Thanks Gov. Deal. I just saw an armed man walk into a supermarket.

[Thirties Child]

It didn't take long and it was a shock. This was in the Atlanta suburbs, the far North Atlanta suburbs, so close to rural that we see horses and cattle grazing on our way to the store. The man I saw - portly, middle aged, black, semi-automatic pistol in a holster at his waist, driving a large, new pickup with DV license plates - didn't seem threatening. The next armed man I see? It's going to get scary.

[RKP5637]

1. Yep, they want the wild west back, can duals in the streets be very far off ... Idiocracy rules,

sadly.

[oldhippie]

17. I see duals on the street all the time .....

Usually on big Dodge Ram one tons, but sometimes on a Ford F-350 or a Chevy one ton.

[RKP5637]

18. LOL!!!

[Maynar]

20. I see what you did there

[Jazzgirl]

35. Yep!

[left on green only]

52. Hey! That Got A Hemi?

[oldhippie]

77. I got a Hemi !

I had a Cummins diesel Ram, but the price of diesel just got too crazy, so I traded it in for the hemi. I always wanted to say (and still use every opportunity), "It's a HEMI!" (It's a Texas thing.)

But I don't have any duals.

[alfie]

2. There was one at a garage sale I went to yesterday

This was in Gainesville, Ga. While we were waiting for it to start he was name calling his guns, telling a story about scaring some folks when he shot a snake...chuckle...chuckle... This is why we are classified as knuckle dragging neanderthals!

[Thirties Child]

15. This was in Dacula.

[snooper2]

150. You don't "wait" for garage sales to start LOL, you just show up and start looking

Garage sales don't have a "start" time-

Whenever the owner starts putting shit up/out people show up and start looking. Unless GA has some kind of weird fucking rules or something I don't know about

[Duckhunter935]

3. It is not even law yet

So the law did not make a difference. This must be legal under existing law.

[aikoaiko]

12. Its been legal for the last 10 years or so.

A while back this would have been verbotten under a public gathering prohibition.

[Hoyt]

58. The ignorant fools are enjoying intimidating the 93% who would never think

of carrying a gun in public.

[oneofthe99]

4. What are DV license plates?

[2pooped2pop]

5. guessing dissable vet plates n/t

[oneofthe99]

7. I'm still trying to figure out the point of this thread

So he saw a guy open carrying ..so what

[Duckhunter935]

8. Agreed nt

[Thirties Child]

16. The point of the thread?

I've lived 79 years, the first 24 in Texas, and I was surprised to see someone with a pistol at his waist. It's apparently something I'm going to have to get used to.

[groundloop]

22. Nothing to fear - we all know that guns don't kill people,

people kill people.


That knowledge should make you feel better.

[oneofthe99]

24. Correct me if I'm wrong ma'am but I thought you had open carry legal there

the only thing that changed was being able to carry in barrooms and such?

[Duckhunter935]

27. well since the law in question

is not even in effect, how can one blame the new law?

[oneofthe99]

70. The new law the way I read it makes it legal to carry in barrooms

I think that was a bad decision on their part.
I can understand going to a restaurant where they serve alcohol having a few drinks with dinner but this barroom thing is going to bite them in the ass.

[former9thward]

103. No it is not.

You can have guns in bars in my state and have been for years. Nobody is killing each other.

[oneofthe99]

106. which state?

[former9thward]

108. It is on my profile.

AZ

[oneofthe99]

111. I'm from CT and we also are allowed to carry anywhere

alcohol is served but the way I understand our statute you can't be legally intoxicated
while you are in a bar while carrying your handgun.

Is AZ the same? I don't know in GA if you be get drunk in a bar by the new law while carrying your handgun?

[former9thward]

145. You can't drink alcohol in the bar while having a gun.

Drink or eat anything else.

[CreekDog]

120. so you're recommending that people carry guns while intoxicated?

i wish that surprised me.

[Duckhunter935]

126. and where did he say that?

A little presumptuous are you not, putting words in his mouth he did not say.

[former9thward]

143. As the other poster said "Where did he say that?"

Yet another example of you trying to put your words in my mouth. In AZ if you are in a bar with a gun you can't be drinking alcoholic drinks. Bars do serve many things to eat and drink which do not involve alcohol. That is what DD do. Not surprising you do not know that. I fully support that law.

