By Daniel Dessinger
December 2, 2008
Don’t hold it against Texas. We’re not all crazy. But you wouldn’t know it from the news. OpenCarry.org claims that nearly 33,000 Texans are in favor of an open-carry gun law. That is the number of names on the electronic petition. The website bears the slogan: “A Right Unexercised is a Right Lost”.
While to some it seems obvious that the right to bear arms has always implied carrying weapons in plain view, there are several obvious common sense reasons why this proposition should NOT gain any support among Texas legislators.
1. Permits are not required to own a gun.
Unless you plan to carry a gun on your person, you are not required to complete any training whatsoever. You are able to purchase as many guns as you want, as long as your background check comes back clear. The training came when a person decided they wanted to carry that gun on them in public, as opposed to leaving it at home for home security.
The obvious implication here is that all current gun owners without training could start carrying their weapons with them in public the moment a law is passed in favor of open-carry. Do we REALLY want thousands of untrained, gun-wielding people in rush hour traffic, late night bars, convenience stores, or the local post office? How many depressed, mentally unstable, road rage driven madmen with pistols do we really want to face on a daily basis?
2. Guns intimidate. Period.
The blessing of the concealed handgun permit is found in the anonymity. You can converse with people all day long, never knowing or having to wonder if that person has a weapon ready to hand. Now imagine thousands of people walking around town with guns strapped to their thighs and in plain sight holsters. We all know people who will use anything legal at their disposal to intimidate and manipulate others. Now imagine them with guns. ‘Nuff said.
3. Bad judgment will lead to gun fights.
Is he reaching for his gun? If you wait to find out, you could be dead. Better to pull your own gun fast and be ready to fire. What if he just has an itch? What if he’s just reaching for a pack of cigarettes? How do you protect yourself in long lines, public arguments, or traffic jams? Your bad judgment could get someone killed.
We could think up half a dozen more reasons why this is a bad idea. But I’ll leave it to you. If you’re pro or con open-carry gun laws, tell me why.
© 2008 – 2010, Daniel Dessinger. All rights reserved.
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That’s funny – the author is not up to speed in texas nor US gun laws. Of course nobody needs a license to own a gun – do you need a license to pray? Besides, Texas law already allows all gun owners to conceal carry in their cars and to/from WITHOUT any permit.
Open carry works in 44 states – it will work in texas too.
Mike, I am fully aware that Texas law allows gun owners to conceal carry in their cars. I was NOT, however, aware that 44 other states already have the laws you are proposing. Prayer and gun ownership may seem to be on the same playing field to you, since you are looking to ensure what you consider to be your American right. They are not the same, however, as my prayers won’t likely kill anyone if I don’t pray them correctly.
I will acknowledge some ignorance, however. I do not know how open carry laws have affected life and culture in these other states. I am prone to believe that few states are as gun happy and prone as Texas, and an open carry law may very well lead to a different outcome here than elsewhere.
So let me ask you this: Of all the problems in American society, why waste your time and energy on this one? Of all the rights and freedoms that are in danger, why care so much about being able to carry your gun in the open? Surely you could find a more worthy cause. One which might make a serious positive difference in our lives.
1. Easy solution: if/when they legalize Open Carry, add a rider to the bill requiring a licensing class.
2. I disagree. As it stands now, one never knows if the person they are casually conversing with is carrying or not. I’m much less confrontational now than I was years ago, simply because I know that there’s a chance the other guy has a gun. Besides, most people who are going to go through the trouble of getting a CCL are going to be relatively stable mentally. The people I worry about are those who are carrying illegally — they are more likely to use it to intimidate or manipulate than someone who has a CCL. As an example, I have a friend who has a CCL. He once got into an altercation with a man who was armed with scissors. My friend chose to disarm the man using martial arts rather than draw his handgun.
3. Bad judgment already leads to gun fights. I would think that Open Carry would reduce them, because one would know going in that the other guy has a gun. I would also think that most people would think twice before getting angry at someone who is carrying a handgun openly.
Also keep in mind that, even with an Open Carry law, there will be places that it’s illegal to have a firearm (church, school, bar, etc., etc.).
I really don’t care one way or the other. I don’t own any firearms, and will never own one. I’m a non-confrontational person, and I prefer to avoid situations where confrontation might occur. Except on the internet. Because we’re all the smartest, most powerful person online.
Monogodo, are you the same as twitter.com/monogodo? For a moment there, I thought you were an old college friend.
Daniel,
Yes, that would be me (twitter.com/monogodo).
After looking at your bio, I’d have to say that, no, we’re not friends from the past. I’m open to being friends in the future, though.