Do Americans have a right to carry?

[SuccessAndBiscuts]

I've posted in the other thread not so long back about why the police in the UK should not be allowed to carry firearms.

Now I'm going to come full circle on this, I'm glad I don't live in the States, but if I did I would own a gun. Gun culture is massively ingrained in the states and if everyone around me has one I wouldn't be happy unless I had access to one and a decent amount of training too (a case of when in Rome do as the Romans do).

Trying to remove US gun culture is impossible, so as much as I wish it were unnecessary those who live in the states do have a right to carry.

"Gun culture" is a massive bullshit myth. Guns are expensive, they are also trouble, you have to clean them and learn how to use them without hurting yourself.

About the only people in the US who have guns do it to hunt, sure some just collect them, or are paranoid and like to be armed in case of attack or robbery against them, but most of us are just as unarmed as any other country.

Yay ignorance.

Everyone I have ever spoken to from America has claimed to own at least one firearm, I also have relatives across there who own guns. I accept its a big place and not everywhere is the same but that is my experience. Not intentional ignorance as much as a generalisation based on what I have seen, been told and read about the states.

I fully intend to visit one day and hope to be proven wrong.

Cars are also expensive, trouble and you have to clean them and learn to use them without hurting yourself.

 

[KaiRai]

I'm not too fresh on gun laws, but don't you need mor permeits to conceal the carried firearm than you do to openly carry it? Seems this cop went a bit OTT.

OT: I knew a guy in the US who was going to a shooting range with a few friends, had his weapons in carry cases on the back seat next to a friend, and another friend riding shotgun. Cops pulled him over for a routine traffic stop, asked him what was in the cases and he said "Guns. I'm going to the shooting range with a few buddies"
Reached for his permits and the cop threatened to shoot him. His response was "How the hell do you get your guns from point A to point B?"

The moral? Some cops are just looking to get their arrest record up.

 

[Ulvai]

And... Damn, he carried a gun because he feared he'd be mugged? How do you mug people in he US? Running towards them screaming "Your wallet or your life!" from thirty meters? Here's mugging 101: You walk casually towards your target, your buddies good 100 m behind him, when you are close enogh to throw a punch - you throw it, then knock the victim down to the ground, while your buddies come running towards you, then - you kick the victim on the ground, take what you want, run away. Gun would do nothing! Absolutely bloody nothing!

 

[Aur0ra145]

Open carrying seems like a tactical disadvantage to me. I always carry concealed.

 

[FalloutJack]

I don't know anything about the gun laws in the states but shouldn't it atleast be concealed?

No, you need a permit for concealed carry. Carrying a gun openly is perfectly legal AFAIK.

The relevant wiki page: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_carry_in_the_United_States

As you can see, you don't need a license to carry in Pennsylvania.

I'm not so certain, being that I live in Pittsburgh and they arrested a man who had a BB rifle. I seem to recall he used it and there was a big stink about it, but the end result is that people can get awfully paranoid and antsy about this sort of thing. I would rather, in my case, have the license so I don't have to freak people out.

 

[Lord Of Cyberia]

I was disturbed, until I noticed it was Pennsylvania. Then my surprise instantly dissipated into eye rolling. Pennsylvania's law enforcement bureaus are INSANE. Anyone remember their Orwellian tax commercials?

All I can recommend is steering clear of Pennsylvania and its' labyrinthine bureaucracy.

 

[Kathinka]

i never quite got those open carry laws anyway. here in the czech republic it's concealed carry only. i think that's the better option anyway.

- less public concern when seeing an armed person
- you don't make yourself a juicy target for criminals wanting to get their hands on a gun
- you don't give away your most powerfull defense option to a potential attacker

but i kind of can see how the law wants you to carry open when you carry legally. it just strikes me as totally impractical..

 

[Ulvai]

Until they get up, and shoot you in the back maybe. Not sure if that is strictly lawful but they can certainly do it. Besides it's probably more as a deterrent. Why rob the guy who is clearly armed when you can rob the guy who isn't armed?

But you just want to hate on people because they dare arm themselves don't you, the immoral heathens they are.

You ever been on a ground with four guys kicking you? In your head, stomach, chest? No way you'll get up soon. And when you will you'll probably have a concussion, couple of cracked ribs and whatnot. Like somebody except conditioned SF soldier would hit a broad side of a barn after that.
And I don't hate them. I think they are stupid.
And, for the love of whatever, "they DARE to arm themselves"! Whats with the pathos?
Ugh, cowboys.

 

[Troublesome Lagomorph]

I don't know anything about the gun laws in the states but shouldn't it atleast be concealed?

I think THAT is the problem, usually. You gotta have a license for any guns you own, but I think its better for you to have it out in the open and declared.

 

[Panken]

I'm not too fresh on gun laws, but don't you need mor permeits to conceal the carried firearm than you do to openly carry it? Seems this cop went a bit OTT.

OT: I knew a guy in the US who was going to a shooting range with a few friends, had his weapons in carry cases on the back seat next to a friend, and another friend riding shotgun. Cops pulled him over for a routine traffic stop, asked him what was in the cases and he said "Guns. I'm going to the shooting range with a few buddies"
Reached for his permits and the cop threatened to shoot him. His response was "How the hell do you get your guns from point A to point B?"

The moral? Some cops are just looking to get their arrest record up.

In some states (Arizona for one) you dont need a permit to open carry, you just have to be over the age of 21. But in order to conceal carry you have to go through a program, the is regluated by your state. However, openly carrying anywhere can get you into more trouble than you were looking for.

Also, with your friend in the US. When transporting a gun, unless everyone in the car has a permit, it is best to carry the gun in your trunk. The way the officer told us at my carry class is that it must take more than 2 steps to chamber a round in your gun if you dont have your permit.

Example: Lets say you have a magazine of ammo, already loaded, and a gun in the seat of the car. The magazine is not inside the gun. In order to chamber a round you would have to Step 1: Load the magazine. Step 2: Cycle the action of your firearm. If you did not have your permit then you could go to jail for carrying a gun without a liscense.

In your friend's case if the gun in the case was loaded then all he would have to do is open the case it was in and chamber a round. 2 steps. If anyone in the car did not have a permit then that is illegal.

 

[Macgyvercas]

I don't know anything about the gun laws in the states but shouldn't it atleast be concealed?

You need a permit for concealed carry. I'm not sure about open carry, but I think you need a permit for that too. Not sure though.

 

[SuccessAndBiscuts]

And... Damn, he carried a gun because he feared he'd be mugged? How do you mug people in he US? Running towards them screaming "Your wallet or your life!" from thirty meters? Here's mugging 101: You walk casually towards your target, your buddies good 100 m behind him, when you are close enogh to throw a punch - you throw it, then knock the victim down to the ground, while your buddies come running towards you, then - you kick the victim on the ground, take what you want, run away. Gun would do nothing! Absolutely bloody nothing!

Until they get up, and shoot you in the back maybe. Not sure if that is strictly lawful but they can certainly do it. Besides it's probably more as a deterrent. Why rob the guy who is clearly armed when you can rob the guy who isn't armed?

But you just want to hate on people because they dare arm themselves don't you, the immoral heathens they are.

I'm gonna go out on a limb here and suggest that when taking what they want your gun would be quite an attractive option.

 

[Konaerix]

America: Land of the free and the home of the-GET ON THE FUCKING GROUND!!!! NO!!! GIVE ME BACK UP!!! SHUT THE FUCK UP!!! YOU'RE FUCKING RECORDING IT!!!! YOU DID THAT ON PURPOSE DIDN'T YOU!!! SHUT THE FUCK UP!!!

Man, I love this place. *sarcasm*