M-Taliesin
Regular Member
Howdy Folks!
Sorry this post is pretty darn overdue, but I've been busier than a one legged man at a Riverdance audition.
We had a meet and greet in Aurora, and quite a few folks turned out. We even had a couple of folks come up from Colorado Springs.
I'd guess we must have numbered around a dozen open carriers and various significant others tagging along. Our festivities were held at the Golden Corral in Aurora, and the folks there were entirely accomodating and pleasant to us all.
As several of us waited outside for stragglers to arrive, a group of maybe 5 or 6 of us were chatting when a young man and his family approached.
"Are you guys cops or something?" He inquired.
"No. We're LAC's." I replied with typical alacrity.
"What the heck is an LAC?" he rejoined.
"Legally Armed Carriers, Law Abiding Citizens, it varies on who ya ask."
"You mean you just carry guns like that without authorization of any sort?"
"Our authorization is found in the 2nd Amendment of the United States Constitution, Article 2 of the Colorado Constitution in sections 3 and 13, and several Colorado Revised Statutes." I answered.
"So you can just carry a gun without any license or anything?"
"Yes," I continued, "And so can you! I notice you have a lovely wife and a couple of beautiful kids. Do you have the right to defend their lives against peril in these days of crime and violence? The laws we live by state that you do have the right to self defense, not only of yourself but of others too. Every citizen of Colorado has that right, assuming they aren't prohibited by felonious conduct or domestic violence in their past, and assuming they aren't mentally unstable."
"So, you're saying I could carry a gun like you guys are doing?"
"Yes, that's exactly what I'm saying. If you can legally go to a gun store and buy a gun and pass the background check, then you can carry your sidearm openly. It is your right to do so." I was somewhat amused by his expression, which was a marvelous blend of incredulity and astonishment.
"Anybody can carry a gun on the streets?" He asked.
"Yes, assuming he is otherwise entitled to own a gun. There are exceptions, like the City and County of Denver or federal property or schools, but if you can buy a handgun, you can carry it openly without any permits or licenses. It is your right as a citizen of Colorado. I'd recommend you check the Open Carry forum on the web to learn more. You'll learn a great deal about the carrying of a firearm, where you can and where you cannot, along with statutes that apply to open carrying of a firearm."
The discussion went along those lines for awhile, until I had answered all his questions. He then escorted his family across the parking lot to their car. As I watched them go, one of the other guys in our group stepped up close and said "What do you want to bet he'll be headed for the nearest gun shop right now?"
We had a laugh about that, then headed inside to enjoy our meal together.
The point of all this is.... most folks do not know they have this right. Fewer still exercise that right, because they don't even know they have it to begin with. And who is gonna tell them? Channel 9 news (which won't even cover the scandal revolving around the new Denver mayor)? The Denver Post? No. It is we who understand our rights and embrace them as we do. We are the ambassadors of Open Carry. It is part of our responsibility to educate our fellow citizens when they ask questions about why we carry. How we interact with them can make a huge difference in their outlook on open carrying. The more positive interaction we generate, the more people will come to accept our decision to open carry our means of defense. And some of them will embrace the practice themselves. The more that take up open carry, the more our right to do so is ensured in Colorado.
Blessings,
M-Taliesin
Sorry this post is pretty darn overdue, but I've been busier than a one legged man at a Riverdance audition.
We had a meet and greet in Aurora, and quite a few folks turned out. We even had a couple of folks come up from Colorado Springs.
I'd guess we must have numbered around a dozen open carriers and various significant others tagging along. Our festivities were held at the Golden Corral in Aurora, and the folks there were entirely accomodating and pleasant to us all.
As several of us waited outside for stragglers to arrive, a group of maybe 5 or 6 of us were chatting when a young man and his family approached.
"Are you guys cops or something?" He inquired.
"No. We're LAC's." I replied with typical alacrity.
"What the heck is an LAC?" he rejoined.
"Legally Armed Carriers, Law Abiding Citizens, it varies on who ya ask."
"You mean you just carry guns like that without authorization of any sort?"
"Our authorization is found in the 2nd Amendment of the United States Constitution, Article 2 of the Colorado Constitution in sections 3 and 13, and several Colorado Revised Statutes." I answered.
"So you can just carry a gun without any license or anything?"
"Yes," I continued, "And so can you! I notice you have a lovely wife and a couple of beautiful kids. Do you have the right to defend their lives against peril in these days of crime and violence? The laws we live by state that you do have the right to self defense, not only of yourself but of others too. Every citizen of Colorado has that right, assuming they aren't prohibited by felonious conduct or domestic violence in their past, and assuming they aren't mentally unstable."
"So, you're saying I could carry a gun like you guys are doing?"
"Yes, that's exactly what I'm saying. If you can legally go to a gun store and buy a gun and pass the background check, then you can carry your sidearm openly. It is your right to do so." I was somewhat amused by his expression, which was a marvelous blend of incredulity and astonishment.
"Anybody can carry a gun on the streets?" He asked.
"Yes, assuming he is otherwise entitled to own a gun. There are exceptions, like the City and County of Denver or federal property or schools, but if you can buy a handgun, you can carry it openly without any permits or licenses. It is your right as a citizen of Colorado. I'd recommend you check the Open Carry forum on the web to learn more. You'll learn a great deal about the carrying of a firearm, where you can and where you cannot, along with statutes that apply to open carrying of a firearm."
The discussion went along those lines for awhile, until I had answered all his questions. He then escorted his family across the parking lot to their car. As I watched them go, one of the other guys in our group stepped up close and said "What do you want to bet he'll be headed for the nearest gun shop right now?"
We had a laugh about that, then headed inside to enjoy our meal together.
The point of all this is.... most folks do not know they have this right. Fewer still exercise that right, because they don't even know they have it to begin with. And who is gonna tell them? Channel 9 news (which won't even cover the scandal revolving around the new Denver mayor)? The Denver Post? No. It is we who understand our rights and embrace them as we do. We are the ambassadors of Open Carry. It is part of our responsibility to educate our fellow citizens when they ask questions about why we carry. How we interact with them can make a huge difference in their outlook on open carrying. The more positive interaction we generate, the more people will come to accept our decision to open carry our means of defense. And some of them will embrace the practice themselves. The more that take up open carry, the more our right to do so is ensured in Colorado.
Blessings,
M-Taliesin
