Open Carry demonstration

[jal910s]

Today (01/30/2010) a group of men got together in Battle Creek, MI. and walked the streets with sidearms and rifles to "educate" the public. This was on our local news, WWMT.com. If I could find the video I would post it, but I haven't found it on line yet. will post when/if I find it.

 

[Chromedhearts]

There is going to be some thing of the sorts in Birmingham Alabama, next Saturday, 02/06, at DreamLand BBQ,
2:00PM, and they supposedly have the blessings of the establishment and the local PD.

 

[Class III]

Dreamland. BEST BBQ on the planet. And they allow open carry on premises. Even more reason for a road trip.

Class III

 

[rchance]

Somebody post some pics of these events please.

 

[K38]

Michigan has pretty strict gun laws, they even regulate black powder and air pistols I think. With things the way they are in Michigan at the moment I would think the local authorities would be worried that someone had started the revolution without them! No slam on Michigan, it's my home state and I miss it warts and all. I now you cannot open carry in Texas (hand gun) and the laws are not all that clear other places.

Dwight
(Niles, and Interlochen)

 

[gregintenn]

Legal, yes. Good representation of gun owners, I don't think so.

 

[Evil One]

Why wouldnt it be a good representation of gun owners?


Jim

 

[keith44spl]

Legal, yes. Good representation of gun owners, I don't think so.

You have a point...If folks who were so inclinded (where legal) open carried in public daily, that might set a better example than in a one time demostration sort of thing...JMHO

BTW gregintenn, does TN allow open carry of sidearms? IIRC TN at one time (years ago) had an intent to go armed statute that may have prohibited open carry.


Su Amigo,
Dave

 

[Evil One]

I have my CHL, but I open carry about 50/50.
An orderly... not "IN YOUR FACE" gathering of open carriers isnt a bad thing.
They happen all over Va, and its normally underinformed police that cause the problems... if any occur, and not the carriers or public.


Jim

 

[TNDixieGirl]

I'm not Greg, but TN is an open carry state. Or it can be concealed, whichever you choose.

 

[keith44spl]

I'm not Greg, but TN is an open carry state. Or it can be concealed, whichever you choose.

Hi Penny,

I travel through TN sometimes and have open carried in plainclothes...but had my badge on my belt along side my sidearm.

Thanks for the info.

Su Amigo,
Dvae

 

[Kanewpadle]

Legal, yes. Good representation of gun owners, I don't think so.

I agree 100%.

It's difficult enough as concealed carriers to be accepted by the general public. Open carry just shoves it down their throat and gives them another reason to hate us and come after us.

Politically and tactically, it's makes no sense.

Just my opinion.

 

[BOB THE PALINDROME]

For those with an interest: Open Carry.com OpenCarry.org - A Right Unexercised is a Right Lost!

Washington State allows both open and concealed carry. For me this means I do not have to be as worried that someone will "catch a peek" of my concealed carry piece. The only time I truly open carry is when I am trail riding as it is a bit of a project to "conceal" my S&W M22/1917.

Another point of interest. In Washington State at least, a long arm is considered to be an offensive weapon and can only be used for hunting or at the range. Can't tote My M1 Garand down mainstreet.

 

[Evil One]

Politically and tactically, it's makes no sense.

Just my opinion.

Politics is always debatable.
Tactics however...
I find OC to be great tactics.
More readily at hand.
Less of a target for BGs... and if you want to argue that, find all the reports of openly armed people vs people who appeared to be unarmed, being attacked.
Less dressing around your carry piece.

The main drawback is that some people are not used to seeing an OC firearm.
And exposure to that is the only way to get them past it.


Jim

 

[truckemup97]

You all can think what you like, but I believe open carry saved my life, or at the least, a beating, robbery, and car theft. I was hiking in NV and met four youts that had bad intentions until they saw a model 10 on my hip. Once they saw that, they were quite polite.

 

[Evil One]

I have had experiences like that a few times... as have MANY other OCers that I know.


Jim

 

[Wheelgunner840]

This has come up several times before, and it always comes out with about 50% of the people on both sides of the open carry vs concealed carry debate. While I can understand some of the reasons why people think OC is a good thing (educating the public, exercising your rights, etc.), I am not comfortable with open carry. For myself, I don't want anyone knowing that I am carrying for three reasons.

