NRA says open carry of long guns is "downright weird"

[allingeneral]

The second example comes to us from the Lone Star State, which is second to none for its robust gun culture. We applaud Texans for that, but a small number have recently crossed the line from enthusiasm to downright foolishness.

Now we love AR-15s and AKs as much as anybody, and we know that these sorts of semiautomatic carbines are among the most popular, fastest selling firearms in America today. Texas, independent-minded and liberty-loving place that it is, doesn't ban the carrying of loaded long guns in public, nor does it require a permit for this activity. Yet some so-called firearm advocates seem determined to change this.

Recently, demonstrators have been showing up in various public places, including coffee shops and fast food restaurants, openly toting a variety of tactical long guns. Unlicensed open carry of handguns is legal in about half the U.S. states, and it is relatively common and uncontroversial in some places.

Yet while unlicensed open carry of long guns is also typically legal in most places, it is a rare sight to see someone sidle up next to you in line for lunch with a 7.62 rifle slung across his chest, much less a whole gaggle of folks descending on the same public venue with similar arms.

Let's not mince words, not only is it rare, it's downright weird and certainly not a practical way to go normally about your business while being prepared to defend yourself. To those who are not acquainted with the dubious practice of using public displays of firearms as a means to draw attention to oneself or one's cause, it can be downright scary. It makes folks who might normally be perfectly open-minded about firearms feel uncomfortable and question the motives of pro-gun advocates.

As a result of these hijinx, two popular fast food outlets have recently requested patrons to keep guns off the premises (more information can be found here and here). In other words, the freedom and goodwill these businesses had previously extended to gun owners has been curtailed because of the actions of an attention-hungry few who thought only of themselves and not of those who might be affected by their behavior. To state the obvious, that's counterproductive for the gun owning community.

More to the point, it's just not neighborly, which is out of character for the big-hearted residents of Texas. Using guns merely to draw attention to yourself in public not only defies common sense, it shows a lack of consideration and manners. That's not the Texas way. And that's certainly not the NRA way.

Read more:

WTOP news story:
http://wtop.com/209/3634329/NRA-calls-o ... ight-weird

Straight from the NRA-ILA website (last 1/3 of the article):
http://www.nraila.org/news-issues/artic ... -role.aspx

[SHMIV]

Unusual, in modern society, yes. Weird, no.

I'm now less fond of the NRA.

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[WRW]

Texas? Where open carry of a pistol is not legal and concealed carry requires a permit? Does that factor into the decision to carry long guns openly?

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[Kreutz]

Given the choice when eating in public I'd feel more comfortable with the long-arm OC'er sitting across from me than a shrill "moms demand action" loudmouth.

[Newgunguy]

Texas? Where open carry of a pistol is not legal and concealed carry requires a permit? Does that factor into the decision to carry long guns openly?

Yes I'm sure it has a lot to deal with that. Now I'm not sure how exactly this will help our cause but I wonder what would've happened if they would've got together for a mass civil disobedience and carried handguns openly. I know that is basically illegal in Texas but could that have helped the cause to get that law repealed there. Now I wouldn't be afraid of that but one also has to think about the person that has never held a firearm and what their reaction would be to seeing, what the media labels as a deadly Assault Weapon, people walking around with them.


Charles.

[WRW]

I don't know that I would attempt civil disobedience in Texas.

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[dorminWS]

Don't now about "downright weird", but if I ain't mistaken on this forum a week or two ago as how it was just plain stupid. Glad to see the suits at the NRA are more or less on the right page on this one.

[MarcSpaz]

Again, carrying long guns to get attention is bad. However, if you can't get a permit to CC, OC of handguns is not legal, but OC of long guns is, then you HAVE to accept and expect people to carry long guns for protection. Its too simple.

The state of Maryland's own Congress openly stated several years ago that they will not change their handgun laws with regard to carry because they felt open carry of long guns for protection was suitable for the sta(e residents.

I guess I am just having trouble understanding why its not more common and why people are getting bent out of shape when it clearly appears to be the only option in many states for legal OC.

