imported post
Originally posted on
GPDO
I'm not posting this to stir up any OC v CC debate. I also agree that there is a time and place for everything but to this man I can only say: WOW.
If you're thinking what I'm thinking please respond with a "WOW" or something to that effect without going into the over 9000 year old debate. Let's not beat the dead horse but focus on the real issues like:
When the police get a call from a concerned citizen that there is a man walking around with a holstered gun they should respond. When they get there they have no idea what is going though the man's mind. They have to speak with the person to be sure that they have no bad intent. This is a hassle for the police, for the concerned citizen, and for the gun owner. No one wins.
A criminal intent on committing a crime is going to be forthcoming about this future crime? "Yes, Officer. Before you got here, man, I just couldn't stop myself but after I was finished here in the deli I was going to head down to the produce section and pick up some asparagus then head up front to knock off the courtesy counter. Boy, I sure am glad you got here when you did so I could vent and TOGETHER, we could prevent my futurecrime. You're an HERO!" Will someone please cite one instance of this ever happening, anywhere?
I have no idea what is going through anyone's mind at anytime. I make astute assumptions about what COULD be running through someone's unique brain based on all of my conscious and subconscious knowledge up until that point in time and make decisions accordingly. Sometimes I'm right, sometimes I'm close, sometimes I'm wrong... waaay off... and a lot of the time... completely astray. This is why poker is fun, accidents happen and situational awareness coupled with preparedness is paramount.
This is why people communicate, orally or otherwise, to try and figure out what is going through another's mind because we all know what happens when we just assume. Am I always going to tell you the truth? Eh... no, especially if I'm about to commit a crime. Green lights communicate, by the authority of the state, do not stop or slow down... please to freely proceed unimpeded.
They do not lie nor do they have alternate meanings yet sometimes people disregard or just don't see them. In any case, people know the consequences of their actions. If I blow through this red light there is a good chance of colliding with another vehicle because the other light is green. If I just drive down the road not paying attention either way; I'm not going to be driving for very long. But if I am paying attention and I recognize the green light, am I still going to maybe hesitate a little and noticably slow down j u s t to make sure that there is no opposing traffic about to barrel through the intersection and GET ME?
Maybe unconsciously and without noticable effect, but because I've gone through so many green lights without a hitch I'm going to plow through that sucker because I have places to be and if I slowed down for every green light eventually someone would rear-end me, I'd have to explain to the cops why I slowed down for a green light and then I'd be in a mental institution for a reevaluation of my faculties and my fitness to hold a driver's license.
To me, a holstered pistol, whether on me or on someone else around me, means that criminal minds in the immediate area are highly unlikely to violently or otherwise commit criminal acts. I fail to comprehend how a holstered sidearm communicates anything other than potential immediate relief for wanton potentially deadly criminal aggression. A pistol in the hand is another story.
Someone pointing a gun at a register clerk's head is most likely not waiting for their change. Someone pointing a gun at someone pointing a gun at a register clerk's head will most likely have it reholstered before the smoke clears and you might've actually seen the gun for three seconds. There are endless senarios where you'll see a gun in hand and on the off chance that you do, you'd better discern the meaning of that gun in hand quickly and hopefully choose you reactions calmly. This post is getting a little long so I'm gonna wind it down.
I'm going to keep driving through green lights without slowing down because I've done it thousands of times before without incident and I don't have time to worry about freak accidents that I can't do anything about like some stooge running a red light and T-Boning me. That doesn't mean I'll take the brakes off my car because it'll decrease the weight of my car thus increasing my mileage and save me money.
I'll need them when I do see the clown pull out in front of me or for other appropriate times... like you know... red lights or those pesky stop signs.
I"ll also stand steadfast in my belief that the next holstered gun I encounter is not going to jump out and GET ME... based on the fact that the last one didn't and you know, now that I slow down and think about it, none ever have before either.
I expect a "huge backlash" from the public and a "wave" of new legislation from states all over the country... WHEN GCO KEEPS WINNING and more people realize that they might just live under an oppressive and hostile police force. The backlash will be against public officals for wasting money on incompetent institutions. I suspect the waves of legislation will be lapping at the shores of moar carry freedom without unfounded arbitrary restrictions and aimed at reducing crime through idk maybe stopping some of their "illegal" drug trade cashflow by legalizing and taxing marijuana.
Then we could give all that money to bad investors so they can still ride comfortably. Think of the corporate welfare possiblities!
I know I'm preaching to the choir here so please spread this around.
