Forums
New posts
Search forums
What's new
New posts
New media
New media comments
Latest activity
Classifieds
Media
New media
New comments
Search media
Log in
Register
What's New?
Search
Search
Search titles only
By:
New posts
Search forums
Menu
Log in
Register
Navigation
Install the app
Install
More Options
Advertise with us
Contact Us
Close Menu
JavaScript is disabled. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding.
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an
alternative browser
.
Forums
Competition, Tactics & Training
Self Defense & Handgun Carry
The Open Carry Argument
Search titles only
By:
Reply to Thread
This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.
Message
<blockquote data-quote="thesensei" data-source="post: 1964937" data-attributes="member: 4214"><p>Let me preface my response by saying that I am personally pro-open carry, and will exercise that right. To me, the fact of the Second Amendment of the Constitution trumps all arguments against the legality of open carry - and not only for hunting or sporting, but for the true intent of the 2A, that is, self-protection. Therefore, open carry should be legal. However, that does not mean that everyone should practice it. In my opinion, if you are going to open carry, you need to be able to articulate WHY! That is the strength of the above article - the author has done a good job articulating his position.</p><p></p><p>With that in mind, I'm going to point out a few areas of agreement with the article, and then I'll state what I feel to be the glaring error in his argument (I have several minor disagreements, but I'll only point out one or two of the most egregious).</p><p></p><p>The author made the point that no one wins in a gunfight. True statement. I carry in order to stay out of a gunfight, not because I want to get in one!</p><p></p><p>He did a good job of dispelling the myths regarding open carry. The argument of "you'll be the first to be shot" is one I've heard repeatedly. Bottom line, show me the evidence! It just isn't there from a civilian standpoint. Sure, there are a few events here and there, but they're hard to find, and I can give you just as many accounts of the presence of a visible gun deterring the crime - and I'm sure it happens much more often than we know! </p><p></p><p>The argument that the gun will get stolen goes into the same category as that above. It just doesn't happen! If it does, it's typically in the course of a fight anyway, not just a random mugger walking up and taking the gun away. </p><p></p><p>The author's statement regarding surprise is certainly valid: "[Surprise] is exclusively an offensive action, not a defensive one." Action is always faster than reaction! However, whether your gun is open or concealed, you still have to draw it. You're still "reacting" to the threat. And, no brag, just stating fact, I (and the guys I train with) can draw my firearm from concealment and get a good hit faster than the average "gun-toter" can do the same from an open holster. So if you're reacting to a threat, it honestly won't matter much if you've properly trained. The key is to get ahead of the loop - be aware of what's happening before it happens. But that's another lesson for another day!</p><p></p><p>Now to point out some flaws in argumentation here. Please, don't take this as an attack on the author. It's not intended that way. Nor is it an argument against open carry. I'm just trying to point out a few things to consider!</p><p></p><p>The author cites the studies that demonstrate the reluctance of criminals to attack an armed person. He is right, except that he failed to include a key word in his statement, which I will include in my restatement: ...every study says that [MOST] criminals will avoid an armed person..." Take out the word "most", and it's a blanket statement! Remember Murphy? Whatever can go wrong, will! Don't count on "most" criminals being the one to attack you. You'd better be prepared for the guy who has nothing to lose, and who fears nothing but failure. He won't stop because your gun is visible. </p><p></p><p>Now, the biggest issue I have with this article is the statement, "My probability of being a victim of a crime, violent or otherwise, is completely unchanged by the fact that I have hidden beneath my shirt the means to defend myself." He's assuming an awful lot here! He makes the statement that his teeth are hidden. Well, the tiger's teeth are hidden when his mouth is closed. And his claws are retracted until he needs them. But are you going to attack the tiger? How do you know he's not a tiger who's been declawed and had all his teeth pulled? I'm sure not going to make that assumption! No, you're not going to mess with the tiger because one look tells you he's a weapon. I do not need a gun visible on my side to deter the predator. I'm not a victim, but my gun doesn't have to be displayed to advertise that fact.