General Gun Discussion

[Maverick]

I carried for quite a few years. It took over 6 months before I stopped feeling naked without it. I haven't had a reason to open carry. I have no reason to open carry and certainly would not to make any kind of "statement".

Coshy, if you think that carrying on the 4th is some kind of big deal you are likely one of those people who should not be carrying, at all. This is not some kind of initiation, you are not being some kind of big guy or showing how tough you are. You are demonstrating a lack of maturity as far as I am concerned.

It's already been pointed out to you but let me second the thought that you may just end up having to explain to a LEO just what you are doing because someone else thinks that you may have some illegal usage of the gun you are carrying. Especially if you go waltzing into a convenience market. If I got a call that someone was seen walking into a convenience market openly showing a gun I would have to assume it's not about making some kind of a statement.

I'm sure you won't appreciate the difference of opinion since it's not what you will want to hear. A weapon is not a statement or a fashion accessory. It should not be used as one either.

[Shamus]

Hehe.....not this thread again already  , I think I shall pass.

shamus

[wrag]

I know we have several 'gun nuts' as well as several LEO's here.
What are your opinions?
Do you plan on Open Carrying (OC)?
Do you OC regularly?

Me personally, I do plan to OC on the 4th. It may be just in my backyard, or it may be to the 7-11, but somewhere, sometime that day, I will be armed. I'm currently discussing OC with my fiancee, her and I are of two different opinions. It'll be interesting to see how it all plays out in the end.


http://www.patriotpages.net/nationalopencarry.htm

What state do you live in?

In some states doing such a thing can ruin your day in others hardly anyone will notice.

In my state open carry is LEGAL and does happen from time to time.  Most just ignore it when they see it.

In Kalifornia open carry will probably get you arrested and jail time EVEN though it's SUPPOSED to be legal.

Have you consulted or retained a GOOD attorney?

[Coshy]

GTO,

Bob showed a lack of judgement in your scenario and should be judged accordingly, in a court of law. He is the kind of irresponsible gun owner that reflects badly on the rest of us. Chuck sounds like he could use a bit more training as well, particularly at the pistol range. Someone may also want to clue him in on the gun laws in his area, in many cases a guy walking into a 7-11 wearing a gun is as legal as wearing a pair of sunglasses. And the uptight liberal with 911 speed dial ... she needs to get laid.

Mav,

A lack of maturity ... should not be carrying at all ... I see.

Therefore, because you wish to excercise your right to pick your own religion I should deduce you lack maturity and should not be going to church at all?

Or if you chose to excercise your right to peaceably assemble I should consider you immature and you should not be able to peaceably assemble?

Its not about being a tough guy, or showing how big I am, its simply about excercising a right, doing something as legal as going to church or attending a political rally. Too long have the anti-gun folks pounded the idea that 'gunz r bad' into peoples head, the simplest and most effective way of showing the populace that guns are not bad is by responsible gun owners wearing their guns (where legally able to do so). I know of many folks who open carry on a daily basis with no negative consequences. Of course there are the instances when uninformed LEOs come goose-stepping in and try to intimidate, but those are the exception rather than the norm. And the outcomes of those instances generally turn out well for the gun owners. Google Dickson City.

Is it making a statement? To some degrees, yes. It states that I am responsible for my own protection, it states I refuse to become a helpless, defenseless victim, it states that I will, if necessarry defend myself to the best of my ability. So in those cases, yeah, I suppose it is making a strong statement. But the more subtle statement, and possibly more important in the long term, is that guns in and of themselves are not bad, its the people weilding them who make bad decisions.

I have thought long and hard about OC'ing and on a daily basis, its something I probably will not do. In many ways I think it takes away a tactical advantage and gives the bad guys a priority target. Better in many cases to conceal carry. I'm looking into getting additionial training, specifically in gun retention, before I decide wether to open carry regularly or not. The consequenses of my potential choices are not lost on me, I'm not the type of person to go do a thing without being very well informed about that thing, whatever it may be.

As far as explaining to a LEO just what I am doing ... so long as I am not commiting a crime, I am under no compulsion to explain anything, but since I'm excercising my right to remain silent, I assume that shows immaturity and I should start talking.

Informed differences of opinion and the discussion they bring are the reason why I post. If I wanted to hear someone agree with me all the time I'd just email myself.

Wrag,

Open carry is legal in my state, with the exceptions of two cities. In fact in all but MD every state in my area is legal to OC.

[Carrel]

robbing that house? i doubt it.

Well, I think you lied when you said you didn't have any threes, but that doesn't matter cause I drew a three so I got what I wanted.

So...tell me the truth now...

Do you have any nines? 

[Carrel]

Nope, yer right. Since I realized I won't kill a man over my neighbor's garden hoe, I've decided to go the whole route. I'm checking on what it takes to have a sex change operation and then re-register as a Democrat. 

You don't have to undergo a sex change operation to be a good Liberal, Toad- all you have to do is show a bit of common sense and compassion. I believe you are a work in progress, but you're a smart guy so eventually you'll see the light and start fighting the good fight.

[AAolds]

The way OC would work in Illinois is a disturbing the peace charge at least as a cop I work with explained it to me.  People around here just are not used to seeing guns in pubic other than with cops or robbers and would knee jerk call the cops "there is a man walking around with a gun."

[Coshy]

The way OC would work in Illinois is a disturbing the peace charge at least as a cop I work with explained it to me.  People around here just are not used to seeing guns in pubic other than with cops or robbers and would knee jerk call the cops "there is a man walking around with a gun."

Dont you find that odd? That the general perception is if you are carrying a gun and not obviously a LEO, you are then a robber?

