Galveston: Open-carry long-gun non-event

[ffemt300]

I understand and support the right to bear arms, but what I sometimes wonder is why some people (maybe this guy) do it for a show and to cause a scene. This guy was completely within his rights and the law to carry the rifle openly, but the reality is that a lot of people freak out when they see people open carrying like that. It seems to me that these folks ask for trouble when they walk down the streets open carrying just to make a statement. I mean, look at this Kokesh guy in DC.

Hopefully, the more they see this the less they will "freak out". Desensitization has worked in a negative way with regard to murder, sex and other issues. Maybe it will work in a positive way with this issue.

True that. Fingers crossed.

[Cedar Park Dad]

So our rights are situational and subject to others' perceptions?

Everything is situational when it comes to the law. You satnding on the sidewalk, is fine. You standing ina stranger's bedroom, not so much.

I'm not advocating anything here. I'm just saying the more people wandering around with rifles in areas of high concentration of people, in non traditional areas (aka not normal hunting/shooting/rural) the higher chance someone is going to react poorly.
Walking around with a rifle on The Strand or some similar location sounds like the height of stupidity.

[Cedar Park Dad]

I understand and support the right to bear arms, but what I sometimes wonder is why some people (maybe this guy) do it for a show and to cause a scene. This guy was completely within his rights and the law to carry the rifle openly, but the reality is that a lot of people freak out when they see people open carrying like that. It seems to me that these folks ask for trouble when they walk down the streets open carrying just to make a statement. I mean, look at this Kokesh guy in DC.

Hopefully, the more they see this the less they will "freak out". Desensitization has worked in a negative way with regard to murder, sex and other issues. Maybe it will work in a positive way with this issue.

True that. Fingers crossed.

or it goes the other way, as happened in California.

[fickman]

I saw a guy speaking in public yesterday. Right on a sidewalk in downtown. He spoke freely about whatever came to mind and was not in a classroom or lecture hall where you'd normally expect to see people speaking.

Another guy was praying in a crowded public restaurant before eating. He was right in the middle of tons of people - not in a church where you might expect to see somebody practicing religion.

I called 911 on both of them and the police didn't do anything about it.

[Cedar Park Dad]

I saw a guy speaking in public yesterday. Right on a sidewalk in downtown. He spoke freely about whatever came to mind and was not in a classroom or lecture hall where you'd normally expect to see people speaking.

Another guy was praying in a crowded public restaurant before eating. He was right in the middle of tons of people - not in a church where you might expect to see somebody practicing religion.

I called 911 on both of them and the police didn't do anything about it.

I was harassed by a homeless guy downtown. Police didn't do anything about that either.

[nightmare69]

They are having a open carry march in Longview in August. Why anyone would want to walk around in the 110 degree heat is beyond me. I would do it in the early spring.

[oohrah]

Hey, props to Galveston PD!

[cb1000rider]

I understand and support the right to bear arms, but what I sometimes wonder is why some people (maybe this guy) do it for a show and to cause a scene. This guy was completely within his rights and the law to carry the rifle openly, but the reality is that a lot of people freak out when they see people open carrying like that.

When people freak out, the PD gets called and not all PDs handle this as well as Galveston PD did.
Without people like this walking down the street and exercising the right, you might as well forget your 2nd amendment right to bear arms.

I understand what you're talking about.. No need to sling AR-15s and tactical gear around, but seriously.. Without people like this, the police departments tend to overreact and you guys PDs like the video referenced out of Little Elm telling people that if they walk down the street in their neighborhood with a long gun, they're going to go to jail.

I really believe that unexercised rights go away.

[johncanfield]

We're currently in Colorado enjoying 40 degree mornings and we will soon be in New Mexico, both of which are open carry states. Even though I can open carry I rarely do just because I don't want to be noticed; it is nice to not worry about your shirt flying up exposing your weapon though.

[seamusTX]

I really believe that unexercised rights go away.

At the risk of sounding pedantic, you have a right only if you can defend it or someone will defend on your behalf. Otherwise it's a favor that can be withdrawn. Obviously this happened with the RKBA.

Women didn't have the right to vote until mostly-male Congress and state legislatures acknowledged it and enacted legislation "allowing" it.

That said, there's a long list of activities that are legal but not a great idea. Ask New York candidate Anthony Weiner (a.k.a. Carlos Danger) about that.

- Jim

[ffemt300]

I understand and support the right to bear arms, but what I sometimes wonder is why some people (maybe this guy) do it for a show and to cause a scene. This guy was completely within his rights and the law to carry the rifle openly, but the reality is that a lot of people freak out when they see people open carrying like that.

When people freak out, the PD gets called and not all PDs handle this as well as Galveston PD did.
Without people like this walking down the street and exercising the right, you might as well forget your 2nd amendment right to bear arms.

I understand what you're talking about.. No need to sling AR-15s and tactical gear around, but seriously.. Without people like this, the police departments tend to overreact and you guys PDs like the video referenced out of Little Elm telling people that if they walk down the street in their neighborhood with a long gun, they're going to go to jail.

I really believe that unexercised rights go away.

Well said. I'm pickin up what you're puttin down.

[Oldgringo]

We're currently in Colorado enjoying 40 degree mornings and we will soon be in New Mexico, both of which are open carry states. Even though I can open carry I rarely do just because I don't want to be noticed; it is nice to not worry about your shirt flying up exposing your weapon though.

There it is!