[Lucky Luciano]

25. It is strange for a lit of people.

I have seen the same number of yetis as I have seen people open carrying.


I am not super anti-gun, but common sense laws should be enacted. I also will never understand the obsession that some people have with their little gun hobby though.

[Diclotican]

38. oneofthe99

oneofthe99

In other places of the world - a guy open caring a weapon - would have made the police coming out in full blaze - and the fellow being arrested and punished rather severely for not being a responsible gun owner....

In the US it looks like you might as well carry a gun for your own defense - as you can be killed if anyone with a gun who might feeing treated by you - even if you are not even in any way a danger for anyone... They call it "self-defense" in reality it is murder - in a legal form that is....

Guns need to be restricted - and controlled strictly if you ask me - all this silly show of your 2 amendment - who stated rather well that the States is to have a well regulated MILITIA - not that everyone can arm them self to the teets with all type of weapons - and to treat end everyone else with the weapons - and even then be defended because of the 2 admedment...

Not that I believe anything will change for a long time in the US - but I think I will keep myself out of the country - for a while - at least until some insanity is taking over - and more sensible people are in charge on both local - state and on federal level - even though I would love to travel to your amazing country - your gun culture - or the lack of thereof - is keeping me away to be honest..

Diclotican

[Oakenshield]

46. Where are you from?

I'm just curious why you'd frequent this website.

[Trajan]

54. why? ... is this a Tea Party, Right Wing website?

You object to liberals existing in DU?

[Oakenshield]

62. Um....no.

I was just genuinely curious. I remember one DU poster was from Ireland, which I thought was interesting. He looked at the USA as a kind of political trend setter, which is why he frequented this website. I have a very strong interest in how people abroad see this country and the people living in it.

[Lucky Luciano]

63. He is Norwegian I believe. nt

[Oakenshield]

66. One of the best countries you can live in is Norway.

If not THE best. They ranked number on the prosperity index last year, or the year before that.

[flying rabbit]

64. Probably just curious as to what's going on in the world.

that's one of the reasons why I am here. His posts often give an interesting perspective.

[Oakenshield]

73. Indeed that probably is the case.

It's nice to ascribe a place to a perspective though. It helps give a little extra perspective. Cheers.

[Diclotican]

89. Oakenshield

Oakenshield

I am from a country named Norway - in the north of Europe - a rather small country - with a lot of fjords - and is maybe mostly known for its vikings - even though it is 1000 year since they did some damage to the rest of Europe...

I got here under the bad days of George Walker Bush jr - you know when the "devil" was in the White House - and it was one of the few places I could see sanity in US - for the most part it was all war, all the time, and chest thumbing all over the place - at DU you could at least get some sanity into it all... And see that not every american was behind this madness

And I think I got stuck here - a nice place to be sure - and also a nice place to get some knowledge about the US - from an insider perspective...

Diclotican

[Oakenshield]

98. Thanks for explaining.

I'm always curious about people living abroad, especially like-minded liberals and how they look at America. It was definitely a dark time for this country during the Bush years, and I expect many here will be feeling the repercussions of his thoughtless brutality for the next few decades at least.

Needless to say, if you have children, tell them to stay put in Scandinavia. There's really no better place for a child to grow up today. Cheers.

[Diclotican]

99. Oakenshield

Oakenshield

The Bush years was really years for the US - and for the world - and the consequences of his actions, will recoil for a least a decade or two - hopefully americans can elect a few sane presidents the next couple of election styluses - so it might be mended at least.... I for one was horrified about what he was able to do - and the damage he inflicted on the US... Damages that would take years maybe decades to repair... if it is posible to do it..

