Open Carry?

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The above deserves a double Like.

Sure, the Diane Feinsteins and Carolyn McCarthy's fit into that category. But there are MILLIONS of Americans who really don't spend a lot of time thinking about guns at all. And those are the people we turn off when we strut through a restaurant with a displayed weapon. Diane Feinstein once said "if I could have gotten the votes, mr and mrs America, turn them in". She couldn't get the votes because most Americans aren't that radical

But when the idiots continue to show up to target with rifles over their backs, and 10 guys decide to sit at a table in a restaraunt with guns on their hips, and the losers on YouTube continue to walk around like idiots with their guns and cameras, those same disinterested people change their minds

And it ain't to our side.
 
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Phil,

For over six decade of kicking around this ol world I have found

folks that wear there pistol outside their pants to be to 'Good Guys' and
criminals generally hide the fact they are armed.


.

Lifelong observation of reality is a compelling argument.

Certainly more convincing than some who cling to irrational fear and lashing out at others with name calling.
 
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OC of long guns is not the same as OC of a holstered pistol. Nobody can say OCing a 8-10 pound rifle is comfortable or practical, so there is usually an ulterior motive. Usually it is for demonstration purposes. We have all seen where the shock value gets us.

However responsible OC is both practical and in my area very well received. I have never had any kind of problem ever. People are not afraid of a well dressed individual with a nice holstered firearm. Let the pants start sagging or the attire get dirty and the stereotypes will surface. Real or not they will surface.

It is really perception. Watch how people avoid a homeless man. But dress him up and see if people change. They will. My point is that I think that people do not fear guns as much as they are really prejudiced over one's appearance.
 
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It's all about where you are and what you doing.
I carry open on my land, during fishing and hunting - sure. Do I walk in Houston into an art gallery with a open gun. No.

The liberal lobby has long won the war against weapons. Why is it that a person that OC is singled out in the media? Right - because the liberal media has no fear anymore to kick anyone rights to the curbs if it feeds communistic and minimalist agendas. The people are long conditioned to keep the mouth shut and fear to be the next target if they speak up against the polit-machine.

Even the judgment in a court of law will be ignored by the liberal media and hate campaigns will be started immediately only to feed racist agendas of the view if the court of law outcome doesn't fit communistic agendas.

If in a State OC is allowed, no one should be allowed to harass the one who practice his or her rights. OC where allowed is not intelligent and not stupid it just lawful - nothing else.
I read all the liberal media pros and cons repeatedly said, written, filmed and pictured arguments even here.

Only this person is free and has freedom that is able to overcome the liberal mind conditioning that implemented by film, TV, and communistic teachers in kindergarten, high school and college.

What is next? Do you need tomorrow a concealed Church goers permit? And will you accept to be a concealed church goer to please mankind hater liberals? So that you not being singled out by the media and school kids they never had a chance to know better? Tomorrow you find yourself in the media as a stupid church goer that all the city laugh about. Is your answer that also you go conceited to church because you don't want to threaten a liberal mind even if you do nothing besides exercising your rights?

Is it this the United States of America that you guys talk about?

Just saying.
 
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Here's just a brief anecdote with some back story:

As Dave mentions, here in the Commonwealth open carry has been legal for a really long time(since before statehood). It is a right specifically protected by the constitution, and before our concealed carry law was passed in 1996, it was the only legal method of carry. Even 18 years later, open carry remains the only legal form of carry in certain situations. There is an old supreme court case in Kentucky(1930s) that states something to the effect that no one may question the intentions of a person wearing a visible gun(with the implication being that only criminals conceal).

I don't have a CCW. The process in Kentucky is not particularly arduous, but it does require a full day(often a weekday) to set aside for an 8 hour training. It's rare that I can set aside a full day to attend a class, and it's sometimes difficult to find a date for a class being offered that coincides with a time when I could actually attend it. Thus, I've put off getting my license.

This means that if I want to carry a gun to protect myself, open carry remains my only legal option. I don't do it often, but have never had an issue the times I've chosen to.

Just a little bit earlier this evening, I remembered that I needed to get gas. I'm leaving early in the morning and the station I needed to go to is out of the way of how I'm going in the morning. I don't like going to gas stations after dark, but as I said I needed to in this situation.

So, I grabbed a gun that just happened to be handy-in this case a Colt Trooper 357-and threw it in a nylon Blackhawk brand OWB retention holster. This isn't a particularly attractive or fancy carry rig, but fits me well and keeps the gun secure.