[Vulcan]

real simple.. if you are not committing a crime and someone who is committing a crime is a threat to you then you need to shoot them... front back or sideways.

I can't make it any more clear than that.    It matters not if it is your house or someone else's...

Only the person who does the shooting can tell us if he was threatened or not.

you have no idea if the two thugs breaking into the house next door in the middle of the night are just there to   steal a "garden implement" or are just hitting the next house in line in their night of killing and pillaging.

Lets just say that the criminals who break into houses these days.. especially the ones who travel in pairs.. are not known for being peace loving and reasonable types.

In the end.. I am not gonna second guess anyones decision on if they were a threat or not.

lazs

I hope you're a real courteous driver and don't park in handicapped zones lazs

[AAolds]

Of course I find it odd, I work in a gunshop, I used to live in Seattle, Wa and had my CCW there.  Here there is more crime and the local Gov't takes all its cues from Chicago to the point where Illinois should just be renamed the Greater Chicago Area and Emperor Daley could just replace the Governor and continue his rule as Der Fuhrer of Chicago.  Granted Southern Illinois has a quite a few bones to pick with Chicago area for constantly being overlooked and dominated in local politics.

Gotta keep in mind, that Illinois used to allow people to carry a gun until the 60's when the Black Panthers in Chicago began patrolling the streets. The easily scared and uptight white citizens enmass surrendered their rights in a bid to take the guns away from the Black Panthers---which only forced them to carry illegally.

[bunny]

damn that was fast

[SteveBailey]

You don't have to undergo a sex change operation to be a good Liberal, Toad- all you have to do is show a bit of common sense and compassion. I believe you are a work in progress, but you're a smart guy so eventually you'll see the light and start fighting the good fight.

Who would you like to give your earned money to? Not that liberals will give you a choice... just curious.

[Rich46yo]

Sure I wish california and Oakland had laws exactly like Texas. Just like Texas the majority of our crime seems to be commited by a majority of a minority who don't give a watermelon about yours or my morality. And emotional babble, LEO's dont have a corner in this country on living through dangerous people encounters. There are more citizens than LEO's by 400 million to 1 million. Our private encounters don't make it to the news, or COP shows, or on COP cams. The ratio of us to LEO supports alot of crime and citizen encounters which go undocumented.

Thank God in Texas they voted a solution to theirs.......

What does any of that got to do with shooting 2 unarmed property offenders in the back by a guy who wasnt himself, or anyone else, threatened?

Just wait, there will be a tragedy where a neighbor shoots another over a lawn chair at 0300 and Texas will rethink its "shoot first" Law.

As usual the same guys turn it all into an us vs you cop thread. So Im bowing out. Theres nothing left to say anyway.

And 99% of what happens to "us" never hits the news either.

But thanks for the anthropology lesson anyway. I do get it yaknow, having worked the ghetto myself for more then two decades. They were non-white and illegal so go ahead and shoot.

You see? I get it.

[myelo]

I have no reason to open carry and certainly would not to make any kind of "statement".

Yea, but only because you have a real noodle. Showoff.

[lasersailor184]

Well i don't know you so don't take this personally or anything, but I am going to give you an example.

So we have Bob, he thinks the best way to celebrate the 4th is by strapping on his Kimber sumperduper SWAT special deluxe tac pistol with tac light and laser, take some sirlions from the icebox and heads out to the deck behind the trailer. He gets his cooler and puts some ice and alot of beer in it, and the lights up the BBQ. He uses to much lighter fluid cause he likes to watch the big fiiire. Later after the coals are almost ready Bob releases the beer is gone. Well Bobs feeling no pain and forgets he has had a few beers, and has his pistol strapped on and heads down to Bobs bait and beer(no relation) for some booze.

As he is walking in some uptight liberal sees him, thinks 'hmmmm he looks drunk and has a gun I better call the cops!' and dials 911 on her cell phone. 

She tells the 911 operator 'a drunk man with a gun just staggered into a Bobs bait a and beer!" (no relation)

The 911 operator puts out a call and by chance, chuck, a local cop happened to be about a block away filling out paper work. He rushes to the Bobs Bait and Beer.(no Relation)

He gets there just as Bob comes out of the "Bobs Bait and Beer" (no relation) with 2 12 packs and the almost runs into Chuck.

Chuck thinking he was going to a robbery has his gun out and is a little exited so when bob drops the beer cans Chuck lets loose with 13 rounds from his 40.Glock (Chuck was a NY cop, thats how they roll), luckily Chuck being like most cops, doesn't practice much so he misses with all his shot.

Bob on the other hand shot  himself in the foot when he drunkenly tried to pull his cocked and locked Kimber.

Bob goes to Jail for trying to shoot a cop, even though thats  not quit fair. They can sort it out with the DA.

Ok outlandish and silly, sure, but the real ending is so predictable, all of the above up to the phone call is basically the same. Just that when Chuck and the other units in the area arrive, theres all the yelling, the hand cuffing after that the breathalyser. Then county jail for the night with Bob the drunken Harley mechanic( no relation) who likes to cuddle. The the lawyers and court dates etc.

That is unless you live in some back woods location and know everyone.  You know maybe like that valley in deliverance?

Here in California I am sure the cops would be really annoyed at having to waste their time on some dipstick who decided strapping on his hog leg was the way to celebrate independence day.

I am pretty pro gun as well, but also a realist, but hey, I guess I am the ignorant one.

If you're going to make such a freaking ridiculous story about what ***COULD*** happen, why not take the extra freaking step and include a space alien invasion or the zombie apocalypse.


What you posted has NO bearing on reality.