The US is a weird country - at one side it is a modern as the rest of the world, with well educated people, who know their stuff - but on the other side it have a ugly underbelly who is far from modern - almost middle ages I would say in a way - it is contractions of terms to even try to mean what the US is all about

For the moment I do not have any children, and it looks like it will be like this for a long time - anyway if I ever was to have a child or more, I would at least tell them to think about it before emigrate to the US - back in my own young years I also wondering about emigrate to the US - it was back in the day when Clinton was in office and US looks like it was a nice country to emigrate too - but for many reasons I was never to fulfill that plan - thankfully I was stuck here in Norway - and I would say it was maybe to the best, that I was not doing the emigrating thing

Scandinavia as a whole, is a great place to live i believe - rather peacefully - and economical stable - maybe not the most funky part of the world - but it does the trick - a stable part of the world - who also rank well on most studies for the last decade or so.. Not bad for a part of the world who was one of the poorest places back 100 or so years Many in US also have ancestry back to scandinavia - either Norway, Sweden or Denmark - or Finland (who strictly speaking is not part of scandinavia - but woes counting )

Diclotican

[nomorenomore08]

140. Thank you! Glad to see sanity in other parts of the world!

[Kingofalldems]

45. Pretty sure Al Sharpton believes in strict gun control.

Just curious why you have him as an avatar?

[oneofthe99]

75. Civil rights

[CreekDog]

123. Because you support strict gun control as Al Sharpton does

Rev. Al Sharpton: ‘We’ve Got to Get Rid of the Guns and the Gun Mentality’

Al Sharpton on Gun Control

Reverend; Civil Rights Activist; Democratic Candidate for President


Require background checks, licensing, and fingerprinting

Which principles do you support regarding guns:
Renew the ban on the sale or transfer of semi-automatic guns, except those used for hunting.
Maintain the current level of enforcement of existing federal restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns.
Strengthen the enforcement of existing federal restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns.
Require manufacturers to provide child-safety locks on guns.
Require background checks on gun sales between private citizens at gun shows.
Require a license for gun possession.
Establish a national database of ballistic “fingerprints” to track guns used in criminal activities.
Source: 2004 Presidential National Political Awareness Test Jan 8, 2004
Supports federal gun licensing & registration



Q: Do you support licensing and registration at the federal level?
SHARPTON: I support it. We must do whatever we can to regulate how guns are used. I’ve been a victim of a stabbing. Violence is something very serious in this country. We must take it seriously. We have the right to bear arms, but we don’t have the right in the Constitution to vote, we don’t have the right to health care. We need to evaluate what we are as a country, and part of that is regulating people’s ability to get firearms.

http://www.ontheissues.org/2008/Al_Sharpton_Gun_Control.htm

[stone space]

71. If I see somebody carrying a gun, I call the cops. (nt)

[oneofthe99]

76. Depending on what state you live in it could be illegal so you are doing the right thing

[pnwmom]

105. A lot of people don't think a return to the Wild West will make any of us safer.

When a man paces outside a school or a church with a weapon in his hands, most of us are wondering at what point we need to call the police.

[randr]

6. I would go directly to the store manager

and inform them that I will no longer be shopping there until they can ensure a safe environment.
Through the issue to the market place and let the economics rule.

[stone space]

72. Only after calling the cops. (nt)

[Duckhunter935]

81. for what, legal activity

Do not agree with open carry, but it is legal and that officer might be needed elsewhere for more important work.

[Bandit]

155. While it may very well be "legal" but it is certainly out of place and worrisome.

It isn't normal for people to be walking around in a shopping center armed. I will not enter any shopping center that allows such. I don't wish to feel intimidated and that is the number one reason for such activity. If ANYONE comes around me carrying a gun I become worried and defensive, which is exactly what that person desires. IMO people that want to carry a gun in public are complete assholes and should be shunned by polite society.

[Lizzie Poppet]

93. Call the cops for something perfectly legal?

Yeah, that'll end well...

[Open_n_Shut]

100. At a certain point you are abusing the system...

... that is meant for actual violations of the law.

[davidpdx]

79. I agree with you

But I also agree with calling the police too.

[pipoman]

132. Guessing you never leave your house?

Nobody can "ensure a safe environment" without metal detectors, armed guards, etc.

[Red Mountain]

9. Interesting twist.....

I'm not sure the people advocating guns everywhere are going to be all that comfortable if black people start carrying.

[japple]

47. Yeah, I think you're right. I live in N. GA and if African Americans or Hispanics started to

openly carry weapons, there would be blood in the streets.

[aikoaiko]

96. I live in south GA and it's not a problem..

... When black or Hispanic folks carry firearms openly.

[japple]

117. Somehow I don't believe that.

[Duckhunter935]

127. I live in Oklahoma and it is not an issue either

Rural country and guns are pretty normal with all races.

