Should civilians who carry guns be required to do so openly?

I’ve crossed paths recently with PF libs who claim to have no problem with gun-toting Americans, so long as our weapons are not concealed. So far, they’ve offered only one reason: they believe they are entitled to know if their fellow Americans are armed, because not knowing makes them uncomfortable. If there are additional reasons, I’m all ears.

 

defensive weapons are best kept concealed for several reasons

1) it keeps those who are afraid of guns from soiling themselves or doing other stupid things

2) it extends the umbrella of protection to those not armed because thugs and rapists don't know who is armed

3) it prevents some idiot from trying to grab a gun from an armed citizens

 

Even if you change the variety of nut, it's still nut loaf.

 

good to see your anti gun attitude is a cultural based one rather than pretending to be about public safety

 

There's nothing more reassuring than being around a bunch of guys with guns holstered to their hips...

 

If I understand you correctly, you oppose open carry? If that's the case we're in agreement.

 

Open carry is unwise, for a couple of reasons. One, it makes some people nervous around you. Two, it can make you a target in a violent situation. Better to carry concealed and leave them wondering....

 

I can tolerate it but open carry does sometimes feel intimidating. The bad guys conceal so I would not prohibit the good guys from concealing. Keep 'm guessing!

 

I like David Bowie's line

He kept his gun in quiet seclusion
such a humble man

there are very few places where carrying openly is the proper choice.

 

I like seeing ‘open carry’. It doesn’t intimidate me because I know 9 times out 10 they are good guys. Still, I don’t/won’t open carry… deep concealment for me and keep ‘em guessing if I’m a threat to the bad guys.

 

No.

 

in most areas, mopes won't open carry because they might be spotted by a member of the POPO that busted them and knows they are violating state and federal law. You can almost guarantee that someone openly carrying (while not USING) a firearm on a city street is not a 18 USC 922 prohibited person

 

It is none of their damn business what someone may or may not be carrying upon their person.

 

Arizona has been open carry for a long time. Guess it depends on the demeanor. Most of the time it doesn't bother me a bit, but if the person is loud and arrogant.......and I've seen that.

 

You certainly wouldn't want some dumbass drunk who is prone to incident of road rage carrying a gun openly.

But then again you would not want someone like that carrying a concealed weapon either.
If liberals think it's a good idea to force everyone to conceal carry then they're making sure that a guy like that, has a gun far before anyone knows that he has that gun.

 

Who would have guessed that liberals who are generally anti-gun... Want to make sure that everyone who actually carries a gun, carries it for all the world to see...

 

How do you tell the “good guys” from the “bad guys”? I mean this always puzzles me coming from a country where carrying guns is not a “thing”.

 

How do you feel when you're around the police?

 

Because they're not pointing them at you or doing stupid things with them...
It really boils down to that and not being scared of your fellow citizen exercising their rights

 

I'd prefer they were concealed. That way I can tell the responsible gun owners from those who just want to display them for clout. Open carry people are morons, at least those who want to parade around town with them so everyone can see they're a big tough gun owner and make it part of their social identity.

 

there is some truth to your views there about some who openly display weapons in a public setting-especially if it is not doing an environment of civil unrest-(where shop keepers or home owners prominently displaying weapons has some validity as they try to deter violence against their properties). I would note that some gun owners-those packing weapons publicly just to make a statement are a lot like some on the left who are part of the alphabet agenda. In both cases, the demonstrators have a right to engage in open carrying of arms or PDA etc but it's normally in bad taste and designed to shock the other side

 

Open carry, concealed carry - we have the right to both; your preference does not matter.

 

The same way you tell the good men from the rapists.

 

Lets say a mass murderer wanted to rack up a high body count, and 1 or 2 people are openly carrying firearms. Which people does the killer shoot first?

Allowing irrational fears to dictate what other do is far from being acceptable.

 

I guess it is like knowing the airplanes that will stay flying and which will crash into you. Its not worth wasting time worrying about. Why live in fear? It is like worrying about ninjas killing you in Japan. Its not a thing. Of course people die from guns, but it is ridiculously magnified by the media, except in the very worst areas in cities where guns are illegal anyway. Not worth worrying about, any more than car accidents or drowning in a swimming pool.