imported post
Tex4OC wrote:
Maybe, just maybe , it's because we want to let the public see that gun toters aren't just the bad guys!! Before my personal experience with a BG, the wife of one of my employees said she would rather be raped and let her children be killed before she would touch a gun, after said incident she bought one for herself. As you yourself have said garnering public support and acceptance is the key to our gun owning(and carrying) future.
Yes, but not just BG's are responsible for this negative view by the general public. Those who aren't emotionally mature or are careless in handling weapons are as well, and that's why I believe we should work toward enacting an open carry law in stages and initially press for allowing CHL holders to do so and not simply open it as an unrestricted "right." The AR public simply will not accept passage of a law for unrestricted open carry at this time, so why even waste efforts toward that? Why not take a more calibrated and systematic approach in steps rather than try and fell this tree with one swing of the ax?
A reasonable first step, in my opinion, would be a broadening of the existing CHL law to allow those who have gone through the CHL process and who maintain a valid license to carry holstered handguns openly.I think few would argue that CHL holders are far less likely to break any laws which would deprive them of that hard earned license, so the public would be aware - with tme- that someone showing a holstered weapon is even less likely to do them harm, since that person is probably a CHL holder and hasa clear record of law violations.
Once the poublic gets used to that and sees thathandgun "toters" are law abiders and not a threat to their safety, THEN perhaps we can move a little further down the line toward less restricted open carryand the general public will be accepting of passing such a law.
Frankly, I also think that many CHL holders would be happy to see something which says they won't have their licenses pulled if they print or accidently/unintentionally expose their concealed weapons. I know I would. Carrying in the summer is a PITA.
