Does open carrying long guns really help persuade public opinions in a good way?

So what are these long gun open carry people supposed to do with their weapon if they sit down to eat?
Are restaurant owners now supposed to have a gun rack, near the umbrella and coat rack?
Seems to me a restaurant owner would be concerned about upholstery getting snagged and torn, or even worse, a long gun leaning up against a table falls over, some idiot grabs for it (normal reflex) and the safety is off...


But, no I don't think it helps our cause.

Does open carrying long guns really help persuade public opinions in a good way?

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Only if you want people to think you are a “nut job”.

I uphold anyone's right to OC, but prefer an OC'd weapon to be HOLSTERED. Many perceive these long guns to be LOADED, and maybe they are. Triggers are exposed, and the public perception is that many of those carrying AR's, and AK's are dangerous. If you want to OC a rifle, put it in a rifle sheath at the minimum, but I do think it attracts a lot of negative PR, and attention. that does us a disservice.

This is just my take on the matter of the open carry of long guns.
In populated areas and public venues I consider open rifle carry as a provocative form of brandishing.
Cops don't open carry long guns unless a real and perceived threat has been identified and neither should common citizens.

As for open carry in rural areas away from populated and public centers,
In this day and age I would personally consider a person something of a tenderfoot if they didn't as least have a long gun and a mobile phone within grabbing range.

A lot of city jerks have been getting the impression that rural folks are ripe and easy pickings here of late and they seem to enjoy showing up in groups.
You probably won't get them all but a proper long gun and the wherewithal to properly employ the weapon can keep these miscreants at a distance until help can arrive.

Officer'sWife, thank you for Post#20.

That may be the most eloquent, cogent and intellect-engaged post that I have ever read on this subject.

Thank you!

What good is a right that the public disproves of and our own are to scared to use, and those who do are belittled.

Is it a right after all? What is the most effective way for an anti to stop OC, make it so the OCers allies don't even support it.

Then down the road when they move to strike and legislate, will you say no? Or will your stance be something similar to the posts I'm this thread?

They are more courageous than I to be OCing like that. A YouTube search will uncover a gluttony of police misconduct used against 2nd supporters. Whic is why I don't OC. I will get harassed by police , and I just don't want to deal with it. That's how OC can fade away even without legislation.

Just my musings.

I live in WA. Very few people open carry in WA. I don't except when I hike or hunt. I have a permit and would rather CC.

I'm in AZ for the winter. I see OC everywhere here. Nobody freaking out, at least I haven't seen it. Lots of people here from other parts of the country for the winter so I'm guessing they don't have a problem with it. My wife who reads the Huffington Post and is a huge Obama supporter hasn't even noticed it yet.

Granted, they aren't carrying AR's, but everyone knows people do that for the shock value. Personally, I don't think it's a wise tactic to win support but I'm not running anyone's campaign either.

I don't see it helping/saying anything other than "hey look at me, I've
got dog*&^# for brains".
Dave

Not in my experience,,,

I have never heard a positive remark about those people.

I have heard many negative remarks about them.

I'm not talking about rabid anti-gunners,,,
The negative comments come from 2A supporters.

I don't condemn the folk,,,
But I won't participate in their actions.

Aarond

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aarondhgraham said:

I have never heard a positive remark about those people.

I have heard many negative remarks about them.

I'm not talking about rabid anti-gunners,,,
The negative comments come from 2A supporters.

I don't condemn the folk,,,
But I won't participate in their actions.

Aarond

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I think they are anti-gunnuts acting as agent provocateurs.

Aside from the hugely crushing election result (I-594 passed with about 60% of the vote), we took several steps backward in the public opinion arena. And lost a long-standing right (to openly carry firearms into our Capitol building) due to the actions of a few stupidly selfish people.

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While I might consider open carrying long guns to be tacky, it is not their fault that a right has been infringed/banned just because they exercised it.

Quote:
It just bugs me how much we say we want gun freedom, and in the next breath ridicule some one who uses that freedom.
This is the crux of the matter here: gun owners are their own worst enemy. Demanding others carry as you do does nothing for liberty.
__________________

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That is completely backward. Im ridiculing someone who threatens that freedom. They threaten that freedom with their irresponsible handling and missuse of a firearm. Thats a rifle, not some cardboard sign with magic marker one liners all over it. There is no question that the purpose of that rifle is to be antagonistic. If you have a ligit fear of safety and are in need of having a rifle handy Ill support you 100%, but if you are going to try and use a gun as a political prop, ill put as much distance between you and me as possible.
When I think resposible gun owner, the last thing that comes to mind is some guy sporting it around like the latest fashion wear from a top designer.
OC demonstrations do nothing but show irresponsible use of a firearm.

Those guys who go around urban areas waving long guns in peoples faces are probably on Bloomberg's payroll.

You can think of it this way. 5 or 10 years ago how many people knew openly carrying firearms was legal? How many people now know even if they don't like it? The in your face method does get results.

There is no point. Just because you can? Sorry. Yes you have the right, and I will actually fight for that right, as strange as it sounds.

