OK, I really didn't want to start a political discussion but the Florida Open Carry proposal has me in a quandary. Let me first baseline my position: I am a staunch defender of the 2nd Amendment; I have been a CCW permit holder since 1995; I realized that I needed handgun training and have taken personal defense courses; I have a wide collection of firearms, both vintage and modern; I belong to a local Rifle and Pistol Club and occasionally compete; I routinely shoot at my son's state-of-the-art gun store & range; I am an NRA RSO.
So what is my quandary? I'm not sure that Florida citizens should be allowed to Open Carry a firearm without a background check or any required training. I have seen way too many new gun owners and CCW permit holders that have never taken any firearms training courses, rarely if ever go to the range to shoot, and barely know how to operate or clean their firearms. That's scary enough, but now we're talking about letting anyone strap on a handgun or carry a rifle/shotgun in public. For what purpose? Do they just want to be cool and show off just because they can, or do they think that openly displaying their weapon will deter criminals? Openly carrying a firearm may make that person the criminal's first target! And do they understand firearm retention?
My wife, who is a CCW permit holder, an occasional shooter, and who accepts my penchant for firearms, is totally opposed to and afraid of open carry. She knows that there are a bunch of borderline "nuts" out there, and who knows what may result from passing this Florida legislation. I realize that there are many other states that allow open carry and their statistics show that most of the fears of violence are totally unfounded. Back in the day I openly carried a handgun when fishing or hunting, and I had a shotgun in the back window of my vehicle- but it was legal back then and times were different. But this is modern Florida...we have daily shootings/murders, growing gang violence, several recent mass murders, road rage shooting incidents, and a constant influx of illegal aliens (some of whom are violent). Am I being over cautious? I guess that I just have to continue to research both sides of the argument and to give this more thought. Opinions?
So what is my quandary? I'm not sure that Florida citizens should be allowed to Open Carry a firearm without a background check or any required training. I have seen way too many new gun owners and CCW permit holders that have never taken any firearms training courses, rarely if ever go to the range to shoot, and barely know how to operate or clean their firearms. That's scary enough, but now we're talking about letting anyone strap on a handgun or carry a rifle/shotgun in public. For what purpose? Do they just want to be cool and show off just because they can, or do they think that openly displaying their weapon will deter criminals? Openly carrying a firearm may make that person the criminal's first target! And do they understand firearm retention?
My wife, who is a CCW permit holder, an occasional shooter, and who accepts my penchant for firearms, is totally opposed to and afraid of open carry. She knows that there are a bunch of borderline "nuts" out there, and who knows what may result from passing this Florida legislation. I realize that there are many other states that allow open carry and their statistics show that most of the fears of violence are totally unfounded. Back in the day I openly carried a handgun when fishing or hunting, and I had a shotgun in the back window of my vehicle- but it was legal back then and times were different. But this is modern Florida...we have daily shootings/murders, growing gang violence, several recent mass murders, road rage shooting incidents, and a constant influx of illegal aliens (some of whom are violent). Am I being over cautious? I guess that I just have to continue to research both sides of the argument and to give this more thought. Opinions?
