I came to opencarry to "hang out" with people of like mind. Instead I see people like Kingfish endorsing the Second Amendment over rights of property owners. So much effort he puts into nit picking over "no firearms allowed", but how much effort into protecting the Second Amendment?
If only Kingfish and his buddies could understand that the lack of respect they show for property owners is being seen by the Brady Bunch. Not by my power, I for one think they are terrorists. But they are here as is ADL, SPLC, DHS, likely the FBI as well as the state. They see this and when they see this, it only endorses their anti-American efforts. Because they now have proof, from the cyber-mouths of opencarry supporters, that WE, as a whole, show the same disrespect.
I think that you will find that most everyone here, values property rights almost as highly as they do gun rights. I will not say all, because I simply haven't met absolutely everyone, and well, supposedly there is one in every crowd. Most people here treasure the first, fourth, fifth, and fourteenth amendments just as much they do the second. There are I'm sure some who come just to find "shooting buddies," or to pick fight, or even just tell long winded stories about expensive hats... but from what I have seen, most of the people here are deeply passionate about individual rights, and they understand that if I minimize yours I also diminish my own. Most of us do not wish to break the law, and most of us don't want to piss people off in the real world.
If there is a business posted with "No Firearm" signs and it's easily seen, the intent is clear. Most of us will choose to simply not shop there. That doesn't mean that we won't bitch about it! And it doesn't mean that we won't start a sometimes heated discussion in regards to whether or not the sign is legally enforcable. We still understand that whether or not the law is enforcable, the intent is still there and still clear. That's one of several reasons you don't see me hanging out at the mall. I know that my gun is not welcome there, and I perfer not to go to places where my gun is not welcome.
How do laws get passed, or changed, or repealed if not by nitpicking? The language and ramafications of law are exacting, as they should be. Understanding it, that's more of an art, and somewhat subject to interpretation. That means that even more nitpicking is sure to follow. Most of those engaged in this activity do so for the best of reasons. They wish to learn more themselves and to pass on to others what they have already learned. What is more noble a persuit than passing on knowledge to others?
As for "hanging out" with other "like minded" individuals; I think you found it. You also seem to be a fairly passionate person at least in regards to individual rights. Welcome. With that in mind, when you put passionate people together in in a small space like a chat room, sometimes they overwealm each other and sometimes they bounce off of walls. If you can't take the flaming, stay out of the...
We are passionate. As I think you've seen here lately. I've personally been in several rather heated discussions here in the last week or two. It got heated enough here that I drove three hours to go meet with a man and share a meal with him just to make sure there were no actual hard feelings between us.
It's important to remember that there are real people behind the made up names and pictures we see here. It is also important to remember that those real people are sometimes full of crap, myself included. Even in-person in the real world I am occasionally wrong about something I think I know a great deal about. Education level or profession is no perfect cure for this. I have cought my professors handing out completly wrong information to thier classes. But somehow when I get on the inner-webby I can suddenly never be wrong. Are you kidding? I'm wrong in the real world all the time, how can I not be wrong here at least once in awhile? Is it possible that you are wrong about this?
This is why we constantly test each other, asking for a cite to the law that you claim, so that we can look at it for ourselves. Most of us are cynical enough to not take another's word for something regarding law, even if they have a badge, even if they have a degree in whatever, even if they are self-professesd experts. Here on the Colorado board, we are all from Missouri. But it is still all done within the understanding of a community. For the most part we go along to get along. When I stop getting along with someone, I expect someone else to come up behind me and whack me with a stick. But I expect them to do so gently and with love and understanding. We each occasionally need to be hit with the understanding stick.
It seems like you had some confusion and angst in your last posting. Does this help clarify any of it? If not you can bring your stick and I'll bring mine. I'll meet you out at the bike rack after the bell.