I drove to the gas station, filled up my car, washed my windshield, checked my oil, and did all the various things I generally do at a gas station-particularly when I'm getting ready to drive a decent distance as I'm going to in the morning.

In the time I was there, I really don't think anyone even noticed the gun on my hip. That suits me perfectly fine-I had business to attend to and took care of it, and only brought the gun along because I was putting myself in a situation where I was just a bit uncomfortable.

As I said, I felt that carrying a gun was justified in this situation(truthfully, rarely is it not, but that's another discussion) and did so in the only legal manner that-at this time-is afforded to me.

So, yes, I'm an open carrier. And, despite the assertions that have been made here in the past that it is done only for attention, that really is not the case.
 
Sure, the Diane Feinsteins and Carolyn McCarthy's fit into that category. But there are MILLIONS of Americans who really don't spend a lot of time thinking about guns at all. And those are the people we turn off when we strut through a restaurant with a displayed weapon. Diane Feinstein once said "if I could have gotten the votes, mr and mrs America, turn them in". She couldn't get the votes because most Americans aren't that radical

But when the idiots continue to show up to target with rifles over their backs, and 10 guys decide to sit at a table in a restaraunt with guns on their hips, and the losers on YouTube continue to walk around like idiots with their guns and cameras, those same disinterested people change their minds

And it ain't to our side.


Currently, the most active long gun OC groups that I am aware of are in Texas.

These are activist groups. Activism, by design, is meant to stir controversy. To your point, controversy isnt a perfect science and it can result in setbacks. These "idiots" also understand this. In fact, the groups got together and published a standard operation procedure to limit some OC activities, particularly at corporate business. These "idiots" aren't as stupid as you may think. IMO, Without these activists Texas gun rights groups and the NRA would have likely just continued to largely ignore the ban on handgun OC as they have for decades. For the first time since forever handgun OC has a chance of passing in Texas so says the NRA.

Keeping your argument in mind, tell us how the state with so many long gun OC "idiots" with "in your face" activity can be the same state that the NRA believes has a good chance of legalizing handgun OC?

As far as some guys with a cell phone camera and YouTube account trolling to be harassed by a cop, that's pretty limited and I doubt it has much affect on "millions" of Americans and their views concerning guns. However, in the vids I have seen it sometimes illustrates how poorly informed some police are regarding OC laws and that can adversly affect law abiding citizens. Best to just follow the Constitution and repeal laws restricting OC.

Many gun owners haven't fully adjusted to all the new gun carry freedoms during the past 25 years. Guys my age and older grew up in a time where handgun carry was largely illegal. It takes time for some minds to get right with freedom, as well getting used to seeing others exercizing their freedom. Hopefully you will too.

Cheers
 
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Currently, the most active long gun OC groups that I am aware of are in Texas.

These are activist groups. Activism, by design, is meant to stir controversy. To your point, controversy isnt a perfect science and it can result in setbacks. These "idiots" also understand this. In fact, the groups got together and published a standard operation procedure to limit some OC activities, particularly at corporate business. These "idiots" aren't as stupid as you may think. IMO, Without these activists Texas gun rights groups and the NRA would have likely just continued to largely ignore the ban on handgun OC as they have for decades. For the first time since forever handgun OC has a chance of passing in Texas so says the NRA.

Keeping your argument in mind, tell us how the state with so many long gun OC "idiots" with "in your face" activity can be the same state that the NRA believes has a good chance of legalizing handgun OC?

As far as some guys with a cell phone camera and YouTube account trolling to be harassed by a cop, that's pretty limited and I doubt it has much affect on "millions" of Americans and their views concerning guns. However, in the vids I have seen it sometimes illustrates how poorly informed some police are regarding OC laws and that can adversly affect law abiding citizens. Best to just follow the Constitution and repeal laws restricting OC.

Many gun owners haven't fully adjusted to all the new gun carry freedoms during the past 25 years. Guys my age and older grew up in a time where handgun carry was largely illegal. It takes time for some minds to get right with freedom, as well getting used to seeing others exercizing their freedom. Hopefully you will too.

Cheers

The NRA publicly criticized the Texas Target crew. As for OC not being legal in Texas for handguns, I didn't know that and was shocked. Texas being such a gun friendly state and all.

