Open Carry in Florida

[jiminhobesound]

Has this issue been discussed in the past. It presents a quandry for me. I believe in the second amendment. However, as I have said in the past, im a not sure it is a good idea in urban areas in Florida. As I have related in the past I hunted with my father in the west in the fifties and most people carried a gun and I never saw a problem. There is so much social friction in Florida that I could see some idiots doing some really stupid things that would impact gun owners. What do you think.

 

[EddieNFL]

I think all .gov agencies should be required to adhere to ALL of the constitution, not just the first amendment.

http://www.nwfdailynews.com/news/carry-38423-committee-open.html

Local article concerning open carry. Lots of "the streets will run red with blood" types posting comments.

Don't like open carry? Don't open carry.

 

[NavyLCDR]

There is so much social friction in Florida that I could see some idiots doing some really stupid things that would impact gun owners. What do you think.

I guess Florida must have some very "special" idiots there, because what you suggest has not been a problem in the 42 states that allow open carry in some form or another.

 

[EddieNFL]

Nah, our idiots aren't any better than any other state's. Most of 'em hold public office.

 

[kingpin008]

As mentioned, open carry is allowed in many states already. Most of the idiocy, when it arises, comes from cops who are ill-informed or otherwise against citizens carrying guns. Your fear of people doing "stupid things" is unrealistic.

 

[PcolaDawg]

I live in Florida and I don't understand why we don't have open carry yet. I've lived in Miami and I think it would be a GREAT idea for the urban areas in this state, as well as the rural areas.

 

[NavyLCDR]

As mentioned, open carry is allowed in many states already.

Not just many..... the majority.... 84%.

 

[One-Time]

If we dont excercise, or allow the same, of our right because what a criminal, idiot etc may do then we better just burn the BoR.

You cannot prohibit law abiding folks rights because what a small minority of folk may do

 

[JTHunter]

Carry of any kind

Being a resident of the last state that does NOT allow ANY form of "at-the-ready" carry, consider this: if you OC and the perp sees you, they might look for easier pickings. Or they might try to figure a way to get the drop on you and take both your gun and your wallet, etc.!
With CC, the ambiguity of them "not knowing" if you ARE carrying may make them seek easier prey. If not, they may get the biggest surprise of their miserable lives.
Which scenario would you prefer?

 

[BIGAL]

Open carry florida

hopefully from what i read and understand this bill sb234 should become law sometime this summer,i probably won't open carry even though i hold a ccw but at least if my jacket opens i won't be charged with a felony!

 

[EddieNFL]

Which scenario would you prefer?

I prefer the scenario that allows me to exercise my constitutionally guaranteed rights in any law abiding manner I see fit. Not any of the scenarios the naysayers conjure up in their frightened or control obsessed minds.

 

[NavyLCDR]

Being a resident of the last state that does NOT allow ANY form of "at-the-ready" carry, consider this: if you OC and the perp sees you, they might look for easier pickings. Or they might try to figure a way to get the drop on you and take both your gun and your wallet, etc.!
With CC, the ambiguity of them "not knowing" if you ARE carrying may make them seek easier prey. If not, they may get the biggest surprise of their miserable lives.

Too bad your theory has never happened in reality, that has been documented or reported. Seems to me like it would be much, much easier for the criminal to hang out for two minutes for the guy with the gun to leave and the next guy to come along who doesn't appear to be carrying a gun. Or for the criminal to just go to the convenience store on the next block where there isn't a guy with a visible gun.

When 99% of the population does not visibly carry a gun, why in hell do you think a criminal would pick the 1% that does visibly carry a gun as a target? Also, it is so much easier for them to buy a gun, or have someone buy a gun for them, using money they have stolen from unarmed citizens, or to steal a gun that is unattended rather that try to take it from a holster worn by a person with enough gonads to wear it visible.

http://www.gunfacts.info/pdfs/gun-facts/5.1/gun-facts-5.1-screen.pdf
Page 31.

Fact: 60% of convicted felons admitted that they avoided committing crimes when they knew the victim was armed. 40% of convicted felons admitted that they avoided committing crimes when they thought the victim might be armed.

Fact: Felons report that they avoid entering houses where people are at home because they fear being shot.

Fact: 59% of the burglaries in Britain, which has tough gun control laws, are “hot burglaries”174 which are burglaries committed while the home is occupied by the owner/renter. By contrast, the U.S., with more lenient gun control laws, has a “hot burglary” rate of only 13%.

Fact: A survey of felons revealed the following:

• 74% of felons agreed that "one reason burglars avoid houses when people are at home is that they fear being shot during the crime."
• 57% of felons polled agreed, "criminals are more worried about meeting an armed victim than they are about running into the police."

I just don't understand where this idea of a visibly worn gun is going to attract criminal attention and cause the carrier to be a target comes from. The felons themselves say the will turn away from armed targets and move on to easier pickings.

But, to each is own... carry your gun concealed, I don't care. Just please stop from spreading unfounded propaganda against open carry because you don't like it. Leave that activity to the Brady Campaign and VPC. They really don't need any help from among our ranks.

The scenario that I prefer is that the criminal will see a visibly hardened target, and simply leave me alone and wait for you to come along. You can deal with him with your "element of surprise".... I will be driving away in my car unmolested by that time. I don't carry my gun to shoot criminals with. I carry my gun to protect myself and my family from the criminals, and "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure."

