August 18th, 2009
I’ve not chimed in about the recent news coverage of folks in crowds at political events who are open carrying, in part because I’m not exactly sure what I think of the issue.
On the one hand, what these folks are doing is legal and I think it’s important that others realize that fact. I also like the idea that a point can be made and the message that gun owners think gun issues matter can be sent.
On the other hand, the message received by 90% of the population will be “these guys are whackos” and will probably do more harm than good to the cause of protecting the right to keep and bear arms. The fact that the message will be that because of the media is not really relevant.
Sighted at Phonix VFW Event (Scott Wong/The Arizona Republic)
And, don’t you know, the militias are gearing up again and everything. Again, this is the media at work, but don’t let hopes for fairness or expectations of accuracy cloud your thinking when it comes to the media.
Here’s the most recent story:
A man, who decided not to give his name, was walking around the pro-health care reform rally at Third and Washington streets, with a pistol on his hip and an AR-15 (a semi-automatic assault weapon) on a strap over his shoulder.
“Because I can do it,” he said when asked why he was armed. “In Arizona, I still have some freedoms.”
Sure, you can. That’s not the same as sure, you should.
I guess I’m giving these folks the benefit of the doubt and taking them at face value. I don’t necessarily agree that what they’re doing is going to help gun owners, but I also don’t think that shutting them down (even if that were possible) is a good idea.
One thing I expect, though, is that this story is going to continue to grow legs. There will be more and more sightings and more and more news reports. Soon, if they haven’t already, activists in the anti-gun camp are going to start showing up with guns for their own purposes.
At some point, there’s going to be a situation of some sort or other.
I just think there’s so little to be gained and so much to be potentially lost here that open carrying at these sorts of things is just probably a bad idea.
I realize that not everyone, and maybe not even most people, will agree with Murdoc on this.
UPDATE: Confederate Yankee brings up a few good points:
I must say that I was impressed with how these open carry advocates conducted themselves. They coordinated their display with the Phoenix Police Department, who provided them with a liaison officer. They were also courteous to those around them, remaining calm and well-behaved (with the exception of the mysterious “other” rifle-carrying man that only one CNN employee seems to have seen)…
The armed protesters at events in Arizona and New Hampshire were never “at” Obama’s meetings. They were never inside of the security perimeter that the Secret Service establishes for Presidential appearances. They weren’t ever close.
The protester in New Hampshire who had a gun in a tactical drop-leg rig was on private property well away from the Obama appearance (I’ve heard estimates of ½ to ¾ mile away) and was never in direct line of sight of either the venue or the motorcade. He never remotely a threat to the President, nor did he intend to be.
Likewise, those open carry advocates at yesterday’s event in Arizona arranged for a police liaison the day before the event, and were constantly afforded security by the Phoenix Police Department and had at least one known Secret Service agent shadowing them to assure they were following the law. These citizens were never anywhere near the President, nor did they attempt to go anywhere near the Secret Service’s security perimeter that cordoned off the event and the building in which it was held.
Go read the whole thing.
Via Instapundit, who has more.
Tags: AZ
August 18th, 2009 at 12:44 pm
[...] Over at GunPundit, I write a little about the “new craze” of open carrying at political events. [...]
August 18th, 2009 at 3:08 pm
me and one of my gun buddies were talking about this today. I like the open carry rallies going on around the country but I really don’t like anyone associating them with townhalls and such. 1.) it will only be perceived the wrong way and 2.) its a pressure that should NEVER be added to an open discussion forum (contrary to Obama’s beliefs on townhall meetings). Townhalls are meant to be equal areas of discussion with no intimidation or intervention (e.g.: acorn bussing people in from other cities). Aside from that, open carry is not even remotely germane to socialized healthcare. And currently, socialized healthcare is something we should definitely be fighting regardless of Obama’s recent words, this can still become a full fledged socialized plan once it hits the floor in congress.
August 18th, 2009 at 3:12 pm
Eddy A: I’m also a fan of the Open Carry rallies, particularly from a public awareness perspective.
August 18th, 2009 at 3:18 pm
yeah, I agree with that. Public awareness is a big issue with open carry. I live in FL, but if I could open carry, I don’t know if I would and a lot of that has to do with perception. The gun has become so vilified that people only think bad things if they see you with one. I don’t think the rallies will change that, but for once, the silent majority is making at least a peep in comparison to the vocal liberal minority and media.
August 18th, 2009 at 3:46 pm
Another point to be made is the Phoenix PD not only provided a liaison officer, but went on the news supporting their rights, as did the mayor of Phoenix. These gentlemen set an example we all should follow. regardless of party. Guns have been vilified because we’ve been silent and allowed it to happen. Doing nothing accomplishes nothing.
August 18th, 2009 at 3:47 pm
[...] Murdoc has more. What’s more interesting is that these folks were not just law-abiding, but coordinated. They [...]
August 18th, 2009 at 7:46 pm
With that mindset, you can never win. Ever. When you allow other people to attach THEIR meaning to your words or actions you have no control over your own life.
In this example, the gentleman carrying the AR was no threat. He did not imply that he would start shooting people any more than those carrying a .45 ACP. I have been busting my ASS trying to get people to realize the tool is irrelevant, and here I am arguing with those on my side about someone carrying something “they don’t approve of”.
Imagine if someone was bitching that he was carrying a ‘high capacity magazine’ and there was no need to scare people with such firepower. That is how I’m interpreting the fact that people are poopin’ their bloomers over an AR.
August 18th, 2009 at 8:02 pm
For the record, I don’t disapprove of the tool. As usual with guns and other tools, it’s the person who I’m not entirely certain about.
Here’s how I see it:
Best case scenario is that a few people get a little educated about a few gun laws and a few voters and maybe even a couple of politicians realize that many Americans in general and some gun owners in particular are very serious about today’s issues.
Worst case scenario is that some nut job or agent provacateur does something very very bad. Very very bad shift in public opinion in the wake of the tragedy is followed by very very bad legislation.
The actual result is likely to be somewhere in between, which means that the upside will be barely noticeable. Sure, points will have been made. Those points will be remember for about three minutes, unless it’s a point good for the anti-gun crowd, in which case the point will be remembered for ever and ever.
For what it’s worth, I also think it probably wouldn’t be terribly constructive to carry swords, pitchforks, axes, spiked clubs or baseball bats at these events.
August 18th, 2009 at 8:17 pm
[...] Guns in the Crowd [...]
August 19th, 2009 at 8:44 am
[...] covers the story here, and here, largely in agreement with my position. I also agree with Murdoc’s assessment of [...]
August 20th, 2009 at 2:43 pm
[...] still maintain that gun owners should proceed with caution when it comes to open carrying to political events like this, but it sure is nice to see some liars [...]