I'd say about 75% of the people with whom I come in contact when I OC don't even notice it, therefore nullifying the argument altogether.
Absolutely false conclusion. All it takes is for ONE of the people in the other 25% who DOES notice to have evil intentions and the means to carry them out.
Is that LIKELY? Nope, I'm not claiming that at all. But it is MORE likely than a person targeting a CCW'er because he has a gun.
But as I wrote to the distinguished Dr. Venkman, the reality of this is about as high as the reality of being hit by lightning compared to what goes on in regular life.
But it does happen, and it happens regularly. Winning the lottery is a long shot too, but someone wins a lottery somewhere in the nation every week.
If we take the "it's rare so it's not an issue" approach then none of us would be carrying guns for self-defense purposes.
There is a chance that I could be shot first. There is also a chance that I could be hit by an 18 wheeler on the highway today too. That chance is actually much higher. That doesn't mean I will not drive my truck today. Think about that just a little next time you turn the key in your car.
You're kidding, right?
This isn't about the fact that bad things sometimes happen to people, it's about how to MINIMIZE the chances of having bad things happen.
If you conceal a gun you MINIMIZE the chances that someone will try to steal it compared to leaving it in the open.
If you conceal a gun you MINIMIZE the chances that someone will target you because your armed vs wearing it in the open.
No one's saying that being targeted or having your gun grabbed is COMMON or LIKELY, only that it's MORE likely if your gun is visible than if it's not.
But there are too many people here and in the world, where if they do not get people to agree with them and validate their beliefs, then those people are wrong and must be harshly corrected.
Yes, I've seen that happen... You mean like in this post immediately following yours?
Nobody's Hero said:
I still say some of these arguments are just alternate verses for a song by the brady bunch.
Yeah, everyone who doesn't agree with you
completely is a gun grabber, an anti-patriot and a sheeple... This is my biggest heartburn with this topic. If
FULL agreement can't be reached on
ALL counts then the OC'ers start making nasty accusations.
BlackBearME,
Your entire post is riddled with speculation and full of attempts to think like a criminal down to a detail level that borders on the ridiculous. I don't see any point in trying to refute your guesses about what criminals are thinking--I believe it's sufficient to merely point out that all you're doing is guessing.
I'm glad that your confidence in your ability to predict how criminals will think and act in every given situation assures you of the tacticality and practicality of your choices but I have to say that it doesn't do the same for me.
And, let me close my post by repeating this.
I think OC should be legal everywhere. That doesn't mean I would take advantage of it except in unusual circumstances, and it definitely doesn't mean I believe it's the best option in terms of practicality or tacticality, but I DO think it should be legal.
Can OC be a positive influence for gun rights? Yes, in some cases.
Can it be a negative influence for gun rights? Yes, that's also a possibility.
Can it be done with impunity? Surely, in some cases.
Does it render the OC'er immune from crime? No.
Is it a better tactical option than CC? Perhaps sometimes but not usually.
Is it an EASIER option than CC? Probably nearly always.
Can it target the OC'er for crime--it has at least once.
Can it target the OC'er for LE harassment or arrest even where legal? Sure can.