I made some comments in another thread, got to thinking about it, so now I'm making my comments from that other thread into a new thread -- Here's some of what I said, and I think it applies to many posts I read on this forum, and several other internet gun/RKBA forums:
To many of the typical open carry advocates I see on internet gun/RKBA forums:
Are you stating that you unequivocably do NOT believe that any law enforcement officers are capable of writing accurate, factual reports of their encounters with citizens?
That you believe all cops "massage" the facts to conform to their "version" of what actually transpired during their encounters with citizens?
That you absolutely cannot believe that cops can ever be trusted to recount the whole truth in their documentation?
If so, you become another sad example of the ever-widening gap between those self-proclaimed open-carry advocates and all of your local law enforcement community. Do you really believe that there are not people in law enforcement that are interested in protecting your Second Amendment rights? That there are not people in law enforcement that have occasion to peruse the internet firearms and RKBA forums to get a read on what the citizens are talking about, how they feel about issues, and what they're saying about law enforcement?
If you continue to expound on your lack of trust in all those engaged in law enforcement, if you continue to indicate your unwillingness to see both sides of an issue, if you continue to stereotype the millions of individuals working in law enforcement, you become part of the problem, and not a solution.
And really, since so many threads on this board, and many others, turn into mass preaching to the choir threads, wherein every poster chimes in to talk about how their local cops can't be trusted to deal respectfully and honestly with those in the open carry movement, we see yet another example of why there may never be reconciliation between the two sides, any sort of respectful rapport, any trust ...
... and ultimately, this is exactly why the open carry movement may fail, since you need law enforcement on your side, and cannot simply go on maintaining adversarial attitudes and suspicion.
Frankly, I see more willingness to accept open carry on the part of the law enforcement community than I see willingness of those in the OC movement to accept LEOs as honest citizens trying to do a job and possible allies.
I've noted numerous LEOs -- diehard 2A supporters all -- try to come aboard this forum, and several other gun forums, trying to forge relationships, simply to be shouted down in every thread -- and ultimately quit trying, because of all the forum members that simply cannot try to see the other side of an issue.
Your loss. Truly.
To many of the typical open carry advocates I see on internet gun/RKBA forums:
Are you stating that you unequivocably do NOT believe that any law enforcement officers are capable of writing accurate, factual reports of their encounters with citizens?
That you believe all cops "massage" the facts to conform to their "version" of what actually transpired during their encounters with citizens?
That you absolutely cannot believe that cops can ever be trusted to recount the whole truth in their documentation?
If so, you become another sad example of the ever-widening gap between those self-proclaimed open-carry advocates and all of your local law enforcement community. Do you really believe that there are not people in law enforcement that are interested in protecting your Second Amendment rights? That there are not people in law enforcement that have occasion to peruse the internet firearms and RKBA forums to get a read on what the citizens are talking about, how they feel about issues, and what they're saying about law enforcement?
If you continue to expound on your lack of trust in all those engaged in law enforcement, if you continue to indicate your unwillingness to see both sides of an issue, if you continue to stereotype the millions of individuals working in law enforcement, you become part of the problem, and not a solution.
And really, since so many threads on this board, and many others, turn into mass preaching to the choir threads, wherein every poster chimes in to talk about how their local cops can't be trusted to deal respectfully and honestly with those in the open carry movement, we see yet another example of why there may never be reconciliation between the two sides, any sort of respectful rapport, any trust ...
... and ultimately, this is exactly why the open carry movement may fail, since you need law enforcement on your side, and cannot simply go on maintaining adversarial attitudes and suspicion.
Frankly, I see more willingness to accept open carry on the part of the law enforcement community than I see willingness of those in the OC movement to accept LEOs as honest citizens trying to do a job and possible allies.
I've noted numerous LEOs -- diehard 2A supporters all -- try to come aboard this forum, and several other gun forums, trying to forge relationships, simply to be shouted down in every thread -- and ultimately quit trying, because of all the forum members that simply cannot try to see the other side of an issue.
Your loss. Truly.
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