It absolutely hurts and any other chatter is just that.

BobTheTomato said:

You can think of it this way. 5 or 10 years ago how many people knew openly carrying firearms was legal? How many people now know even if they don't like it? The in your face method does get results.

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the only results it has gotten have been for stricter gun laws. It works, but it works for the other side.

People act like this is the only way to educate people on open carry, and that is an absurd mindset. You can educate people without acting like an irresponsible child.

There are restaurants where open carry of long guns is encouraged, but they generally have a gun rack by the door. I have been in rural restaurants that cater to hunters. In the city there is no gun rack by the door and they do not have a grooming rack to doctor your hunting hounds.

I hate to say this but the actions of OCT are like they are MDA plants. Who carries their rifle into home depot or target? The guy in WA with his duster and his AR pistol at low ready. What was he thinking? Suicide by cop? People who hate gun owners so badly they will try to get them killed by "swatting" are capable of anything. We have to think beyond just exercising our rights.

Johnny_B_Goode said:

I hate to say this but the actions of OCT are like they are MDA plants.

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I tend to agree...

And what happened in Texas doesn't stay in Texas, Moms went to Kroger HQ in Cincinnati Ohio with a petition demanding that Kroger ban open carry. Would they (Moms) have come to Cincinnati if there were no one (NEEDLESSLY) open carrying rifles in stores in Texas?

Not once in all the years I have shopped at Kroger, have I seen anyone walk in with a rifle, nor have I heard about it. Nor have I seen that in any store in Indiana, Ohio or Kentucky.

I have read comments here and many comments elsewhere that Texas is starting to become a blue state. OK,..so at what point will this (open carrying) completely backfire and legislation is introduced banning the open carrying of rifles in Texas? And at what point will that pass?
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the only results it has gotten have been for stricter gun laws. It works, but it works for the other side.

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Ummmmmm....who has lost open carry? It looks like last year, Arkansas became the 45th state to have open carry. Please cite examples of people losing rights due to open carry activists.

You can educate people without acting like an irresponsible child.

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So exercising your rights means you are being a child? You don't like it? Get over it and grow up. Living in a republic means you accept risk in your life and can
t have perfect security.

@BobTheTomato

California did ban open carry, but the citizens of that state have only the privilege to keep and bear arms. This is not a real loss because the legislature does what it wants regarding guns anyway. Anti-rights gun people cite it in an attempt to "prove" OC is "bad". All they're really doing is pointing out that California gun owners won't point weapons at their legislature and demand it honor the Second Amendment. The result is Hell for gun owners; look at the most recent rounds of gun control if you want to see insanity.

In many states, open carry is the actual expression of the right to keep and bear arms since concealed carry requires a permit. In Virginia, they cannot ban open carry because of the constitution; the antis slipped concealed carry into the equation and we're stuck with it.

BobTheTomato said:

Ummmmmm....who has lost open carry? It looks like last year, Arkansas became the 45th state to have open carry. Please cite examples of people losing rights due to open carry activists.



So exercising your rights means you are being a child? You don't like it? Get over it and grow up. Living in a republic means you accept risk in your life and can
t have perfect security.

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Just in tis thread alone we have direct examples of losing OC privages in Washington because of these people. That is one example of a direct undisputable negative impact. I am sure i can find more.

Can you prove that open carrying long guns helped get the laws changed in Arkansas since that is your example

I hate to say this but the actions of OCT are like they are MDA plants. Who carries their rifle into home depot or target?

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Again, you need to understand Texas law. Open carry of a handgun is illegal in that so-called "pro-gun" state. They are doing it to get handgun open carry. Concealed carry in Texas is a privilege.

We still want open carry for all guns. If you're hunting, but walking from your truck along the road...you're open carrying since you cannot hunt from the road. If you carry your gun to your car to and from the range and don't have a case...you're open carrying. If you use a rifle or shotgun for defense in a public place...you're open carrying. There is no reason to get arrested for it because it is part of the right to keep and bear arms. That said, I politically support guys who open carry long guns. I demand proper gun handling in my presence.

We may *disagree* with it, but it's necessary. I don't like OC of long guns because it's difficult to control the muzzle. I've seen guys sweep restaurant patrons when taking a seat--that's unacceptable. Therefore, in my mind, *proper* open carry includes handguns in a holster and the occasional long gun open carry in the situational use of the long gun.

I didn't say it helped change anything in Arkansas. I pointed out regular people now know that it is legal. Washington state lost open carry in the state capitol and this was a rule change not a law....not the whole state and CA really doesn't count.

Texas is one of the battle grounds right now and they are talking about advancing regular open carry not banning the open carry of rifles.

You are entitled to your opinion but people to not call people who exercise their rights children.

"They threaten that freedom with their irresponsible handling and missuse of a firearm."

Has there been a single injury, death, discharge, or prosecution at one of these events? Just how irresponsible could they be? Way to use hyperbole and misrepresentation to promote your 'feels' like an anti, scared that their neighbor even owns a gun, though.

TCB