Would Open Carry of Handguns Make You Feel Safer?

The Federalist Papers ^ | JUNE 4, 2013 | BY STEVE STRAUB

[Sopater]

A few days ago we asked if you would feel safe going into a business that had a sign that read “Guns are welcome on premises, please keep all weapons holstered unless need arises. In such a case judicious marksmanship is appreciated.”

1,524 of you replied and the comments below are representative of what most of you had to say about this issue:

• BEST COMMENT – Here’s the thing with the people who believe it would be unsafe. In most states to carry a holstered gun in public, they must pass an extensive class of shooting accuracy, defensive shooting, and proper safety. Yes I’m sure there are people that haven’t gone through this, but these are the people who have a reason for not being legal. Your belief on gun control is your belief but I will say that in the properly trained hand a situation that involves an intruder can be controlled quicker than the police are able to get there.
• BEST COMMENT – How about a sign at school’s “Faculty/staff/administrators are carrying firearms and are trained to use if the need arises”? I’m for it.
• BEST COMMENT – I’m a teacher (33 years) and I would LOVE to have a gun in my room. I have a right to protect my students without endangering myself. I have a family, too!
  If I’m on one side of the room with a gun & my students are on the other side, the gunman would pay attention to me, not them.
• The bigger question here is would a gun toting ,psychopathic, trigger happy freak feel safe if he decides he is having a bad day and wants to take out a few people at a local business? Uh, I think he would think twice after seeing this!
• Israelis are safe in an unsafe world because many are heavily armed. Don’t feel safe around guns? Don’t go to Israel or to this shopping center. Israelis won’t miss you; neither will we.
• My belief is simple. Arm every GOOD citizen. Teach them to be proficient shots. Educate them on the second amendment and check for understanding the fact, that we, the greatest country on earth, have guns to thank for our life styles and our freedom…. now think about this… how many of those 22 children in conn would have come home to their parents, had all the good people, (who are here today because their fore fathers carried guns) been “packin”….
• Gun free zones are the most UNsafe place to be. The bad guys certainly know this. The only thing that stops a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun.
• Yes, safer than at school where I know there is no protection and anyone can and has just walked right in and hurt whomever they please without threat of return fire
• Absolutely safe! Criminals will know there are citizens present who are armed and not afraid to us it, and families can enter knowing they are allowed to exercise their right to bear and use to protect. The store owner can be more at ease about thefts, and in providing a safer environment for all.
• I wonder why the women who say they would not feel safe at this establishment feel that way? Should they feel unsafe at a police station where everyone is armed? Would they feel safer at a location that bans firearms? Those locations are targets for evil men with bad intent.
• 100% in favor of open carry and conceal carry. It is a verifiable fact that there are less gun crimes and less home invasions where people are able to protect themselves and their property. The 2nd amendment was designed by the framers of this country to protect ourselves from tyranny. Enemies, both foreign and domestic beware. This is our right. Deal with it!
• I would have my own CCL and feel even safer!!! When you outlaw guns only outlaws will have guns!!! The mayor of New York City even has his armed body guards but wants to make it to where the average citizen can not carry a personal sidearm!!! What country was he born in?
• ALTERNATE VIEW – Except of course that plenty of people have been shot by “Good guys” too. I’ve lost count of how many news stories I’ve read that end in “I didn’t know it was loaded”. Or, “My husband bought it for me and I forgot it was in my purse. I’m not afraid of competent gun owners. Its the stupid ones who shouldn’t even be driving a car, much less owning a deadly weapon that scare me.

About 5% of you said they would not feel safe going into a business like that, the comments below are representative of what that group had to say. There are only a few samples because most were about the same.

• I’m sorry, but I would not be eating there. That’s too scary.
• I certainly would not feel comfortable walking into place where it’s possible that everyone there is packing a gun. I think that is just stupid. Anything could happen in that environment.
• I grew up with guns too. I was educated on the proper use of guns. A lot of people haven’t been. Can you imagine some couple gets in an argument there, they both pull out guns and start shooting, and everyone else pulls there guns not knowing who the bad guy is. Lots of people would be shot. I will steer clear, thank you very much.

