I didn't even know there was an "open carry loop hole"

[RSillsbee]

As some of you may know, this article was recently posted on Huffpo.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/hoyt-hilsman/closing-the-open-carry-lo_b_817200.html

The opening paragraph is sheer fear mongering

What would you do if you walked into a downtown McDonald's and were confronted with a group of men carrying guns? If you are like most of us, you would probably flee for your life and then immediately call the cops. However, in California and many other states, there is not much the police could do except keep a close eye on the armed men.

But paragraph two acknowledges that open carry is actually the norm in most of the country

While some states ban the practice of "open carry" of weapons, most states permit the open carrying of firearms, often with few or no restrictions.

I've never OCd in McDonald's but I have OC'd in 7-11 and have yet to cause a stampede (Granted Colorado is pretty gun friendly).

So has anyone else seen grown men pee their pants and run ,screaming like little girls, at the sight of an OC weapon?

Please let's discuss this article on its merits not it's authorship

ETA Maybe "the norm" is pushing it how about "perfectly legal"

[OneTenthofOnePercent]

1. My state allows open carry... I've done it.

it's nothing grand. Doesnt even make a scene.
I think the article is alot of herping-derping... not based in reality.
The article basically outlines the irrational fears of others.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

12. I only open carry on my property

Out in the twigs where I am, it is the safe thing to do. However when the cops swing by if you even have a holster on, they get real real nervous...

[RSillsbee]

17. You're in California?

I always OC when I go into the back country (Colorado)

[ProgressiveProfessor]

28. Yes, in CA

I live out in the middle of nowhere and back up to public land. Coyote and cougar country, and starting soon, the snakes will be coming out.

[Katya Mullethov]

27. Try lying in a prone position

Arms and legs outstretched , palms down .

[X_Digger]

2. When I visited my folks in VA, I saw a few OC'ers.

Struck up a conversation with a guy about his Kimber.

No obvious hand wringing or panty wadding.

eta: On re-reading this article, something struck me.

It's as though the author thinks that all things are illegal except what the government allows. As if the natural state of power is in the hands of the government to be doled out to the people. Rather, the reverse is true. We the people, form government and give it power over us, the governed. All power derives from us, up to the government via powers.

[RSillsbee]

3. I seem to have read that somewhere before

Oh yeah , here it is

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.

[krispos42]

4. Well, if they had guns drawn and were screaming...

...then yeah, running might well be in order.


But a bunch of calm, normal people with pistols on their hips? Not so much.

[GreenStormCloud]

5. The comments section of the article is running very strongly pro-RKBA.

[GreenStormCloud]

6. He uses "confronted" when he means "saw". N/T

[RSillsbee]

8. Confronted isn't improper in this context

Definition of CONFRONT
transitive verb
1: to face especially in challenge : oppose <confront an enemy>


2a : to cause to meet : bring face-to-face <confront a reader with statistics>

b : to meet face-to-face : encounter <confronted the possibility of failure>

— con·front·al \-ˈfrən-təl\ noun
— con·front·er noun

[PavePusher]

7. Self-delete... cause I was being an ass. Apologies. n/t

[RSillsbee]

9. Self delete because the poster showed amazing restraint normally unheard of in the Chair Force

LOL

[PavePusher]

10. You are correct. I have removed my comment.

My apologies for being an ass on your thread, that was pretty rude.

[PavePusher]

14. O.K., them that is fighten' wards, mister... 8>P ;>) n/t

[ProgressiveProfessor]

11. We we similar posts here

A mix of hyperbole and generally crappy writing.

[Euromutt]

13. I think it's time to officially redefine the term "loophole"

Because as it's used by proponents of increased gun control, it seems to mean "something that I think should be illegal but isn't." And we're not talking about something that was supposed to be rendered illegal by some piece of legislation but slipped through due to some quirk of wording or some unforeseen interaction between two provisions*. We're talking about something that isn't illegal because no legislation was ever passed with the intent of making it illegal.

* - For example, the "off-list lower" (OLL) loophole in California's Roberti-Roos Act.

[YllwFvr]

15. I made a little boy cry

But his mom apologized and calmed him down. I had OCed about a year and was comfortable with it when a boy of about 8 became startled and asked his mom if I was there to shoot him and started to bawl.

