. Krochmal & NHFC,
My wife and I are considering joining your organization. We both possess NH CCW permits and are avid defenders of the 2nd amendment. We also shoot weekly at the Manchester Firing Line and recently picked up your On Target publications Vol. 2005 – Issue 1 and Vol. 2006 – Fall Issue.
It is with regard to the Vol. 2005 – Issue 1 that I inquire. In reading your web site, I discovered your list of stated goals. We wholeheartedly agree with and support each and every one. But we are a bit confused. The goal listed second is:
*expanding New Hampshire residents' right to carry firearms, openly or concealed;
However, we read the article that appeared in the 2005 On Target entitled “Appearing on a store front near you…?”. Within this article the following is stated:
“A wise man once said “…carrying concealed means just that – concealed!” Unfortunately, there are some individuals whose concept of “concealed” is to have their “hogleg” jutting out of their belt. Perhaps they get some kind of cheap thrill at showing off their “piece”. Of course, open carry is not illegal in N.H. – but does the kid at Orange Julius at the mall really need to see your custom grips?”
So the question is, does NHFC support open carry or not? As correctly pointed out in the article, open carry is not illegal in the state of NH, and we are bit offended by the flippant and demeaning remarks associated with those of us who deem it a right as protected under the constitution of the US to do so. In fact, some of us out here think that the State and Federal governments have way overstepped their constitutional boundaries by passing laws which restrict the 2nd amendment in any way, chiefly, laws surrounding concealed carry. While we have obtained CCW permits, we also fight vigorously to see these infringements on the 2nd amendment repealed as unconstitutional. It is our considered opinion that CCW permits have reduced a clear constitutional right to a mere privilege.
The reasons to open carry have little to do with “cheap thrills” or “showing off our custom grips”. There are numerous positive reasons for carrying in this fashion:
-more comfortable to carry
-easier to arm myself
-crime deterrent
-easier to draw
-shows the averagecitizen that gun owners are not criminals
-openness about firearms can raise positive interest in guns from gun neutral people
-it is a right that we (at least in NH) can exercisewithout the permission ofthegovernment
-A right exercised is a right retained
Many will debate the tactical advantages and disadvantages of open vs. concealed carry, and arguments can be made for both. On these things we can agree to disagree, they have no bearing on the larger question of the right itself. And by the way, we both carry concealed the majority of the time, but enjoy the freedom to carry openly at will.
I sincerely hope that NHFC will continue to support open carry in NH and be a bit more careful in the future as not to divide the RTKBA community. We are all in this together and it seems un-wise for us to be divided on such trivial issues.
I look forward to your response,
William and Angela Fitzpatrick
******************************************************************
Good Afternoon,
Thank you for your email message.
I have forwarded your message to Mark Krochmal. I am sure that he will respond. I will however
take this opportunity to respond for the Board of Directors.
We support open carry, period! No exceptions.
The article you read mentioned the mall. If you carry for personal protection it is wise to keep the gun concealed. Why would a defender wish to telegraph to his attackers which self defense weapons he / she has at their disposal. In fact, concealed carry leaves muggers and rapists not knowing if the intended victim has the means to fend off a violent attack.
If you are trying to make a political statement, educate the public about open carry it is best for now to practiced in more rural areas. Get some favorable publicity and then move to the malls and downtown areas.This is something that has been well done in other states and something that we are looking into. The solo open carrier at the Mall of New Hampshire will generate far more negative publicity then favorable. Conversely, the solo open carrier in Wolfeboro or Moultonboro will generate the positive interest in guns from gun neutral people. This interest will persuade more folks to carry openly and thus will spread to the more urban areas. And acceptance will grow!
When we learn of a local business (usually part of a national chain based in an anti gun state) that installs signs prohibiting firearms we advise to carry concealed. Why? There are several reasons, first, the sign means absolutely nothing and boycotts simply do not work. You can carry in that establishment. Even though open carry is perfectly lawful in NH if a business dislikes you or your firearm they will call the police. They can ask you to leave and if you do not leave they can and will charge you with criminal trespass. Please understand, you will not have violated a firearms
law. You will have violated a trespass law if asked to leave and don't. If the firearm is concealed you can go about your business and the anti gun folks are none the wiser.
Open carry needs far more publicity and the public needs far more education on the issue. It is common in the more rural areas of the state. The gun is hardly noticed. It is on your body like an article of clothing. In the more urban areas such as Nashua and Manchester the previously mentioned calls to police will occur. To educate the public on open carry we feel that it should be promoted as discused above.
I hope this answers your question and addresses your concerns.
Alan Rice
Treasurer - New Hampshire Firearms Coalition, Inc.
*****************************************************************
To us this sounds like appeasement. Doesn't it sound as if he is encouraging me to NOT carry open where I have a right to carry open? Why would I shy away from exercising my right? I have no intention of violating any trespass law. If asked to leave an establishment, you can believe I will. And they will not get my business, and I will tell everyone I know not to do business with them either. But I'm not going to alter my lifestyle to appease people.
Why is he so worried about the police being called? How dare they challenge my right to open carry!!In the Mall, in the restaurant, in the street...this is my right! Appeasement rarely works. Our founding fathers tried appeasing King George, but in the end, the exercise of their God given rights was needed to secure freedom.
(I must give credit to a forum member here from whom I borrowedmuch of the list of reasons to carry open)
PO'd in NH,
Fitz
