When it comes to Open Carry, I’m less concerned about the Brady Campaign and their pathetic mouthpieces like japete than I am about some pro-gun people and their disdain for the practice. Take for example this “I’m a gun owner but…” gentleman discussing the possibility of Open Carry here in the Sunshine state. Read the whole article, listen to the condescension as it just drips from the article. In fact, just the closing should tell you all you need to know about this guy
So those theoretical guys I had walking down Park Avenue would be more silly than dangerous. And that pretty much sums up the open carry movement.
So those theoretical guys I had walking down Park Avenue would be more silly than dangerous.
And that pretty much sums up the open carry movement.
In my opinion, it is that kind of condescension and snobbery that harms our movement more than it helps. I know some people disagree with Open Carry because, sans any sort of statistical facts to back it up, they just feel it scares people more than it helps. I don’t have any indicators that places that allow OC have had any issues with it, including having enough people freaked out that stricter laws were put in place. Heck, seems like the worst we have to offer are made up stories.
I can totally understand why some people would not care for Open Carry. I disagree with the super-secret, mall-ninja training that says you allow your enemies to close in and then, with blinding speed, you peel back several layers of clothing and whip out your heater in under 1/100th of a second, catching your attacker by surprise. I also do not feel that having a visible gun on your hip automatically ‘puts you in the fight’, but I can understand why people would feel that way.
There’s a lot of things I disagree with with other gun people, and there are certain things I find silly and would never do. But publicly, I support them in their endeavors because I am assured that others find what I want to do silly and would not do themselves and, like this case, I’d prefer they not actively attempt to undermine me.
Articles this this guy’s, and certain pro-gun bloggers who actively rail against it, harm the chances to push forward even more pro-gun legislation. Unless there’s clear evidence that OC harms the pro-gun movement, even if it has 0 effect whatsoever, there shouldn’t be this kind of pooh-poohing from those who claim to support the 2nd Amendment, because these arguments are used by our enemies to divide us. It’s no different than hunters openly deriding evil black rifles.
As a side note, I will be at one the of OC Fishing Events mentioned in the article although, as I am not a fishing kind of guy, I will be there to observe and report.
Hat Tip Alphecca
Update - Sean Caranna, the gentleman quoted in the article, responds
Why antagonize the hoplophobes and make them run home and send a donation to the BradyBunch?
Because, as Sebastian pointed out above, that simply doesn't happen