In this thread about Sears and Kmart, it goes into an open carry discussion where we (OC'ers) are called "nutjobs and idiots", basically saying it causes more damage than good.
The same thing was said about the Abolishionists in the 1850's.
The same thing was said about the Women Suffragettes, in the late 19-teens.
The same thing was said about the Civil Rights activists in the 1960's.
See a trend here?
Challenges to the "status quo" of oppression, privilege, and classism will ALWAYS be met with resistance, slander and accusations of insanity. This is a trick taken RIGHT out of the history books, and is as old as society itself. When the prevailing social order is challenged, and large groups of the oppressed start to coalesce and gain political and social power, the FIRST mode of attack from the Establishment is to say "these folks are rabble rousers and nutjobs". This tactic is used because the "ordinary people"--the fence sitters who can (and SHOULD) be swayed toward the greater good of increased Freedom and Liberty--do't want to be seen as associating with people who are trouble-makers or insane. This tactic will work for a while.
Generally this tactic breaks down when the Privileged Ruling Class reaches a point of desperation--when the MAJORITY of the people start to come around to this new way of thinking--that slavery is wrong, that women should be able to vote, that people should be treated for the content of their hearts not the color of their skin.
When the Rulers begin to see that the majority is turning against the "old modes of thinking" they will often become desperate and have historically reacted like cornered wounded animals--lashing out violently against peaceful protesters, jailing people for Free Speech, murdering people who are the "movers and shakers" of this "New Way". History has shown that violent resistance to movements tha tseek to increase liberty are in their last dying stages. When it comes to that--when the firehoses, billy clubs, and teargas come out against the general public--the best thing to do is simply "hold fast", while the Ruling Class implode on their own fear, hatred, and desperation...
OC is similar. It's not that these folks have an issue with OC on it's face. They have a problem with someone CARRYING who didn't have to "pay the tribute to Caeser", isn't part of the "anointed elite" and just wants EVERYONE to have the same right--the right to Self Defense.
Being unilaterally against OC is no different being an outright "anti". This position of "CC only" speaks more about the character of those who hold it than it does about the people they constantly slander and deride. They just want guns in the hands (or on the hips) of the "right kinds of people".
And we ALL know what that REALLY means...
THEN, (this is where they loose me) one said he would rather a stranger walk upon his property carrying concealed than open.
I run into that a LOT in MD. There seems to be this attitude--even among the most rabidly pro-CC activists--that "out of sight is out of mind". It's like even the pro-2A people hate the idea that ANYONE might actually be carrying a gun for self defense. It's a bizarre mindset, and one that I simply cannot understand--one of self-hatred and a nearly clinical schizophrenic denial of the facts and realities of the concept of "fundamental human rights"...
MD was an OC state prior to 1972. But because some poor minorities got a little "uppity" in Baltimore and Annapolis in the late '60's, the Legislators in their infinite wisdom decided that the best way to keep guns out of the hands of the "wrong kinds of people" was just to make it so the ONLY people who could carry would be people who were blessed" by the MSP.
And so we find ourselves where we are today in MD...
