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Open Carry: I appreciate the effort but...

Luther - I give you credit for realizing that a long gun in public would cause people concern. But cannot you also see that a person with a pistol in plain view would also have that same reaction amongst many people? Both can kill and people know that. So their cause to be afraid would be the same as long as they can see a gun capable of firing killing shots.
I don't freak out about a cop wearing a pistol, or a security guard, or an armed truck employee, like Garda. No one bats an eye.

Because of purpose. Long guns being open carried in public screams "I've got someone I need to shoot from a long ways off".
 
Just the opposite--the 2A support going forward has ramped up like a parabolic curve since the days of Presidents' Ford/Nixon gun control--ask TD.

You're close to having guns become part of the curriculum across the Nation,
which is already occurring in many areas, such as the West and South .
With just as much push back from wealthy business man and politicians as ever if not more. Being a gun owner has become a dirty word in our recent culture. It needs to stop.
 
Some people are scared of heights too but we don't ban tall buildings. Handguns are FAR more common in the public arena than long guns are. Cops have them and people see them all the time so while it may concern a few people it's generally no big deal.

Lets be real here. People see cops with pistols. COPS..
C
O
P
S

If I was with my family in a restaurant and two civilians walked in with pistols, I would have cause for concern and would find it upsetting the same as if they brandished two rifles. And to pretend that lots of people do not feel that way is simply absurd.
 
Lets be real here. People see cops with pistols. COPS..
C
O
P
S

If I was with my family in a restaurant and two civilians walked in with pistols, I would have cause for concern and would find it upsetting the same as if they brandished two rifles. And to pretend that lots of people do not feel that way is simply absurd.

Well then I'd recommend staying away from AZ. It's not that unusual here.
 
Guess it is no different than a woman crossing the road in order to avoid one of "those" guys. Irrational fear is a bugger to overcome. While some folks see this as similar to immersion therapy in order to help people get over an irrational fear, I think it is as goofy as the fear.

So fear of a rifle is rational but fear of a pistol is irrational? IS that the way it is on planet IDEOLOGY?
 
If I was with my family in a restaurant and two civilians walked in with pistols, I would have cause for concern and would find it upsetting the same as if they brandished two rifles. And to pretend that lots of people do not feel that way is simply absurd.

I think it would depend almost totally on who was carrying. Teenage punk-looking kid- problem. Young, middle-aged, or older working guy- no problem.
 
So fear of a rifle is rational but fear of a pistol is irrational? IS that the way it is on planet IDEOLOGY?

Fear of either is irrational in this particular case. I just feel that carrying a rifle in this particular case is goofy. But goofy is not illegal so I support peoples rights to be goofy up until they become a danger to those around them.

Never found the way to planet ideology. Though based upon some of your posts, I think I have found the way to Uranus....(Just a very clever joke...)
 
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Could you explain what you mean by "will become the same as adopted elsewhere" please?

Howdy there Hay...

Checking now, it appears there currently are 30 open carry states, 14 states a permit is required, and only 6 states that no open carry is allowed. People will accustom to seeing sidearms.


Have a great day

Thom Paine
 
Lets be real here. People see cops with pistols. COPS..
C
O
P
S

If I was with my family in a restaurant and two civilians walked in with pistols, I would have cause for concern and would find it upsetting the same as if they brandished two rifles. And to pretend that lots of people do not feel that way is simply absurd.

Anyone can dress up as a cop. Regardless, I would become very upset if someone walked into a restaurant and brandished rifles as well. At that point, they would come close to being shot if I could do so without endangering my family. Brandishment of a firearm shows intent to use the firearm criminally. Brandishment is illegal... Carrying a rifle is not brandishment.
 
I think it would depend almost totally on who was carrying. Teenage punk-looking kid- problem. Young, middle-aged, or older working guy- no problem.

Because a middle aged person never killed anyone?
 
Anyone can dress up as a cop. Regardless, I would become very upset if someone walked into a restaurant and brandished rifles as well. At that point, they would come close to being shot if I could do so without endangering my family. Brandishment of a firearm shows intent to use the firearm criminally. Brandishment is illegal... Carrying a rifle is not brandishment.

