Open Carry re dux

[Oldgringo]

Colorado, with the exception of opted out Denver, is an open carry state as I understand the situation and the laws.

We're fortunate to be spending our fourth summer in a small hamlet deep in the San Juan Mountains of Colorado. We shop in Gunnison, Montrose and Grand Junction, etc., with family visits to the Colorado Springs area and dry camping in the Ouray area and elsewhere. I've never seen anyone openly carrying their weapon in Colorado except LEO's.

What is the big deal with the demand for Open Carry in Texas. I must be missin' something. Is Colorado not an Open Carry state or what?

[boomerang]

I don't notice a lot of people open carrying bibles except preachers. Doesn't America have freedom of religion?

[JPGIII]

It seems to me that the issue of Open Carry is 99.9999% a comfort issue for the general population. How will your average Dick and Jane react when that 6ft African American male walks into a store with a firearm on his waist (please don't consider me racist but you know what I'm getting at)

They'll react exactly as they have been conditioned (by media: news, TV, movies, etc.) to react; with fear. Firearms are "weapons" used to "kill" not "tools" used to "protect." Or at least that's the impression you're meant to have.

So why a demand for open carry (here in TX or anywhere for that matter)? After all, we have conceal! Isn't that enough?

I say No. Conceal carry does nothing to educate and familiarize the general population with the notion that a handgun can protect them, whether they choose to carry one or not.

Assume for a moment that Texas had licensed carry (conceal or open). If that same gentleman were now to open carry into a store, he is either 1) Licensed (therefore trained) to use that gun or 2) A COMPLETE IDIOT to not conceal it and risk a major felony conviction. Now I'll make any bet that #1 is the case; because no criminal is going to openly display their weapon when they could easily conceal it.

What does this do for the public? Seeing that weapon, knowing the individual has been trained to use it in self defense of both himself and those around him, can desensitize people to the idea that the "gun" is "evil." When I see someone openly carrying a firearm (sadly I don't), I can be reasonably sure the environment I'm in just got a little safer.

Now if Texas actually had open carry legislation, I would love to participate in public service projects while open carrying as a means to help with this kind of thing. It's the single best way I can think of to advance the position of support for firearms.

Oh.. and it's a constitutional RIGHT to bear arms but really... who pays attention to small details like that

[blue]

The Open Carry OPTION! -Sure would be nice to have, with the new Federal Parks rules changing, for camping and hiking etc. in Big Bend and others.

-I fully agree with above post about people getting use to it. I believe that would help greatly, in getting rid of some of the restrictions we are battling now, like the school carry.

(-I have actually met people, new to Texas, that were surprised and puzzled by NOT seeing Texans openly carrying!) (After all it is "TEXAS"!!!)

[Frost]

It seems like people are getting over it(link) in communities with open carry activists.

[Oldgringo]

This post was not intended to inflame or incite. The Oldgringo was merely sharing three summers worth of observed non-carry in an Open Carry state. Interesting .

[Purplehood]

It seems to me that the issue of Open Carry is 99.9999% a comfort issue for the general population. How will your average Dick and Jane react when that 6ft African American male walks into a store with a firearm on his waist (please don't consider me racist but you know what I'm getting at)

They'll react exactly as they have been conditioned (by media: news, TV, movies, etc.) to react; with fear. Firearms are "weapons" used to "kill" not "tools" used to "protect." Or at least that's the impression you're meant to have.

So why a demand for open carry (here in TX or anywhere for that matter)? After all, we have conceal! Isn't that enough?

I say No. Conceal carry does nothing to educate and familiarize the general population with the notion that a handgun can protect them, whether they choose to carry one or not.

Assume for a moment that Texas had licensed carry (conceal or open). If that same gentleman were now to open carry into a store, he is either 1) Licensed (therefore trained) to use that gun or 2) A COMPLETE IDIOT to not conceal it and risk a major felony conviction. Now I'll make any bet that #1 is the case; because no criminal is going to openly display their weapon when they could easily conceal it.

What does this do for the public? Seeing that weapon, knowing the individual has been trained to use it in self defense of both himself and those around him, can desensitize people to the idea that the "gun" is "evil." When I see someone openly carrying a firearm (sadly I don't), I can be reasonably sure the environment I'm in just got a little safer.

Now if Texas actually had open carry legislation, I would love to participate in public service projects while open carrying as a means to help with this kind of thing. It's the single best way I can think of to advance the position of support for firearms.

Oh.. and it's a constitutional RIGHT to bear arms but really... who pays attention to small details like that

Trained? What kind of training?

[pbwalker]

It seems to me that the issue of Open Carry is 99.9999% a comfort issue for the general population. How will your average Dick and Jane react when that 6ft African American male walks into a store with a firearm on his waist (please don't consider me racist but you know what I'm getting at)

No, I'm not quite sure what you're getting at...

