Response to I Support Open Carry… Sort Of

Guns Magazine published an interesting editorial about Open Carry, that wasn’t supportive of OC. Thus here’s my response to some of their statements:

1.  Open carry gives away the element of surprise.

Tactically speaking, if your gun is showing you’ve already lost the element of surprise.  Some people who open carry might believe that if someone sees that they’re carrying a firearm it will dissuade them from being attacked.  That might be true with some people, but not all of them.  In truth, evil people might see an opportunity to attack no matter your visible defenses.  Either way, having your gun exposed puts you behind the power curve–surprise is your friend.  You don’t want to give that up.

Suppose you’re a bad guy looking for someone to hurt, who are you going to target? A friendly-looking old lady or a tough guy open carrying a weapon? Unless the old lady has a gun, the OC presents a greater threat. Yes, you can hit him, but then he can hit you back.

2. Open carriers could be targeted in an active shooter scenario.

As I just alluded to, if someone sees that you have a firearm, it may just mean that they will attack you first.  As an air marshal, I hid my gun well.  I figured if anyone saw my gun and wanted to attack the plain, they’d have the upper hand.  They’d try to disarm me, or they’d try to kill me first.

In these scenarios, open carry, or not concealing your firearm very well, can get you targeted and killed first.

Again, you gain the tactical advantage by having the element of surprise.  This is the main reason I would never open carry in plainclothes.  (Note: Carrying in a law enforcement or military uniform is an entirely different story.)

The only active shooter that has ever targeted armed people was Arnold Schwarzenegger in Terminator. The average active shooter is not an android sent from the future, he’s made of flesh and bone, and even if his intent is suicide, the last thing he wants is to get killed before he gets to do maximum damage. I respect Air Marshals, but it would be far cheaper to let everyone open carry in the air than to pay people like you to protect us, assuming you get the chance.

3. Open carry often turns into a police encounter.

If you’re carrying open and no one else is, eventually, some citizen will freak out and call the cops.  If there are many people open carrying, it makes more sense to do it.  But if not, a lone person carrying openly just brings unwanted attention from police and panics nervous nellies.

This may not bother some people, but for the most of us, we want to avoid this kind of police contact or anything that alienates the voters from gun owners (and gives the anti-gun crusaders ammunition).  Unless you’re trying to make a political statement at an open carry rally, the last thing gun owners who carry for self defense need is attention.

Only in liberal areas, and frankly, at some point 911 operators will have to start asking questions. “OK, he has a gun, is he threatening anyone? Is he pointing his gun at anyone? Is he shooting? No? OK lady, we’re going to arrest you for wasting our time.” As for the gun controllers that engage in SWATing, charge them with 2nd degree murder if their intended target gets killed. If calling 911 to complain about bad customer service at Burger King can get you arrested it, the same should be expected for SWATers and other activists that waste cops time.

4.   There are some people in this world who just want attention.

While it may be few and far between, there are those who believe, outside of any political statement, that carrying a gun openly will make them look tough or important.  These people may have some issues with their own abilities or confidence or may even have a mental illness.  Who knows?

Again, I’m not saying that’s everyone, I’m not saying most or even a lot.  But I’m absolutely certain that there are people who want to carry openly for more than individual rights or freedom.  Some people just want to look tough and scare others, and frankly, that’s the wrong reason to carry.

In the end, I’m glad I live in a part of the country where I can carry firearms practically anywhere (and even openly if I so chose).  I’m grateful for the Second Amendment to the US Constitution, and I believe in a broad interpretation of it.  If people want to own and legally use and carry firearms, we must let them.

I’m glad people own and carry guns.  I think more people should.  I firmly believe, the more people with guns, the less troubles we’ll have.  And, if you want to open carry, and you’re legally allowed to do so where you live, do it.  If you want to carry concealed, do it. But remember to be smart about either.

People should have the right to carry firearms openly if they choose.  But for me, I chose to carry concealed.

There are also people who can’t afford a concealed carry license, can’t afford to sit in a 5-10 hour class, can’t afford to take time off work to get fingerprinted like criminals. Open Carry is a step towards Constitutional Carry (already available in Vermont and Alaska if I’m not mistaken), but let’s consider his arguments. So some people want attention, is that a terrible thing? Is it terrible to advertise your guns and let criminals know you’re ready to fight back? Is it terrible to remind other Americans that this country has a 2nd Amendment? And frankly, why is Guns Magazine giving ammunition to the anti-gunners? Write an article about the pro’s of concealed carry and another about open carry, but articles like this don’t really help the cause.