Why 'Open Carry' Gun Laws Work

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I was a Deputy for twenty-seven yrs. and wasn't aware of alabama's open carry law. It wasn't taught in our academy's, but I strongly believe it should be. It could help avoid an embarressing moment for a law enforcement officer. It could also avoid a rightous law suit over harassment of a law abiding citizen.
That being said, I am all for it. Like a famous writer once said," an armed society is a polite society."

Skygunner of AL 1:15AM July 22, 2012

The difference between a citizen and a subject is the legality of being armed. Thus, as global citizens in the eyes of God (however you see Him, or not), the right to keep and bear arms existed BEFORE governments, and is merely protected by the second amendment across America. The fact in infringement within or external to those borders does not negate that right. Furthermore, it merely displays the illegal actions of those "governments". All other rights (to include life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness up to infringing on another's rights also come from the Creator. Governments merely get in Gods way!

Texas Trucker of VA 7:58PM November 19, 2011

It's our right as individuals to display 'our' form of criminal deterrent techniques to the future and present criminals of today's society. And furthermore, as a citizen in today's society...I definitely would feel more solace and comfort in knowing that someone has stepped forward to deter and ward off any crime including and not limited to deadly personal harm of myself or that of one of my loved one's. walk with confidence....arm up it's your right if you want to.

twp of TX 11:24AM June 06, 2011

Sir, I'm afraid I take offence at your presuming to tell Americans how to be Australians. We HAVE set the world an example. One which your country, and others, ignore at their peril. For as Thomas Paine (a great Revolutionary writer) wrote,"The first duty of a patriot is to protect his country from it's government".
Your countrymen's surrender of arms (in accordance with an agreement with the UN), is the first step in their failure to do so.
Thomas Paine also wrote (from THE CRISIS, NO.1);"...the cunning of the fox is as murderous as the violence of the wolf; and we ought to guard equally against both." and, "...the first object is partly by threats and partly by promises, to terrify or seduce the people to deliver up their arms and to recieve mercy."
Abraham Lincoln said that some principles are so important that we may not and must not compromise. America is a COUNTRY of people, first and foremost- not a government. In fact, our Constitution grants us the right to replace our government if it gets too onerous or oppressive in the view of the majority. That is the lesson and example the rest of the world should take from the USA.
However, if the world doesn't want to... why, we'll just mind our own business, and not have the nerve to tell other countries what to do!

Marie Rich of SC 1:19AM March 04, 2011

As I live in Az, I have often carried openly in public. To avoid negative scrutiny,
I have found that using a "thumb break" holster along with any pistol similar to
what the local police carry, will help in reducing fear among the general public.
Of course, Az has had open carry since territorial times, so the practice usually
draws no more than a cursory glance. Professional comportment in public will
go a long way towards easing the general public's fears regarding gun owners
in general and open carry in particular. Just my observations.

Rikk Nielsen of AZ 2:40AM March 02, 2011

YOUR IN A GROCERY STORE AND SOME WANTS TO ROB THE STORE BUT OVER THER TO HIS RIGHT IS I GUY AND HIS WIFE WITH A PLAIN IN SIGHT GUN ON THERE HIPS WHAT WOULD U DO I DONT THINK IAM GOING TO ROB THIS ITS LIKE OH GREAT EVERYONE IS ARMED! SEE YA!!! F THAT.

JOHN STEPHEN HUFFMAN of FL 9:26PM February 22, 2011

Open carry OR concealed...it is our RIGHt... As a previous victim of a armed robery & assult, I would prefer the option of carrying both ways with the respect that I deserve! Because of this horrible incident in my life, I tested, trained, and do carry. I agree that most people DON'T practice enough, but there are those who DO and these are the ones who truely RESPECT the privilege to do so. My weapons are ALWAYS loaded and ready.!

Mel of OH 9:24AM February 19, 2011

Well I guess that's why you are no longer on the job. You can train combat stile all day long and that's cool if you are training soldiers. I do teach your combat stile but this type of training is not appropriate for "Joe Citizen". Carry Training in a non-combat/non-law enforcement area needs to be more of an "urban tactical" format were "Joe Citizen" is at a restaurant (armed) with he or her family enjoying a nice meal and "Joe Bad Guy" walks in and discharges one round in the air and states every body on the floor!. What is your first responsibility? family? cover? stealth? does he have a bad guy partner? Self Defence tactical training cannot be "Clint Eastwood, John Wayne, Charles Bronson, combat stile. You may have never had an accidental discharge and most of us trained by "old school" instructors can be proud of that. This is a new age and the public is not as focused on the training. I would love to see a mandatory training course like Front Sight Firearms Training Institute has but that's out of reach for "Joe Civilian". I meant no disrespect in my prior post but OC is meant to allow the average citizen to defend their self and family outside the home. The average citizen does not have your life long training or even plan on going the range more that once every 6 months. I love my country and will defend it to "the other guys death" but as the point of the last post. Not all Americans have the same feeling about being armed. When we open carry and I do, the uneducated get squirmy and that's OK, but the way that you have, locked and loaded and hammer back scares the hell out of them and that just helps the anti gun freaks with their agenda. We may not like playing politics but the way things are unfolding in the federal government we need to start. Take care brothers and sisters, defend with your brain and firearm as one weapon.

Troy Abner of DE 11:35AM February 18, 2011

Carrying cocked and/or locked is not a problem as Mr. Abner asserts. Also being a former Chief Petty Officer in the US Navy, Master-at-Arms, current firearms instructor and Police Officer I teach my students to carry chamber loaded. It only takes a person 1.5 seconds to traverse 21 feet and to say that it is irresponsible to carry a firearm in a loaded state is not only dangerous, but also ludicrous. As a former detective for a reputable state agency, I carried a Colt 1911 cocked and locked for many years and never had an unintentional discharge. It is all about proper training and respect for your firearm. Apparently Mr. Abner needs to train better or not at all if he thinks a trained individual, of any age, cannot be responsible enough to carry in this manner.

J.K. of OK 2:55AM February 03, 2011