National Open Carry Day

[flatrock]

I would support a open carry day, but it has to be done carefully.

We want to inform the public, not shock them into fear.

One way might be to find places where we could have rallies. We could gather in specific areas and and have a picknic and meet other gun owners while carrying openly. We should notify local authorities in advance and attain any permits that holding such a rally might require.

We would have to all be on our best behavior, and there should be no alcohol consumption at the event.

If counter protesters show up we should contact the police and let them deal with it. We should make every effort to maintain an image of calm and responsible people.

The idea of doing this as a group and informing law enforcement in advance is to avoid the police receiving multiple man with a gun calls all over the place and reacting badly.

Notifying them in advance gives the police administrators the chance to make sure the officers know the law, and how to deal with people carrying openly properly and safely.

If in the unlikely event that there are still some officers that choose to act poorly and irresponsibly, it will be clear that we made efforts to avoid such situations, and the officers will likely be held to a higher standard of conduct than they might be otherwise.

Police officers are human. They don't all know the law perfectly and won't always react in the best way when they are put in a situation that they feel is dangerous. In order to reduce the chances of dangerous confrontations we should take steps to make sure the officers will be properly trained before they encounter someone carrying openly.

 

[DRZinn]

How about an "Empty Holster Day" in those jurisdictions where it is still illegal to carry?

Beautiful idea! I'd been trying to think of a way for those who can't carry openly to get in on it. A button just wasn't quite doing it.

Let's see.... website (and someone to operate it), get the word out to the NRA, JPFO, and all the others, as well as all the libertarian/RKBA blogs around. Hmmm... there goes all my free time for the next month, but I'll see what I can do.

Any help with the marketing would be greatly appreciated.

 

[DRZinn]

NO rallies! The whole concept is to show that it can be a normal part of life for a perfectly normal person. If we concentrate in one area at an event, it'll be like any other pro RKBA event. The idea is to GET OUT THERE and do normal things in a normal way, with a gun on your hip.

I was thinking about January 1st, a day with no true significance, but a day when the majority of us will be neither working nor studying, but many stores will still be open. Then again, a lot of people stay home New Years.... Any day will do, but we need maximum exposure.

You're right that we need to notify the cops, but not too early, lest they get the city councils to pass an ordinance against it. Maybe just the day before.

 

[wolf]

not in this life...

the country is way too divided to allow this type of "gun pride day"..wolf can see it now..one small accident...no one hurt..and it gets blown out of scope..the event would be put under a microscope..and even then it would be presented with distortion and bias.

there will always be some fool willing to sacrifice his/her life to "ban guns..abortion..killing bambi..cutting down trees..corporate greed"

I feel we are in the last stages of "freedom". As America changes before our eyes. We will see in the near future..gay marrage..open borders..non-citizen voting in major elections..and UN style control of our government & military.

I fear a "parade of guns" will only bring the "end of guns" closer to a reality.

to quote frank zappa..."who could imagine...they would be freaking out in Kansas"

wolf

 

[DevilDog]

I would prefer a "self defense button" day. We'd all wear a button with a picture (not the same one) of someone whose life was saved by use of a privatley owned firearm in self defense.

Each button would be captioned with the phrase "I am alive because of the 2A" or "The 2A saved my life".

A couple dozen or so different pictures so we wouldn't all wear the same one, and the wearer would have to know the story behind the particular picture he/she was wearing.

We would have a preference toward incidents that included things like a potential rape or domestic abuse, or someone who was a potential hate crime victim and they stopped their attackers with the use of a firearm (not necessarily a shooting.)

... just a random alternative idea.

 

[sendec]

Random Thoughts

Is'nt it ironic when someone cites gay marriage, open borders and liberalized voting as an example of the loss of freedoms?

Why should we expect antis, or anyone, to repond to a Million Gun Owner March any differently than the typical response here to a Million Mom March? Anything from indifference to derision..........

