Thread: Open or Conceal Carry?

Question - did the nutcase who killed 38 people with a full-automatic in Porth Arthur Australia buy the firearm/firearms legally?

Originally Posted by Deadscott

I live in one of the only two states that do not allow concealed carry for private citizens, Wisconsin and Illinois. All 48 other states allow some form of concealed carry.

I'd move.

(great post btw)

I was reminded of a George Carlin line today "Think of how stupid the average person is, and by definition half the people in the country are stupider than him."
There is no problem with sober responsible people carrying firearms, or at least not much of a problem.
But when you open it up, then you have drunk people, depressed people, psychotic people walking around with the tools to destroy the people around them.

Originally Posted by goober

I was reminded of a George Carlin line today "Think of how stupid the average person is, and by definition half the people in the country are stupider than him."
There is no problem with sober responsible people carrying firearms, or at least not much of a problem.
But when you open it up, then you have drunk people, depressed people, psychotic people walking around with the tools to destroy the people around them.

That's flawed.

You're equating "stupid" with drunk, depressed, and psychotic.

I know plenty of happy, sober, sane people who would not be included in Carlin's upper half...

Originally Posted by Si modo

Ah, I didn't think of the "need" factor. Good point.

I determine my need and no one else.

Originally Posted by Wallaroo

Question - did the nutcase who killed 38 people with a full-automatic in Porth Arthur Australia buy the firearm/firearms legally?

Dont know - dont care - not my country, problem or responsibility.

Originally Posted by Jason Marcel

1) The reason I think it was a mistake not to keep the AWB in place is that law enforcement officials claim that in the year following it's demise, 44% more cops were killed by guns.

2) They don't say how many of those deaths were from automatic weapons.

3) The second amendment ought to be protected, but using ignorance and a loophole the size of Asia to defend a position that people ought to own AK-47's or something is strange to me.

4) My question for gun enthusiasts is why does anybody need a gun that's fit for a gangsta or Rambo?

1) Do you even know what guns and type of weapons were involved in the AWB? I'm guessing not. They were semi-auto weapons that were banned for looking like military weapons and full auto weapons.

Banned by liberals based on feelings and emotions not facts. The weapons banned were in the smallest percentile of the kinds of weapons used in crimes. I'll bet money your figure of 44% increase is wrong and that less than 1% were killed by any weapon involved in the AWB.

2) Here's proof you don't know what you're talking about. Automatic weapons were and are still restricted and are not any part of the weapons included in the AWB. You should really know more about a subject before you inject your ignorance into a debate.

3) What's so horrible about an AK-47? This emotional need to ascribe evil to an inanimate object is strange to me.

4) What makes a firearm fit for a gangsta or a rambo? What people in hollywood show you? I have weapons used in various wars from over the last 200 years - I've found them to be interesting, fun to shoot, collectable and tradeable - but, I haven't found any of them to be intrinsically evil. I don't need them, but I have the legal right to own them and enjoy them.


(still waiting Marcel)

I'd love to be able to open carry, but in Texas it's conceal carry only at this time. One would think Texas of all places would allow it, but alas, no.

Very liberaterian crowd here at USPOL when it comes to gun laws. Was thinking of starting a poll on it, because it seems like even the most liberal members here support gun rights, but this poll pretty much answers my curiosity.

It's happening right now. Of course, 4,900 of them are probably doing so unlawfully. Those are the people to be concerned about.

