My very very red state, SC, is considering an "open carry with training" law.

[raccoon]

The bill would allow state residents who are already licensed to carry a concealed weapon to openly display a handgun

. Wyff4.com

And it will almost surely pass.

Riddle me this, legislators, how am I supposed to know if somebody open carrying is a good guy or a bad guy?

And even if he is a good guy, what if “he’s having a bad day?” Like that murderer in Atlanta?

Argh!

[abqtommy]

1. Many years ago in the early 1970s I lived in Arizona and they allowed open carry

without training. It was one of the politest societies I've ever lived in. I carried and I was
as polite to other people as they were to me. It was good then, not so much today. The
thing is, people who open carry are being honest. People who conceal carry are not.
Disclaimer: These days I've got nothing to carry but my smile.

[Roy Rolling]

4. I'm sure it was true for you

But the statistics show little effect in the 1970s from open carry on violent crime.

Here’s the numbers:


And I’m not ranting about guns, I’m a legal gun owner myself.

[abqtommy]

7. Statistics are fine. But some years back here in Albuquerque one woman who was at

work in a store was attacked by her ex-husband who had a knife. Another man who was
in the store and licensed to conceal carry shot and killed that attacker then calmly
waited for police to arrive. The shooter was not arrested or charged.

[RoadRising]

2. Recently moved from SC

Your Republican legislators think the answer to your question is obvious:

White people carrying guns are good guys, Black and brown people carrying guns are bad guys. See Ron Johnson.

And, you know, what is a white guy having a bad day supposed to do?

Understand your pain - so glad we’re not there any more.

[doc03]

3. We have open carry in Ohio but it is extremely rare to see anyone

with open carry weapon. I think if you really are up to no good you are going to conceal you're weapon.

[genxlib]

5. Honestly?

I was surprised to see that it wasn't already the case there.

I think it is ridiculous but at least it sends me a message of who to avoid. Partly because of the violent weapon but partly because of the personality traits that make a person want to do that.

[hack89]

6. Are you any safer if you can't see the gun?

the fact is every day you are most likely in contact with someone carrying a concealed gun, legally and illegally.

Laws like this aren't the problem - if someone is willing to go through all the required training then chances are they are law abiding. It is the people that say "fuck the law" and carry in public anyway that are the threat.

[bucolic_frolic]

8. Over the long term

these states will be shunned. Isolated economically. Their populations will shrink. It may take decades, but it will be inexorable.

[samnsara]

9. i think all carry..concealed or open should come with training...I have a concealed weapons permit

.. and all they did was ask about distinguishing marks and tattoos ;/

However I did go thru a training course on my own when I got my guns.