Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
Gun Control & RKBA
Related: About this forumOpen Carry Activists: Not Your Daddy’s Gun Nuts
by Christopher Hooks Published on Friday, March 6, 2015, at 10:00 CST
When the NRA shifted its focus from supporting hobbyists to political action in the late 1970s, the gun-rights cause fit neatly within a new Republican ethos. The gun came to symbolize something greater than itself; it became the nucleus of a complete worldview. NRA members styled themselves as self-sufficient, tough on crime, pro-police, hawkish on foreign policy, and the keepers of family traditions. By closely associating themselves with the Republican Party, theyve found great success.
The same cannot be said for the marauding gun activists that have besieged the Texas Capitol in recent weeks. Seeking the right to carry guns openly in public, without a license, theyve taken a Legislature thats pretty sympathetic to their cause and pushed it to the breaking point. Before the session started, it seemed certain that open-carry legislation would pass in some form, but as time goes on, the chances seem increasingly slight.
One reason for that is the tactics employed by the gun-rights crew. C.J. Grisham, who leads Open Carry Texas, has sought to win support the right way: building public pressure, then establishing relationships with legislators. But Kory Watkins, the head of the splinter group Open Carry Tarrant County, has soiled Grishams nest. State Rep. Poncho Nevárez (D-Eagle Pass) had to accept a Department of Public Safety security detail after Watkins and friends refused to leave his office following a verbal confrontation on the first day of the session. Lately, Watkins has been keen to warn lawmakers that theyre disregarding the Constitution, and to remind them that the punishment for treason is death. But the reason open carry isnt gaining as much traction as it should goes beyond Watkins well-publicized screw-ups. The open-carry guys speak a slightly different language than the last generation of gun nuts, and its a language that sounds pretty foreign in the halls of the Capitol. Watkins and many of the open-carry activists are fed not by talk radio but by the conspiracy-libertarian wing typified by Alex Jones, whos spoken at open-carry rallies in the past. Most of them are young, white and male, and youd be more likely to see them on Reddit than at a hunting lease
more
https://www.texasobserver.org/open-carry-activists-not-your-daddys-gun-nuts/
When the NRA shifted its focus from supporting hobbyists to political action in the late 1970s, the gun-rights cause fit neatly within a new Republican ethos. The gun came to symbolize something greater than itself; it became the nucleus of a complete worldview. NRA members styled themselves as self-sufficient, tough on crime, pro-police, hawkish on foreign policy, and the keepers of family traditions. By closely associating themselves with the Republican Party, theyve found great success.
The same cannot be said for the marauding gun activists that have besieged the Texas Capitol in recent weeks. Seeking the right to carry guns openly in public, without a license, theyve taken a Legislature thats pretty sympathetic to their cause and pushed it to the breaking point. Before the session started, it seemed certain that open-carry legislation would pass in some form, but as time goes on, the chances seem increasingly slight.
One reason for that is the tactics employed by the gun-rights crew. C.J. Grisham, who leads Open Carry Texas, has sought to win support the right way: building public pressure, then establishing relationships with legislators. But Kory Watkins, the head of the splinter group Open Carry Tarrant County, has soiled Grishams nest. State Rep. Poncho Nevárez (D-Eagle Pass) had to accept a Department of Public Safety security detail after Watkins and friends refused to leave his office following a verbal confrontation on the first day of the session. Lately, Watkins has been keen to warn lawmakers that theyre disregarding the Constitution, and to remind them that the punishment for treason is death. But the reason open carry isnt gaining as much traction as it should goes beyond Watkins well-publicized screw-ups. The open-carry guys speak a slightly different language than the last generation of gun nuts, and its a language that sounds pretty foreign in the halls of the Capitol. Watkins and many of the open-carry activists are fed not by talk radio but by the conspiracy-libertarian wing typified by Alex Jones, whos spoken at open-carry rallies in the past. Most of them are young, white and male, and youd be more likely to see them on Reddit than at a hunting lease
more
https://www.texasobserver.org/open-carry-activists-not-your-daddys-gun-nuts/
InfoView thread info, including edit history
TrashPut this thread in your Trash Can (My DU » Trash Can)
BookmarkAdd this thread to your Bookmarks (My DU » Bookmarks)
8 replies, 2026 views
ShareGet links to this post and/or share on social media
AlertAlert this post for a rule violation
PowersThere are no powers you can use on this post
EditCannot edit other people's posts
ReplyReply to this post
EditCannot edit other people's posts
Rec (8)
ReplyReply to this post
8 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight:
NoneDon't highlight anything
5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Open Carry Activists: Not Your Daddy’s Gun Nuts (Original Post)
white cloud
Mar 2015
OP
OC in urban areas tends to unsettle the locals. OC activists should stop being antagonistic. nt
Nuclear Unicorn
Mar 2015
#2
ileus
(15,396 posts)1. I only recommend OC for outdoor activities.
Fishing, Hunting, Hiking, Jeep rides....ect...
Nuclear Unicorn
(19,497 posts)2. OC in urban areas tends to unsettle the locals. OC activists should stop being antagonistic. nt
friendly_iconoclast
(15,333 posts)3. Extremists of any type tend not to play well with others...
safeinOhio
(32,688 posts)4. Well said
awoke_in_2003
(34,582 posts)5. Thank you Kory Watkins...
maybe your antics will stop the legislature from passing open carry laws. Thanks for putting your lunacy out there for everyone to see.
Duckhunter935
(16,974 posts)6. Don't care for open carry
It can upset people and is not the best option.
DonP
(6,185 posts)7. Only OC when camping/canoeing
With a 70 pound canoe on your shoulders on a portage it's no time to have to rummage through your Duluth Packs to scare off the wildlife.
kudzu22
(1,273 posts)8. These guys
want to be seen as the modern Rosa Parks. Sorry, but not being able to shop with your AK-47 is not quite the same as not being able to ride the bus while black. Grow up.