The Open Carry Movement
Lately, the debate over gun control and the rights given by the Second Amendment have focused on the specific issue of unconcealed weapons. "Open Carry" as it is known, is legal in 38 states - including Pennsylvania.
The article “Locked, Loaded, and Ready to Caffeinate” explores the recent phenomenon of “meet-ups” in which open carry advocates gather in public, often at popular shops and cafes:
Gun owners in California and other states that allow guns to be openly carried have tested the law by showing up at so-called meet-ups, in which gun owners appear at Starbucks, pizza parlors and other businesses openly bearing their weapons.
“Our point is to do the same thing that concealed carriers do,” said Mike Stollenwerk, a co-founder of OpenCarry.org, which serves as a national forum. “We’re just taking off our jackets.”
The goal, at least in part, is to make the case for liberalized concealed weapon laws by demonstrating how uncomfortable many people are with publicly displayed guns. The tactic has startled many business owners like Peet’s Coffee and Tea and California Pizza Kitchen, which forbid guns at their establishments. So far, Starbucks has resisted doing the same.Students: What do you think about open-carry laws and the related movement? How do you feel about citizens carrying their weapons in public? Do you own a gun? If so, would you carry it openly? Why or why not?
Ithink that the open carry laws should be aloud to do as they want and if they want to carry a gun we cant stop them. I do own a few guns but i would not carry mine with me.
ReplyDeleteI dont like the idea that people can freely walk around with guns out in the open. People in a public place can easily steal tht gun and shoot others in that crowed area(s). Also you can accidently set off the trigger to shot yuorself or someone around you. That is why having guns in the open is a bad idea.
ReplyDeleteI do not sorpport open carry laws...i belive in strict gun control to protect thw wellbeing of our citizens. only police officers should be able tpo carry wepens in public.
ReplyDeletei think that people should not carry hand guns because i do not think it is right for older people to be carring them around and then if teens see the guns on them, then they try to carry them around and get introuble, but then i think it is a good idea.
ReplyDeleteit could go either way i dont think its a good idea to some exstent because people with revenge on someone who hates someone could go off and carry a gun and shoot someone , but yet on the other hand its a good defence to carry one from burgerlers, kidnappers or anyone along that line.
ReplyDeleteI think that citizens in these states shouldn't be able to carry guns without getting a permit.It is a very dangerous for an average citizen to have a weapon in th eopen without bein approved to carry a weapon. Even if someone is just holdin their gun it could accidentally go off and injure someone. I do own a gun but carryin it publically would never cross my mind because i would feel bad if i shot someone.
ReplyDeleteI think it is not that big of a deal for people to carry guns but then again if they do not carry them responsibly we could be in trouble. yes i own quite a lot of guns and i never really had a reason to carry a gun in public but if I didnt feel safe then yeah I probably would.
ReplyDeleteI dont agree with open carry laws because if i saw someone walking down the street with a 9mm i would be afraid that he would just randomly pull it out and start shooting. You never know if some random person is psychotic or not. I think that if you have a gun you should have a permit and leave it in your vehicle when you go into public.
ReplyDeleteI dont think it is a very good idea. What happens if it gos off on an accident that would not be very good. I don like it what if someone get very mad and they have a gun they might just go off and shoot. NO i don town a gun and i dont want to. If i did own a gun i would not carrry it around.
ReplyDeleteI dont think that people should be able to carry guns even if they had them in plain view. In my opinion thats pretty much like asking to get shot.I do not want to walk down the street and be afraid. Even though my family owns guns it still doesnt sound like a smart idea to me because somebody is bound to get hurt.
ReplyDeleteid like to know what those fools are tryin to prove by haveing guns in holsters while they are cooking, that may just be the most ridiculous thing i have ever seen. you dont need a gun to cook.
ReplyDeleteI dont really know if it is a good idea or not because you could have these crazy people who just go on a rampage. Personally i dont know if i would feel to safe with people carrying guns all around me. Especially with the way the world is now who knows what could possibly happen. Im sure people that do carry guns around think its cool and do it to make themselves look tough but really just think of the possiblities that could happen from this.
ReplyDeletei think if you own a gun you have the right to carry it anywhere you want to carry it at. I own a gun and i would carry it openly if we were aloud to.
ReplyDeleteFor years, being able to carry a concealed handgun has been a sacred right for many gun enthusiasts. In defending it is a problem. Charlton Heston, the actor and former president of the National Rifle Association, used to say that the flock is alot safer when the wolves cannot tell the difference between the lions and the lambs.
ReplyDeleteI believe that the open carry law is a good idea. I feel safe even if people are carrying guns opening in public. I do own a gun and I am glad that when i turn 18 I will be able to openy carry a firearm. I would deffinately carry it openly because I would be able to carry a self-defense firearm with me to defend my sef with in case of emergency.
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