lonewolf wrote:There is certainly something to be said for that mentality, but by getting a CHL, supporting the NRA and such, being organized and presentable, rather than confrontational or rudely outspoken I think we can accomplish much more. I support open carry as well. Since that is legal where they are, what are they protesting or raising Cain about? Now its an issue for them again. I would conceal legally before open carrying, because I don't want to be a target, but they are exercising their rights, as you say. It would be my preference that they exercise a little discretion as well. In their case, its legal. They should just go on about their day.dewayneward wrote:the thing is, this guy (and others) are doing nothing wrong but exercising their right to open carry. If we had MORE people open carrying...then more people would be OK with it.
Ever notice the range of emotions a person goes through when they find out someone has a gun on them. First is a little shock, then apprehension, then they figure out it isnt going to jump out of the holster and "pop a cap" on its own, and then they are just fine with it and actually get interested in gun ownership.
Yea, I hope some whackjob doesnt try to shoot the president. That would be complete wrong and would not do the good guys a service at all, but we need to get the sheeple out there to understand that goodguys have guns and that we have the RIGHT to carry them. I am really starting to embrace the who "dont use it, lose it" mentality.
I wonder how many in the crowds were carrying concealed? Nice, quiet and polite, not drawing attention to themselves exercising a right they already have and use.....
I'm going to run out of 2 cents someday.
I'm not bashing you, so please don't take my comments personally. In all reality I think we share some common ground here.
No, I dont take it as being bashed. I like the idea of open carry...because I really dont see an issue with it. I'd like to see it that a person that has a CHL can then OHL (is that even a word) if they desire. My point is that people are (incorrectly) scared of guns. If we had open carry and more people walking down the street with their sidearm, this crazy hysteria would go away. The "if it bleeds it leads" mentality would go away and the media wouldnt be putting these stupid articles in the paper anymore.
A buddy of mine lives in AZ and open carries all the time (when he decides he doesnt want to conceal carry) and no one bats an eye. In Texas (and I am still amazed that we dont have open carry), if we had open carry, after the initial media blitz of blood in the streets nonsense wore down, it would become a non issue.
I disagree with your comments about "rudely outspoken" and protesting and raising cain. Again, that is AZ, people open carry there ALL THE TIME. This guy was doing nothing wrong. For all you know he was walking down the street with his tools and the photographer snapped the picture. That is one of the things that ticks me off about the media. Even people that are friendly towards guns are getting bent out of shape over this. We have the RIGHT to open carry in AZ. Why should people have to have their rights taken away just because the president (who is suppose to uphold peoples' rights I might add) is in town? What am I missing?