My wife and daughter went to Piggly Wiggly this morning and a couple were carrying handguns. Of course my wife was offended and probably made a snide comment or something and they started crowding her. It was kinda like they wanted to intimidate her. Anyway, I am not trying to argue the right to carry but why? In rural Alabama why show off your pistol in public? The grocery store is not a dangerous place.
Given their response to your wife's response, I'd say it is about intimidation and an obvious lack of maturity in that scenario.
I conceal and feel that open carry people are just wanting to get 'in your face'. If you think about it I'd say a grocery store is no more dangerous than a school or a church.
I don't know your wife, but people usually respond to unnecessary commentary with similar words or actions. Should they have? My opinion, no. But as to the 'why' they were open carrying, if it's legal, then nothing should have been said. No one knows what they were doing beforehand, or what they were going to be doing after their trip to the grocery store. Sort of like wearing a swim suit in the grocery store.
Tell that to the victims and their families of the shootings in King Soopers in Boulder, CO and Kroger in Collierville, TN.
The next time I may ask them. The whole situation sounds a like a pissing contest. But I tend to think some people do it to intimidate others. The women had it stuck in the back of her pants like in the movies. She probably shoots holding her gun sideways cause it looks cool. I am not intimidated by open carry. If someone is going to shoot me I am probably dead by the time I see the weapon.
There was a time when a grocery store could be assumed to be a safe place. There was a time when a high rise office building could be considered to be a safe place. There was a time when a church or synagogue could be considered a safe place. Those days are long gone.
A curiosity question. If someone was going to do something exceedingly stupid, would you do it around someone who was obviously armed, or would they look for someone who wasn't obviously armed? People coming from a target range, or heading to a range, may be open carrying. That doesn't mean it has anything to do with 'dick swinging'. If they did 'crowd' PC's wife, then that was stupidity, but as I previously mentioned, it is legal to open carry in Alabama.
in a state where CCW is very easy to get, open carry destroys the element of surprise. better to assume that anyone may be carrying. open carry is also about trying to intimidate people and show how "big and bad" you are its pathetic
Here in Texas, as of 1 Sept 21, any legal gun owner can carry OPEN OR CONCEALED... no registration or permit required. Using the model of blue states that declared themselves "sanctuaries" for immigration so they could ignore federal immigration laws, Texas has declared itself a "sanctuary" for the Second Amendment, allowing us to do things like purchase silencers (as long as they are built in Texas) without complying with federal regulations. We also have no state income tax. We are also free of any China Virus tyrannical "mandates" (while maintaining 38th out of 50 states for COVID deaths per 100,000 population). Our schools are open and our kids will be doctors and astronauts while their blue state counterparts will still be struggling to read. Gas here is still under $3. FREEDOM REIGNS IN TEXAS!
If I were to carry the weapon it would be out of sight. My only weapon... if I carry one now is a walking stick. And I know it is taking a stick to a gun fight but I don't plan to be in any fight. I figure the odds are it would be some punk wanting to sucker punch me in public.
Open carry is stupid to me. Concealed carry is absolutely the way to go. EDIT: I am talking about in Urban Environments. Not out in the country.
in my state, open carry of long guns is effectively legal, as state law failed to make it illegal. however, nobody does it. why? we dont need to walk around swinging our dicks to know we are men
Another way to look at it: Would you rather prevent an incident, or address it after it's already happened? Again, you do not know the circumstances, and to assume you do means your mind is closed. Several people in my family have done both, neither of which have anything to do with 'dick swinging' as you put it. Leaving a firearm in a vehicle is not always the best thing to do.
Two reasons besides not wanting to leave a gun in a car while shopping to open carry: open carry doesn't typically require a license, and it's easier to carry a full size handgun in open carry than concealed carry in some/most conditions.
My objection to open carry of hand guns has nothing to do with liberal talking points. My objections are much more practical. Open carry means that someone can go for your gun with ease. Its not an effective defensive strategy. After all, the whole reason to carry a gun is defensive use. Much more prudent and practical to carry concealed.
Your wife needs to get over herself - it's -their- right. You don't have to ask anyone's opinion before you exercise your rights, and you don't have to listen to anyone's opinion if you get it. Noplace is a dangerous place - until it is.
` ~ I like concealed carry but have no problem in states like AZ where open carry is not unusual. It may sound crazy but I wish everyone with pistolas in California would have an 'open carry week '. I predict a sudden dramatic drop in crime.
