The part of this thread that I can't grasp is why do you "need" to display in an area where it is clearly disconcerting to a large number of people? You can carry concealed and be just as safe.
Because...in the instance first discussed by the OP...
You. Are. Not. ALLOWED. Any. Other. Option.
Concealed carry is not allowed...but open carry IS. How else, then, are we who choose to exercise our right to keep and bear arms, by carrying a firearm for personal defense, to do so?
In the context of this thread, you and so many others who are adamantly against such examples of open carry, are completely and utterly missing the point here. And that point is that the incessant meddling of the government with respect to our Constitutionally guaranteed right to keep and bear arms is DELIBERATELY PUTTING US IN SUCH POSITIONS.
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"You must have a license (i.e. be subject to government regulation) in order to exercise your right to keep and bear arms."
- OK, so I'll jump through the hoops and get a license.
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"You cannot carry a concealed weapon in a public school, even if you have a concealed weapon permit which you jumped through the hoops to get."
- OK, I'm not allowed to conceal carry in a public school where my child is at, so I'll open carry while I'm there.
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**People now run in circles screaming and shouting in a fabricated panic because a person with a LEGALLY carried firearm is in a public school.**
Whether you, I, or anybody else happens to think that open carry is a good or bad idea at any given time is totally beside the point here. And the point is that OUR RIGHTS have been abrogated to the point where there IS NO OTHER CHOICE legally available for a citizen who chooses to exercise his RKBA.
The long term point of this, in admitted accordance with the ultimate goal of the "gun control crowd" to completely eliminate private ownership of ALL firearms, is to allow for the next step in abrogating our Constitutionally guaranteed RKBA by now outlawing open carry itself...at least in this instance.
Because, and I'll bet an entire months pay (overtime included, and before taxes are taken out), that what will NOT happen in this instance is a backing off by the government to allow legal concealed carry in public schools when they outlaw open carry.
Any takers on this?
And let's get this straight right now before anybody decides to start lambasting me (which I welcome):
I, too, have my own opinions about when and where open carry is and is not wise. I'll be happy to situationally discuss them in other threads where appropriate...but not here. Here my opinion on open carry is heavily influenced by the plain fact that law abiding citizens are NOT ALLOWED ANY OTHER CHOICE if they wish to exercise their RKBA by carrying a firearm into a public school in Michigan.
Because the alternative to leave my firearm outside the public school is NOT an option if I (or anybody else) am trying to exercise my RKBA for any reason...including self-defense. This is
surrendering a RIGHT.
If we had the OPTION of either concealed carry OR open carry available to us, THEN I would happily discuss the merits of one over the other all day long.
For those who don't quite get it with respect to rights and privileges:
A RIGHT applies equally to everybody under the law. A PRIVILEGE is something extended to some over others and may be denied for any reason whatsoever.
Our "RKBA"...a "RIGHT" or a "PRIVILEGE"? Choose. And choose wisely.
And quit allowing advocates for gun control to divide us over trivial issues like open or concealed carry.