Nobody's mind is going to change. If OC is legal where you live there's nothing I can do about it. I think it's stupid in a public setting and doesn't do a thing to help us

And when some guy in New Hampshire pulls an OC stunt it makes news all over the. Country so it does change peoples minds. I heard about the Texas target incident. And everybody here heard about the PA soccer mom and of course the Obama rallies. Local news is no longer "local"
 
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The NRA publicly criticized the Texas Target crew.

As for OC not being legal in Texas for handguns, I didn't know that and was shocked. Texas being such a gun friendly state and all.

Nobody's mind is going to change. If OC is legal where you live there's nothing I can do about it. I think it's stupid in a public setting and doesn't do a thing to help us

Actually, the NRA credited the unsigned criticism to a staffer. Chris Cox, executive director of the NRA's Institute for Legislative Action, went on the air to publicly apologize to gun owners all across America and set things straight that it was not the job of the NRA to criticize the lawful activities of gun owners. As a member of the NRA you should know that.

Yes, Texas has a ban on OC of handguns. One of the things OC activism aims to do is stir discussion to help make folks aware of issues that they may be "shocked" to discover. See, it worked. ;)

OC is legal here in Tennessee. You are correct, there isn't much you or even Sarah Brady can do about it.
 
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If OC is legal where you live there's nothing I can do about it. I think it's stupid in a public

Going back to my above gas station example...

You think it's "stupid" for me to use the only legal means I have available of carrying a gun in a potentially dangerous situation?

Sorry, but I resent this sort of attitude from you and every other gun owner who has expressed it!
 
I am new and read a lot of the replies in this thread. One thing that seems to be missing is the fact that OC is 1000 times more comfortable than CC, most of the time.

I OC about 80% of the time and carry OWB 100% of the time. I will never carry IWB. Just too uncomfortable.

Here in the Old Dominion of Virginia, OC is very normal. I run across several OCers every day. Nobody ever gives it a second thought. I live in the Norfolk / Va Beach area. Case in point, the other day I was in a grocery store checkout line with 2 OCers and 1 CCer plus myself.


I kinda wish reasonable thinking people would stop believing the interweb myths......
1. you will get hassled
2. you will be the first target
3. you are a brandishing charge waiting to happen

Thank you.

All that said..........I do think OC of long guns is for most part moronic and a severe hindrance to the gun rights movement.

Well, in Texas it is the only legal way to open carry. What the OC activists in Texas have done is get the ball rolling so the legislature will soon pass a handgun open carry law.
 
Sure, the Diane Feinsteins and Carolyn McCarthy's fit into that category. But there are MILLIONS of Americans who really don't spend a lot of time thinking about guns at all. And those are the people we turn off when we strut through a restaurant with a displayed weapon.

Do you normally strut? I don't. I hardly think that a properly holstered handgun is "displayed," either, unless you dress like a tinhorn with jinglebobs on your spurs, woolly chaps, and a pearl-handled six-gun in a tied-down buscadero holster. Those people you're worried about rarely notice someone carrying a holstered handgun.

Diane Feinstein once said "if I could have gotten the votes, mr and mrs America, turn them in". She couldn't get the votes because most Americans aren't that radical

That's right.

But when the idiots continue to show up to target [sic] with rifles over their backs, and 10 guys decide to sit at a table in a restaraunt [sic] with guns on their hips, and the losers on YouTube continue to walk around like idiots with their guns and cameras, those same disinterested people change their minds

The "idiots" (who were not breaking the law) have pretty much convinced the Texas legislature to pass a handgun open carry law. Ten guys sitting at a restaurant with guns on their hips doesn't seem to have any effect on folks hereabouts. I don't spend a lot of time "YouTub[ing]," so I can't comment on the content other than to say there seem to be a lot of idiots on YouTube and the vast majority of them don't have guns.

And it ain't to our side.

You remind me of my ex-brother-in-law who once tried to use the "I hunt, but I don't see why anyone needs an AK-47!" argument on me.
 
Do I walk in Houston into an art gallery with a open gun. No.

That's good because until the Texas legislature changes the law it would be illegal. :D If you have a handgun license in Texas, you can come to Oklahoma and open carry into most places. Shoot, in Tulsa Chipotles even kicked the Mothers Demand Action out of the restaurant because they were harassing open carriers!
 
Going back to my above gas station example...

You think it's "stupid" for me to use the only legal means I have available of carrying a gun in a potentially dangerous situation?

Sorry, but I resent this sort of attitude from you and every other gun owner who has expressed it!