[homegirl]

56. You beat me to it

My thought exactly. When young black men start open carrying we may see incidents and repeal.

Did someone mention the law of unexpected consequences?

[Recursion]

88. Don't look now, but you're making Clarence Thomas's argument in Heller v. DC

Part of why guns are always tricky as a wedge issue...

[Eleanors38]

110. You have quite the imagination. When Heller was argued before the Supremes,

one of the friends-of-the-court briefs detailed, in a very coherent and nicely-written manner, the racist history of gun-control laws; antebellum, Jim [large, raucous black bird], and early 20th Century versions. The brief was written by lawyers for Georgiacarry.org.

I just Loved the irony.

No doubt some black Georgians are well aware of the history of the Atlanta Riots a century eatlier, and that city's newspaper editorializing about the menace of "armed Negroes." This Cracker ain't worried one bit.

[aikoaiko]

10. This was legally permissible in GA before the recent law.

The public gathering prohibition went away a while ago.

If you haven't been scared for the last 10 years or so, then there little reason to be now.

[Thirties Child]

14. We lived in New Mexico between 2002 and 2012

Georgia was nuts when we moved, but even nuttier when we came back. I've been around guns most of my life, my husband is a collector, had a concealed carry permit when we lived here before, carried a gun to work. Mostly I find guns and talk of guns boring. Seeing a gun carried so openly was a surprise, and not a good one. I guess I need to get used to it.

[Politicalboi]

30. It's sad, we shouldn't have to get used to it

They should keep their guns at HOME. And telling businesses that allow guns inside, that we will NOT shop there anymore. This is men who NEVER grew out of carrying their guns when they were kids. If we drop the ball on this, it will get worse.

[Abq_Sarah]

121. I live in NM

And I see open carry all the time. I don't recall ever seeing open carry any time I visited Georgia but you get used to what's around you.

[840high]

39. Correct. I am used to

it. Not scared.

[perdita9]

11. Would it occur to you to take a meat cleaver with you while shopping?

No, so why are you bringing an assault rifle?

It's not up to the rest of society to pander to your paranoia.

[Duckhunter935]

21. what assault rifle?

[nomorenomore08]

141. Okay, then why carry a handgun while shopping? Where do you live, Rio? Juarez?

[Hoyt]

60. Actually, in most states you can't carry a sword or large knife. But, just about any ignorant yahoo

can carry a gun. Is that not some kind of crazy?

[YOHABLO]

13. Well it does leave one to wonder whether a guy packing has good or bad intentions.

Also I think it's strange we don't hear about any women carrying guns in Georgia. Will they be bringing them to their yoga classes and tennis lessons?

[Eleanors38]

113. Just anecdotal, but I think most women prefer CCW.

A lot of clothes designing going into this, from purses to bras.

[n2doc]

19. And the people in that are vote overwhelmingly Republican

Sorry you have to deal with their idiocy. But this is exactly what they have been voting for. Except for the black part. That they might object to.

[Agony]

23. Civilization in retrograde.

[Paladin]

26. Your apprehension is just what that pistol-packer is seeking.

If he wasn't intent on establishing some measure of public intimidation, he'd be carrying that sidearm in a concealed manner.

[pnwmom]

107. He might not be eligible for a CC license. Which makes him even more worrisome. n/t

[Abq_Sarah]

122. If he's not eligible for a concealed carry permit

He's probably not eligible to own a firearm in Georgia since it's a shall issue state. People carrying firearms with criminal intent generally don't wear them openly... or in holsters.

[pnwmom]

125. It's the crazies we worry about. The ones who openly carry because they're

looking for trouble. Or they're planning to shoot up a restaurant or a school.

When a parent sees one of these thugs, pacing with their openly carried gun in front of a school or a ball field, why shouldn't he or she worry? You can't tell by looking who's making a point about his second amendment rights and who's getting ready to start shooting.

Also, not everyone can get a concealed carry license in Georgia. There are exceptions -- for example, if a person is a felon.

https://www.gaprobate.org/licenses.php

[Duckhunter935]

128. no the crazy person will

do their best to hide or conceal to get the maximum surprise on the intended victims. Most open carry are because now it is getting hotter (Georgia) it is near impossible to properly conceal as that would be the preferred carry method by most CCW holders.

