Open Carry in America
Out of context: Reply #174
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- GM2787
As someone who actually conceal carries here is my two cents (I know I'm probably going to get chewed out but so be it)
Mental healthcare in this country is appalling and way too many ppl who are in need of help have access to firearms. To me, that's the real issue. But, In the interest of the topic I'll keep it about open carry.
Firstly, I agree 100% with the quote Monospaced posted above. Fucktards exercising their rights to march down a street shouldering an AR-15 are only hurting those that support the Second Amendment. They scare the hell out of people who in turn start thinking "We need tougher laws to stop ppl from legally carrying."
In order for me to obtain my LTC (license to carry) I had to submit to an extensive background check and attend classes both to thoroughly understand the laws (when I can and cannot justify the use of deadly force) as well as demonstrate full competency using a firearm. There are SO MANY rules of what you can and cannot do, where you can go with a weapon, where you cannot. It's far from getting an LTC then going around like a damned cowboy everywhere.
Before getting into open carrying I'll state the obvious. The point of LEGALLY concealing a weapon is that nobody knows you have it on you. The key word is CONCEAL. I'm sure plenty of ppl who open carry believe that by doing so, they're deterring crime but I honestly disagree.
Let me propose two scenarios to you based on a single situation: You and a loved one are in a shop and someone enters wishing to harm/rob/etc everyone inside.
Situation 1) You are conceal carrying a firearm. The criminals walk in scope out the place, and sit everyone down, etc etc. and proceed to rob the shop. Now because you are concealing your weapon, they don't know it's on you. You can decide whether or not the money in the register and whatever you have in your wallet is worth getting involved over and drawing a weapon. You can decide if possibly getting shot or having a loved one killed is worth that.
Situation 2) This time you're open carrying. The criminals come into the shop as before but this time they scope the place out and see you carrying. Now, they're still determined to rob the place. But this time, you're a threat. Now you do not have a choice to get involved. Like it or not you're in it.
I will admit I'm former military, I'm not all "'murica fuck yeah 2a muthafuka" I'm not a gun nut, far from it. I'm not all fuck yeah lets all get armed to the teeth with military grade weapons. I will state that I believe law abiding citizens should be allowed to protect themselves, their families and their property. I just feel you should do it in a way that doesn't make everyone around you nervous or make yourself, your loved ones or innocent bystanders a target.
- Sounds pretty reasonable to meset
- Don't the rules change from state to state? I think the US gov needs to take a big swing at this and ride out the anti-legislative backlash.monoboy
- Makes sense, just saying that besides the statistical tactical questions of pro/against open/concealed, I think there's a political one that might be biggersofas
- Yes the rules vary from state to statesofas
- Yes, the rules are different from state to state. Education, and attending classes to fully understand the laws of your state (if you wish to carry) is key.GM278
- Psychometric testing, credit scoring, mandatory training. Raise the bar to ownership. Clamp down on those that don't qualify.monoboy
- ^I agree with making it harder for ppl who don't qualify. I'm just trying to keep it on the topic of open carry or I'd have written a giant novel.GM278
- I'd agree that open carry sends the wrong message. Makes you a target.monoboy
- Situation 2) You die first. You don't know they're going to rob the place. You aren't aware of them. You die first. They then take the winning $2 lotto ticketkona
- from your wallet you've been meaning to cash but just haven't found the time.kona
- I'm outkona
- ^That's my point. Not only do you not have a choice to get involved but you're a perceived threat, become a target and they take you out.GM278
- Not even going to get into proper situational awareness or response time to a threat.GM278
- The guns culture is so far from us in Canada, I just can't understand it. So I cant judge or comment what you just said I guess.Bennn
- But a gun at home is a potential risk. You never know if you're not going to have bad depression in a few years, gun & depression is a bad mix. Just 1 example.Bennn
- all too real, this past weekend just lost an ex coworker who struggled with depression...gun was involved..futurefood
- Its not part of my culture (though I wish UK would have had a successful uprising). I get the 'murica history, though I'm disillusioned with what it is nowmugwart
- but I get your logic. Now how do we go about electing you?mugwart
- Benn, again I want to emphasis that my post is a response to "open carry."As I said, mental healthcare is a whole different issue to address.GM278
- Totally, I was talking about guns at large. I was slightly off topic.Bennn
- futurefood, my condolences. That is awful.GM278
- Mental healthcare still sets a third party precedent for "healthy" at what line of social incompetently to the competent cut them off? So subjective.imbecile
- *incompetencyimbecile