[DoubleJ]

It seems to me that the issue of Open Carry is 99.9999% a comfort issue for the general population. How will your average Dick and Jane react when that 6ft African American male walks into a store with a firearm on his waist (please don't consider me racist but you know what I'm getting at)

I would tell Gerald "hi" and go about picking up my daily quota of Kitty Litter and TV Dinners (those Healthy Choice Cafe Steamers are great btw).
I'm pretty sure the big decider in a lot of instances is the presence of a holster, and/or if the handgun is IN said holster.

Black, White, Pink, or Yellow, a dude walks in brandishing* a handgun, as opposed to it merely being present in a holster prolly would make the difference, for the most part.





*with a apologies to TxInvestigator

[jorge]

It seems to me that the issue of Open Carry is 99.9999% a comfort issue for the general population. How will your average Dick and Jane react when that 6ft African American male walks into a store with a firearm on his waist (please don't consider me racist but you know what I'm getting at)

No, I'm not quite sure what you're getting at...

You know.

How will your average Dick and Jane react when that 6ft African American male walks into a store not OCing?

How will your average Dick and Jane react when that 6ft African American male walks into a store with a white woman?

How will your average Dick and Jane react when a gay couple walks into a store?

How will your average Dick and Jane react when an Arab American woman wears a burkha into a store?

It seems to me that intolerance is 99.9999% a comfort issue for the general population.

[Purplehood]

It seems to me that the issue of Open Carry is 99.9999% a comfort issue for the general population. How will your average Dick and Jane react when that 6ft African American male walks into a store with a firearm on his waist (please don't consider me racist but you know what I'm getting at)

No, I'm not quite sure what you're getting at...

You know.

How will your average Dick and Jane react when that 6ft African American male walks into a store not OCing?

How will your average Dick and Jane react when that 6ft African American male walks into a store with a white woman?

How will your average Dick and Jane react when a gay couple walks into a store?

How will your average Dick and Jane react when an Arab American woman wears a burkha into a store?

It seems to me that intolerance is 99.9999% a comfort issue for the general population.

I am not sure that I am comfortable with that.

[JPGIII]

It seems to me that intolerance is 99.9999% a comfort issue for the general population.

Why does it seem like intolerance is at the heart of most social issues these days (though I guess it's not really just "these days"). But that's kind of the point I was going for.

No, I'm not quite sure what you're getting at...

Take something that can cause the public to be apprehensive (like openly carrying a gun) and compound it with as many other stereotypes as you can. It doesn't make any sense and leaves you but that's the general idea.

I love Suzanna Hupp's search for the "African American pregnant lesbian in a wheel chair" as being the "perfect" spokesperson for the firearm rights agenda. Critics are always saying that visible guns would make people too apprehensive. So I tried to combine the most stereotypical characteristics associated with causing apprehension, just so I could point out the craziness of it all. (of course I could have blown it... hence the disclaimer I thought I was generous in giving my fictitious individual much credit at the end of my post)

Trained? What kind of training?

Well I would assume before we ever got a simple right to carry (a la Vermont style) that they, the legislature, would pass a licensed open carry. Again, I would assume someone would demand "training" to get the license (very similar to what we have with CHL) and that's why I made that comment. I still try to give some concessions to our friends on the other side of the fence; having spent a long time on that side I know what worries them the most. Individuals with firearms who know nothing about firearms is one of their chief concerns (and one I still share to a degree).

[surprise_i'm_armed]

JPGIII, re: Open Carry.

When the petition from opencarry.org became available, I signed it,
signifying my support for open carry.

As a newbie to CHL, I figured open carry would take the worry out of
concealment.

But I am now happier with the status quo of concealment because Texas
still allows CHL's to be prohibited from sites that properly display a
30.06 sign.

I believe that if we went to open carry, the number of posted 30.06
sites would skyrocket.

So be vewwy vewwy quiet so that we can keep carrying in the majority
of Texas stores and other venues.

[Purplehood]

Well I would assume before we ever got a simple right to carry (a la Vermont style) that they, the legislature, would pass a licensed open carry. Again, I would assume someone would demand "training" to get the license (very similar to what we have with CHL) and that's why I made that comment. I still try to give some concessions to our friends on the other side of the fence; having spent a long time on that side I know what worries them the most. Individuals with firearms who know nothing about firearms is one of their chief concerns (and one I still share to a degree).

In reality we get absolutely no training as a part of the CHL application. You either pass or you do not. You do get educated on the current laws regarding CHL and the use of deadly force, but when it comes to handgun handling you get no formal training whatsoever (unless the trainer takes mercy on you and makes you point the muzzle down-range).

[Oldgringo]

Went to town again yesterday:

I dunno', after spending considerable time where Open Carry is legal (I think) and not seeing anybody except uniformed LEO's doin' it, maybe Open Carry is perhaps like the "forbidden fruit".

Although I signed the petition, I certainly have no desire to stroll down the street with my CCW hangin' out.

BTW,there are no bullets in the local Smal-Mart here either.