1. It definately makes the "non-gun" people very uncomfortable. I am not talking about anti-gun people, just those average everyday citizens that don't give guns much thought. I am extremely involved with guns as an instructor, competitor, and concealed carry licensee, and I get just a bit uneasy seeing a gun open carried. I think it is human nature, and making a spectacle of it is not going to suddenly make someone comfortable with seeing it. Just my opinion.

2. I don't want criminals to know I am carrying a firearm. It defeats the element of surprise, and may lead to a set-up where I get my head bashed in and a criminal walks away with a free gun to use in crimes.

3. I don't care to be hassled by every LEO who may not know the law regarding carrying of firearms. Liberal judges are no exception either. We just had an incident in Springfield, MA where a policeman disarmed a legally armed man, confiscated the firearm and the persons license to carry, claiming that he could not validate the license. The guy got his gun back later that evening, but what the judge had to say was in a word, "unbelievable".

The article is in the current GOAL news periodical (Gun Owners Action League) called "The Outdoor Message". If I cannot find a link, I will quote the federal judge (who BTW was appointed by Clinton).

Bottom line is that these type things may make us feel good, but will only draw the attention of those who will never "get it", and embolden those who wish to strip away what rights we currently enjoy. I am all for flying under the radar, and keeping the pressure on our litigators by keeping informed about new anti-gun laws in the making.


WG840

 

[Kanewpadle]

Politics is always debatable.
Tactics however...
I find OC to be great tactics.
More readily at hand.
Less of a target for BGs... and if you want to argue that, find all the reports of openly armed people vs people who appeared to be unarmed, being attacked.
Less dressing around your carry piece.

The main drawback is that some people are not used to seeing an OC firearm.
And exposure to that is the only way to get them past it.


Jim

We could argue this for the next ten years. But it wouldn't do any good now would it? I respect your beliefs although I do not agree.

 

[redlevel]

This has come up several times before, and it always comes out with about 50% of the people on both sides of the open carry vs concealed carry debate. While I can understand some of the reasons why people think OC is a good thing (educating the public, exercising your rights, etc.), I am not comfortable with open carry. For myself, I don't want anyone knowing that I am carrying for three reasons.

1. It definately makes the "non-gun" people very uncomfortable. I am not talking about anti-gun people, just those average everyday citizens that don't give guns much thought. I am extremely involved with guns as an instructor, competitor, and concealed carry licensee, and I get just a bit uneasy seeing a gun open carried. I think it is human nature, and making a spectacle of it is not going to suddenly make someone comfortable with seeing it. Just my opinion.

2. I don't want criminals to know I am carrying a firearm. It defeats the element of surprise, and may lead to a set-up where I get my head bashed in and a criminal walks away with a free gun to use in crimes.

3. I don't care to be hassled by every LEO who may not know the law regarding carrying of firearms. Liberal judges are no exception either. We just had an incident in Springfield, MA where a policeman disarmed a legally armed man, confiscated the firearm and the persons license to carry, claiming that he could not validate the license. The guy got his gun back later that evening, but what the judge had to say was in a word, "unbelievable".

The article is in the current GOAL news periodical (Gun Owners Action League) called "The Outdoor Message". If I cannot find a link, I will quote the federal judge (who BTW was appointed by Clinton).

Bottom line is that these type things may make us feel good, but will only draw the attention of those who will never "get it", and embolden those who wish to strip away what rights we currently enjoy. I am all for flying under the radar, and keeping the pressure on our litigators by keeping informed about new anti-gun laws in the making.


WG840

Excellent thoughts. I agree just about 100%.

If open carry is legal in your state and that is what you want to do, then by all means do it. I don't like the idea of making a spectacle of it, though, by trying to draw attention with a mass "carry-in" or something of that sort.

 

[Kanewpadle]

This has come up several times before, and it always comes out with about 50% of the people on both sides of the open carry vs concealed carry debate. While I can understand some of the reasons why people think OC is a good thing (educating the public, exercising your rights, etc.), I am not comfortable with open carry. For myself, I don't want anyone knowing that I am carrying for three reasons.

1. It definately makes the "non-gun" people very uncomfortable. I am not talking about anti-gun people, just those average everyday citizens that don't give guns much thought. I am extremely involved with guns as an instructor, competitor, and concealed carry licensee, and I get just a bit uneasy seeing a gun open carried. I think it is human nature, and making a spectacle of it is not going to suddenly make someone comfortable with seeing it. Just my opinion.

2. I don't want criminals to know I am carrying a firearm. It defeats the element of surprise, and may lead to a set-up where I get my head bashed in and a criminal walks away with a free gun to use in crimes.

