Question for gun folks...

Cody

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East Stabbington
I should continue to preface these by saying I grew up in a hunting family, and do own guns myself. But I'm also for responsible gun laws (common sense stuff).

I'm sitting in a diner in rural Washington, and watch this 80+ year old farmer get out of a car. He didn't drive, I assume because he could barely walk and had the shakes (I apologize if that's a disrespectful term... Not sure what the medical condition is called). Homie also has an open carry pistol with extra clip around his waste, and and a second setup around his leg.

That dude would certainly need all those rounds because there is no chance he could hit anything... So my question is, is this responsible gun use/ownership? He's not making me safer, and my toddler could disarm him and take his guns. If you can't physically drive a car safely, can't hardly take your own glasses off, do you really need to be carrying guns around like that?

I guess maybe he open carries because he's seamed unable to responsibly use a firearm so they wouldn't allow him to have a concealed? Is that a thing?

I guess sitting here I wouldn't even know what law to change, other than just enforcing common sense. It just seems so silly
 

mbryson

.......a few dollars more
Supporting Member
To me, no, that's not responsible ownership in my opinion. I think it is the person/family/friends that should help him NOT carry. With what you describe, he's a bigger liability carrying and not being strong enough to control the weapon than he is an asset. If I was a "perp", I'd take my chances with overpowering that guy JUST for his weapons in a sketchy situation. Again, my opinion. Everyone's will differ.


As for the "right" to open carry. I believe (but don't know) that WA is an "open carry" state? I think last I saw, there were 33 of those? This where everyone's opinion will differ?

I believe in the RIGHT to open carry. I think you're a dumbass if you do but the RIGHT shall not be infringed. It seems like a bit of a "natural selection" type law to me. If you can't handle your weapon well, I would likely not carry at all ESPECIALLY open. To me, that's just advertising that you want to get accosted first. I'd rather have that weapon well concealed and ONLY use it if absolutely necessary. I'm in a corner if you've put me there and I'm sending ALL I have at you after me trying to avoid this situation you've put me in.

Personally, I believe the 2nd Amendment is there as opposition to a tyrannical .gov. We may or may not have that currrently. Everyone has an opinion there. That's mine. I see how the .gov takes care of things for people. **** the representatives we have. It would take MANY election cycles to clean out the cesspool that is in DC. Their interests are not aligned with mine for the most part. You only have to look at the FEMA responses to see what we'd have if the .gov had more control of our lives.

That might be the only "Trump" thing I truly agree with is "clean the swamp". I find it interesting/funny that one of the more corrupt famous folks out there won the presidency and because he didn't "play ball" with the cesspool folks, he's HATED. (sorry for the Trump tangent---I'm not a Trumpster at all but am NOT very supportive of most politicians. I think they're all corrupt and if they're not, they will be after a bit of lobbying.)
 
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Cody

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Location
East Stabbington
Thinking while driving through the wasteland of eastern Oregon, I guess my thought is we have the right to "bear arms" but does that right extend universally? Is it a constitutional right to carry anyhwere, anytime?

My thought is that it's a privilege to carry in public similar to a privilege to operate a vehicle. Maybe the system should change to allow for open and concealed carry with license, and that license needs to be renewed at regular intervals and that includes a background check at each renewal? Maybe that interval is 5 years, or 10, but at some point you're desire to have a weapon on you becomes a liability more than a security.
 

DAA

Well-Known Member
Can't turn on the news or click a link without hearing about an old farmer killing a bunch of innocent folks with his EDC. It's everywhere.

I mean, you weren't comfortable. But. So what? Your comfort ain't his problem. So, what IS the problem? Really? Your comfort level? That's a you problem. Some of us just enjoy making other people uncomfortable? Are we gonna get cancelled?

- DAA
 

lhracing

Well-Known Member
Location
Layton, UT
I believe in the right to open carry. I am that old man with a gun, I open carry whenever I am out camping and wheeling. I don't agree with licensing to open carry, I do think a permit to conceal carry is appropriate and think Utah should have not changed the law. I do believe that the courts have gotten soft on criminals and that needs to change not more gun laws on law abiding citizens.
 

