I open carry when I have a need to. When I've been out hunting or shooting and I want to stop off at the mini-mart or Safeway on the way home, I have no problem open carrying in the store. Some people might do a couple of 2nd looks at me, but they can usually tell by the clothing that I've been out in the woods. Now, would I open carry all the time just to make a point of pushing my 2A rights? No, I wouldn't. Why? Because I don't believe in PUSHING any rights. In my house, I have the right to smoke. But if I'm having a party or some friends over, and I know that some of them don't smoke, then I don't smoke in my house. I'll go in the back yard. It's called being considerate.
Here's a good example. When you are at the beach or municipal swimming pool, you probably wear a bathing suit. And your hot wife or girlfriend might wear a bikini. Seems appropriate. Now legally; she can wear that bikini down town while she's walking around. LEGALLY it's not indecent exposure. LEGALLY she has every right to. And if it's 95 degrees outside, do you think she should EXERCISE her rights and wear a bikini down town walking the street. What about at your own house if you has some people over for dinner? She could wear a bikini; but it just wouldn't be appropriate. Yes, I can open carry in every square foot of the state I live in. And if I'm helping out at my friends ranch; where we open carry all over and also a rifle in the truck or on horseback; and if I have to run into town to the local hardware store for some materials, I will open carry. It is an appropriate place. No one thinks twice about it. And many of the little towns it's down all the time. But going into walmart or the mall just isn't appropriate.
So while I definitely understand and support whatever we can do to maintain our rights; even rights have an appropriate time and place. You have the right to vote. But NOT every day. Only on certain times of the year. You have the right to free speech. However, you can't say anything you want. Not if it infringes on the rights of others. But flaunting an open carry weapon, for the sole purpose of exercising your rights; is akin blowing smoke towards people in public because you're allowed to. It doesn't make it considerate.
So, when I have the need or because of convenience, I will open carry. But I'm not going to open carry to "EXERCISE" my rights. I will continue to fight for my rights through the systems in place. It doesn't do anybody any good to pee off a bunch of citizens who will turn around and put in bans on open carry; just like bans on smoking in public; just so you can say you exercised your rights. It WILL BITE you in the butt. Fortunately I live in a state that bases most of it's morals and values off of common sense. And when we can the far left radicals moving in from California, New York, and similar; (Not all people from those states are radicals); they learn quickly how we do things. And we DON'T allow them to try and change it. Not to go off topic, but we actually had a california transplant call the sheriff up and made him come to the house. She was complaining because DEER were going through her yard (15 acres). The sheriff appropriately told her to "Kiss his bottom end". And that she was free to MOVE away if she didn't like wildlife in Wyoming.