[pnwmom]

129. "Crazy" people are as different as "sane" people. The kid who shot up a school in CT

wasn't hiding the weapons he carried in there.

[Duckhunter935]

130. Yes

He was dressed in military style gear with weapons drawn, very different. Was the person with "holstered" pistol dressed like that or actively pointing his weapon and shooting? Was he being threatening other than just having a firearm? Did he have the proper clothing on to properly conceal?

[pnwmom]

131. As I said, there are different ways of expressing crazy. A person could have a holstered pistol

and pull it out and use it in a park, in a move that I would call crazy. He would call it "defending himself."

This happened here a few years ago, in a state park in a family picnic area with children present. One shot got fired and suddenly multiple guns were being pulled out and used. Two people died and four others were wounded. A bunch of idiot men being macho.

http://seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2012385325_sammamish18m.html

Ed Boyle, Swedish Medical Center spokesman, said a 29-year-old man with gunshot injuries was treated at Swedish's emergency facility in Issaquah, which is close to the entrance to the park, and was transferred to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle.

Two other wounded men were also taken to Harborview; the fourth was taken to Overlake Medical Center in Bellevue, Urquhart said.

SNIP

"I thought some kids were setting off firecrackers, but 30 seconds later, I saw three cops driving down the street," Austin Hilliker said. "I saw three people arrested, two of them no more than 20 feet from our car. It was super scary. It's shocking."

The family waited two hours to leave the park, as police stopped every vehicle on the way out, Dawn Hilliker said. "There were families everywhere. There was a birthday party to the left of us, and a family get-together to the right. People were playing volleyball, and everybody in the park was having a really great time. And the next thing you know, the cops came in."

[Duckhunter935]

133. 4 years ago?

Originally published July 17, 2010 at 10:02 PM | Page modified July 19, 2010 at 12:15 PM

OK

[pnwmom]

136. If you knew where this happened you'd know why it was so shocking

and still in people's minds. It was in the middle of a day in a suburban lakeside park where small children were running around everywhere.

But in retrospect, that something like this could happen isn't so surprising. Booz and guns are a bad combination, and the park allowed both.

http://sammamishreview.com/2010/08/22/questions-arise-about-cocktail-of-booze-guns-at-parks

Though a motive has remained elusive in the month since the gun battle, investigators believe alcohol might have been a factor in the shootout. In the meantime, the incident has raised questions about booze and firearms in parks — a cocktail that has the potential for dangerous side effects.

“That’s not a good mix, whether you’re in a park or at home or out hunting or out camping somewhere,” Lake Sammamish Park Manager Rich Benson said.

The shootings also stoked a debate about firearms laws and the presence of guns in parks.
Washington allows firearms in state parks, as long as the owner obeys gun regulations and park rules. Discharging a firearm is prohibited in state parks.

[Lizzie Poppet]

135. But they're not the ones you really should be worrying about.

Not according to the odds, anyway. You're far, far more likely to be harmed by a garden variety criminal with a gun that an mentally ill person who's gotten hold of one.

Don't get me wrong. I think the open carry protesters are fools. They're the PETA of the 2nd Amendment rights movement, doing their cause far more harm than good. But they're also not likely to hurt anything but their own credibility.

[Paladin]

147. "....the PETA of the 2nd Amendment rights movement....."

That's a good one. I finally agree with you about something.

[Abq_Sarah]

160. If they are a felon

They can't legally have a firearm in any state in the nation.

[pnwmom]

161. The point is that when someone doesn't have a concealed carry license

in Georgia, there might be a very good reason he doesn't.

[aquart]

138. "Criminal intent"?

Wee Willie is expecting to live his Marvel Comics fantasies. Just give him lip. Come on, make his day.

Someone who is nothing without a gun is nothing with one.

[JoeyT]

28. It probably won't take as much getting used to as you think.

Funny thing about the business owners that are right wing assholes: They don't want dipshits waving guns around in their stores either, and you'll probably see "No open carry in this business" signs popping up everywhere. Even at the places that keep Fox on loop 24/7.

[zeemike]

29. I just wonder what would happen.

If someone else came up to him and said "hey buddy, if you put your hand on the gun I will be in fear for my life and stand my ground on you" and then indicate that he too had a gun and his hand on it....then follow him through the store keeping an eye on him.