3. I don't care to be hassled by every LEO who may not know the law regarding carrying of firearms. Liberal judges are no exception either. We just had an incident in Springfield, MA where a policeman disarmed a legally armed man, confiscated the firearm and the persons license to carry, claiming that he could not validate the license. The guy got his gun back later that evening, but what the judge had to say was in a word, "unbelievable".

The article is in the current GOAL news periodical (Gun Owners Action League) called "The Outdoor Message". If I cannot find a link, I will quote the federal judge (who BTW was appointed by Clinton).

Bottom line is that these type things may make us feel good, but will only draw the attention of those who will never "get it", and embolden those who wish to strip away what rights we currently enjoy. I am all for flying under the radar, and keeping the pressure on our litigators by keeping informed about new anti-gun laws in the making.


WG840

The last paragraph is what it's all about. Some WILL NEVER get it. Doesn't matter how hard we try to educate or convince them. To them guns will always be evil and need to be done away with.

150 years ago or so open carry was the norm. But even then some people were offended and thought it wasn't neccessary.

The same thinking persists today. The pro gun movement needs to move one step at a time as one. I believe open carry is too much too soon.

 

[BigRich315]

To me it depends on your location. In the city it may cause more fear and trouble than you'd think. We don't want to upset the sheeple, it hurts our cause. In more rural areas it's often a conversation started. "Whatcha got there?" is pretty common.

 

[BarbC]

Two thousand years ago, a Roman Senator suggested that
all slaves wear white armbands to better identify them.
"No," said a wiser Senator,
"If they see how many of them there are, they may revolt."

​

The same is true with open carry. We suspect our numbers, as do they, but a demonstration of those actual numbers might spur the equally determined other side into pre-emptive action.​

 

[Chromedhearts]

My personal feelings on Open Carry are that; I will carry concealed when possible, but if the situation arises where I need to be Open then I do not want to go to jail for it. Situations that do not involve Self Defense, examples like: changing a tire on the side of the road, and I wanted to come out of my jacket, or my wife and I just came out of a nice restaraunt and she is cold, so like any gantilman would do I give her my jacket, or a kid falls into the lake at the park and you jump in to save them from drowning, the possibilities are limitless as to reasons why some one might want to not be carrying concealed. To include personal choice, and comfort.

 

[n4zov]

I don't see where the "educate" part of this comes it. It is more likely to scare the beejebers out of a bunch of folks who only wanted to carry the family out for some BBQ and make them think gun owners are idiots!

 

[P&R Fan]

I've had a CCW for almost 25 years. I carry daily. I wouldn't have a problem with OC (not legal in Iowa now) but for me, I'd prefer being the only one who knows I'm carrying. I don't even tell a lot of people I carry concealed. The only reason I'm doing it here is you have no idea who I am. I know you're good people, but somebody else may be lurking, so.....
In our society, I'd rather fly under the radar, been doing it all my life, especially as a teenager. (What Mom and Dad didn't know didn't hurt me). I take my protection very seriously and prefer the element of surprise. That said I have no problem with other responsible gun owners carrying openly. But it's not for me.

 

[ladder13]

OC, if you like, I prefer CC. Don't want a BG stickin' a gun in my back, or my face for that matter, and relieving me of my weapon. Carrying 10 guns in full view won't help me in that case.

 

[Frank237]

I agree 100%.

It's difficult enough as concealed carriers to be accepted by the general public. Open carry just shoves it down their throat and gives them another reason to hate us and come after us.

Politically and tactically, it's makes no sense.

Just my opinion.

I agree with this 100%.

FN in MT

 

[enfield]

I'm not Greg, but TN is an open carry state. Or it can be concealed, whichever you choose.

ONLY if you have a Handgun Carry Permit.

In Michigan, you can openly carry without any permission from the state. As long as you can legally possess a firearm, you can carry it unconcealed.

For years, Michigan government has used the criminal charge of "brandishing" a firearm to discourage open carry. But they never took the time to define brandishing in the law.

The political climate regarding guns is changing in Michigan, and the people are changing it, not the politicians.

 

[tripledipper]

VA is an opencarry state and OC has a large following here. Like any group of people with a cause, you will find some over the top who like to push the envelope just to get a rise out of people and are just begging to be challenged by those who don't know this is allowed so they can put them in their place, but the majority are good people just exercising their right. It is simply a matter of preference.

 

[qennis]

ky is an open carry state also...but i have heard of guys being harassed by uninformed cops....i have ccw permit and conceal most of the time.