General Categories > Carry Issues
open carry almost gone bad in lincoln
BV:
dcjulie, I want to thank you for posting a constructive response rather than assuming I am uneducated about the pros and cons of open vs concealed carry or just out right criticizing open carry. However, while the NFOA certainly seems to have been instrumental in helping to push through legislation and will likely continue to be so, its not legislation that I'm looking to get involved with directly. Its certainly important, and I support those that are directly involved, but its not something I'm looking to be active with right now. Perhaps thats not all the NFOA does, but its all I've seen.
To the rest. I understand you don't like open carry, and I understand the reasons why. But I lived in WV for many years and have only been back in the midwest a short time. So WV is still fresh in my mind. Out there (at least the part of the state I lived in) open carry was very common. I can't remember a single business that banned firearms other than the college. Anywhere I went it was normal to see several people open carrying. We had a state maintained free outdoor range for both pistol and rifle. I even knew a guy that 2 or 3 times a month rode through the city and out to the range on his motorcycle with his AK-47 on his back and never once got hassled by the police for it. And all this was in a democratic state. Then I move to NE, a republican state, and suddenly guns are no where to be seen and are apparantly percieved as evil. Its hard to wrap my head around that twisted reality. Add to that my years in armed security(ie. being required to open carry), and yes, I'm comfortable with open carry. I do understand that not everyone that will see me necessarily is.
Perhaps there is no answer. Perhaps NE is a lost cause. If the majority of members in what appears to be the states most influential gun rights group have come to see open carry the same way the liberals see firearms ownership, well then perhaps the liberals have already won. I'm sure this post will likely upset many members, and for that I apologize. I simply spoke my mind. I'm also sure that many people will try to tear me apart for my opinions. And thats ok. I'm clearly out of touch with NE. So I will it to you all.
lneuke:
Don't take what I said the wrong way, and after re-watching that video I noticed they used some harsh phrases that I don't support (something like "we don't want you representing gun owners"). From your initial post it seemed you were open carrying more or less just because you can, and not out of necessity. I have full confidence that as a CCW holder you have sound logic in your reasoning for concealed carry, and I'm sure you know that part of being a gun owner is being aware of your surroundings. As the video stated, in certain places open carry is very acceptable. In fact, I used to open carry in my vehicle and other accepting places before I received my CCP. However, given the recent news events and the fact that the bigger cities in NE aren't very accepting of guns, you definitely made a mistake in open carrying. You shouldn't use the excuse that you're so comfortable around guns that you felt it was alright to open carry. Everything you said is truth however, it is a twisted reality and it's a damn shame. I hope there is a day where we can acceptably open carry anywhere, but now isn't the time.
I still stand by my original post, and feel that if you didn't find it constructive other members will. I also still feel that we should first concentrate on the public's acceptability of firearms, rather than focusing on raising awareness of our firearms rights.
NENick:
--- Quote from: o on July 23, 2012, 09:42:32 PM ---dcjulie, I want to thank you for posting a constructive response rather than assuming I am uneducated about the pros and cons of open vs concealed carry or just out right criticizing open carry. However, while the NFOA certainly seems to have been instrumental in helping to push through legislation and will likely continue to be so, its not legislation that I'm looking to get involved with directly. Its certainly important, and I support those that are directly involved, but its not something I'm looking to be active with right now. Perhaps thats not all the NFOA does, but its all I've seen.
To the rest. I understand you don't like open carry, and I understand the reasons why. But I lived in WV for many years and have only been back in the midwest a short time. So WV is still fresh in my mind. Out there (at least the part of the state I lived in) open carry was very common. I can't remember a single business that banned firearms other than the college. Anywhere I went it was normal to see several people open carrying. We had a state maintained free outdoor range for both pistol and rifle. I even knew a guy that 2 or 3 times a month rode through the city and out to the range on his motorcycle with his AK-47 on his back and never once got hassled by the police for it. And all this was in a democratic state. Then I move to NE, a republican state, and suddenly guns are no where to be seen and are apparantly percieved as evil. Its hard to wrap my head around that twisted reality. Add to that my years in armed security(ie. being required to open carry), and yes, I'm comfortable with open carry. I do understand that not everyone that will see me necessarily is.
Perhaps there is no answer. Perhaps NE is a lost cause. If the majority of members in what appears to be the states most influential gun rights group have come to see open carry the same way the liberals see firearms ownership, well then perhaps the liberals have already won. I'm sure this post will likely upset many members, and for that I apologize. I simply spoke my mind. I'm also sure that many people will try to tear me apart for my opinions. And thats ok. I'm clearly out of touch with NE. So I will it to you all.
--- End quote ---
I'm with ya on this. Unfortunately, two plus two equals purple nowadays.
wallace11bravo:
Coming into someone else's house and insulting them is not a good way to start off here. With the forum, the organization, or the state in general. There are people here who have given countless hours and dollars to start up and maintain this organization. Including people who pushed through CC in this state in the first place.
Personally, I've never sided too much with or against OC. I do not teach pistol, and have never had a student ask my opinion. I haven't OC since I got my CHP, and when I did it was out of legal necessity. After reading your account of these events, I am going to have to plant my flag in the anti-OC camp. I've been leaning that way for a long time.
When dealing with anti-gunners and fence-sitters, you do not want to fuel their fire. OC only serves to do just that, just as me walking down O street with my AR-15 would be a terrible move right now, or any time really. They will not listen, they will not learn, they refuse to, and instead will use your demonstration of your right to bear arms as ammo for their argument. It does not make sense, and it does not need to for them. Their minds are made up and they will feed on fear and ignorance to pursue their issues.
It is similar in almost every way to the anti-tobacco campaigns. How many people believe that there is any real evidence that secondhand smoke is harmful? What if I told you that there exists no such evidence? The ONLY report was completed by the CDC in the late 1980s that attempted to show causation between secondhand smoke and smoking related illness was thrown out by a federal judge only a few years later for ignoring it's own data (confirming a false hypothesis) In the study of 100,000 participants, the chances for increased risk of smoking related illnesses between those exposed to secondhand smoke and those who were not exposed where "statistically irrelevant" IOW a number not worthy of measuring, and not valid for confirming a hypothesis.
Yet there exists today public smoking bans, in fact, I cant remember the last time I saw someone smoking indoors in this country. Why? because the masses are ignorant, and will support whatever feels and sounds right.
Gunscribe:
"Open carrying in public is one heck of a way to NOT gain any support for gun rights, all it does is hurt our cause through creating additional fear. In our anti-gun society, it is not a good idea to be showing off our rights in the faces of gun-hating voters (especially when you have a CHP already)."
Anti-gun people want guns gone ... period. Open or concealed it doesn't matter. If you think keeping your guns covered or locked up in a safe is going to change any minds your deluded. If you don't like open carry don't do it.
When a large number of pro-gun people publically slam another large number of pro-gun people for their LEGAL method of carry it creates a divide that the anti-gun folks drive a wedge into. It is the reason we have all of those "sensible gun laws". Too many supposed pro-gun people siding with the anti's. We need this (fill in the blank law), see even pro-gun people are in favor of it.
It does not matter one wit whether you carry openly or only fondle your gun under your bed after midnight in a dark room the anti-gun people want you dissarmed. The sooner some of you get that and quit trying to placate the anti's the more that can be accomplished.
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