He likes the power of intimidation, and when he is intimidated it makes him think twice.

[oneofthe99]

40. Or you could just ignore the guy and go on with your shopping

[zeemike]

59. Well sure you could.

And if you see someone caring a gun into a courthouse or a school you could just ignore him and go about your business too...because it could be scary to confront him....better to stick your head in the sand and hope he is not a nut case bent on settling some score.

[ManiacJoe]

91. The courts and schools know how to handle that situation.

No outside help is needed.

[stone space]

74. Better to get the hell out of there and call the cops. (nt)

[Duckhunter935]

83. why

legal and tying up police resources is not nice

[geckosfeet]

48. Riiigggghhhhhhhht.

[etherealtruth]

55. Apparently the entie goal is trying to intimidate others

laudable goal

[Eleanors38]

114. Sounds like you want to mix it up.

[zeemike]

116. Not really.

But I don't like bullies and I am a firm believer that bullies should never be allowed to git by with something the first time...because it is in their nature to do it again and again if they do.

[Eleanors38]

118. I tend to agree with you, re bullies...

I'm not sure if half the "power" of a bully is his/her ability to convince others they are being bullied. I've seen folks open-carry, and I don't feel that way about them. Silly stuff they're doing, maybe.

If you feel that way about them, maybe something more creative and defusing is the order of the day (I've always been a fan of guerilla theater).

[zeemike]

124. Well I grew up with guns so they don't scare me at all.

My dad let me shoot his 30.06 when I was 6 and I had my own Remington pump 22 when I was 10.
And We often carried our guns through town to go out shooting in the woods at the edge of town and no one thought anything of it.
But there was a diference...there was no implied threat to humans as there is now.
Those people caring guns in their waist band are not hunting for anything but humans...and they are saying "see I can kill you if you make me mad"
It is the same thing bullies do, please me or I will hurt you.

[pipoman]

134. "Someone else" would be committing a criminal act, and

would be a foolish idiot.

[zeemike]

153. And what criminal act would that be?

Warning someone that you think is a threat to your person is not a crime...and apparently killing them is not one ether with stand your ground laws.

But why is it foolish?...that would imply that person is in fact dangerous.

[pipoman]

156. Hmmm...so we have

1 person legally open carrying, we have "someone else" who is apparently legally concealed carrying. The concealed carrier states to the open carrier, "hey buddy, if you put your hand on the gun I will be in fear for my life and stand my ground on you" and then indicate that he too had a gun and his hand on it....then follow him through the store keeping an eye on him.  maybe harassment, maybe threatening to shoot someone. Sorry if you can't see how completely idiotic "someone else" is. "Someone else" in this case is far more of a problem. This type of stupidity is what makes me question my general support of "shall issue" concealed carry.

[zeemike]

158. And maybe self defense

Kind of depends on you POV don't it?
But yes it is stupidity...on all kinds of levels...stupid that someone needs a gun in a public place...stupid that we are such a fearful bunch of people...the whole thing is stupid from top to bottom.
But that is where we are today, regressing into violent fear based society, where stupidity is the norm.

[Rocknrule]

31. Georgia doesn't seem to have much of a problem with mass shootings though

If it was Texas or Colorado, I'd be more worried

[bvf]

51. A nut is a nut.

Which to me is anyone with the need to walk around with a lethal weapon strapped to his leg.

Just because Georgia lags in anyone's mind behind Texas or Colorado in these things doesn't mean it can't happen there, or anywhere else, for that matter.

[WinkyDink]

68. Your "logic" escapes me.

[Politicalboi]

32. Here's to hoping more of these nuts

Shoot each other over each others fear of the other. Just like the Bundy Bunch.

[The Straight Story]

33. Did they shoot anyone? Do we expect fellow humans with guns to shoot everyone all day long?

Women fear men. Whites fear black people. We all fear terrorism and get scared when someone brings bottled water onto a plane because that is a weapon now as well.

I would be more scared of either a cop with a gun (odd, the government doesn't keep stats on people shot by cops - but I am guessing those they kill each year as listed as killed by firearm) or the person who is hiding something under their coat/shirt.

Yes, it can be jarring seeing someone with something when it is foreign to you to see something like that. And I honestly don't blame you for feeling apprehensive.

