James_Liv_Co
Regular Member
imported post
American Sheepdog wrote:
A very good way to ensure that any local reporter makes headlines, and gets a groundswell of petition signatures to ban open carry across Michigan.
Confrontation is NOT the answer.
Going to a meeting, unarmed, and making your voice heard, as a reasonable citizen asking them to repeal an invalid ordinance, gets the public on your side.
Confrontational action, while armed, is the LAST thing you want to do, if you truly want to change local attitudes and comfort levels.
One thing you must understand- EVEN if the local ordinance is still on the books, it is not enforceable.
The State of Michigan still has a large number of unenforceable laws on the books.
But since the State of Michigan legislature made clear that THEY are the only ones who can set open carry laws state wide, you stand a good chance of forcing the State Legislature to do something about it.
Attitude is everything.
Impressions are important.
Your right to open carry, is currently at the grace of the Legislature in Michigan. Should they choose to impose new rules, they can do it. So far, they have not. That's because there have not been significant incidents thus far, and political pressure to "do something" at the state level hasn't been strong. Your being confrontational in a local city council meeting could have very adverse reactions.
Yes, it would be nice if they removed the clearly unenforceable ordinances off the books of all small communities. The State of Michigan has unenforceable laws on the books too. You must use respect, reason, logic, and get public support in order to change things.
Confrontation is not the way to get it done. You only risk stirring up enough support to lose your right to open carry by such things as state-wide ballot measures in the future, or by legislation passed by sitting Legislators who must also answer to riled up local constituents.
Sorry, but that the flat-out truth.
American Sheepdog wrote:
A very good way to ensure that any local reporter makes headlines, and gets a groundswell of petition signatures to ban open carry across Michigan.
Confrontation is NOT the answer.
Going to a meeting, unarmed, and making your voice heard, as a reasonable citizen asking them to repeal an invalid ordinance, gets the public on your side.
Confrontational action, while armed, is the LAST thing you want to do, if you truly want to change local attitudes and comfort levels.
One thing you must understand- EVEN if the local ordinance is still on the books, it is not enforceable.
The State of Michigan still has a large number of unenforceable laws on the books.
But since the State of Michigan legislature made clear that THEY are the only ones who can set open carry laws state wide, you stand a good chance of forcing the State Legislature to do something about it.
Attitude is everything.
Impressions are important.
Your right to open carry, is currently at the grace of the Legislature in Michigan. Should they choose to impose new rules, they can do it. So far, they have not. That's because there have not been significant incidents thus far, and political pressure to "do something" at the state level hasn't been strong. Your being confrontational in a local city council meeting could have very adverse reactions.
Yes, it would be nice if they removed the clearly unenforceable ordinances off the books of all small communities. The State of Michigan has unenforceable laws on the books too. You must use respect, reason, logic, and get public support in order to change things.
Confrontation is not the way to get it done. You only risk stirring up enough support to lose your right to open carry by such things as state-wide ballot measures in the future, or by legislation passed by sitting Legislators who must also answer to riled up local constituents.
Sorry, but that the flat-out truth.
