ainokea wrote:
jaredbelch wrote:
Being noticed is one of the missions of this forum. That's why media is invited and we pay for billboards and sign petitions. We want guns to be normal.
Some people carry only for self defense, there is nothing wrong with that.
Others carry primarily for self defense, and secondly to educate and inform people, there is nothing wrong with that.
Some carry primarily to educate and secondly for self defense, nothing wrong with that either.
Some carry only to inform, nothing wrong with that.
We are all on the same team here.
I agree that we are on the same team.
If someone'sonly reason for carring a gun is to "inform" they should carry awater gun. You don't buy a hammer to look at. It is a tool and if you are not prepared or willing to use it if necessary why have or advocate for it?
By being on the same team, I mean that we should abstain from comments like the one above (bolded).
How do you know they aren't water guns? How do you know they are loaded? How do you know? The point is, that OC still furthers our cause whether the gun is loaded or not, real or not, for self defense or not. And if someone wants to carry solely to educate, more power to him.
True story, the first OC meet I OC'd at, someone showed up with a holstered gun without a mag in. He wasn't comfortable with a loaded or "utah unloaded" gun on his hip, but he wanted to participate in the OC movement. Once again I have to say, there is nothing wrong with that.
To answer the second part of your statement
" It is a tool and if you are not prepared or willing to use it if necessary why have or advocate for it?"
OC is a deterrent, there are numerous stories on this and other forums where the mere sight of a firearm deterred a crime or possible crime. That is the main reason I OC, I don't want to use my firearm. It looks better in my holster than as evidence in a shooting.