who'd a thunk it

[reelapeelin]

I don't know CT...seeing somebody standing in public w/an AR strapped over his shoulder almost makes me WANT gun control...who knows this man?...what kind of head is he in?...did he just get back from 3 months training in a terrorist camp in Afghanistan?...no, I don't want people standin' around like that...looks like fuel to feed the fire of gun control to me...

When I see a policeman wearing a gun, I'm comfortable knowing he/she is trained in it's use and has the public's best interest in mind...I have NO such comfort level around armed civilians w/a point to make...like I said above...people who participate in these displays WRECK the credibility of more sensible people who are in favor of keeping their guns...they are handing the gun control proponents headlines to wave around and say I told you so...

[spareparts]

yeah, I figured it was the anti gun nuts that put him up to it, more sensationalism to get the general public wound up. Jsut as the prices on AR's are coming down, the're back up thanks to this idiot. If any one wants to question gun rights, just take a look at the ships that have been taken over by pirates in the persian gulf, the law abiding people working on the boats are over thrown by a few that don't abide by the law. The workers on the ships are forbiden by the ports they enter to have fire arms on board, so a few guys in a skiff with a couple of AK's are able to hijack a ship with a multi million dollar cargo and hold it and the crew memebers for ransom. Whats the anti gun nuts have to say about it? " They( who ever the hell they are) should do something about it". Kind of the general consensis of the genral public today. Its allwasy somebody elses probelm to take care of.

[cterrebonne]

Originally Posted by reelapeelin

I don't know CT...seeing somebody standing in public w/an AR strapped over his shoulder almost makes me WANT gun control...who knows this man?...what kind of head is he in?...did he just get back from 3 months training in a terrorist camp in Afghanistan?...no, I don't want people standin' around like that...looks like fuel to feed the fire of gun control to me...

When I see a policeman wearing a gun, I'm comfortable knowing he/she is trained in it's use and has the public's best interest in mind...I have NO such comfort level around armed civilians w/a point to make...like I said above...people who participate in these displays WRECK the credibility of more sensible people who are in favor of keeping their guns...they are handing the gun control proponents headlines to wave around and say I told you so...

I see what you are saying, I too would not want someone who has a mental issue or wants to do harm to others. But think about this, he's carrying open. People and the leo's now know he's armed. IMO a much better scenario than someone showing up hiding their weapon with bad intents.

I like how you mentioned about training comming into play. would you feel comfortable with someone standing by you who was a CCW liscense who was also armed?

[randlemanboater]

Here is the man w/ the gun talking about it......he has some good points.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kz-c4...eature=related

[bradford]

Everyone is a lot more polite and friendly when others may be packing heat. The AR-15 is not capable of select-fire and is not an assault weapon. I wish the black men that I've met with guns were as nice as that guy.

[reelapeelin]

Originally Posted by cterrebonne

IMO a much better scenario than someone showing up hiding their weapon with bad intents.

INTENT!!...ya just put your finger right on the point...and INTENT is the big UNKNOWN until it's too late...like the kids in Columbine and VA Tech...they saw men w/guns out in the open as you mentioned above...but then the fools started firing and murdering people...and as far as licensing goes, if I'm in a crowd and somebody's got a gun, how do I know he's licensed?...how do the police know until they approach and ask...and depending on how tightly he's wound, just the asking could set the wrong person off...licensed or not...

Here's the thing...our society has evolved into one where civilians don't normally carry weapons, concealed or not...it's UNUSUAL to see and most members of our society are uncomfortable and with good historical reason. If one finds in his life a need to carry a gun around in today's America, then maybe he should find another lifestyle...I've been in some pretty tough spots in my 57 years and NEVER wished later that I'd had a gun... even later glad I didn't...


And I'm not bangin' on anybody's RIGHT TO OWN OR CARRY here... one has the RIGHT to wake up tomorrow and decide to lead a gay lifestyle if one choses...I'm sayin' let's not ABUSE the right to own/carry and that guy showin' up at a public rally w/an assault-style weapon is discomforting to most normal Americans... the RIGHT and the right thing to do at the time are not always the same...and not everybody has the sense to tell the difference

If we wanna go back to the Wild West days where everybody carried, I'd RATHER we don't become that PARANOID, but hey... OK by me...but that's the point...EVERYBODY carried...it WAS the societal norm and there's a reason our culture left it behind...

[THEFERMANATOR]

Historically speaking, how many people open carry there firearms and then open fire on a crowd? Not very many, most of the time the ones who do this will conceal until the last second as they have something to hide. Those who have nothing to hide tend to openly display because they know they are in the right. And those people who open fire on crowds tend to do it ONLY when they know they have virtually no chance of fire being returned on them. The open display by law abiding citizens WILL deter the violence that many fear from people carrying in the open. Those who lay it all out tend to not be the problem, the problem cases come into play by those who hide it or are scared of it. It is proven that a well armed society deters gun violence. Our wonderful liberal media makes a big deal out of this yet in other countrys it is perfectly normal to see this and is expected. I know in SWEDEN many will open carry ACTUAL assault rifles as it is required of them when they join the guard over there that they are armed at all times. I know you will say that these are trained individuals, but that isn't the point. It's the fact that our society has been feminized to the point of fear is the way I see it. And a society in fear is an easy one to control.

I'll go put my armadillo hat back on now and be quiet.

[cterrebonne]

Originally Posted by reelapeelin

INTENT!!...ya just put your finger right on the point...and INTENT is the big UNKNOWN until it's too late...like the kids in Columbine and VA Tech...they saw men w/guns out in the open as you mentioned above...but then the fools started firing and murdering people......

right here youve made my point. when the law abiding citizens have no guns, they cannot defend them selves against those who choose to break the law. While the poor children and faculty were waiting patiently like good upstanding citizens for the police to go and save them, how many people were mowed down??

Back to the point, you would rather have some one stand next to you concealing their weapon than carrying their weapon open??

[spareparts]

thats like i said about the pirates on the ships in the gulf, the law abiding crew on board the ships were easily taken hostage by the non law abiding pirates. I like Archie Bunkers stance on high jacking, when you board a plane, give every one a gun, then the hijackers don't have an advantage over the passengers. And no, I'm not serious that we should arm every one on an airplane, but it shows that once the advantage the "non law abiding" people have is taken away, then they tend not to take advantage of the law abiding people.

[randlemanboater]

Speaking of Archie, here's his take on gun control.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GzFWRPiNXOI