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Why open carry in Delaware?

mkl

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I'm glad this thread took a friendly turn. It appears that Hawker has changed his mind a least a bit from earlier in the thread when he said no one should open carry. I'm sure if he sticks around long enough we'll have him OCing ;)

I'll be back in DE this weekend doing some camping, and of course OCing.
 

isaiah

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I was going to word it differently and I guess I should have. I was using 'you're' and 'you' as a generalization and wasn't pointing the gun directly at him.

I know he said he'd fight for his right. However, asking the government if you can carry isn't my idea of fighting for the RKBA.

No harm intended. Just throwing in my .02.
 

Gunslinger

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DE is one of the 4 states I've never been to. Understand it's very pretty, much like New England. I always thought it was very unfriendly to the 2nd Amendment, and your ordeal for a CCW seems to substantiate that. However, OC appears to be, like antigun WI, reasonable. WI's Supreme Court clearly said that if the state will not allow concealed carry, under any circumstances, they MUST allow open carry or are in violation of the state constitution. With a more gun friendly 4-3 makeup in the court, I would guess they will be even more zealous in affirming the right to keep and bear.

States like yours, and MA, RI, NJ, etc, are the oddballs. "May issue," but not strong on the alternative, OC. Then there's IL that's just all f****d up (where I was born and raised.) Living in CO, and having lived in NH and VA before, I'm used to states where the right of the people is understood and affirmed. But I also had a pistol permit in MA back when they were almost impossible to get in Middlesex (Boston + 'burbs) county. You need to get people in office that will make it a "shall" issue state. To me, that's the most important step simply because CC is more practical under most circumstances. That doesn't mean forget OC by any means. It is your right and you need to demonstrate it as such, not just for self defense. But the reality is, excepting TX, states that are shall issue for CCWs are the most friendly to OC. Kind of a horse before the cart, imo. Anyway, enjoyed the discussion. And I have the same ribbon that Hawker shows, btw.
 

stephpd

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Except for it being 'may issue' DE is far more gun friendly then alot of shall issue states out west. Open carry has always been legal and concealed carry isn't that hard to get. The judges that issue the licenses seldom turn anyone down. Shall issue was attempted a few years ago but like many states out west the bill was amended to the point of being worthless. There are very few places that you can't carry. I see where most states that have recently gone shall issue and the list of places is very long. We have no such list on our concealed carry part of the law.

Compared to some states I'll list just some of the places that we can carry and other states can't. We can carry in banks, churches, BARS. There are no places with signs saying ' No Guns Allowed'. Try to find any states that have gone 'shall issue' since Florida and most have places you can't carry. Our state restrict you with the state casinos, court houses and jail. The federal law keeps guns out of all federal buildings, post offices.

We even had a law passed back in the 80's that no municipality could add any laws restricting gun possesions.

Now with all that said the some police don't seem to know that open carry is legal, and the state doesn't go out of it's way to inform the public of this fact. I didn't know any of this 2 years ago. I thought that you couldn't open carry and thought you had to be related to a politician to get a CCDW. But things have been changing without any changes to the laws. Many people open carry every day, even in the big city of Wilmington.

Lots of people taking the handgun safety courses, applying for and getting a CCDW (Concealed Carry of a Deadly Weapon) that covers more then just handguns or firearms. It also includes bombs, swords, fixed blade knives, everthing that could be concidered a Deadly Weapon.

There are no restrictions on the amount or type of guns, except for illegal guns.

All in all our state is much better off then most states. Yes it has to go before a judge, some states have the police doing the same thing. And from what I've seen the last year everyone that applies for the CCDW gets it. Judge hasn't turned anyone down for the license. It could be better but the way thing are today it's very hard to make a new law without getting several restrictions amended to the law making it worse then before the change in the law. It's not perfect but only two states have that, no permit required. The rest including Florida and Texas have many more restrictions on where you can carry.

