It's a shame Picknlittle doesn't have more respect for fellow group members, some of whom have been in law enforcement, the military or other armed professions, to have a mature understanding of the responsibilities involved with carrying a firearm.
I don't think he's being disrepectful. I just believe that he's arguing from a perspective that I (and open carriers in general) want to open carry to be cool, or to look like Rambo, or to be just like a cop.
The idea that were responsible enough to carry for self defense is completely ignored.
Our desire for freedom to carry a gun in any manner we desire because it's
legal gets twisted into...."You just want to terrorize people!" or "You just want to be a cop!" as if openly carrying a firearm only has merit if you also have a shiny disk pinned to your chest.
Look at his wonderful list of restraint of force:
Forgive me for thinking in terms of restraints of duty. For uniformed LEO's the force continuum goes something like this.
1. Uniform presence. Not bullet proof or super human but a symbol of authority.
2. Verbal commands under color of law.
3. Chemical agents.
4. hands,....soft then hard
5. Impact devices/electronic devices
6. Lethal force
Well, guess what. I'M NOT A COP! I DON'T WANT TO BE A COP. I DON'T CARRY A GUN TO LOOK LIKE A COP.
#1 through #5 DO NOT APPLY TO ME!
Verbal commands? Impact devices? OH! I SEE! ON MY BAT BELT! LIKE A COP! No. There is only one reason we civilians carry a gun. In case we need deadly force to protect our lives. Yet, somehow, there's a belief that we should keep this hidden. Like a dirty little secret.
I just want to carry a gun because it is legal to do so. In some places (Starbucks in California) the only way to do so is OC! (Or "UOC" since loaded guns are for cops only) It is also perfetly legal to OC where I live. So........this means if I do so there's something wrong with my motivations? Wearing a hat is also legal where I live. Playing musical instruments is legal. Buying a candy bar is legal. Yet, when I carry a gun openly, I'm suddenly a cop wannabe with an agenda.
It's like all other legal activities. Wearing a shirt is legal, right?
If I wear a blue one, does it mean I want to be a cop? Do I need a badge to do this? It's a legal activity to do so without one. Yet, If I do wear a blue shirt, I must be trying to scare people, right? (Just like carrying a firearm.) Even though it's perfectly legal, and there's nothing against the law (just like OC'ing a firearm) if I wear a blue shirt.....this is bad. I must be doing it for some nefarious reason. (Just like OC'ing a firearm)
Because the only reason folks want to wear blue shirts is to be like cops, look cool, or scare people.
The argument doesn't work with blue shirts (or any other perfectly legal activity) it doesn't hold water with legally carried firearms either.
As Texas Bill said above:
It's sort of like the four blacks who demanded service at the Woolworth's lunch counter in Greensboro
Exactly. Right on the money. They must have been trying to scare people. Expressing their civil rights like that. Right out in the open for all to see.
Well, like Rosa Parks, I also refuse to move to the back of the bus just because someone is uncomfotable with my perfectly legal activity.