All in all I was amazed that 95% of you would feel safe given all of the anti-gun media focus. It tells me that the anti-gun crowd is losing as far as the American people are concerned.

What do you think? Please comment below…

[Sopater]

Yes.

[basil]

Double yes!

[tractorman]

Yes and technically we have that here in Wisconsin.

[laweeks]

Absolutely . . . next question.

[no-to-illegals]

A well armed, educated, safe society is an armed society.

[rarestia]

Quite frankly: yes!

With the faggots around the world pushing their sodomite agenda and bandying about as a “right” they want “upheld,” a true “right” given to us by GOD, the right to armed self-defense, is constantly abridged and derided as unnecessary among “civilized nations.”

I promote the open carrying of firearms and wish to see it universally adopted and adhered to across the nation. The faggots can push their pederasty on the public in the name of “fairness,” but law-abiding Americans can’t carry a weapon for their protection? GTFO!

It used to be that carrying a concealed weapon was a sign of a coward and a criminal. Now we have to be “licensed” to do so. Meanwhile, it was understood and universally acceptable to carrying a pistol on one’s hip in full and open view of the world, and we were a much politer society as a whole. What changed?

[SnakeDoctor]

It wouldn’t make me feel any safer than my concealed weapon already does. Ought to be legal. I wouldn’t do it, though ... prefer to conceal. I don’t need the attention.

SnakeDoc

[onedoug]

DEFINITELY!

[DoughtyOne]

In a place where law and order are still the lay of the land, yes.

In a place where societal norms have broken down, it probably wouldn’t.

Being able to open carry probably wouldn’t keep you safe in an inner city setting. There’s simply too many non-law and order people around. You would be outnumbered, and could be ambushed at will.

Just my two cents worth...

[itsahoot]

That sign is posted at a gun store in Medford, OR, is that where you got it?

[Dead Corpse]

Yes.

Open. Concealed. Both. As long as we are as well armed as those trying to victimize us. At least then we’ll have a fighting chance.

[morphing libertarian]

We were in Jerusalem in 2010 on a May Sunday. Uniformed Soldiers everywhere and armed. I mean like tourists, not just patrolling. Each one was in uniform (as far as we know everyone) and walking the streets and having a good time in some sights and reverential in others.

We felt safe knowing the soldiers were there and armed. I would imagine that in some place I would welcome a lot of us in public being armed.

My preference is concealed.

[Sybeck1]

I will find out July 1st when Mississippi goes open carry. Would like to find a double holster with two six shooters in it, but that might be overkill.

[Obadiah]

No. We need to be honest and not just foment bluster. Open carry would be disruptive. Whether you like it or not, some people are just not comfortable seeing people walk around armed. They will never be comfortable. The people who conceal carry will understand this.

Open carry makes YOU the instant mark, especially in a bad situation. I, for one, do not want this. I do not want bad guys to know if I’m carrying, period.

Open carry may be the law in some states, but it is not practical and would be socially disruptive.

[morphing libertarian]

thanx, nice work

[no-to-illegals]

prefer to conceal

I too ... so as to make them guess but have no objection to open.

[no-to-illegals]

not really ... I like conceal too but when in the open it put the perps in the open too.

[itsahoot]

It used to be that carrying a concealed weapon was a sign of a coward and a criminal.

Crooked card sharps, and their up the sleeve derringers, mostly. :)

[SnakeDoctor]

Element of surprise.

Plus, I’d rather not be the first guy shot if somebody aims to rob the joint.

SnakeDoc

[knittnmom]

If "comfort" is the goal - let's ban:

pants on the ground; provocatively dressed people; PDAs; profanities and suggestive images on t-shirts and clothing...