OC gathering outside Philly

[Standing Wolf]

The dinner went off without a hitch, as I figured it would. Resturant staff were very nice and the general public seemed none the worse for wear.
We'll continue to hold our dinners and talk shop and discuss pressing issues. I'm going to push for a get together in Philly this summer. We had one before, it's time to head back into the belly of the beast.

Thank you for your report, Sauer Grapes! This Coloradan was with you in spirit.

 

[Sam1911]

Having open carry be legal is an important adjunct to concealed carry, which is FAR more important, both tactically and from a public relations standpoint.

Can't really see any PR value to concealed carry, unless you're considering being invisible a public relations win.

For example, if you're carrying concealed and slip up (showing the gun by accident), then you have open carry to fall back on.

Certainly true.

There are also other situations where open carry is appropriate, such as when you're out in the woods hunting, etc.

... or it's hot out and you don't want to wear a cover garment, or you just prefer it, etc.

Plus, if somebody hasn't applied for a concealed-carry license, and suddenly finds himself under an immediate threat, he has open carry available.

But, but, but...wouldn't that SCARE people and get OC and CC and guns in general banned?

I don't follow your logic that choosing to not exercise a right equates with negating that right.

No, choosing not to does not necessary negate the right. Being scared to, feeling pressure not to, and pleading with others not to do as they wish certainly does "negate" the right.

I have a right to vote, but I'm not required to vote -- and in certain circumstances, not voting sends as strong a message as voting. I have freedom of the press, but I'm not required to publish a newspaper.

But you are, by analogy, saying, "If I speak truth to power, they'll take away my voice, so I keep silent...but I have the right. I COULD speak my mind, but if I do so they won't let me anymore, so I'll preserve my right by never, ever using it." If you don't wish to speak, or don't care to, that's simply a preference. If you feel oppressed -- that you will be censured or face some retribution if you act, then you do not have the right you claim to be "protecting."

What you're saying comes awfully close to saying the the 2nd Amendment requires everybody to keep and bear arms.

No, not at all. If you want to say you simply choose not to carry openly -- for "tactical" reasons or whatever -- that's not giving up your right to do so. When you say, "...raising the profile of this issue is almost guaranteed to cause a backlash. I'd rather let sleeping dogs lie," you are restricting yourself and (more importantly) others out of fear of retribution. That is not freedom.

 

[hermannr]

I wonder if MR Philly PD ever thought that maybe the reason that you don't see much OC in Philly is because all the criminals conceal their weapons untl the agressively are ready to use them.

In PA you can OC without a permit anywhere except Philly. I still don't know how Philly managed that part, but PA as a state if fairly OC friendly.

Here in WA, we don't worry much about our unrestricted, unlicensed OC. It's called Article 1 Section 24 of the Washington state constitution. If they tried to take away OC, they would, by default, have to allow unlicensed CC, and there is no way that will happen these days.

I OC because it does normalize the practice. I OC so the mugger, or whoever would do me harm, can make an informed decision...so far, for over 40 years, that has worked very well for me. Never been mugged, and the one time a guy was going to drag me out of my car and beat me up, my pistol never left it's holster, but the BG all of a sudden desided he had better things to do elsewhere. I shot enough to last a livetime and then some in Vietman, no need to continue unless it is to save a life, and that is what I carry for.

If the Philly PD would live by the law, they would also see more OC, and it would have a good, not bad effect.

 

[Pilot]

Philadelphia is no different from any other big city. It has its share of crime and other problems. I am glad people are exercising their Constituitonal rights and a peaceful manner. I think it will help "normalize" this right, and maybe lead to less emotional responses to firearms.