Carrying a Firearm Puts the Community at Risk

Open carry is dangerous to the very foundation of our democracy

Reader Comments
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"Openly carrying a loaded weapon in public is best left to highly trained individuals like law enforcement professionals."

The writer forgets, or purposely ignores, that ordinary citizens do a much better job at this, making far fewer errors shooting good guys than the police.

Why? Because the job of the police is much more difficult. The private citizen being robbed knows for sure who the bad guy is - the police officer has to guess. So who do want protecting you - your somewhat skilled neighbor, or the police officer who thinks you the bad guy?

Benjamin McLeod of VA 1:22AM May 13, 2012

i wanted to point out that Mr. Horwitz is an idiot, but i think all the other comments on here says it well

hey rakes of NC 1:26AM May 05, 2012

This is a country ruled by law, not by man. The supreme court does not have the authority to determine what our rights mean. The 2nd amendment is clear, "The right of the people to keep and bear arms, SHALL NOT BE INFRINGED."

That means that there is no man that can tell us where and when we can carry a firearm. Not even the supreme court.

The Constitution is the supreme law of the land, and all courts, judges, and government employees charged with upholding it, must. Any law enacted that restricts any one of our natural rights is null and void, per the Constitution.

Scott of IA 9:55AM May 04, 2012

It's really frightening to see the rate at which the cowards in our society abdicate their personal responsibility. Personally, I believe it's primarily MY job to look after my personal safety. It's also much more reliable. By the time police can respond the crime has most often been committed and, in the case of a murder, the victim left lying on the ground, waiting for the crime scene unit and the coroner. In the case that the intended victim is carrying a handgun there is a 92% probability that the crime will be aborted and any intended victims left alive to tell their story.

Your fear is NOT my problem. It's yours.

Jon E Hutcherson of WA 3:51AM May 04, 2012

Josh--your anti insurrectionist meme is extremely stale--which is why the CSGV is irrelevant

D J Carson of CA 6:16PM May 02, 2012

First off, George Zimmerman, if found guilty after his constitutionally guaranteed right to a trial by a jury of his peers, would be one out of millions of citizens who carry firearms everyday in this country.

Secondly, the supreme court and various state courts have ruled time and time again that there is no obligation for police to protect any single individual from being a victim of violent crime. So it's up to each individual to do that.

Thirdly, we have a REPUBLIC, not a democracy.

Micah of FL 12:25PM May 01, 2012

Josh,

Why would anyone want to protect the foundation of a form of government that we're not even supposed to have? That's right, America is not a democracy, so if open carry is a threat to democracy then I am completely all for it. America is a republic, and from the sounds of your statements, we are not doing a very good job of keeping it as Benjamin Franklin warned us upon exiting the Constitutional Convention and was asked by a woman, "Sir, what have you given us?"

Benjamin Franklin replied, "A republic ma'am, if you can keep it."

Our government is supposed to be limited to a role of protecting the rights of the American people. Democracy seems to be what you truly believe in, because you seem to think a majority can take the right to bear arms away from the people, but I must ask, where does this majority stop? Can the majority decide to take your house, your assets, your job, right to peaceably assemble, your right to a trial?

Our founding fathers knew history, and refused to give the American people something as extreme as democracy. Would you be surprised to hear there is no mention of "democracy" in the declaration of independence, the US constitution, or any of the constitutions of the 50 states?

James Madison "Democracies have ever been spectacles of turbulence and contention. Have ever been found incompatible with personal security or the rights of property, and have in general been as short in their lives as they have been violent in their deaths." Essay 10 Federalist papers

Alexander Hamilton wrote, "Real liberty has never been found in despotism or in the extremes of democracy"

Throughout history, all democracies have fallen to mob rule, anarchy, and then tyrannous rule under an oligarchy... is this what you wish for America, for us to bend to your liberty quashing whims, and fall further towards a tyranny of elite?

Brent of MN 12:51PM April 28, 2012

Citizens carrying firearms not only serves to deter criminals who now know they are not the only ones with a gun, but also give citizens the ability to protect themselves from criminals. Average police response time is 11 to 15 minutes. If someone was threatening your life what would you rather have. your cell phone, or a gun?

Mike of OH 12:34PM April 28, 2012

Joshua has failed to state a single fact in his entire argument. Case lost.

Bill of SC 11:49PM April 27, 2012

I think it shows something that despite the increase of articles like this, the rate of concealed carry permits and sale of firearms is increasing at record shattering rates. You can continue to write articles based on your feelings. I will continue to look to the Constitution, data and statistics to form my own feelings.

Rob of OH 10:41AM April 27, 2012

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