Second Amendment

The second amendment gives people the right to keep and bear arms. Some states, Alabama and Tennessee among them, passed laws allowing open carry. I am not disputing the right to have a gun and to carry it open. Also, if you're going to carry for protection, it will be loaded and ready for use.

Recently, I went into an auto parts store and a man was there with his pistol on his hip. I assume it was loaded and ready to use. He had it in some type holster that was composed of a couple of straps and the barrel was sticking straight out the back. I suppose it was for a cross draw. Anyway, for me to get to the counter, I had to walk past the open end of the gun. Again, I'm not debating his right to own it and carry it.  What I am concerned with is, I think I have the right to life, liberty and pursuit of happiness. By him carrying the gun with the barrel sticking out the behind him, he was subject to taking life, liberty and pursuit of happiness away from someone.  Why not pass a law requiring open carry to have the barrel pointed down? That would solve the problem.

I've never seen anyone open carry that way except for undercover law enforcement and they typically have a jacket on over that type of holster.  I don't open carry and never will, it just makes you a target and the center of attention, neither of which appeal to myself.  I agree, he needs to have the muzzle pointed down. 

The second amendment gives people the right to keep and bear arms. Some states, Alabama and Tennessee among them, passed laws allowing open carry. I am not disputing the right to have a gun and to carry it open. Also, if you're going to carry for protection, it will be loaded and ready for use.

Recently, I went into an auto parts store and a man was there with his pistol on his hip. I assume it was loaded and ready to use. He had it in some type holster that was composed of a couple of straps and the barrel was sticking straight out the back. I suppose it was for a cross draw. Anyway, for me to get to the counter, I had to walk past the open end of the gun. Again, I'm not debating his right to own it and carry it.  What I am concerned with is, I think I have the right to life, liberty and pursuit of happiness. By him carrying the gun with the barrel sticking out the behind him, he was subject to taking life, liberty and pursuit of happiness away from someone.  Why not pass a law requiring open carry to have the barrel pointed down? That would solve the problem.

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No way to "like" the opening post, so I bumped it.

Keep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction.  Firearms safety 101.

I can never recall even a photograph appearing in an article in the NRA magazine "American Rifleman" which depicts a firearm pointed directly at the reader.

In some states, they have a "Careless Operation of Motor Vehicle" statue commonly called a HUA [head up arse] violation.  Though I think we have plenty of gun laws, I think one regarding safety would be not only warranted but actually enforceable.  But it would only apply to "open" carry only obviously.

Does anyone know when Alabama became an "open" carry state?  I presumed it always was.  I'm aware of laws pertaining to "concealed" carry i.e. to allow honest citizens to carry handguns legally as criminals have done illegally as they always have.

 hoobsez I've never seen anyone open carry that way except for undercover law enforcement and they typically have a jacket on over that type of holster.  I don't open carry and never will, it just makes you a target and the center of attention, neither of which appeal to myself.  I agree, he needs to have the muzzle pointed down. 

like I said hoob; the guy was one of you loose canni

I agree muzzle always in a safe direction.  They have banned shoulder holsters from one gun range I go too because people were killed when a guy was trying to reholster his weapon.

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I'm flat out amazed that hasn't happened more often.  Of course, we hardly if ever hear about AD's where injury does not occur.

Odds are, he's one of your union brothers.

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Please explain what you think open carry has to do with Union membership  !!

If being an NRA member makes my kind loose "canni", then union membership must make someone a thug.  Quaildogs logic, not mine.

Quail Dogs union picture.  Is reported to be his "manliest".

from what I've read qdog was very logical. you seem to think the NRA is some reputable group.

wrong, they are nothing more than magazine salesman getting a monthly check from goobers that are a menace to legitimate gun owners. the guy you say was probably bending over in the produce flirting with you. i'll bet you see a lot of barrels pointing backward when you and dire are out at night.

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Sybil, still up the river of denial concerning your multiple personalities, are y'all 

If being an NRA member makes my kind loose "canni", then union membership must make someone a thug.  Quaildogs logic, not mine.

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That's one of the dumbest things I have ever saw posted.

That just means you're not proof reading your own posts.  You'll be amazed at the amount of stupidity you post on a daily basis.

That just means you're not proof reading your own posts.  You'll be amazed at the amount of stupidity you post on a daily basis.

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I'm just trying to catch up with you, I feel it's hopeless.

.... If I were the criminal type and was going to mug or rob someone in a  and I saw someone carrying then they would likely be my target......

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the above 'snippet' is what i've been saying all along... the next thing we'll here is 'they're gonna take our guns.' why don't 'open carry' people understand, they might as well be painting a bulls-eye on their chest.

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only to be shot in the back.

Wonder how people ever made it when everyone 'open carried'.

Wonder how people ever made it when everyone 'open carried'.

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Some didn't.  Like Wild Bill.  Shot in the back.  Like Jessie [though unarmed at the time].  Shot in the back.

Poncho was a bandit boy

His horse was fast as polished steel

He wore his gun outside his pants

For all the honest world to feel

Poncho met his match, you know

On the deserts down in Mexico

Nobody heard his dyin' word

But that's the way it goes

Read more:  Merle Haggard - Poncho And Lefty Lyrics | MetroLyrics

Wonder how people ever made it when everyone 'open carried'.

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An honest question, "was open carry, in towns in the wild west widely practiced?"

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Hers are the FACTS on "open carry" in the Wild American West."

http://www.ndsu.edu/pubweb/~rc...cholarship/guns.html

Apparently there were not all that many cowboys whining about the constraints on going about armed back then and demanding their "Second Amendment Rights."

Wonder how people ever made it when everyone 'open carried'.