No one has been "saved" by the Second Amendment. They have been saved by the will and skill of men and women, some with guns, some without. To propose that anyone has been saved by a piece of paper is no different than to allege that someone was killed "by a gun".

Random musings between meetings........

 

[Rebeldon]

It's a wonderful fantasy, but I've been telling people that whether I carry a pistol or not is a private personal defense issue. If I open carry, it's not private anymore.

 

[wolf]

to clarify..

Is'nt it ironic when someone cites gay marriage, open borders and liberalized voting as an example of the loss of freedoms?
-------------------------------

in stating that...the intent was to indicate that America and the definition of "freedom" are indeed changing...not to imply loss of freedom. Freedom is not static..but fluid...and different to each one of us.

Each example could spark debate for years...and it will.

wolf

 

[BB62]

Only somewhat off topic...


American Handgunner (www.americanhandgunner.com)
September/October 2004

By John Conner


I’ve just about had it with this “Gun-Free Zone†crap, you know? True, I live in a fairly sissy-rich environment but, usually, the only visible effects are too many restaurants with “Chez†in their names, dogs with designer haircuts and guys wearing magenta polo shirts. I’m not sure what magenta looks like, really, but I’d bet some of those shirts are it. Mauve, too. But lately I’ve noticed and even more troubling trend. You’ve seen these little round signs with a gun and a circle and a diagonal line through it and it says “This Is A Gun-Free Zone� And it’s like they’re proud of that or something! I’m seein’ more and more of those and it’s bothering me.

They’ve also got these little huggie-children signs proclaiming that it’s a “Child-Safe Place,†where kids in trouble can run to get help. Now, guess what? I’m seein’ places with both those kinda signs! What in heck is that about? A “Child-Safe Place in a “Gun-Free Zone�


Real Safe Havens

When my kids were little, I taught ‘em the two best places to run for help were police stations and gun shops. If the trouble they were running from was Large & Lethal, I knew either one of those places were full of folks who’d be armed, alert and prepared to go to General Quarters to protect a child from any harm. What kinda help do you think they could get in a Gun-Free Child-Safe Place?

“Ooohh, come hide with me in the corner, dearie! We’ll weep uncontrollably together and if necessary, we’ll grovel and beg for mercy!†Yeah, that’s where I want my kid going. Mahatma Gandhi was a really nice guy, but not my first choice for my kids’ bodyguard. If my stand-in has to be a guy in sandals, I’d prefer it was Spartacus. At least he had a sword and an attitude.

Not so long ago, you could even tell your kid to run into a bar if somebody mean was after ‘em. You were virtually assured there would be at least a couple of men in there quaffing boilermakers who would be just tickled pink to defend a scared kid. In fact, there was a guaranteed butt-whuppin’ involved, generally happening to the next dude who came through the door. Might be the wrong guy. Might even be several wrong guys. But there would be two absolute results: (1) butt-whuppin’ (s), and (2) a safe, happy child sittin’ on a bar enjoying a frosty 7-Up.


Re-Zoning

In my experience, these “Gun-Free Zones†are usually freely roamed by dopers, carjackers, ganbangers and assorted thugs, all armed to the teeth, plus mass-murderers creepin’ around lookin’ for masses to murder. They know where the easy prey is. After all, those gun-free signs even have graphics to accommodate illiterate crooks. The only folks unarmed are the law-abiding types.

In fact, when you look at the mass shootings occurring in the U.S., over the past several years, just about all of ‘em have happened in supposedly gun-free areas. That’s just wrong, guys.

I think what we need are some “Gun-Rich Zones.â€

Like, wouldn’t you really rather do your grocery shopping in a supermarket with a big sign saying “This Is A Gun-Rich Zone! Legal Concealed-Carry Customers Welcome!â€? Maybe another sign below it could read, “Notice To Scum-bags: Every Employee, From the Manager To The Kid Who Mops Up The Mess In Aisle 14, Is Armed And A Cum Laude Graduate Of the FunThunder Academy Of Crook-Capping.†Bowling alleys that are posted Gun-Rich Zones could actively cater to the Carry-Crowd. I can see gun-oriented bowling teams like the Kimber Kidz, the Springfield Sillies, the Less Huggy-Baers, the Rockin’ Glocksters an’ SIG-Piggies and Colt Ponies and…Okay, smart guys, you dream up some names. I don’t even bowl. Even when I do, it ain’t really “bowlingâ€, you know? But if I could carry openly and not have to hide my Roscoe under a bowling shirt, I’d take up the sport.