No I don't. But OC is not the only legal way for you to carry. You just choose not to go through the process of getting a ccw. That's your choice but you're not being entirely truthful. You work every day all day? Never take a day off? I work 2 jobs and have kids to boot. I found the time to et my ccw and I live in an OC state. Still rarely see it.

But your not breaking any laws so have at it.
 
Do you normally strut? I don't. I hardly think that a properly holstered handgun is "displayed," either, unless you dress like a tinhorn with jinglebobs on your spurs, woolly chaps, and a pearl-handled six-gun in a tied-down buscadero holster. Those people you're worried about rarely notice someone carrying a holstered handgun.



That's right.



The "idiots" (who were not breaking the law) have pretty much convinced the Texas legislature to pass a handgun open carry law. Ten guys sitting at a restaurant with guns on their hips doesn't seem to have any effect on folks hereabouts. I don't spend a lot of time "YouTub[ing]," so I can't comment on the content other than to say there seem to be a lot of idiots on YouTube and the vast majority of them don't have guns.



You remind me of my ex-brother-in-law who once tried to use the "I hunt, but I don't see why anyone needs an AK-47!" argument on me.

Funny. The first thing I see is the gun. As for your bro in law, ak's aren't used for hunting so his comment is dumb
 
Do you normally strut? I don't. I hardly think that a properly holstered handgun is "displayed," either, unless you dress like a tinhorn with jinglebobs on your spurs, woolly chaps, and a pearl-handled six-gun in a tied-down buscadero holster. Those people you're worried about rarely notice someone carrying a holstered handgun.



That's right.



The "idiots" (who were not breaking the law) have pretty much convinced the Texas legislature to pass a handgun open carry law. Ten guys sitting at a restaurant with guns on their hips doesn't seem to have any effect on folks hereabouts. I don't spend a lot of time "YouTub[ing]," so I can't comment on the content other than to say there seem to be a lot of idiots on YouTube and the vast majority of them don't have guns.



You remind me of my ex-brother-in-law who once tried to use the "I hunt, but I don't see why anyone needs an AK-47!" argument on me.


And burning an American flag and the protesters outside military funerals aren't breaking the law either. You support them too?

How anybody could support those Target morons is beyond me. So they forced he Texas legislature to pass OC of handguns. Good for them. Now they can hang up their AR's and strap on their glocks.
 
Here's just a brief anecdote with some back story:

As Dave mentions, here in the Commonwealth open carry has been legal for a really long time(since before statehood). It is a right specifically protected by the constitution, and before our concealed carry law was passed in 1996, it was the only legal method of carry. Even 18 years later, open carry remains the only legal form of carry in certain situations. There is an old supreme court case in Kentucky(1930s) that states something to the effect that no one may question the intentions of a person wearing a visible gun(with the implication being that only criminals conceal).

.


Sir,

You are correct. No one, private citizen or law enforcement can question an individual as to why one is
carrying a firearm openly in a public or private place not prohibited by law.

I know this, as I am currently a Detective for the Commonwealth's Attorneys Office.

Oh, btw, I'm also a State CCDW instructor with the Dept. of Criminal Justice Training.

Open Carry in the Commonwealth of Kentucky is an unalienable right recognized by the state constitution.
Concealed carry is a purchased privilege.

Not everyone feels the need to participate in the CCDW program,
so lawful open carry is convenient and widely accepted through the Bluegrass.


Thank You for Supporting Open Carry






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Quote:
Originally Posted by kbm6893


As for OC not being legal in Texas for handguns,
I didn't know that and was shocked. Texas being such a gun friendly state and all.





As for Texas,

It is unlawful to open carry with out a special commission of some type.

Money will purchase state required training for a CHL....
Money may also get one a special commission....
It's just the way it works. ;)



Originally Posted by kbm6893
If OC is legal where you live there's nothing I can do about it.

Thank You for your validation there....And we're damn proud of it. ;):D


P.S.

Who was that guy on that other thread , the one about some young person open carrying at a hardware er somewheres...

The guy behind him didn't like it, and thought he was dumb or had a speech inpediment or some such.

And then the poster said, he wears a shirt that sez, 'Kill bad guys today like a champion' or something like that.

Make me thing a case one time where a guy made some comment or
wore a like printed tee shirt... was entered into evidence as a spontaneous utterance...
As it was construed as being premeditated. Ya know thinking it was like a calling or something.


.
 
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