</p><p></p><p>The problem with this article is the assumption that a gun is the deterrent to crime. A firearm is certainly a good deterrent, and a visible gun may serve that purpose. However, that is not the only tool of self-protection that should be in your toolbox. Anyone who trains with me knows that I don't depend on tools. Sure, I carry them, and train to use them. But we must also plan for the worst: we may not have time nor opportunity to access a tool immediately. Be ready. Don't become tool dependent; be the weapon. </p><p></p><p>Train hard!</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="thesensei, post: 1964937, member: 4214"] Let me preface my response by saying that I am personally pro-open carry, and will exercise that right. To me, the fact of the Second Amendment of the Constitution trumps all arguments against the legality of open carry - and not only for hunting or sporting, but for the true intent of the 2A, that is, self-protection. Therefore, open carry should be legal. However, that does not mean that everyone should practice it. In my opinion, if you are going to open carry, you need to be able to articulate WHY! That is the strength of the above article - the author has done a good job articulating his position. With that in mind, I'm going to point out a few areas of agreement with the article, and then I'll state what I feel to be the glaring error in his argument (I have several minor disagreements, but I'll only point out one or two of the most egregious). The author made the point that no one wins in a gunfight. True statement. I carry in order to stay out of a gunfight, not because I want to get in one! He did a good job of dispelling the myths regarding open carry. The argument of "you'll be the first to be shot" is one I've heard repeatedly. Bottom line, show me the evidence! It just isn't there from a civilian standpoint. Sure, there are a few events here and there, but they're hard to find, and I can give you just as many accounts of the presence of a visible gun deterring the crime - and I'm sure it happens much more often than we know! The argument that the gun will get stolen goes into the same category as that above. It just doesn't happen! If it does, it's typically in the course of a fight anyway, not just a random mugger walking up and taking the gun away. The author's statement regarding surprise is certainly valid: "[Surprise] is exclusively an offensive action, not a defensive one." Action is always faster than reaction! However, whether your gun is open or concealed, you still have to draw it. You're still "reacting" to the threat. And, no brag, just stating fact, I (and the guys I train with) can draw my firearm from concealment and get a good hit faster than the average "gun-toter" can do the same from an open holster. So if you're reacting to a threat, it honestly won't matter much if you've properly trained. The key is to get ahead of the loop - be aware of what's happening before it happens. But that's another lesson for another day! Now to point out some flaws in argumentation here. Please, don't take this as an attack on the author. It's not intended that way. Nor is it an argument against open carry. I'm just trying to point out a few things to consider! The author cites the studies that demonstrate the reluctance of criminals to attack an armed person. He is right, except that he failed to include a key word in his statement, which I will include in my restatement: ...every study says that [MOST] criminals will avoid an armed person..." Take out the word "most", and it's a blanket statement! Remember Murphy? Whatever can go wrong, will! Don't count on "most" criminals being the one to attack you. You'd better be prepared for the guy who has nothing to lose, and who fears nothing but failure. He won't stop because your gun is visible. Now, the biggest issue I have with this article is the statement, "My probability of being a victim of a crime, violent or otherwise, is completely unchanged by the fact that I have hidden beneath my shirt the means to defend myself." He's assuming an awful lot here! He makes the statement that his teeth are hidden. Well, the tiger's teeth are hidden when his mouth is closed. And his claws are retracted until he needs them. But are you going to attack the tiger? How do you know he's not a tiger who's been declawed and had all his teeth pulled? I'm sure not going to make that assumption! No, you're not going to mess with the tiger because one look tells you he's a weapon. I do not need a gun visible on my side to deter the predator. I'm not a victim, but my gun doesn't have to be displayed to advertise that fact. The problem with this article is the assumption that a gun is the deterrent to crime. A firearm is certainly a good deterrent, and a visible gun may serve that purpose. However, that is not the only tool of self-protection that should be in your toolbox. Anyone who trains with me knows that I don't depend on tools. Sure, I carry them, and train to use them. But we must also plan for the worst: we may not have time nor opportunity to access a tool immediately. Be ready. Don't become tool dependent; be the weapon. Train hard! [/QUOTE]
Insert Quotes…
Verification
Post Reply
Forums
Competition, Tactics & Training
Self Defense & Handgun Carry
The Open Carry Argument
Search titles only
By:
Top
Bottom