We are nowhere near as bad as Jew Jersey or Maryland where you have to be a LEO to get a permit. Not quite as good as PA since we are required to take a handgun safety course. But even in PA there are a few counties that will deny a permit by the local police.
 

stephpd

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I'd have to ask Wynder, he have been the person that has done the most research on all the laws and the cotradictions between the state and county. As well as the state parks that seem to have their own rules.

He has also put together the pdf file that can be found on this website. It hurts my head trying to go through most of the laws so I usually go by second hand information. It might have something to do with them being 'state parks' of sorts. I'm just not sure.

Sort of like my believing that guns weren't allowed in bars. Or that you had to be related to some politican to get a CCDW. No such laws according to Wynder and others that have the temperment to read and comprehend all this stuff.

But as I understand it's not allowed un casino's. I've never been to any of them, they hold no interest to me. Now horse raceing is a different matter, but I haven't been to the tracks or placed a bet in 20 years.

You could pm Wynder and get a better response.
 

Wynder

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Hawker wrote:
stephpd wrote:
Our state restrict you with the state casinos, court houses and jail.
Steph - I have not been able to find anything that restricts carry in the state's 3 casinos. Do you have a reference?

Hawker,

I found this reference from the old Packing.org and handgunlaw.us -- the guys haven't been able to find a source, neither can I corroborate it; however, I did include it "just in case".

Technically, the casinos are run by Delaware Lottery, and I found no rules and regulations for that department that prohibited firearms.
 

Sentinel150

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:banghead:Good afternoon Fellow Americans. Yes I am a newbe, but I just completed reading the majority of your thread and found them quite stimulating. Hawker You have some issues but that your civic right.

It is my professional opinion that OC should be no different that riding my motorcycle, I practiced and received the proper training and off I go. On the other hand CC should be band, I know it's a bad word but in over 25 yearsI have met no bad guys using the OC method and a hole lost of bad guys using theCC method. Sorry again for using that word.

You have a right to bear arms, not the right to hide them in public. If we all had toOC there would not be the fear the public has today about the responsible displaying of guns. Besidesthat I have a beautifulset of pistol grips on my Ruger to show.:what:
 

AlanP

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Jan 23, 2008
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I'm sure i won't be the only one to not see the logic in the last post, asi doubt the bad guys would discontinue concealed carry if it was banned. Yes, open carry does raise awareness of our rights, one of our rights should be the choice of how and when to carry. As always, gun laws affect only the law abiding..............there are plenty of us thatCC that aren't bad guys.
 

sprat

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, Florida, USA
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Sentinel 150

welcome to the group hope to hear more from you in the future

That goes for Alan P also

PM's on the way

sprat
 

stephpd

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Sentinel150 wrote:
It is my professional opinion that OC should be no different that riding my motorcycle, I practiced and received the proper training and off I go. On the other hand CC should be band, I know it's a bad word but in over 25 yearsI have met no bad guys using the OC method and a hole lost of bad guys using theCC method. Sorry again for using that word.

You have a right to bear arms, not the right to hide them in public. If we all had toOC there would not be the fear the public has today about the responsible displaying of guns. Besidesthat I have a beautifulset of pistol grips on my Ruger to show.:what:
First let me say welcome to the forum.:D

I'm not sure what happened or when it happened but somewhere along the way the OC of firearms got looked down upon. Only the bad guys would conceal their weapons. Maybe after all the indians were killed or run off the land the other people of Europe came here and wanted the guns to disappear. They were afraid of guns and didn't want to see them.

Even today our AG wonders why you 'need' a CCDW when open carry is legal. But many people, even in the gun community and pro 2A think that you shouldn't carry openly. I can understand the anti gun crowd not liking the sight of guns but the people that are pro gun and have the same postion is disturbing.

As far as the analogy to a divers license, it only applies to CCDW. Open carry has none of the requirements. No training, no Judges approval. Purchasing a gun has more background checks.

