Morris
Regular Member
imported post
Did I get your attention? I certainly hope so because what I am about to express as OPINION and FACT is what some of you need to hear, with both ears and your brain open.
You are winningAND losing your OC fight. Call it anything else but it is a fight to carry in a manner not commonly accepted in this area (right or wrong). Think of your cause as being like a missionary. You are going into a wildernessof sorts with the intention of excercising your maker given rights and intending to inform the sheep about it. Hopefully you can convert a couple to your thoughts and excercising of your rights. Some of you have positive, open and friendly encounters with citizens and cops alike. Some of you seem to want to fight, to makea mark for yourself and turn off others to your right.
YOU, and you alone have to present the positive image. Everyone has a camera these days. What do you think will appear on YouTube when you are confronted by someone? Will the video of a mild mannered OC person responding to a question or challenge make it or will the irate and poorly mouthed OC person make it?
Some comments and attitude here have caused me to shake my head. Some simple legislation and a constitutional amendment or language change can and will strip your right to carry away. Who presents the image we want to project? If you look at the video of the good folks in Virginia, there is a positive example for you. Look at some threads here. Think getting snotty with someone who challenges or confronts you will make it better?
Open Carry is a movement that is gaining attention andstrength. But it is a movement that can easily be universally looked upon as bad when the one or few jackasses who get stupid in the field and paint everyone with a dark paintbrush.
Many of you know me as a pro-gun cop who supports OC. Sometimes OC needs to bereasonable and prudent. Yes folks, there are times NOT to OC. But you are winning NO fans in my side of the house with hostile or belligerant attitudes. Yes indeed, there are some in my profession who are hostile to you. They are ill informed or plain stupid when it comes to guns, rights and what your maker has given you. And yes, get involved with recording interactions. But these bacon bits will become more resistant to your rights and indeed, champion the elimination of them because someone decided to be a jackass. Some will move on to become Chiefs and Sheriffs.They will remember and they will press for changes to the laws. Be vigorous in your defense of your maker given rights! But fight in the state house, city or county council chambers or even the courts. Recognize when it becomes necessary to detour to gain even more advantage for your cause.
Now, I recognize that some here have had negative interactions with cops over the years and feel it appropriate to paint everyone in my career field as bad, stupid, evil whatever. But I would caution you to not let yourselves sink tothat level. You who OC carry the high ground in your belief. But it is up to you to be the positive role models for OC in a world where guns are viewed as evil (unless watching an action flick). Who do you think a fence riding soccer mom will view as more positive: the polite and appropriately dressed OC person or the agitated and upset cop, store manager or other hostile citizen?
Carry on and I'll see you on the streets.
Did I get your attention? I certainly hope so because what I am about to express as OPINION and FACT is what some of you need to hear, with both ears and your brain open.
You are winningAND losing your OC fight. Call it anything else but it is a fight to carry in a manner not commonly accepted in this area (right or wrong). Think of your cause as being like a missionary. You are going into a wildernessof sorts with the intention of excercising your maker given rights and intending to inform the sheep about it. Hopefully you can convert a couple to your thoughts and excercising of your rights. Some of you have positive, open and friendly encounters with citizens and cops alike. Some of you seem to want to fight, to makea mark for yourself and turn off others to your right.
YOU, and you alone have to present the positive image. Everyone has a camera these days. What do you think will appear on YouTube when you are confronted by someone? Will the video of a mild mannered OC person responding to a question or challenge make it or will the irate and poorly mouthed OC person make it?
Some comments and attitude here have caused me to shake my head. Some simple legislation and a constitutional amendment or language change can and will strip your right to carry away. Who presents the image we want to project? If you look at the video of the good folks in Virginia, there is a positive example for you. Look at some threads here. Think getting snotty with someone who challenges or confronts you will make it better?
Open Carry is a movement that is gaining attention andstrength. But it is a movement that can easily be universally looked upon as bad when the one or few jackasses who get stupid in the field and paint everyone with a dark paintbrush.
Many of you know me as a pro-gun cop who supports OC. Sometimes OC needs to bereasonable and prudent. Yes folks, there are times NOT to OC. But you are winning NO fans in my side of the house with hostile or belligerant attitudes. Yes indeed, there are some in my profession who are hostile to you. They are ill informed or plain stupid when it comes to guns, rights and what your maker has given you. And yes, get involved with recording interactions. But these bacon bits will become more resistant to your rights and indeed, champion the elimination of them because someone decided to be a jackass. Some will move on to become Chiefs and Sheriffs.They will remember and they will press for changes to the laws. Be vigorous in your defense of your maker given rights! But fight in the state house, city or county council chambers or even the courts. Recognize when it becomes necessary to detour to gain even more advantage for your cause.
Now, I recognize that some here have had negative interactions with cops over the years and feel it appropriate to paint everyone in my career field as bad, stupid, evil whatever. But I would caution you to not let yourselves sink tothat level. You who OC carry the high ground in your belief. But it is up to you to be the positive role models for OC in a world where guns are viewed as evil (unless watching an action flick). Who do you think a fence riding soccer mom will view as more positive: the polite and appropriately dressed OC person or the agitated and upset cop, store manager or other hostile citizen?
Carry on and I'll see you on the streets.