I retract my last statement, because I actually do have more to say.
"As a gun owner (and CPL holder) I am also a supporter of gun sense in America. Just yesterday, a man killed an employee at the Rite Aid in Frandor, Lansing and shortly afterwards shot and killed another person in East Lansing."
That Rite Aid, as most drug stores, are policy driven gun free zones. Just like the Walgreen pharmacy in Benton Harbor, only in that instance, the employee ignored the stupid policy that would have gotten him shot. My life is worth more than my job, but apparently not to Rite Aid. Bad policy that forcefully disarms people gets folks killed.
"If stricter gun laws are not enacted, the Second Amendment itself will be in danger eventually. "
No, it won't. The strict gun laws ARE the danger to the second amendment
"Ignoring gun sense in America will eventually weaken the Second Amendment. No one here wants that including me."
No, it won't. The only thing that will weaken the second amendment are the people who actively campaign against it, those who support them, and those who do nothing to stand in their way. The second amendment needs active efforts to infringe upon it. People like you.
"Several things are a concern, one in particular. As a CPL holder there are rules as to prohibited areas such as schools, places of worship. Some here in Michigan have gone around the rules and just open carry."
Its not going around the rule. Its abiding by the law, as it is written.
"HB 4774 addresses that, which would prohibit open carry in such places. Myself, I feel that open carry anywhere is not necessary in 2014-where is the OK Corral?"
Because open carry by licensed CPL holders in these areas has become such a problem. Can't go a day without reading about some event where a law abiding citizen.... oh wait. Never mind. The licensed to carry, law abiding citizens are not, have not been, and are unlikely to ever be the problem as it relates to violent crime.
You see no place for open carry? There is an entire state outside East Lansing, most of it rural farmland. My neighbors don't bat an eye when they see me out in my yard with a shotgun slung over my shoulder. No one bats an eye out on the trail when I was hunting morels and had a pistol OCd on my hip, and none of the patrons of the restaurant I took my family to afterwards made a big deal about my clearly displayed pistol. Law abiding citizens still are not the problem. Pistol hunting is perfectly legal, and its a bit awkward, difficult and stupid to conceal an 8" .44 mag just because OC has a blanket prohibition. The deer will appreciate it.
"I have seen more open carry in the Lansing area and I cannot see its justification."
You are entitled to your opinion, just don't be surprised when people disagree. Unlicensed open carry is legal. I know personally the effect it has on folks. Most other law abiding citizens have no issues with it. Criminals don't particularly like it, though.
Here is some justification for you. Self defense. As a CPL holder, you are aware of the expense of obtaining the license. $105 for the permit, roughly $100 for the training, not to mention possible time taken off work to complete it. For many, its expensive enough to afford the gun and a box of ammo. An extra $200+ sitting around would be great, but its a hard justification to many people struggling just to get by. So while not ideal, an open carried Hi Point may be all some people can afford to defend themselves. Self defense isn't just for the affluent who can afford it. I was poor, broke and open carrying a Hi Point at a time in my life where I could not afford better. And with death threats made against me and my family, it was better than nothing.
I have yet to see any positive effects from any of the previously passed common sense gun laws, and I have sincere doubts that I'll see any positive effects if this garbage legislation passes. The fact that Moms Demand Action supports it is reason enough to do the opposite.