How ‘bout a “Gun-Rich Zone†restaurant? Wouldn’t you be comfy eatin’ at the Smith & Wesson Supper Club, “Armed Citizens Always Welcome� The Ruger Rangehouse Restaurant? I’d even try the CZ BBQ, featuring fine ribs and chops with a European flair. Well, maybe not. But you get the idea. Bet you one thing, folks: There’d be no snail-like service and NO snotty waiters. Customer service always seems to improve when there’s ordinance on your hip.

If I owned a bar – maybe the Beretta Bar & Grille – I’d love to post a sign outside for crooks reading, “Everybody In This Place Is Presumed Heavily Armed & Drinking. One In Every Four Is Having Ginger Ale, Because They’re Our Designated Hitters. You Guess Which Ones.†For the first time, you’d have pals volunteering to abstain, just on the off-chance…


Lotsa’ Shots

Oh, sure, there would be press. Oh, yeah, and it would be bad. I can see the headlines full of dire predictions like, “Slaughter While Shopping!†and “Mayhem At The Mall! and crap like that. And just like all those rivers-of-blood-in-the-streets predictions when the concealed-carry wave washed over most of the U.S., they’d be wrong.

We – the Gun-Rich Zone movement – would just have to explain that it’s a bold social experiment, just like “Gun-Free Zones†were a bold social experiment. They failed, so why can’t we give it a shot? Or lotsa shots?

One thing we need is the right graphic for our signs. I’m sure there’s some graphic artists out there among our readers. Shoot your best to me at [email protected] and I’ll check ‘em out. Meantime, if you see me on the street, just presume that I’m a Mobile Gun-Rich Zone, okay?>br?

 

[spartacus2002]

If my stand-in has to be a guy in sandals, I’d prefer it was Spartacus.

Actually, I prefer Skechers

Oh, BTW, when Open Carry Day comes, please don't anyone wear one of these

 

[flatrock]

NO rallies! The whole concept is to show that it can be a normal part of life for a perfectly normal person. If we concentrate in one area at an event, it'll be like any other pro RKBA event. The idea is to GET OUT THERE and do normal things in a normal way, with a gun on your hip.

In some areas you can do that, in others you'll just instill fear in a lot of people. I agree that the goal is to be able to get out there and walk around carrying openly, but I think we need to make smaller steps on the way to that goal.

Have some rallies. While you're there support the local businesses that permit you to carry in their store. Maybe carry openly near the rally site.

If we do that a few times, then start carrying openly in more areas. The small steps give the public and the police a better chance to be prepared to deal with seeing armed poeple in a rational manner.

It's just my opinion, but I'm concerned that seeing people suddenly carrying openly all over the place may shock the sheep into actively working for more gun control. Sometimes little steps are better.

 

[DragonRider]

Maximum exposure would be on Black Friday with regards to both business and people. But the pucker factor is high for LEO on that date post 9/11.

Just a thought

John

 

[MNCCW]

I would say rather then choosing a Date, pick a "floating Holiday" date for NOCD (or whatever), something like the first Saturday of September. The problem with picking a date would be that it won't always fall on a weekend, and that means that people who work in "gun free zones" cannot participate.

I would second the Open Holsters for people that cannot carry (wether it be for lack of a permit, or due to local laws.) I also think buttons would be good, this would allow people to show support if they do not currently own a gun/holsters.

Also rallies may not be a bad idea, as long a they were something like a short morning (hour or so) organizing rally, It would allow people to pick up buttons, get a feel of the how other people will be presenting themselves, and support people.