 

[One-Time]

posted by:EddieNFL
I prefer the scenario that allows me to exercise my constitutionally guaranteed rights in any law abiding manner I see fit. Not any of the scenarios the naysayers conjure up in their frightened or control obsessed minds.

This! Well said

 

[hermannr]

Two big advantages to open carry. First and most important; if you inadvertently expose your concealed weapon you are not breaking the law.

The second is, if you have a hunting weapon, say a big Blackhawk or Colt Anaconda, you can carry it without breaking the law.

Can you see trying to conceal a 8" Blackhawk or??? However that Blackhawk makes a wonderful hunting arm.

 

[gym]

Same idiots in NYC, and I never had a problem there with my carry. At least you could take off a jacket it you were sweating your ass off without worrying you were going to go to jail.

 

[Standing Wolf]

You cannot prohibit law abiding folks rights because what a small minority of folk may do

Why not? It worked for Stalin, didn't it?

 

[22-rimfire]

I can legally open carry in my state with the permit. The police suggest you don't in urban areas. I choose to not open carry unless I carry to have the gun seen. Others can do what they want to, but open carry is far simplier than concealed carry.

 

[gamestalker]

What you are describing is not supported by facts. It has long been well established by the FBI and state criminal staistics, that open carry states have over 30% less violent crime per capita, rape, murder, kidnapping. These stats are based on 10 year trends, and are compiled accurately by using only facts that are obtained from every LE agency in the U.S.A., including Federal agencies. If you go to the FBI's web site and take a gander at their compiled criminal statistic's, you'll see the facts that will quickly discount your unfounded fears of "Idiots With Guns". On their web site you'll also see many other statistics, such as deaths per capita caused by automobiles which dwarfs guns and really puts it into perspective.
I live in Arizona and the other day my Son and I stopped at a C-store grab a fountain drink. As I was approaching the fountain, a particular man looked at us and started shaking his head, and began acting very freaked out. Of course my Son and I were open carrying. The man then started rambling at us about how rediculous and dangerous it is to allow people to just carry guns in public. He progressed to the point he was making a scene, which got the attention of a police officer that was filling his fountain pop. When the LEO looked our direction, the guy started rambling at him, as though the LEO was going to offer some support of his fear and apprehension. The LEO with great haste grabbed his drink and beat feet out of there, without responding to anything the guy was saying. It turned out that this guy was from California. But before we parted ways, I simply said to him, welcome to Arizona and I hope you enjoy your visit. Your apprehension is all to familar to me, as is your statement that you support the second ammendment and all. It's when you add the "but" that I become concerned about what your position on the 2nd is. The constitution doesn't allow for the government to to limit our rights by their perception of human rights. That is it's purpose, accept it, deal with it.

 

[jiminhobesound]

Open Carry in Florida conclusions

First of all I posted the words I did to stir things up. I have concluded that I will not openly carry a gun; I think the scenario in Florida is a little more preIcarious than most people realize. I have written my representatives in support of the bil but I will not openly carry because i would rather surprise a potential bad guy. if the bill becomes law I will monitor the media, Florida and national, to ascertain statistics they will compile. I will also monitor gun support groups in Florida to get the other side of the picture. I no longer have a quandry or deep concern about problems since so many statistics were presented proving my suspicions are totally unfounded. Regarding the guy that lives in Miami; I will respect your position because you live in one of the areas about which I am conerned. On the other hand the gang capital of Florida is in Fort Pierce, two hours north of you near where I live. Oh well, we shall see.

 

[TheProf]

For you guys that believe in "CCW" only (no open carry), please consider pushing for open carry anyways.

The advantage of having open-carry legal is that it gives CCW persons an extra layer of legal protection should they accidentally fail to conceal their weapon (ie. wind blowing your cover garment open, etc.)

I don't plan to open carry..... but I do strongly support the open carry movement.

 

[gym]

It allows you to carry a weapon without fear that the bottom of your holster is showing or the sweat**** rode up and exposed your firearm, plain and simple. It isn't about parading around showing off your guns. It's being secure in knowing that you can get to your gun without being a magician or acrobat. along with being able to carry your mid to full sized weapons without worrying about them sticking out someware and landing you in a courtroom for a year trying to stay out of jail because it was windy that day.

 

[gamestalker]

I always carry open, but I also have one that is concealed. My personal feeling and statistical response is, carrying open serves as a deterent to a perpetrator that is sizing up their next victim. Most perps will not even consider some who is obviously a threat to their random attack.

 

[stuckinsocal]

The 2nd Amendment doesn't place a limit on how we can bear arms. That should be my decision and mine alone. Freedom has risks; whether those risks about open carry are real or perceived is another matter.

 

[Hoppes Love Potion]

I would consider carrying open in FL because it would let me jump up in power from mousegun to ratgun.

 

[Mainsail]

...as I have said in the past, im a not sure it is a good idea in urban areas in Florida

I doubt there is any more urban area, chock full of liberals, than Seattle Washington. We carry openly there without drama.

The only 'bad' thing about the proposed open carry law in FL is that it's a law that allows open carry. Here in Washington it is the lack of a law prohibiting open carry that makes it legal. That makes a huge difference.