OC at townhalls, good or bad?

Are guns at townhalls good, or bad for gun rights?

  • Undecided

    Votes: 10 7.9%

  • Yes, they show people guns are not violent (and/or other reason)

    Votes: 47 37.3%

  • No, they make us look crazy (and/or other reason)

    Votes: 69 54.8%
  • Total voters
    126
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NC-Mike said:
Stoopid idea
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Could you elaborate a little, please, as to why you feel the way you do?

To the OP:

I have decided that people acting in accordance with the law is not a bad thing per se. In fact, I like it when people don't break the law.

I stopped concerning myself with trying not to frighten the bedweeters a long time ago.
 
The idea of OC is as much about pragmatism and perception than anything else. Instead of parading around with a rifle at a town hall meeting, why not invite the press to a shooting competition? Why not invite selected writers to an NRA class? Flies will always be more attracted more to honey than vinegar.
 
Funny how a country where open carry was the accepted form of carry has now gone to the cowardly and criminal way of carry as being acceptable.

Oh, no I have a GUN. I must hide it so no one will know I have it. See, I have this PERMIT. He, he, he.
 
I dont think they make us look crazy, but there is a time and place for everything. I know that some have a 'give them and inch and they will take a mile' mentality. OC at town hall mettings should be reserved for meetings concerning 2a rights.
 
I suppose there is a risk that someone will freak out and the Town will eventually feel forced to post a "no guns" sign on the town hall building ... but it still seems that we should feel a bit more free to OC than we do. I voted yes, so I'm not undecided but on the other hand, I'm not that sure either. Interesting question for certain.
 
I'm all for open carry. But would prefer folks either conceal or did not open carry at events such as town hall meetings.

It only serves as ammo for the media to paint everyone at the meeting as angry anti-government right wingers. Those of us who care to inform ourselves know that is not the fact.

Still, perception is reality in the media... and those that open carry only help the media disparage the good folks that are concerned about the direction of our Country.
 
I'm all for open carry. But would prefer folks either conceal or did not open carry at events such as town hall meetings.

It only serves as ammo for the media to paint everyone at the meeting as angry anti-government right wingers. Those of us who care to inform ourselves know that is not the fact.

Still, perception is reality in the media... and those that open carry only help the media disparage the good folks that are concerned about the direction of our Country.
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I tend to agree kdstrick.

I have recently changed my opinion about OpenCarry to a pro-OpenCarry view.

However, there is a bit of common sense necessary in understanding the surroundings and circumstances which will best help or hurt our cause. OC at a town hall does not seem to be such a good way to win supporters.



That said, I am still for CC at town halls and such simply because I CC everywhere I can.
 
nm. oc legal unlike some komunist states. i like to show Democrats what real freedom is before it gets watered down just like everything else. govt owns general motors, banks, insurance firms, and now wants to take over health care......mmmmmmmmmmmmm sounds like a party i know komrade.
 
Bad idea. I served two terms as a city councilman (1992-2000). The atmosphere can quickly deteriorate at town meetings. I have dealt with unhappy and unreasonable citizens on everything from dog control to garbage collection. Tense enough situations WITHOUT firearms present.
 
I do not OC unless during hunting season, but I think I would treat any government building the same. You cannot carry in a post office or courthouse so I figure a town hall is the same. Just my guess, I carry concealed.
 
As an info point, when this exact same question was posted on TOS (The Other Site), the feelings articulated were almost precislely the opposite of the entiment here.........:cool:
 
I think it is a good idea along the lines that it will raise peoples awareness to the laws in their state, but a bad idea because these protest rallies are beginning to get violent (man with finger bit off). Someone might try to provoke a fight with an armed man to show how violent gun totin right wing nuts are, and it turns into a mob and the man has to defend himself. Shooting starts, the police get involved and possible a snow ball effect of mass violence. That is kinda out there I know, but possible
 
If someone had open carried to a town council meeting while I was seated, I likely would have seen it as attempting to intimidate. The result (most likely) would be an ordinance prohibiting firearms altogther at town meetings(yes,it would be lawfull).
 
My rep pulled a smart move... he's having his town hall in a high school.
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In Michigan, it is legal to OC with a CPL in a pistol free zone. My rep is such a coward he did his by phone.

Also in Michigan, we have full preemption so any local ordinance would be trumped by the state preemption.
 
Such an ordinance would stand in Alabama at the state level. It would have to be struck down by The 11th Circuit Court of Appeals at the federal level (or ,if pressed, on to the U.S.Supreme Court).
 
I don't know of any Alabama city with such an ordinance. It likely would not even be addressed unless there was an incident to bring the subject up such as a bunch of folks OCing at high profile meetings. Just saying it would stand unless struck down at the federal level.
 
Taking a firearm, either OC or concealed to a political event in this day and age is just about one of the more stupid things you can do. Given the current tense political situation you are just inviting trouble.

I don't think some of you realize that because of the current fight over health care reform you are likely to meet professional agitators from one side at one of these events. These are people who are paid by political operatives to start trouble and make news. They go to these events often planning to be arrested. Your firearm is very likely to make you a victim of one of these agitators who wants to cause an incident. Open carry should be out of the question, if I was going to carry at all it would be in very deep concealment so that there would be little chance of the weapon being spotted.

These professional agitators think nothing of trying to goad the police into an over the top response, an armed private citizen will be seen as an easy mark for starting an incident. Think about the news reports you've seen of the WTO meetings and the riots that happen wherever they are held. The same people who organize those protests are going to be trying to start things at the town hall meetings, it happened in St Louis a few weeks ago.

We haven't seen political strife like this in the US since the early 1970s. It's not going to be pretty and you are just setting yourself up for one of these professionals to try to goad you into using your weapon if you let them know you have one.
 
I have been to some very tense public meetings at the local regions DOW office when the director had an unusual number of armed officers present and it was hard to believe it wasn't for the intimidation factor.
I guess the public should have the same right but I also feel it would ultimately work against us.
 
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