Wednesday, June 5, 2013

Would Open Carry of Handguns Make You Feel Safer?

Via avordvet

Open Carry of handguns in public

 A few days ago we asked if you would feel safe going into a business that had a sign that read “Guns are welcome on premises, please keep all weapons holstered unless need arises. In such a case judicious marksmanship is appreciated.”

1,524 of you replied and the comments below are representative of what most of you had to say about this issue:
  • BEST COMMENT – Here’s the thing with the people who believe it would be unsafe. In most states to carry a holstered gun in public, they must pass an extensive class of shooting accuracy, defensive shooting, and proper safety. Yes I’m sure there are people that haven’t gone through this, but these are the people who have a reason for not being legal. Your belief on gun control is your belief but I will say that in the properly trained hand a situation that involves an intruder can be controlled quicker than the police are able to get there.
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  • BEST COMMENT – How about a sign at school’s “Faculty/staff/administrators are carrying firearms and are trained to use if the need arises”? I’m for it.
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  • BEST COMMENT – I’m a teacher (33 years) and I would LOVE to have a gun in my room. I have a right to protect my students without endangering myself. I have a family, too!
    If I’m on one side of the room with a gun & my students are on the other side, the gunman would pay attention to me, not them.

11 comments:

  1. I like the option but, concealed is the way to go.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Always concealed here, so I have the element of surprise. Just think, you're inside a store carrying openly when someone cases the place before robbing it. The first thing he will do is shoot you in the back of the head when he sees your weapon.

      Delete
    2. If twenty people were in the store openly carrying, it might be a different story.

      Delete
    3. :) True, but I still elect to CCW.

      Delete
  2. I can carry open. I do on occasion, but only in certain circumstances with pretty much defined routes of travel and stops.

    I prefer CCH. Weapon retention is a BIG DEAL if you decide to carry open.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Weapon retention is a BIG DEAL if you decide to carry open.

      Good point.

      Delete
  3. Universal (or near universal) open carry changes the equation for the criminal from do I attack this person? to how do I get the drop on this person? (or worse, outright murder from ambush). You've gone back to the Old West mindset, where fast, accurate shooting becomes paramount. The vast majority of people will never have the reflexes, the time or the inclination to become that adept at drawing and firing, so the advantage will return to the criminals. It's better the way it currently is, with criminals having to choose victims who might - - or might not - - be armed.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Well what Bob said too. The BEST I have ever done in a training environment is 1.28 seconds from concealment at a 3X5 index card to first shot at 7 yds. I KNOW its a test. NO ONE is shooting back at me. I'm not moving, the target is not either. Its rather humbling with a handgun. I have not been to "tacticool high speed, low drag" classes. I have been to Blackwater and Todd Green's AFHF class and some others.

    For the open carry? I'm usually in 5.11 pants, duty belt and some shirt that says Certified instructor. Most people think "Cop". If they don't, some jacked up soccer mom will whip out the phone and give a "man with a gun" call out to LEO.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. some jacked up soccer mom will whip out the phone and give a "man with a gun" call out to LEO.

      I bet.

      Delete
  5. "Would open carry of handguns make you feel safer"?
    Bottom line... yes. Although, I personally prefer CCW .

    ReplyDelete