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I'm an NRA life member, NRA certified instructor, ex-IPSC/Steel Challenge shooter, hunter, and I am definitely pro-gun and pro-CCW. I've been shooting, reloading for about 50 years and know my way around a firearm.
HOWEVER: the idea of allowing ANY legal firearm owner to open carry makes me VERY nervous. There are just too many people out there who are careless and/or naive, and a carelessly carried weapon is a danger to everyone. I'm sorry, but I've spent too many hours at shooting ranges and in the fields, and seen too many idiots who have no business even owning a gun, much less carrying one in public. The idea of some of these people walking around with an exposed, loaded firearm sends cold shivers down my spine.
There would be people carrying guns cocked, bullet in the chamber, and the safety off. There would be people pulling out their guns and showing them to people. Fumblebums pulling out their guns and dropping them, or guns falling out of misfit holsters. Guns that are dirty or jammed with cheap ammo, or the wrong ammo, or crooked sights. People who would stand too close to a little kid who might reach up and grab the gun. People who would put on their guns after Happy Hour. People who would use it in self-defense and miss, sending bullets through innocent bystanders or nearby houses. The possible scenarios are endless. Let's face it. You know how people are. This is reality.
Can you imagine allowing some yahoo to walk around with a .45 ACP on his belt without having even TOUCHED a gun before, much less a gun safety course? Under the proposed OC law, he could. Like I said, it makes me very nervous.
Don't get me wrong: I fully, FULLY support allowing open carry. But something like the CCW course should be required in order to do it. In my opinion, we should keep the current CCW permit system, and just expand it to include open as well as concealed carry. Just my opinion.
Ruark
I'm an NRA life member, NRA certified instructor, ex-IPSC/Steel Challenge shooter, hunter, and I am definitely pro-gun and pro-CCW. I've been shooting, reloading for about 50 years and know my way around a firearm.
HOWEVER: the idea of allowing ANY legal firearm owner to open carry makes me VERY nervous. There are just too many people out there who are careless and/or naive, and a carelessly carried weapon is a danger to everyone. I'm sorry, but I've spent too many hours at shooting ranges and in the fields, and seen too many idiots who have no business even owning a gun, much less carrying one in public. The idea of some of these people walking around with an exposed, loaded firearm sends cold shivers down my spine.
There would be people carrying guns cocked, bullet in the chamber, and the safety off. There would be people pulling out their guns and showing them to people. Fumblebums pulling out their guns and dropping them, or guns falling out of misfit holsters. Guns that are dirty or jammed with cheap ammo, or the wrong ammo, or crooked sights. People who would stand too close to a little kid who might reach up and grab the gun. People who would put on their guns after Happy Hour. People who would use it in self-defense and miss, sending bullets through innocent bystanders or nearby houses. The possible scenarios are endless. Let's face it. You know how people are. This is reality.
Can you imagine allowing some yahoo to walk around with a .45 ACP on his belt without having even TOUCHED a gun before, much less a gun safety course? Under the proposed OC law, he could. Like I said, it makes me very nervous.
Don't get me wrong: I fully, FULLY support allowing open carry. But something like the CCW course should be required in order to do it. In my opinion, we should keep the current CCW permit system, and just expand it to include open as well as concealed carry. Just my opinion.
Ruark