The question we always should be asking ourselves is 'why' we feel that way. Do we only see people with guns in movies and they are always shooting people (and usually the good guys with guns work for the government)? With 50+ million owning guns are we judging the many based on how the few are portrayed and how fewer still act?

I fear drivers so look both ways, people texting and driving cause 1.3 million accidents a year and we aren't even to the drunk/drugged drivers. So - fear is a healthy and respectable thing to have. But I don't think we need to take away cars from everyone, that everyone driving them is hell bent on killing people, etc. I don't think they are car nuts (well, maybe some on pimp my ride are lol), deranged, all jerks, etc.

[DeSwiss]

36. When I see people wearing guns.....

...(that includes cops), I see people who are more afraid of life than I am. Afraid of life's seeming chaos. They seek an order and security, which doesn't exist. They're willing to settle for a reasonable facsimile of order and security, in the shape of a gun. It is in fact, an advertisement of all their fears WRIT LARGE.

As to why we fear?, those reasons can be as individual as we are. And yet it all boils down to the same thing: ''we fear what we don't know or understand.''

Predictably, the more of us that are armed -- the less likely we are of coming to understanding each other any better.

- Because nobody wants to get to know someone wearing a gun. They're afraid to approach them......
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[The Straight Story]

37. If I owned a gun I wouldn't carry it around in public (though I have, but was for work)

I could - however - see some exceptions for myself.

Example, I am going to see my cousins and do some target shooting. They don't live close. So if I get out of the car to get some food, etc, I would take it with me. Reason? If I leave it in the car and someone steals it they would most likely be the sort of person who would use the gun in a crime.

I am sure I would be judged by many based on my appearance, and I get that people do that (although we progressives usually are against such things except when we aren't). When I was an armed guard we owned our gun and there was no where on site to leave it and lock it up (was an abandoned apartment complex). I often would stop for gas, smokes, etc either on way to or from work and wear my gun because I was responsible for it. Whether I changed clothes before leaving or not (some did as they didn't like driving around that area in a security uniform. Plus they look silly.)

[DeSwiss]

41. All good reasons.

I don't judge others, I simply observe behaviors. If it doesn't suit me, then that's me. And how others choose to comport themselves is their right. I respect their right to exist in the manner they choose.

This is called Unconditional Love.

- It's the thing we don't have enough of, which makes us reach for our guns.

[Open_n_Shut]

102. If you see someone with an umbrella do you think they have a fear of rain?

I think open carry is stupid and it's main purpose is to push back against the anti-gun types.

[DeSwiss]

109. No, when I see someone with an umbrella.....

...I see someone with a fear of getting wet.

- It's usually the grownups......

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[WinkyDink]

67. So many words, so much garbage. One EXPECTS cars on the road. One does NOT expect to see GUNS IN A

SUPERMARKET, FGS.

[alfredo]

34. Wow, just like Afghanistan and Somalia.

[otherone]

44. just like the third world

..

[alfredo]

50. And the right wing is starting to act like the Taleban.

[dembotoz]

42. remember the good old days when open carry was to walk out of a bar with a beer in your hand

and ironically that was illegal and would get you arrested

[The Straight Story]

43. Now here is a real 'gun nut'

Japanese YouTuber shows you how not to brush your teeth

http://en.rocketnews24.com/2014/05/02/japanese-youtuber-shows-you-how-not-to-brush-your-teeth/

[geckosfeet]

49. How did you see his gun if he was driving?

[Thirties Child]

92. I saw hlm get out of his pickup and walk into the store

There was nothing about him that I found threatening, but given different circumstances, different person, I could well feel threatened.

[geckosfeet]

94. Well there are a lot of reasons for him take his gun wth him instead of leaving it in

his vehicle. Personally I don't leave a gun in a vehicle unless I have no choice. And I am always worried about someone seeing me stow it even though I lock it. Criminals take guns from cars.

[Brigid]

53. if I'm in a store -- any kind of store -- and I see somebody with gun, I'm outta there.

I know, I've seen me do it.

[RebelOne]

57. Same here. I am in the north Georgia suburbs

and if I see an armed person in any store here, I will immediately leave.

[llmart]

82. After you leave the store.....

you should make it a point to call the store manager and inform him/her of why you left and make sure you tell them that you will not be coming back.

