Posted on 06/20/2012 5:48:30 AM PDT by marktwain
When Gov. Fallin pulled the trigger on the open carry law, Evan Wilbanks started predicting problems. He's a firearms instructor, and while he stands for the Second Amendment, he also believes carrying a gun openly goes too far.
"I'm not a big advocate of walking into an establishment with a firearm. I feel it makes you a target,” said Wilbanks.
The bill prohibits carrying firearms on city, state, or federal property. You can't pack heat in schools or sporting events either.
"I’m not a gun enthusiast personally," said Bill Hermann.
Hermann patrols his South Tulsa neighborhood daily for anything that looks out of place. He’s part of the Citizen's Alert Patrol. Hermann said he's worried about random people walking around his neighborhood with guns--very much visible-- come November.
"Raises the level of tension when guns are available," said Hermann.
To carry openly you'll have to take a firearms safety and training course. You'll also have to submit to a background check by the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, and get a permit similar to the concealed carry permit. Anyone convicted of felonies and certain misdemeanors can't have a handgun license.
A steady flow of students show up for firearms lessons every week. Wilbanks said the most important lesson for people if they're going to carry openly is advanced training courses.
"Understanding what is defensive force and what is deadly force," said Wilbanks.
Otherwise, he fears a lot of people could be in the line of fire.
One firearms instructor we spoke with said he has talked to people who assume open carry means no permit necessary. That is not the case you do need a permit for open or concealed carry.
Police said they'll have the authority to ask anyone who is carrying a gun to show their permit.
Seems a direct violation of the Fourth Amendment to me. I beleive that the Supreme Court has so ruled.
Choice is good. If you don’t want to OC, then don’t. When I’m in AZ, I find it very convenient to have the choice to OC or CC depending on where I am, what I’m doing, the weather, etc.
Personally, I don’t like open carry for myself. But I do believe it is a right and it doesn’t bother me if other people do it. And it is legal in my state of Pennsylvania and no permit is required. I have a CCW and I’d just prefer other people don’t know when I’m armed, which is most of the time.
That’s exactly why there should be no permits or registrations at all. Let people do what they feel comfortable with.
I’m not comfortable with handguns because my experience is mostly with long guns which are a little tough to conceal.
Heck, I even see a moneymaking opportunity for business owners who don’t want guns in their businesses. Coin operated gun lockers or something. And if people aren’t happy with that, they can find a business that allows guns.
The free market is a wonderful thing.
CRACKS ME UP! Evan Wilbanks works for 2A Shooting center selling advanced training for OPEN CARRY! Guess he is OK with it after you pay him some money. Several TPD officers are selling training, right before they stop you on the street and demand “papers please”.
Having said that, I don't think it should be banned either.
Seems to me that OC makes one a target, and completely eliminates any "surprise element" that might give an incredible advantage to the potential victim. I call it the "Oh shoot!!!"(censored) factor. Why would one want to give that up? I suppose some would think that maybe, MAYBE one OC advantage in a defensive situation would be speed in presenting/access to ones' firearm. Weighing the two, it doesn't seem to equalize the "surprise element"...but maybe I am missing something.
What gets me is this bizarre attitude that people apparently open fire on anyone seen with a gun. Just a few days ago a FReeper informed me that if I tried open carry in Detroit they’d open fire from every window and rooftop. The reality is that there’s a thriving open carry community in Detroit and they lead the nation in justifiable homicide.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2897032/posts
In the case of a bank robber or something. I suspect they would walk in to take a look first. When they see a gun, I’m guessing they’ll walk right back out 99% of the time.
It should also be noted that this always assumes that only 1 person would be openly armed and becomes an obvious target.
Police get gunned down every day because they open carry right?</sarcasm>
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