Posted on May 28, 2014
What do you think of Open Carry Texas and other gun groups trying to carry firearm in public places?
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Honestly, I have never had a strong view on carrying firearms in public concealed or not. I own several firearms but don't feel the need to walk around armed even though I do have my conceal license and have been to several shooting course. Weapons are part of my job and I enjoy shooting them, I don't really consider them as a means of home security. But when I see groups like the Open Carry Texas trying to goto restaurants with not only pistols but assault rifles and shotguns a few things go through my mind. First, I see people that are looking for attention which they clearly get, as they act childish and smug when confronted. As soon as someone disagrees with them they throw out the 2nd amendment which was for self protection because our country was at war when it was written so common sense should be applied that carrying weapons is asking for trouble. When I say trouble I am talking about negligent discharges, confrontation, lack of training, and knowledge of weapons. What's the purpose other than causing a scene and getting attention. I love weapons and we should be able to own them but carrying them around in public. I mean there are plenty of countries where it is social acceptable to carry firearms in public, here are just a few: Nigeria, Algeria, Cote d’Ivoire, Zimbabwe, Sudan, Yemen, Sri Lanka, Gaza, Palestinian Territories, Pakistan, Democratic Republic of Congo, Iraq, Afghanistan, and Somalia just to name a few. What do all these places have in common they are really dangerous places, have little to no government, homicide rate is high, economy is terrible. Before we start preaching that we should be able to carry weapons in public areas think about how many safety accidents we have in the military where we train constantly proper weapons safety on a daily basis.
Concealed Carry
Gun Control
2nd Amendment
Firearms and Guns
Safety
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 73
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I, too, possess a CCW and I carry everytime I leave post. I wholeheartedly agree with people who choose to display their 2nd Amendment rights, but, at the risk of contradicting myself, I can understand open carrying a sidearm in public, but to walk around publicly displaying a rifle or shotgun seems a bit obsurd to me. This is when I ask, why? Why do you feel the need to carry a rifle/shotgun in public? Again, a pistol makes sense, but not the rifle/shotgun. These are the people, as you stated, SFC Spinks, that are nothing more than stuck-up, attention hounds that are just looking at being noticed. It's almost insulting to the rest of us who either carry concealed or conservatively open carry.
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Sgt Jason West
The original intent of the open carry movement in Texas was to show how moronic our current laws are. Why is it legal for me to walk through Kroger with a rifle slung over my shoulder, my concealed carry in my waistband but NOT legal for me to wear a pistol in a visable holster on my belt?
Then the idiots and selfie jackasses took over.....
Then the idiots and selfie jackasses took over.....
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I think open carry is fine. I don't agree with all the things this" opencarrytexas" group is up to. Who, when properly trained, in their right mind brings a shotgun to a restaurant? The ability to say defend yourself or stop a robbery does not mean it's ok to shatter shot across three tables of little leaguers. The same goes for the rifle and the power of the weapon. Sorry I can't take out the bad guy because grandma is standing behind him. Long guns in general are difficult weapons in urban environments where fights are typically extreme close quarters. You might as well use a bat. Pistols above a certain caliber have the same issues as rifles. So in summation, open carry is ok, if your not an idiot.
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Sgt Jason West
The original intent of the open carry movement in Texas was to show how moronic our current laws are. Why is it legal for me to walk through Kroger with a rifle slung over my shoulder, my concealed carry in my waistband but NOT legal for me to wear a pistol in a visable holster on my belt?
Then the idiots and selfie jackasses took over.....
Then the idiots and selfie jackasses took over.....
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I support Concealed carry, I also support open carry of pistols. Not a big fan of gangs of people walking around with rifles on their back within the city limits.
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1. Your experience with military firearms safety is no more comparable to civilian carry than combat HMMWV driving to a morning commute. If you want to comment on the potential danger of civilians carrying weapons, I would recommend you first look at the track record of civilians carrying weapons.
2. In Texas, it is illegal to openly carry a handgun. If you wish to open carry, it has to be a rifle or shotgun.
3. Attitudes like these towards open carry demonstrations are eerily similar to what I've seen in response to gay pride and civil rights demonstrations. The purpose of those was to "cause a scene" and draw attention as well.
4. From what I can tell, every county you cited has more restrictive gun laws than the U.S.
2. In Texas, it is illegal to openly carry a handgun. If you wish to open carry, it has to be a rifle or shotgun.
3. Attitudes like these towards open carry demonstrations are eerily similar to what I've seen in response to gay pride and civil rights demonstrations. The purpose of those was to "cause a scene" and draw attention as well.