What is the practical visible difference to somebody sitting in a restaurant?
 
Because a middle aged person never killed anyone?

No, because a middle-aged working guy isn't typically going to go in and start shooting, but a kid who looks like a punk criminal is likely to arouse suspicion. We are discussing perceptions here. You are the one who said you would be fearful.
 
No, because a middle-aged working guy isn't typically going to go in and start shooting, but a kid who looks like a punk criminal is likely to arouse suspicion. We are discussing perceptions here. You are the one who said you would be fearful.

I prefer to NOT judge the books by its cover but by its content. And the content of both can kill you.
 
I prefer to NOT judge the books by its cover but by its content. And the content of both can kill you.

Well, good for you.
You can make the judgements that you feel comfortable with, and I can do the same. Works out well for everyone involved.
 
I think it would depend almost totally on who was carrying. Teenage punk-looking kid- problem. Young, middle-aged, or older working guy- no problem.

Yeah. The gun itself isn't the issue, it's the rest of the stuff.

Is the person acting weird?
Do they seem to be going about their business as usual?
Are they interacting with others normally?

That's the kind of stuff I look at and, frankly, I look at that whether they are armed or not.
 
Because a middle aged person never killed anyone?

C'mon now, it's image, body language, profiling... " does this person seem to present clear and present danger by actions and demeanor in this location, under these circumstances?

:peace

Thom Paine
 
Well, good for you.
You can make the judgements that you feel comfortable with, and I can do the same. Works out well for everyone involved.

Except when your lax judgements translate into public policy that threatens me.
 
Except when your lax judgements translate into public policy that threatens me.

Nobody is threatening you. If there is open carry in your area, then you are free not to patronize places which allow it.
 
Except when your lax judgements translate into public policy that threatens me.

Threatens you? Where is the threat in lawful carry, open or otherwise?

If someone has a spontaneous bowel release due to certain visual stimuli that seems to be their problem, not everyone else's.
 
Lets be real here. People see cops with pistols. COPS..
C
O
P
S

If I was with my family in a restaurant and two civilians walked in with pistols, I would have cause for concern and would find it upsetting the same as if they brandished two rifles. And to pretend that lots of people do not feel that way is simply absurd.

Depends where you live. I was at the gas station today, the guy at the next pump asked what was on my hip. Next thing you knowwe areexchanging pistols (safely unloaded and cleared first of course), he was admiring my subcompact Glock .357 sig and I was checking out his Springfield XD .45 which is on my short list. If that would make you uncomfortable but seeing cops carrying doesn't, you are already programmed. There is nothing about a badge that requires or beggets purity or good behavior.
 
Threatens you? Where is the threat in lawful carry, open or otherwise?

If someone has a spontaneous bowel release due to certain visual stimuli that seems to be their problem, not everyone else's.

pranoid is as paranoid does
 
Nobody is threatening you. If there is open carry in your area, then you are free not to patronize places which allow it.

You miss the point..... perhaps intentionally. It is not about one person - be it me or anyone else. It is about the society we want to live in. If a rifle presents a reasonable fear in a person - why would not a pistol also do the same since it can do the same harm in a closed in place like a restaurant?
 
Depends where you live. I was at the gas station today, the guy at the next pump asked what was on my hip. Next thing you knowwe areexchanging pistols (safely unloaded and cleared first of course), he was admiring my subcompact Glock .357 sig and I was checking out his Springfield XD .45 which is on my short list. If that would make you uncomfortable but seeing cops carrying doesn't, you are already programmed. There is nothing about a badge that requires or beggets purity or good behavior.

What does that last quip suppose to mean? If you don't believe that the average person looks upon a uniformed cop differently than a armed civilian - you do not live in the same America that most of us do and it is you who have been programmed because of rightist ideology.
 
Threatens you? Where is the threat in lawful carry, open or otherwise?

If someone has a spontaneous bowel release due to certain visual stimuli that seems to be their problem, not everyone else's.

I have no idea what that is suppose to mean.
 
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