imported post
Ok, just to play devil's advocate (let the flame war begin... I mean... continue), since badges are most worn only by law enforcement, you say that private citizens (even citizens with permits or certifications) shouldn't carry a badge openly due to the risk of being confused with a police officer and being ridiculed by other gun carriers.
Well, what about substituting wearing a badge in the open with wearing a gun in the open. Typically only law enforcement wear guns openly, so shouldn't we all just conceal our sidearms so that people don't mistake us for law enforcement? I was mistaken just last night at Walmart for a "cop". Perhaps we should go around ridiculing open carry advocates (ourselves) because they/we are wannabe cops... Seem like a stretch? Do you really know the reason a person carries a badge? Can you be 100% sure it's to be a wannabee? Would you appreciate some concealed carrier ridiculing you for openly carrying without first trying to understand why you do it?
Having a badge (and wearing it) and openly carrying a gun are both legal in my state, so why is one OK and the other discouraged?
Go ahead, start spouting off opinions about how the badge represents authority, etc, etc. Doesn't stop people from wearing camo pants or hats that say SWAT or carrying cuffs. A badge is a form of quick identification. If you have a badge that says POLICE or SHERIFF then sure, you are a lamo, but if your badge says CONCEALED FIREARM PERMIT should you really be ridiculed for having some quick ID that says what you are - a CFP holder?
Perhaps we should be a little less judgemental because when it comes down to it, we shouldn't treat people in a manner that we wouldn't want to be treated.