It’s the end of the year, which means last night was the year-end recap for Gun Nuts Radio. I actually called in last night to gripe about Crappy Nappy, Arizona’s former governor and everyone’s favorite Secretary of Homeland Security. I can’t wait to see (or hear) what those Gun Nuts are doing next year.
I don’t think anyone can accuse Joe Huffman of a lack of thoroughness. RTWT, but the money quote for me is here:
Ultimately we want carry of all types completely legal and a non-issue in all jurisdictions. As long as it is done safely it should be a personal choice. I don’t know of any gun rights activists who disagrees with that goal. It’s simply a question of how or if we can get to that point.
We can attack the problem in a brute force manner or with a more sophisticated approach that arrives at the solution quicker and with less expenditure of resources. Let’s not be so stupid as to think the same solution is appropriate for every situation.
This is certainly true. I advocate open carry because I think it’s a good way to show folks that normal people carry guns. It can be a conversation starter. As Alan pointed out in Joe’s comments, it’s comfortable in the desert heat when covering clothes are not practical. If your state is at a point where it’s not even in the public mindset that normal people own guns, you might be skipping a step.
Kevin Baker wants to organize an Arizona blogshoot for next month in Casa Grande. It looks like Saturday the 12th may be the date. Whenever it is, I’ll be there. Spread the word, ‘Zonies.
Update: Blogshoot is on for the 12th.
By Matthew in comment’s at Tam’s place:
OC-ing with the goal of “raising awareness” or “asserting one’s rights” is evangelism and, worse, the kind of deliberately in your face evangelism that, in my religious experience, serves mostly to piss people off.
If you want to “normalize” OC where it is legal, then OC because it happens to be your preferred way to carry, or it’s more convenient that day, or with that outfit. Normalize OC honestly, by simply making it part of your normal life.
This is mostly what I’ve been trying to say; he said it better and in fewer words.
Spotted at Native New Yorker with mother and aunt. Initial reports indicate that the proximity of alcohol and firearms failed to produce the expected loss of self-control.
(Note: The Native New Yorker at 101 and Cave Creek is not currently posted with “No Guns” signs. I have received reports that other Native New Yorker restaurants in the state are posted.)
The Arizona Rifleman has an excellent post up regarding the recent PSH over guns on campus in Arizona. Mind you, guns have to be locked in vehicles to be allowed on campus, because we don’t have campus carry yet. We’re working to change that.
The tragic murder of Melanie Hain and a recent column by Clayton Cramer, among other recent incidents, have kindled the waning fire of the Open Carry debate. I’ve made my position clear before, but I feel that it needs to be said as often as the topic comes to the fore: I strongly advocate that anyone who can open carry does open carry, as long as you recognize the risks and responsibilities that come with such an act. You have a responsibility to be alert to your surroundings and you have a responsibility to follow Wheaton’s Law (Don’t Be A Dick). Now, I carry concealed when it’s tasteful (bars, parties), but when I go out to the store or around town I generally carry openly.
I’ve only had once ‘incident,’ and it was only a minor thing where a Best Buy employee informed me that someone had complained about my gun and then suggested that it might be nice if I finished shopping soon. I give Best Buy kudos for the way they handled it, because they could have had me escorted out of the store. By handling it quietly, and otherwise leaving me alone to finish my errands, they helped show whoever complained that it was no big deal for me to be armed. It still had a bit of an air of “we’re not comfortable with your kind here,” but it could have been worse. I didn’t have the option of carrying concealed at the time because I did not have a CCW permit then.
That’s one incident in four years. I have also been pulled over by a sheriff’s deputy while carrying openly (my car matched the description of a suspect’s vehicle, nothing exciting) and he didn’t mind at all that I was carrying. He assured me that he felt good knowing that law-abiding citizens were armed. We shot the breeze about guns and LEOs who don’t know anything about firearms and I went on my way.
I don’t live in a rural part of Arizona. I live just outside of Phoenix proper and work in downtown Phoenix. People are used to seeing folks with guns here, and if you want things to be the same where you live there’s only one way to desensitize people to firearms.
Edited to add:
If open carry is not legal in your state, you should make it a priority. Get with your local Second Amendment activists and help them make it happen.
Today was the first day that new, non-emergency laws passed in the 2009 session were in effect. Among them, Arizona gunnies got restaurant carry, parking lot storage, and a much improved defensive display law. There was also a lot of pants-shitting hysteria about guns on campus, which confused me because we didn’t pass campus carry this year. The articles are not actually about campus carry, they’re just some whinging about folks being legally permitted to keep firearms in their locked cars. Color me unconcerned.
In related news, Alice Cooperstown is posted “No Firearms Permitted,” and actually posted correctly. That really sucks because the food there is pretty good.
Last night’s Gun Nuts Radio was great! I wish I could have called in on this topic, but during the summer Gun Nuts airs too early for me to listen live (we don’t do daylight saving time in Arizona).
The recent controversy over open carry reminds me of one of my favorite Barry Goldwater quotes.
I would remind you that extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice! And let me remind you also that moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue!
As I said over at Linoge’s, open carry will never be normal unless we actually practice it. We can’t normalize carry as long as we’re hiding our sidearms under our jackets. Sure, we’re winning the fight to get shall-issue or constitutional carry all over the US, but to the general public carrying guns will never be normal until they see regular people carrying guns. We can organize letter and phone campaigns to sway politicians, but we can’t do the same with our neighbors. The only way to change their minds and open up the debate is to wear our sidearms on our sleeves, so to speak. If you don’t want the crazy libertarian types to represent you, as a gun owner, get out there and represent yourself.