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I'd have to count on the dozens how many armored trucks and coaches have been robbed over the years. Ever heard of "robbing the Wells Fargo coach"? It's an old western term and still applies today. They get robbed across the US quite frequently.

The uniformed division as not "agents". They are code 0083 officers and not "1811" criminal investigators. They are uniformed police officers. I was referring to actual agents.

Nobody is saying you shouldn't carry a firearm. In fact, I think you should carry two like I do. But I also believe you should take a tactical and measured approach to your OPSEC.

The same reason I don't flip my cards over before I bet when playing at the casino is the exact same reason I don't open carry when not in uniform. OPSEC.

On any given day there are literally tens of thousands of people in the United States that have felony warrants out for them. This means there is a significant chance the next time young into the mall someone is going to be walking by you or near you that is wanted for a felony. Some of them very violent felonies. This means as an OC carrier of arms you need to be aware that some of these folks don't exactly plan on going to the pokey Ina quiet and peaceful manner. So when they see you peon carrying of a gun they might thing you're the police. And that means you are the logical enemy of all things for this person. So keep that in mind when you take your gun out for all the world to see.

The equation for this is a drunk female in New Orkeans with lots of money cause she just went to the ATM machine on Bourbon Street. She now has $400 in her and and outs it in her purse. She is inebriated and all the criminals in New Orleans (there are LOTS!) now have seen her and what she has. Blame thing with you and your gun. You've now announced loudly that you'd like to be robbed. Come down to the precinct I worked in before retirement and I'll show you a few folks that don't give a rat about your gun rights or anything else. They'll just like to rob you and take your gun and then do your wife for fun after they take everything else. Thing I'm joking?!! Trust me. I ain't.

Actually, it is quite common. So common in fact that in Texas we even habe written a felony statute to address the topic. Disarming a peace officer is a felony in just about every jurisdiction I can think of and happens all the time.

Officer Robert Washington in Jackson in 1995. Disarmed. Kidnaped inside back seat of his own patrol car. Shot multiple times. Dead obviously. Why? Suspect never caught. But did they use is own weapon against him? YEP.

Okay, in relation to the Open Carrying of Arms.

First let's start off with a little science. Each and every one of us are killers/predators in the animal kingdom. We have pinpointed movable pupils, bifurcated nostrils, ears on the sides of our heads, canine incisors with additional bicuspids, and extendable arms with opposable thumbs. In the animal kingdom this makes us killers at our most basic level. This means ALL OF US WHETHER WE LIKE IT OR NOT are killers and murderers if given the select set of situations. I have thankfully never had to kill anyone. Would I kill someone without hesitation for violence upon my wife or daughter? Yes. So would you. Sympathetic versus parasympathetic kicks in and as predators we will fight and kill if necessary. Same thing with your average house cat. Docile and lovable until a mouse runs by. Then their DNA kicks in and they become killers to. Why? Cause they're predators just like us. The Bible supports this fact en mass.

Why does this matter for OC? Because as a predator if given the correct set of circumstances and the need to kill arises, then if I am standing in Wally World and you are in front of me at the check out line and I NEED A GUN to kill the person that just raked my daughter and by happenstance he is also at Wally World, then I am going to use whatever force is necessary to beat you into submission when you turn around away from me to get your bags into your cart because you are facing away from me. One swing from the small child's aluminum bat I found in the sporting goods department of that Wally World and then you're done for. After I take your gun and kill the rapist I'll gladly then either use it on you or myself. But either way you're done for. And you're the one that let me know you had the exact item I needed when Mr Rapist licked the wrong place to shop that day. And so did you.

Agreed! I "open carried" in uniform every single day before I retired from the department and so did the rest of our officers on patrol. Didn't stop fights and shootings. So clearly open carry and the shaking of a weapon is no deterrent. Just ask Dallas PD of it deterred. Not being harsh! Just reality. Open carry deters nothing.

In fact ALL Secret Service agents conceal carry and they have to protect daily those protectees from people that want to shoot them.

So in that reality neither concealed nor open carry mean a darn thing. Criminals will try and get your gun or shoot you first no matter if you CC or OC. Period.

Petty Officer Robert Dean Stetham. Killed aboard TWA flight 847 almost 30'years ago. Wanna know why he was killed? Cause they found his military ID on him when they searched the wallets. He was the FIRST PERSON taken out cause he presented the most harm.

SAME EXACT THEORY WITH OPEN CARRY!!! When the bad guys rob the place and see you with your open gun they're going to pop you first. And go ahead and tell
Me how you're going to shoot first before they take it. I'd have to take off my shoes to count the number of times I've been to S shooting where the victim had his or her own weapon used against them. Literally dozens!!!

And yes. I also hate a department in "the government". One I despise is called the LCRA. Lower Colorado River Authority. Omg I hate them. Make really dumb decisions on a few camping rules for public access at Canyon Lake.

So I've read the entire thread and a few thoughts come to mind. One...open carry is just dumb unless you're hunting. I say this from experience. Was in a Waffle House in Jackcon, Mississippi (complete low-rent town) and on the night shift for the PD. Just so happens that it was my off night but couldn't sleep so went down to meet my partner for midnight breakfast. While in the restaurant the guy we'd been looking for what had a warrant out for strong armed robbery came in the eat. Two cops eating right next to him five feet away. DANG GOOD THING WE WEREN'T OPEN CARRYING!!! Cause he clearly wouldn't shot at us first if we had. Yes, when we got him he was armed.

Two...I went to Ole Miss but I live in San Antonio. So I have no dog in the University of Texas argument. But I can say 100% the people I know that work with that went there got a FIRST RATE education. Literally first class. Two of the brightest people I know went there. So don't bash them too hard cause you'll likely work sometime in your life for someone who went there and they'll sign your paycheck.

Three...did I emotion OC is dumb? In fact, when off duty before I retired I hid my weapon as soon as I could when I drive away from the precinct. Last thing I want is Joe Shmo to remember I arrested him and he then believe taking my weapon in front of my wife and kids in a good idea cause he can see it since I'm OC'ing and showing it to God and everyone. Heck no on OC. In fact, most of the time I flat out debt I am armed and dang sure deny being an officer. Tell them I work at Pizza Hut.