I Carry a Firearm for Political Purposes

[Dean Weingarten]

I carry a firearm for political purposes

Carrying a firearm confirms the right of citizens to use force. It confirms that the ultimate sovereign is the individual citizen, not the State. It confirms that the federal and state constitutions mean something, and are not infinitely malleable by the courts, and that government is limited by the rule of law.

All of those things are opposed by statists who hate being restrained by the rule of law, disdain the citizen, and preach the rights of the group(which effectively mean no rights) vs the effective rights of the individual.

So, carrying a firearm is a symbolic step away from tyranny and back toward the rule of law. It shows that the MSM no longer controls the flow of information so that the left controls the public discourse. It shows that we can restore the Constitution, rather than descend into socialist tyranny. Much of the faith of the left depends on their belief that their philosophy will ultimately triumph. Citizens carrying firearms is a step away from the future of total control that they envision, which is why they oppose it so vigorously, and constitutionalists push it so vigorously. It is the camels nose under the tent.

I carry for political purposes.

http://gunwatch.blogspot.com/2013/02/i-carry-firearm-for-political-purposes.html

©2013 by Dean Weingarten Permission to share granted as long as this notice is included.

 

[Ehtereon11B]

Political purposes? If that is his primary or sole reason to carry then he should not be armed. Sure I think having a firearm and being a "number" reported to the government as an armed citizen is a way of showing support for the 2A. However your first, and most important, duty of carrying a firearm is personal protection.

 

[Solo]

And I own high capacity magazines for 1st amendment purposes!

 

[Flopsweat]

Political purposes? If that is his primary or sole reason to carry then he should not be armed. Sure I think having a firearm and being a "number" reported to the government as an armed citizen is a way of showing support for the 2A. However your first, and most important, duty of carrying a firearm is personal protection.

With all due respect, he can carry for whatever reason he wants. It's not up to you or me to tell him what his reason has to be.

 

[BigBore44]

I agree with Flop.

It is his 2A right to carry. My belief is that the 2A is to keep the power of the people, with the people, and not with the government. It's not a political statement when I carry. I carry only to protect others and myself. But I don't think if the OP were to walk up on a bad guy beating a woman with a crowbar that he will not fire. At least I hope he would.

Now, if the OP had said "I carry my ______ because I think it makes me a bada$$ and makes me look cool." I would have taken issue with that for sure. BUT....as long as he is a legal ccw license owner, it's still his right.

 

[smogmage]

Thats something we've lost as a country; we just assume that we through the government can tell other people how to love their lives. I may not like what you're wearing, what you're saying, how you're carrying yoir firearm... but I have no right to tell you to change it.

 

[Pilot]

Yes! I carry for both personal protection, and because I am making a political statement, maybe only to myself, but to reaffirm my NATURAL RIGHTS that no government can take away.

 

[MedWheeler]

I, too, have felt at times that my carrying of a firearm for defensive purposes has been part of a "bigger picture", so to speak. No, it doesn't make me a superhero or anything, but it does, in itself, make a political statement, intended or not, that cannot be made in most other societies. There is definitely something "American" about it.
I guess I never quite put my finger on it before.

 

[Creature]

I dont care one iota why he carries...I only care that he can.

 

[Outlaw Man]

I only care that he can.

This. When he can't, then we have problems.

On the other hand, I hope he only uses it for personal protection.

 

[ApacheCoTodd]

While I neither open carry nor conceal carry for "political purposes", I do recognize that for me at least it constitutes (pun intended) a potentially political statement and revel in that as I would a tee shirt, bumper sticker or button.

So, it's gonna be there regardless, if it is interpreted as a "political statement" by those open to perceiving it as such, so much the better.

So, it is what it is, though I would prefer they view it as more a "social statement" if it needs to be stating anything at all other than that I am a free American openly exercising rights now centuries old.

 

[SouthernBoy]

I carry a firearm for political purposes

Carrying a firearm confirms the right of citizens to use force. It confirms that the ultimate sovereign is the individual citizen, not the State. It confirms that the federal and state constitutions mean something, and are not infinitely malleable by the courts, and that government is limited by the rule of law.

All of those things are opposed by statists who hate being restrained by the rule of law, disdain the citizen, and preach the rights of the group(which effectively mean no rights) vs the effective rights of the individual.

So, carrying a firearm is a symbolic step away from tyranny and back toward the rule of law. It shows that the MSM no longer controls the flow of information so that the left controls the public discourse. It shows that we can restore the Constitution, rather than descend into socialist tyranny. Much of the faith of the left depends on their belief that their philosophy will ultimately triumph. Citizens carrying firearms is a step away from the future of total control that they envision, which is why they oppose it so vigorously, and constitutionalists push it so vigorously. It is the camels nose under the tent.

I carry for political purposes.

Very well written, very nicely stated. Props to you.


Now as to whether or not one carries for political reasons, as has been previously suggested, that is a personal decision to take. My take is that I carry for my own protection. If doing so helps to educate others either by them seeing this or asking me questions, then I see that as a positive thing, as an extra benefit to the public in general. It is not my primary reason, nor even a secondary reason. It is just a fact of the circumstances.