As far as showing off the hanldes of your guns, go ahead and open carry. It's legal.;)
 

fullauto223cal

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, Tennessee, USA
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Hello Hawker,

Looks like this discussion has been going on for a while. The best way to I’ve found to explain the LEO concern is with one question. Do criminals carry openly or concealed? Answer; concealed of course. So it would stand to reason that those who choose to open carry therefore have nothing to hide and should be given the benefit of the doubt that they are not dangerous.
Ask any LEO and he’ll tell you he would rather know who has a gun in any given situation than not know.
 

sprat

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, Florida, USA
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Hawker

you walked into it, you came here looking for a fight hiding behind your computer. you have yet to introduce yourself in person. so I don't really care one way or the other as I don't know you

you still have not answered the one question asked of you, are you LEO or retired or associated LEO?????

why does it matter to you whether we have a formal or informal meeting with the local and state police and why do you want to be there. It has already been pointed out that members of our group have met and spoken to Delaware LEO's with little problems

also I also carry concealed, thats my choice. I support these guys exercising their rights. being pro 2A is nice but I know duck hunters who claim to be 2A who don't feel the rest of us should carry concealed or own assault rifles.

sprat

former Packing.org contributor
 

sprat

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, Florida, USA
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Hawker

you came off like a punk and a troll. I am verbally defending others rights, which you questioned in a belittling/condisending way. if the names bother you and you were offended well then, sorry I hurt your feelings. I honestly thought you were a troll, you and everyone else will note my last message, did not contain insults only questions

you didn't make me offers to shoot with youtill late in this discussion, long after I called you names. on second thought I don'tknow why I bothered.I appreciate the offer and I am sure it was a honest offer. I also appreciate the offer to use your firearms, I already belong to arange outside of Philly.if you take back your offer oh well! what can I say, except thanks for the offer.I didn't respond to your offer because I have other events going on in my life right now( like trying to close on a house)and I didn't want to get into a protract conversation with you on this subject. I am a great guy who gets along with most folksmaybe wynder is right maybe you are coming around and in some circles you are considered a great guy too!

I am not resident of delaware as of yet, when I am I will be applying for a delaware permit as per law. I know the Florida resident permit is invalid for Delaware Residents after I maintain residency. as far my self carrying openly I choose not too though I did when I lived in Nevada in the mid to late 1980's& recent desert trips

shame you can't find it within yourself to attend a meeting or two, there are some great guy's/gals Interesting thoughyou want to attend if the meeting is with the state police??oh well

your avatar indicates you are a vietman vet, thank you for your service.

sprat

Former contributor of Packing.org
 

Bravo_Sierra

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Hawker wrote:
I've been a long time reader of this forum section and several other areas here. I am a new poster though.

My question is why open carry? Delaware is not a hard state to get your permit. Why open yourself up to false arrests, hassles, and the like? Just get the permit and don't worry about it. Then... add on PA and FL and you are good to go.

Any takers?


Open Carry is free, CC is not.

The End.
 

stephpd

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Claymont, Delaware, USA
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Bravo_Sierra wrote:
Hawker wrote:
I've been a long time reader of this forum section and several other areas here. I am a new poster though.

My question is why open carry? Delaware is not a hard state to get your permit. Why open yourself up to false arrests, hassles, and the like? Just get the permit and don't worry about it. Then... add on PA and FL and you are good to go.

Any takers?
Open carry in this state is legal and the only way left to express the RIGHT to bear arms.

You like hunting, need the states permission and a hunting lisence.

You want to carry conceal? States permission and a lot of then looking you over to see if your a law abiding citizen AND have a need.

You talk about supporting the 2A but you have problems with those that do by openly carrying. Which is THE ONLY WAY to show that.

I have my CCDW (states permission) and use it everyday because of people like you who would call the police on me.

If people (including the police) fear people expressing their RIGHTS then we are trully lost.

As far as coming to Dover, which is the only city in DE where you have to have a CCDW to 'Teach' the police about a state gauranteed RIGHT, maybe someday. To bad we can't exercise that RIGHT in the states capital.

You are looking at what may become an activist group, just not yet.

This is a site for anyone to come and ask question about anything. And share thier experiences with others about carrying openly or concealed.

Remember, you started this.;)
 
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