4. From what I can tell, every county you cited has more restrictive gun laws than the U.S.
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SFC (Join to see)
My comparison is actually the reason I don't think people should be allowed to open carry or conceal carry at all. I read on RallyPoint all the time about how military personal should be able to carry because we receive training on weapon handling. Yet, I seen type and time again while deployed or during training the four principles of weapons safety broke. Weather it be weapon not on safe, poor muzzle awareness, finger in the trigger well, etc. Yet you wanna let people with little to no training walk around with loaded weapons, thats great idea. It compares because when your on a FOB, Air Base, or COP you are walking around with no immediate danger and that is where I was the biggest offenders. How is walking around these places any different then walking around a city or town. It's not, and you comparing to gays pride and civil rights movements is ridiculous. You've just compared walking around with a weapon to a persons race or sexual preference, doesn't make any sense. It's a safety thing, people with loaded weapons walking into Chillies sit at a booth and lets just say a shooter walks in to rob the joint. Now Buffalo Bill trying to be a hero with his AR15 thinks he's the law and causes a shootout killing innocent people because he's never fired at a person and his adrenaline is pumping. It's an extreme example but just think about it. I'm not against guns but use common sense.
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CW4 John Beebe, BS, DML
SFC Spinks, I don't think you read the post. There is no comparison of carrying being like gay pride and civil rights. SFC Pate was clear that those who are carrying rifles into restaurants just because they can and are trying to make that point are just like the gay pride parades and civil rights marches. The purpose of those events (all three) are to bring attention to the people participating. That is an accurate statement, whether or not you can see it. I suggest you go back to the beginning and reread the posts, then: BREATHE!
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SFC Stephen P.
Mr. Beebe, one always runs the risk of mischaracterization when comparing to the civil rights movements. Thank you for the analysis.
SFC Spinks, your comparison is based on assumptions not yet demonstrated. Namely:
1. That firearms pose a risk when present in public
2. That servicemembers demonstrate risky behavior when carrying firearms
3. That servicemembers are capable of equal or greater feats of responsibility than a typical civilian
4. Military weapons safety training is superior to methods used by civilians.
On the military side, we have people who carry weapons because they are ordered to, and only when they are ordered to. They have no affinity for the device, and not much interest in proper usage. It would not surprise me in the least if people under those circumstances (not to mention the stresses of military life) demonstrated a greater propensity for misuse than civilians who voluntarily come together at their own expense to carry arms for self defense, activism, or other lawful purposes.
Your hypothetical Chillies shootout scenario would be more plausible if there were a notable number of similar incidents in the decades that public bearing of arms has been lawful. The theoretical shootouts over parking spaces, deadly little league arguments, and collateral damage resultant of neglecting rule #4 have been cited to death, but never demonstrated as a legitimate safety risk in the real world.
If your common sense is projecting safety failings of the military on to unrelated populations in drastically different circumstances expecting results directly conflicting with historical example, I will disregard in favor of evidence based reason.
SFC Spinks, your comparison is based on assumptions not yet demonstrated. Namely:
1. That firearms pose a risk when present in public
2. That servicemembers demonstrate risky behavior when carrying firearms
3. That servicemembers are capable of equal or greater feats of responsibility than a typical civilian
4. Military weapons safety training is superior to methods used by civilians.
On the military side, we have people who carry weapons because they are ordered to, and only when they are ordered to. They have no affinity for the device, and not much interest in proper usage. It would not surprise me in the least if people under those circumstances (not to mention the stresses of military life) demonstrated a greater propensity for misuse than civilians who voluntarily come together at their own expense to carry arms for self defense, activism, or other lawful purposes.
Your hypothetical Chillies shootout scenario would be more plausible if there were a notable number of similar incidents in the decades that public bearing of arms has been lawful. The theoretical shootouts over parking spaces, deadly little league arguments, and collateral damage resultant of neglecting rule #4 have been cited to death, but never demonstrated as a legitimate safety risk in the real world.
If your common sense is projecting safety failings of the military on to unrelated populations in drastically different circumstances expecting results directly conflicting with historical example, I will disregard in favor of evidence based reason.
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We have had open carry here in Oklahoma since October 2019 and it seems to be working well so far. There are still robberies and car jackings often enough is the larger cities so why shouldn't law abiding citizens have the option to defend themselves. If the bad guys can carry guns why not the good guys!
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I need to weigh in my thought and then with a good situation, because I open and conceal carry.
My thought is I'd rather be in a room full of people carrying than in a room full of people and be the only one carrying.
I was in a supermarket one day and a elderly woman kept staring at me. She approached me in one of the isles and said"Thank You." My response was Ma'am" and she replied "For carrying your pistol."
My thought is I'd rather be in a room full of people carrying than in a room full of people and be the only one carrying.
I was in a supermarket one day and a elderly woman kept staring at me. She approached me in one of the isles and said"Thank You." My response was Ma'am" and she replied "For carrying your pistol."
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I think everything in that photo is disturbing and wrong, to include turning the flag into clothing and weapon pouches or painting it on weapons!
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I have a CCP too but don’t really feel the need to carry. I keep a weapon in my RV for protection.
I have no problem with those that carry as I don’t know their circumstances. But I agree that those that open carry to places they know it is not welcome are likely just trying to get attention.
I have no problem with those that carry as I don’t know their circumstances. But I agree that those that open carry to places they know it is not welcome are likely just trying to get attention.
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