Needless to say I felt like a piece of shit. No other real negative incidents. People dont notice for the most part.

[Hoopla Phil]

29. Sounds like the kid had been mis-educated.

I'm not talking about a lack of being educated. Somewhere, somehow he has been given the idea that anyone with a gun is a bad guy. Hopefully this turned into a positive and a learning experience for the tot.

[slackmaster]

16. Mr. Hilsman seems to be overwhelmed with fear and prejudice. His post seems obsessive.

Seeing a person open-carrying and dressed in civilian attire doesn't bother me any more than seeing someone OCing while wearing a uniform.

[RSillsbee]

18. I find this line interesting

While some states ban the practice of "open carry" of weapons, most states permit the open carrying of firearms, often with few or no restrictions.

The author acknowledges that this is not an uncommon practice but doesn't seem to list any problems, apparent safety issues or incidents of illegal gun play steming from open carryers. So I (the reader) am left to assume these incidents almost neverhappen, which leaves me asking what is the problem?

[slackmaster]

21. The author is obviously reacting to his own irrational fear rather than verifiable facts

I wonder what his DU handle is.

[shadowrider]

22. I'll bet $10,000 I could guess. Wanna take that bet? n/t

[slackmaster]

23. I could make a Scientific Wild-Assed Guess(TM), but I Alerted on someone once for doing that

It would be against the forum rules.

[GreenStormCloud]

24. I would make the same guess. N/T

[PavePusher]

26. Apparently it's "tacky".

But, as I pay no attention to the whims of fashion, I don't understand the objection. Maybe my holster doesn't match my shoes?

[friendly_iconoclast]

32. Especially when done at Chuck E. Cheese

Or so I've been told....

[Callisto32]

19. That is because there is no such thing as a loophole.

What the word "loophole" means is "people complying with laws I don't like."

It's a crap word used by people that do not understand law, the same as when people use the world "technicality" when discussing the law. All law is a technicality, that is the point. Law draws fine, sometimes vague, distinctions about what is and is not acceptable behavior. I have no problem with fine lines, but always balk a little on the vague ones.

[RamboLiberal]

20. My state of PA allows it but I don't have the guts to OC

I've read of too many incidents happening in stores where OC'ers have been reported and in some cases asked to leave. And confrontations with police unaware of the law or called in to check on reports of person with a gun. I've even read of one semi-rural county sheriff who threatens to arrest any OC'er he comes across. That will end up in court.

Now in PA you can't OC in a vehicle unless you have an LTCF.

I've even seen splits at the gun club between the OC'ers & other members. We have a couple of adamant OC'ers and one member suggested they conceal at the club's gun bash cause it made some attendees nervous. That was an interesting rights discussion.

Whenever someone on the PA Firearms Owner forum has been arrested or had they LTCF pulled or their gun confiscated by over-zealous law enforcement the membership has shown up armed and in support at any court hearings.

I've only seen one person in my travels in the Pittsburgh area OC'ing so I don't think it is that widespread in my area.

[guitar man]

25. "loophole"

A buzzword used to target and slander people participating in a legal activity the slanderer finds disagreeable or offensive. ;)

[jeepnstein]

30. A "Loophole" is anything...

that someone finds personally offensive that is, in fact, legal. They say a "loophole" exists in the law. In fact it's just plain old legal. That's their way of saying "it should not be legal but it is and I cannot accept that".

[ileus]

31. I OC here in VA some places....

Jeep rides, Hiking, Fishing, Hunting....a few other places where I'm comfortable with the people that are around me.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

33. Do you use a tactical rig/thigh holster?

I was told here those are particularly pernicious, though anyone who drives knows it is the easiest place to OC.

[Nuclear Unicorn]

34. "run ,screaming like little girls"

skweez me?

I'll show you screaming little girl!


(just bustin' your chops) :P



I'd look absolutely silly open carrying wearing a sun dress and there's no room in this thing to conceal carry.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

35. Pretty accurate description of how Hoyt H normally acts in this area

[AtheistCrusader]

36. Rifle sling.

Oh yeah.


(Kidding)