[BrotherIvan]

61. What is the point of carrying a gun other than to shoot someone?

Will a bear jump out at you in a supermarket? Will a rattlesnake show up in Home Depot? The only logic here must be that he will be mugged or attacked and therefore needs to be ready to defend himself at all times. But gunners are constantly yelling that CRIME IS DOWN! Which leads us back to the original question: why do you need to carry a gun?

[Le Taz Hot]

78. Arrested development

They remember the good old days when they used to play cops and robbers and used their pew pew toys as "weapons." They never grew out of it.

[comrade snarky]

90. The hummus

Is suspiciously Middle Eastern and I once saw some broccoli wearring a turban.

Thank white Jesus we have a yokel to protect us!

[WinkyDink]

65. But...but..he was LAW-ABIDING!

[Duckhunter935]

84. until the law is changed

yes, he was

[WinkyDink]

85. The point: Every criminal is law-abiding until he/she isn't. Then it's "Who could have predicted?!"

[Duckhunter935]

86. so you are calling for a ban of all guns?

[HERVEPA]

101. and all gun nuts.

[Logical]

97. You realize criminals dont follow laws correct? Open Carry is idiotic. Just showing off. nt

[doc03]

69. I live in Ohio and open carry has always been legal here I think

but I only saw one person open carry until about a year ago. Two weeks ago I saw a couple both with open carry handguns at the mall then today I saw another guy with a gun in the same mall. There is a jewelry store advertising concealed carry purses now, they have silver revolvers on the side. I have seen several women carrying them now, I guess if you don't open carry you have to advertise you have concealed carry too. I have a concealed carry permit myself and have no real problem with that but why do you have to open carry or let people know you have a CCW now? This country has gone insane the last 5 years.

[davidpdx]

80. I wish you had gotten a picture

But it's probably good you didn't try to. No sense in pissing off a person who is openly carrying a gun. Personal safety comes first around those nutcases....

[Iggo]

87. Didja feel all safe and shit, knowing the gun-fucker would kill the bad guys?

I know I would!

[Wolf Frankula]

95. I once Walked armed into a Supermarket

The first employee I saw told me to take that sword off my back and put it outside, or she would call the police. I obeyed. I was far away from home, and wanted to get that beer for me and my household. It was a hot weekend.

Wolf

[Skeeter Barnes]

104. I can't believe it was all that unusual for someone living in GA to see that. Feigned outrage,IMO.

[oneofthe99]

115. You must be from Somalia

:

[sweetapogee]

119. or possibly

Vermont

[pipoman]

137. It isn't the guy carrying the $1,000 .45 in the $100 holster who

I find unsettling, it is the guy carrying the $89 .380 in his waist band who I find disturbing. ..

[sweetapogee]

142. really looks like

the person in the pic with $1100.00 worth of 1911 & associated tackle is most likely a she.

[Reter]

112. Question:

[mwrguy]

139. For every one you see openly toting

There are a hundred that have one concealed.

These sickos are everywhere.

[ellenfl]

144. perhaps this will make enough people scared enough to do something. how does anyone

know the person with the gun is friendly?

[Sunlei]

146. call the police and let them check his carry permit. people who open carry should be required to

have the permit attached in public view.

[pipoman]

148. Most open carry states don't require a permit to open carry. ..

[IronGate]

152. Most states don't require a permit to open carry.

[MO_Moderate]

149. Why did you profile this individual?

[Tom Ripley]

151. I guess it is convenient when one's "I Have A Tiny Penis" t-shirt is in the dirty laundry hamper.

[sweetapogee]

154. females

don't have those T-shirts

[Amaril]

157. My rule of thumb with open carry

If I don't know you, and I see you walk into a grocery store with a gun strapped to your waist -- unless you're also wearing a law enforcement badge -- my default position is you're showing off / reckless and; therefore, not to be trusted, so I will immediately remove myself from your vicinity.

I own a gun. I was raised by a man that had an entire cabinet full of guns. I was taught from the time I very, VERY small to respect guns. They are NOT toys, and one should not be on, or around, your person unless you intend to use it. There are far too many people running around out there who simply do not show the proper respect for guns.........and those are the people that, frankly, shouldn't be allowed to own them.

[Gravitycollapse]

159. You'll get used to it.