Gun Trolls Strike Again

[crossfire]

So, some more gun trolls are taking it upon themselves to be dicks again. This time, some of them are open-carrying at Starbucks in the Bay Area.

Here’s the thing. When you learn how to handle firearms, one of the things you’re supposed to learn is that they are tremendously powerful tools which are quite dangerous and should be handled with

Comments

[kightp]

Clearly, I've been spending too much time on FaceBook; I read this and immediately reached for the "like" button.

[markarsenal]

Agreed. I have several friends that are hard core gun fanatics, and I disagree with them on many issues related to firearm ownership/possession politics, but by and large respect them because they have concealed carry permits and thus don't go around flashing their ability to swiftly and messily kill me.

[dewhitton]

I have to agree with your "disrespectful" assessment. If you ask them why they are open carrying and their answer is "Because I can," then they are *wrong.* Just because you can doesn't mean you should.

[crossfire]

They have two reasons for it: "because I can" and "to exercise my rights," (presumably because a right that is never exercised is in danger of being taken away). Neither one of them are even decent excuses.

[hockeyfag]

I've open carried afew times, but not to make a point.. However, I do know some were very scared of Obama and losing gun rights, and I've been pleasantly surprised by him so far, on that front.

Part of me thinks its an ok idea, as in to show people that a gun doesn't automatically mean they're a bad guy, but its getting so blown out of proportion on both sides that its turning into a bad idea..

[crossfire]

This is a topic where I part company with Obama for the most part. I've been pleased with his administration's actions (or rather non-actions) on the topic as well.

I understood the point too (though you and I both know the folks doing this aren't just out to demonstrate how harmless they are, they're also engaging in some metaphorical dick-waving). But open carrying to show people that a gun doesn't automatically mean they're a bad guy is still a misuse of a firearm. And when I thought about it more, I realized it really is an extraordinarily condescending idea, that we have to "teach" or fellow citizens something. And to think that conservatives think liberals are condescending.

That said, open carrying in and of itself isn't a problem. I open carry on rare occasions, when it's appropriate. Private property when we're out shooting, or on the way to the range, for examples.

[hockeyfag]

Its not really teaching a fellow citizen something. Its "untraining" them with the incorrect notion that everyone with a gun is bad, unless they have a badge. Its something taught from day one in most places and is incorrect.

[crossfire]

Teaching, untraining, whatever...it's still a misuse of firearms and pretty damn condescending. I can think of half a dozen better ways to make the point, and I bet you can too.

[trivial1]

Really? You are the one that really needs to grow up. If I want to carry my weapons, I will regardless of what you think douchebag!