There are also far more then you might think, people who are carrying illegally, not to engage in criminal activity, but to protect themselves, their families and those around them from criminals. Many years ago , back when "car jacking" was popular here in California and I was driving my convertible Corvette, I carried illegally for 3 years, nearly every day. I knew I had no chance of obtaining a CC permit here in the peoples republic of California, and I was adamant about keeping my L98 out of the hands of lesser drivers. I was a certified NRA instructor in military academy, and an avid target shooter. People have told me over and over that I didn't look like "the type" of person who carried a gun. Which is just how I wanted it. When you carry a handgun for protection illegally, it makes you overtly aware of your surroundings. You not only have to keep an eye pealed for bad guys, you also have to avoid peace officers, metal detectors and private security. I find it extremely nauseating how you are seen as a violent criminal for carrying a gun for protection. Yet those very people who would look down on you for illegally carrying often were the first to wait to leave when you left (if it was late or in a bad area) so you could escort them to their car safely.
The bottom line is that it's my duty to protect my family, friends and property from harm and loss. There are certain natural laws that come into conflict with the laws of man. Natures Law usually win's out, unless there's an un-naturally high possibility that the laws of man may prevail due to black & white saturation (in other words if the event is going to be crawling with cops, I wont see a need to pack).
I was arrested for carrying a loaded sidearm one night while knocking on a friends front door. There were gang members living in that building , so the cops regularly drove by but they walked up behind me and asked that I come out of the alcove and succumb to a search. I informed them that I was carrying and one of them started to attempt to draw down on me . As his partner and I watched him fumble excitedly with his holster latch, I raised my hands saying "woew..I'm not some gun psycho" . They each grabbed a hand and pulled me onto the sidewalk. The younger cop pulled out my side arm and said with a chill in his voice "Yup partner, it's fully loaded" . I just told you I had a loaded gun" I said. It was playing out like a bad crime drama. I spent the night at the Sheriffs. They cited me out in the morning. I presented my public defender with a writeup on what happened with blown up pictures with white feet marks where everyone stood. I also took pics of the lockable doorknob on the alcove door. The good news, I beat the charge. The bad news, they kept my browning high power and charged me $500 for my public defender. I've only carried a few times since then. Even though I wasn't convicted of anything and it happened 20 years ago, anytime I get pulled over (which was one time, and I wasn't driving), the cops ran my I.D. came back and asked me "so wheres "the" gun"? and tore the vehicle I was a passenger in apart. So now I avoid the cops like the plague even though I haven't carried in years.

Originally Posted by Deadscott

I live in one of the only two states that do not allow concealed carry for private citizens, Wisconsin and Illinois. All 48 other states allow some form of concealed carry.

In my city, Milwaukee Wisconsin, on July 4th 2008, 8 people were shot, 6 of them died. The gunfire from THIS SHOOTING woke me up. It happened at the end of my block. This brought our murder rate up to 41 people so far this year. I haven't added this weekends murders yet.

Wether you agree with it or not, our Founding Fathers included in the Bill of Rights my right to keep and bear arms. You may argue that it was meant for militas. I point you to two of our Founding Fathers statements that address this concern.

“Americans have the right and advantage of being armed- unlike the citizens of other countries whose governments are afraid to trust the people with arms.”
-James Madison

"The great object is that every man be armed. Everyone who is able may have a gun."
-Patrick Henry

These men clearly belived so stongly that I should have the right to keep and bear arms that they affirmed it along with 9 other rights that cannot be abolished or modified by creating the Bill of Rights.

On January 26th of this year Lodewikus Milford was fatally shot after he and three female co-workers were stopped by assailants in Milwaukee's Third Ward during a robbery. SOURCE The assailants shot him in the head after the victims had given them their money. I live in the Third Ward.

For most of you who argue this issue, it's a matter of political debate. For me it's an issue of life or death. The only people who have weapons in their pockets on my streets are criminals. My State laws bar lawfull citizens from defending ourselfs outside our homes. I love my city. It is my home. But with our per capita murder rate one of the highest in the nation SOURCE, taking away my right to bear arms in public denies me my right to life and the pursuit of happiness.

Just carry a gun anyway like I would if I felt the need for it. If they bust you with it then you can always refer to the 2nd amendment and see what they say.

You can still carry in WI, just not concealed. I believe their law prohibiting it dates back to the late 1800s. I was in favor of changing it when they tried a few years ago to re-introduce concealed carry.

The criminals are going to have concealed carry whether its illegal or not, so whats the point of outlawing it for responsible citizens?

How many percent of people do you see carry openly in your area, and this question goes to all?