An Open Letter to the Open Carry Community: Let’s Talk

Well, that was dumb. It's hard to not be offended after reading it. It's pretty obvious the writer is looking down his long nose at anyone who'd have the nerve to exercise his right to open carry (assuming it's legal in that state). "Hell, you fellers is..." Seriously? So anyone carrying openly has to be an undereducated rube?

Went on to say that just because you have a right to open carry that you shouldn't? If that's the case then perhaps he shouldn't exercise his right to free speech if he's just going to say dumb things with it.

The ONLY thing he said that made any sense at all was to be polite. Open carry, but be polite. Being confrontational is what hurts the open carry agenda. Not carrying openly. Especially carrying openly in accordance with the law. Don't brandish, don't have a finger in the trigger guard, carry slung for long arms or holstered for side arms. And don't be an ignorant jerk. Know the laws before you go out, so that when you get stopped (and you will) you'll probably know more about what you're doing than the officer who stops you.

You can't compare gay rights to the 2nd Amendment. Sorry but I'm not buying it. One is a right while the other a want. I don't want what they desire. I love everyone but I respectfully disagree!

Not a completely BS letter. It has some high points. The AR-12 thing wasn't one of them. People carrying openly scaring someone into the anti-firearm camp wasn't one of them: it could go either way. I did like that people carrying should present themselves well, both visually and verbally though. By the way, men in which service wear "undies"?

I can't say I see eye to eye with the writer of this article, maybe it's the part suggesting that all open carriers are rednecks who don't support gay rights.

Anyways, I think carrying an AR-15 around in public(like Walmart) is pretty dumb, but that's simply my opinion. I don't think it should be against the law to do so, however, as that just gives more power to restrict firearms to the government.

I understand the point the author is trying to make but it undermines very root of the problem. The problem isn't that people are "abusing" open carry but rather society's perception of seeing someone openly carry a gun. I read an article a while back that talked about the stigma of American society on how we have accepted gun violence in our entertainment causing a misconception of the reality of gun owners.

Open carrying a gun isn't making people suspicious of us, they were already suspicious of the gun before they saw it being carried.

The best thing to do is not stuff it in everyone's face but to push for your rights in an adult manner. I think it is one of our most fundamental rights that should never go away. Just think of something that is legal that you do not agree with or sick of, such as the guy with the indian headdress maybe. It is his right, but who wants to see that. Either way, We do not need the Wild West coming back. Stay safe

In the military world you don't get to carry a weapon unless you are qualified.
In the civilian world you don't get to carry a weapon unless you have the money to buy it.

What ever happened to the responsibilities associated with rights?

Outstanding article. Talk about two Pogues. I am a PO in OH and any cop will tell you someone carrying openly in public will draw attention to themselves, especially a long gun. I'd even bet the public would call 9-1-1 before we see them. You know you can also tell people, even cops, to F-off, as it is your right. But remember, the more beligerent you become and make an ass of yourself the closer you come to people wanting to take action against you

I walk my dogs daily I open carry my Springfield Armorey XD .40. I live in a high altitude rural area. Yesterday I saw new sign of a mountain Lion, I also saw my first bear of the year. I only carry when on my walks with my dogs. In the state that I was born in I would probably get arrested. I believe that there is a time and place to carry. I always answer questions when people ask. A lot of them do not understand that we live in an area that is the food supply for the beg game predators. I carry to protect myself my family and my leashed animals.

From the Open Carry Carry Texas website

"Open Carry" is the name of the organization, but fundamentally, we believe in "Constitutional Carry." The Second Amendment to the U.S. constitution states, "A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the People to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed." We believe laws restricting how firearms are are kept or carried is an infringement to this right. Hundreds of thousands of Texans carry concealed, (with an expensive license) but it is currently illegal to openly carry a modern handgun in Texas. The next step towards constitutional carry is legalizing the open carry of sidearms. If you can legally own a gun, you should be able to carry it openly or concealed.