I celebrate anyone who wishes to carry a defensive arm, be it open or concealed, gun or knife, pepper spray or baton.

 

[Teachu2]

Carrying a concealed weapon for political purposes is a fallacy - if nobody knows you are carrying, what is the political purpose? Open carry for political purposes is effective.

Either way, carry on!

 

[Black Butte]

Political purposes? If that is his primary or sole reason to carry then he should not be armed.

Judging other people's motives for exercising their rights as being inferior to yours is not a position I would be advertising.

I would rather have a responsible person carrying primarily to preserve the rights of everyone than have an overzealous yahoo packin' heat.

 

[BaltimoreBoy]

Twenty years ago or so there was some chap who wrote on 2nd Amendment constitutional law. I forget his name at the moment. He had no interest in firearms or shooting, but he had purchased a shotgun in order to exercise his 2nd Amendment right. That's as good a reason as any.

 

[H.m.B]

I think the qualifier for political purposes is what skews Dean's statement a bit. I don't think he is implying that his carrying a firearm is to identify with or against any particular political party or apparatus as it is his statement that we, as citizens of this great country, have a constitutional right to carry a firearm for whatever legal purpose it is. His right to carry is merely an outward reflection of his support for the rights vested us in our Bill of Rights.

On a personal note, I do not carry as I feel that, given my lifestyle, where I travel, what I do, statistically does not increase the threat to me or my family to warrant carrying a firearm. However, with all the craziness of late, and the continuous attacks on our Constitutional rights, I too have considered applying for a CWP just for the sole purpose of showing support for our rights. Would I carry? Probably not as nothing in my lifestyle would change. But that is a personal decision. What it would do at a minimum however, is to increment by one, the number of concealed weapon permit applications from our county/state that sends a signal to those aggregating statistics in our government, that one more citizen from this country has elected to exercise a given right. A right that should not have been infringed in the first place by requiring a CWP.

 

[Ehtereon11B]

Perhaps I came off a little more harsh than intended. I do not think carrying a firearm solely for political reasons is a good idea. I see people who carry a firearm for only political reasons as the same ones who carry it unloaded because they do not believe they will ever need to use it. And also someone who carries for political reasons (in my mind) lets everyone know he is carrying, which eliminates the purpose of concealed.

Having a firearm, and having a permit to carry that firearm is a large step towards political activism for the 2A. Everyday we see how much NICS and CCW permits have jumped since Obama and all the antis starting talking about gun control. The political activism of being a legal, responsibly armed citizen is a side effect of personal protection.

 

[mcdonl]

I carry for self defense but I am good enough at math to realize that living in rural Southern Maine I also carry for political reasons as much as SD.

 

[beatledog7]

I carry for a number of reasons, and I suppose "political reasons" is in there, peripherally.

One could say that about 90% of what we do has a political angle. How could it not, with government and politics pervading every aspect of our lives?

 

[Flopsweat]

Perhaps I came off a little more harsh than intended. I do not think carrying a firearm solely for political reasons is a good idea. I see people who carry a firearm for only political reasons as the same ones who carry it unloaded because they do not believe they will ever need to use it. And also someone who carries for political reasons (in my mind) lets everyone know he is carrying, which eliminates the purpose of concealed.

Having a firearm, and having a permit to carry that firearm is a large step towards political activism for the 2A. Everyday we see how much NICS and CCW permits have jumped since Obama and all the antis starting talking about gun control. The political activism of being a legal, responsibly armed citizen is a side effect of personal protection.

I'm still going to have to disagree with you. He can carry for political reasons and still be prepared to use the firearm effectively if the need arises. Assuming that he isn't is actually a little insulting.

As to "eliminat[ing] the purpose of concealed", his purpose is not the same as yours. There is no evidence that open carry is any more dangerous than concealed carry. We're all a little different. Some of us hunt, some shoot Bullseye or bench or IDPA or CAS, some plink, some just collect guns and never shoot most of them. Some of us like to post on a gun forum. Dean likes to carry for political reasons. Good for him.

 

[Shadow 7D]

Consider the way the courts have interpreted free speech
you can't walk down the street naked, paint your body with a slogan, and now you can, as it would otherwise be an infringement on the 1st...

 

[radiotom]

Political purposes? If that is his primary or sole reason to carry then he should not be armed. Sure I think having a firearm and being a "number" reported to the government as an armed citizen is a way of showing support for the 2A. However your first, and most important, duty of carrying a firearm is personal protection.

Should not be armed?

Hey, guys! Look! An anti!

 

[DNS]

I carry for many reasons and wish to open carry to make those reasons plain to everyone who looks. It also stands to reason seeing folks openly carry a gun is a way to change their perception of firearms also.

Texas H.B.700 should fix it so I can.

 

[r1derbike]

Dean's political carry statement is a literary metaphor, and a well written article to boot!

 

[enine]

You know what, thats part of the reason I an going down that route. Since we moved out of the city into the suburb 3.5 years ago I don't feel the "need". But what if I were to get laid off, can't find a good job, be forced to move,etc. I could have that need in the future and not be able to have it. So I bought for a want rather then a need and partly to stand up and fight.