Citizen wrote:
Tomahawk wrote:
It's my belief that if you are carrying a gun, you should be avoiding places where you're likely to get into trouble if you can. That includes gang land. If you have to go there, drawing attention to yourself is probably not a good idea. OC may be a deterent to 2 or 3 7-11 robbers, but stupid humans get stupider in large groups (like street gangs full of self-loathing adolescants).
I'm not saying don't ever do it, that's your call, I'm just saying I wouldn't do it.
Agreed. I guess another down-side is that I wouldn't want to educate gang-members that OC is their constitutional right.
Many/most gang members have some criminal record that would make them not want to OC. They are known to LE and would not appreciate the attention they would garner.
Also I think that we are tending fictionalize the possibilities of what might happen to us (becoming targets) if we do OC. Mind you I am not dismissing the possibility but only suggesting that I think that it is a lot like the scenes painted by the gun grabbers when Shall Issue was being first considered here in Va. - much exaggerated.
I too believe in the political and educational benefits of OC. I tend to wear very light tan jeans, sharply pressed on the week-ends (dressy and comfortable) with an ironed, tucked in sport shirt. I either carry a full size. blue 1911 or a chrome .40 cal (both in condition 1) in very dressy leather with matching dbl. mag carriers. belt & cell phone case - my point here is that they do not blend in with my clothing - they are very obvious. The employees of the restaurant I frequent for Sat. and/or Sun. breakfast all greet me by name and thereby calm any timid liberals. The bookstore and Wally World are generally on my route and have grown accustomed to my face and condition. In the evening D and I are always seen at one eatery or another (some considered unfriendly) and are always treated pleasantly. Sure I have received "looks" from time to time but I nod and smile, acknowledging their stares and tossing them a conciliatory cookie. All in all I think that I am successfully creating more positive reactions and thinking than negative ones. I have answered many questions, directed numerous individuals how to get their CHPs and caused some to subscribe to Va-Alerts and possible VCDL membership. As long as this is the case and the law allows, I will continue to OC.
Do I avoid high risk areas, stay at a minimum of condition yellow and follow other common sense guidelines? Of course. Besides the extra vigilance while OCing is good training reinforcement.
Yata hey
Meant to post this
