Sharp as a Marble - What happens when you Open Carry an AR-15 pistol while fishing?

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What happens when you Open Carry an AR-15 pistol while fishing?

Open Carry

Watch this ‘exciting’ video to find out

Not on this video was the one elderly lady who I ran into immediate upon arrival. She was nearly in a panic on the phone with someone that some guy had a ‘machine gun’. I calmly explained that he was simply openly carrying a firearm which was legal if he was fishing. She stormed off in a huff saying “well, I don’t see why anyone needs a machine gun”.

Other than that? A few looks an an inquiry or two, no panic and no blood in the water (minus any the two catfish and one ray that were caught might have left).

Update – The gentleman who is carrying the AR is not me. I’m the one behind the camera.

posted @ 11/6/2010 8:03:55 PM

Incoming Links

Weekend Link Love: Grandmaster Flash Edition | All American Blogger on 11/6/2010 10:03:32 PM

Sharp as a Marble - Open Carry fishing event is a go! on 1/7/2011 9:40:47 AM

Sharp as a Marble - The long, hard fight on Open Carry. on 2/17/2011 12:48:51 PM

Comments

Rollins says:

on 11/6/2010 9:05:22 PM

Hey Robb! it was great meeting you at the OC event. I had a good time even with the 50 mile an hour winds! hope to see you next month

Sam says:

on 11/6/2010 9:08:56 PM

Robb - great day "fishing" and great video! Nice meeting you sir!

Sam

Gregory Morris says:

on 11/7/2010 1:41:24 AM

Oh the horror!

That's even more boring than what happens here in Baghdad when someone is carrying an AR platform rifle while fishing.

Miguel says:

on 11/7/2010 8:05:38 AM

I am guessing the fish were hyper aggressive? Or gators?

Cool video and great reactions.

Am I the only one that hates the "4"?

bluesun says:

on 11/7/2010 9:41:43 AM

Using the little girl dressed in pink as a hostage! The Horror!

Linoge says:

on 11/7/2010 12:04:54 PM

Seems to be pretty much the exact same kind of reaction I get while openly carrying my little piece - the occasional glance or double take, and then a fat lot of nothing. No running and screaming. No calling the cops. No nothing.

What with all the froofera the anti-rights nuts would have us believe regarding open carry, my first experience was something of a let-down, honestly... ;)

Crotalus says:

on 11/7/2010 12:09:14 PM

*yawn*

Wait a sec... Were you doing the recording, or was that you fishing?

O.K., this is where I might be construed as one of those "I support the 2A, BUT..." characters, but I'm not. But those guns do look a little intimidating, and it might be more appropriate to carry something smaller, unless he thinks he's going into a situation that requires one of those. Notice, however, that I said "appropriate", not that it should be barred. He has every right to carry that, per the uninfringed 2A.

Bob S. says:

on 11/7/2010 2:20:41 PM

Crotalus,

Appropriate to what is the question?

Appropriate to making the point that no one panics?
Then the AR is the obvious choice.

Any gun is intimidating to the antis, yet their claims of hysteria weren't borne out.

And as a personal opinion, why isn't an AR appropriate to the occasion?

He isn't at a ballroom dance where it would clash with his outfit or limit his mobility.

TJP says:

on 11/7/2010 4:17:38 PM

This reminds me of the recently coined term "terror expert". I suppose it means something on Planet DC; in other places where dictionaries are owned and English is spoken the obvious definition is, "someone who is expert at being afraid".

Whether or not something is "intimidating" is entirely subjective, and cannot be known in advance. Any contraband rule that attempts to take into account only the opinions of people crippled by the scarcely understood mental defect known as the phobia creates an impossible standard of behavior for the rest of the populace. Were I too carry around an AR pistol in 5.56 at my club, at least one person would ask what I was doing toting around a BB gun. Why is it that the latter is not the standard?

Weer'd Beard says:

on 11/8/2010 5:53:03 AM

http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2010/01/29/ds-arms-new-fal-pistol-and-sbr/

FAL pistol would have been a better choice! ; ]

Crotalus says:

on 11/8/2010 6:59:38 AM

Well, Bob, it would be more appropriate for, say, voting in Philly. ;o)

I was surprised to see that feeling coming from me, though. And I still maintain that he has the right, per the 2A. I will not say, "There oughta be a law!"

Robb Allen says:

on 11/8/2010 8:05:10 AM

Actually, hardly anyone noticed the pistols on people's hips. We're all pretty accustomed to seeing PDA's, cellphones, and doodads hanging off of people belts that a gun just isn't that big of an object to draw the eye.

In this instance, where we were showing that open carry isn't a threat, it was quite apropos. Granted, a large, blinking neon sign would have been a little less noticeable, it did draw eyes and even started up a few conversations.

Sam says:

on 11/8/2010 8:24:28 AM

Robb - I agree without the AR Pistol I don't think we would have anyone ask anyone questions. Thos questions led to, in my mind, very informative and receptive conversations. If the intent is for us to fihs and fellowship and not address any questions then the AR Pistol WAS inappropriate. However, if our intent is to draw attention to the cause and educate the masses it was the only platform that did gte noticed and then it was not negative.

Sam

Crotalus says:

on 11/8/2010 9:54:38 AM

TJP, you're right. The feeling IS subjective, and as I thought about it, the feeling faded pretty quickly.

Bubblehead Les says:

on 11/8/2010 12:33:24 PM

I believe that if anyone tried to use an AR pistol or SBR on our rivers up here, they would be forced out of the water by the Fly Fisherman. Don't you know that your line can get caught on your weapon when you try to cast? And where can you hang your creel? ; )

Speakertweaker says:

on 11/8/2010 1:27:29 PM

Obviously, that video was doctored. I'm quite sure that, right after that video stopped, the machine-gun-wielding wacko grabbed the nearest unarmed citizen and bullet-hosed her.

Through the shoulder thing that goes up.

And then bayonet-lugged her.

Eeeevil, I tell you;)

tweaker

TJP says:

on 11/8/2010 6:31:42 PM

Oh, that's a bayonet lug? I thought it was a grenade launcher thingy.

Trever says:

on 11/8/2010 7:44:32 PM

Neither a lug nor a grenade launcher thingy, sheesh...

http://www.brokenr1.com/guns/ar15pistol/index.html

I thought it accentuated the 1911 quite well...

Robb Allen says:

on 11/8/2010 7:49:15 PM

Trever, I was going to try to steal the Kimber myself, but the AR pistol scared me too much ;)

Comments have been closed on this topic.