Cody

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Location
East Stabbington
Can't turn on the news or click a link without hearing about an old farmer killing a bunch of innocent folks with his EDC. It's everywhere.

I mean, you weren't comfortable. But. So what? Your comfort ain't his problem. So, what IS the problem? Really? Your comfort level? That's a you problem. Some of us just enjoy making other people uncomfortable? Are we gonna get cancelled?

- DAA
That's fair, and maybe you're right. I don't trust that person to responsibly handle his weapon and that makes me uncomfortable.

What if you were having breakfast and some 18 y/o kid wearing red with his pants hanging off his ass came in open carrying 2 pistols and 2 extra clips. What's your opinion of that? Does that make you uncomfortable? Is he canceled?

I personally find that kid more predictable than the elderly guy just looking for a reason to out America someone.
 

Greg

Make RME Rockcrawling Again!
Admin
I know plenty of ranchers here in CO that open carry... a gun is just a tool that goes hand in hand with their job.

One friend works his family cattle ranch, they have hundreds of acres in the mountains, he kills animals that could harm the cattle. Rattlesnakes bite, prairie dogs digging holes that cause broken legs, etc. He also rides the fence line and sees more big predators that most people will never see... mountain lions, bears, etc. Plenty of coyotes and now wolves are showing up in CO again. He uses a gun for his own protection too.

I have zero issue with an old rancher/farmer open carrying... that guy may look frail and shaky, but I'd bet he can still put the bullets where they need to go. He's probably been shooting for 70 years of his 80+.
 

Jesser04

Well-Known Member
Location
Kaysville Utah
That's fair, and maybe you're right. I don't trust that person to responsibly handle his weapon and that makes me uncomfortable.

What if you were having breakfast and some 18 y/o kid wearing red with his pants hanging off his ass came in open carrying 2 pistols and 2 extra clips. What's your opinion of that? Does that make you uncomfortable? Is he canceled?

I personally find that kid more predictable than the elderly guy just looking for a reason to out America someone.
Neither of them make me uncomfortable. If you have your gun reasonably secured I don’t care what you look like. If you are fiddling with it in public I have a problem but again none of this is based off your clothing age or color of skin.
 

Gravy

Ant Anstead of Dirtbikes
Supporting Member
This whole thread makes me proud. Proud to be able to see these different opinions that are expressed openly and respectfully. Opens my mind to see from multiple perspectives.

I LOVE to see a respectful disagreement.

Glad we still have that freedom and I'm proud we have the decorum to use it correctly. Good forum of humans here.
Carry on.
 

Cody

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Location
East Stabbington
I know plenty of ranchers here in CO that open carry... a gun is just a tool that goes hand in hand with their job.

One friend works his family cattle ranch, they have hundreds of acres in the mountains, he kills animals that could harm the cattle. Rattlesnakes bite, prairie dogs digging holes that cause broken legs, etc. He also rides the fence line and sees more big predators that most people will never see... mountain lions, bears, etc. Plenty of coyotes and now wolves are showing up in CO again. He uses a gun for his own protection too.

I have zero issue with an old rancher/farmer open carrying... that guy may look frail and shaky, but I'd bet he can still put the bullets where they need to go. He's probably been shooting for 70 years of his 80+.
I agree 100% it's a useful and necessary tool on the ranch and no doubt that old guy has lived a long and purposeful life working harder than I'll ever work. I have a ton of respect for farmers, their ingenuity, their work ethic, and their connection to their land. But just doesn't seem necessary at Saturday breakfast for anyone, let alone the guy who is probably 10 years past being able to use it for the reason he's carrying it to breakfast.
 

Greg

Make RME Rockcrawling Again!
Admin
I agree 100% it's a useful and necessary tool on the ranch and no doubt that old guy has lived a long and purposeful life working harder than I'll ever work. I have a ton of respect for farmers, their ingenuity, their work ethic, and their connection to their land. But just doesn't seem necessary at Saturday breakfast for anyone, let alone the guy who is probably 10 years past being able to use it for the reason he's carrying it to breakfast.

But if that's been his life for decades and he carries his pistol like you carry your wallet, what's the issue?
 
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