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[trailrunner]

I used to more open minded about this, but I think OC of long guns is hurting our cause. It's forcing businesses to be in the middle of something they probably don't want to be involved with. If you want to do an OC protest with long guns, go out on the in the street and do it that way.

And having someone handle the gun in the restaurant in the low-ready position is doubly stupid. I don't care if his finger is off the trigger or if it's a photo op - he shouldn't be touching it. Stupid, stupid, stupid. As a gun owner and someone who is very comfortable around guns, that would bother even me.

[MarcSpaz]

I can agree with that. I did actually complain about the kid in the low ready in another thread. Just bad all around. You're at a fast food joint in a peaceful American town; not on recon patrol in Kandahar.

If you are going to carry, if its to OC for protection or to trek out to hunting grounds... sling it up around back and cinch it up. If your sling is configured correctly and you know how to use it, that is just fine as far as readily accessible and giving people the warm and fuzzy.

[FiremanBob]

Those who criticized the NRA above should re-read the statement carefully. What they say is "weird" is open carrying of long guns for the purpose of making a political statement. That is in line with what I think was the consensus here in previous threads about OC provocateurs.

[SHMIV]

OC for the sole purpose of making a statement is going to cause a negative reaction, regardless of the type of gun.

The attitude that will accompany the gun will always make the carrier appear dangerous, whether they actually are, or not.

To be clear, while I find it foolish and counterproductive(to carry for the purpose of making a statement), I believe the right to do so still exists.

The NRA appears to be encouraging folks
to never OC a long gun, instead of providing tips on how to do so in a less intimidating fashion. I can't get behind that.

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[Swampman]

I used to more open minded about this, but I think OC of long guns is hurting our cause. It's forcing businesses to be in the middle of something they probably don't want to be involved with. If you want to do an OC protest with long guns, go out on the in the street and do it that way.

And having someone handle the gun in the restaurant in the low-ready position is doubly stupid. I don't care if his finger is off the trigger or if it's a photo op - he shouldn't be touching it. Stupid, stupid, stupid. As a gun owner and someone who is very comfortable around guns, that would bother even me.

Well said, Trialrunner. And I agree with others that have said it is stupid and does nothing for the cause of furthering gun rights. Work to get the law changed, don't feed the Bloomies.

And, if they can only carry long-guns, why is it always the "big black scary guns?" We all know the kind of knee-jerk reaction AR style weapons elicit from the bed-wetters. This kind of stuff does not help.

[FiremanBob]

SHM, that's not my takeaway from the NRA article. Their last line sums it up: "Using guns merely to draw attention to yourself in public not only defies common sense, it shows a lack of consideration and manners."

I I would not, and I don't think the NRA would, have any problem with OCing a long gun in a time of riot or other civil unrest. Say the Rodney King riots, for example.

I also think that deputized posses could replace much of our over-militarized and increasingly disconnected police forces do - and when on duty those citizen safety committees should carry all the military-type arms they wish. For example, a posse of about 100 men could clear a town of street gangs. But that's drifting this thread too far...

[scott9050]

I think the NRA is spot on correct with this one. The actions of Open Carry Texas has done nothing but harm and has had the opposite effect of what they wanted. And OC of long guns is legal now, but the actions of people like this might cause that to change.

[mamabearCali]

They have been less than wise and are causing problems. If they had been more wise this would not be needful. I have stood up for OC very often but in this case their methods lack decorum. Still I would rather have them eating beside me than the "moms demand action" group too.

Anyway the NRA is trying to find a middle road. I am ok with what they said under the circumstances.

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[dorminWS]

I saw Bob Beckel, the flaming liberal burnt-out hippie on "The Five" on Fox News, ranting about what sub-humans they were who would carry a rifle into a restaurant and act so that even the NRA disavowed them. He had a ball with it; and I guess all the usual hysterical ant-gun crowd will exploit it to the fullest.

My answer to them could only be that it is possible to exercise a Constitutionally-protected right in a manner that annoys others, but unless that manner infringes on some other constitutional right or constitutes a crime or tortious act, it is protected activity. You would think that they would realize that liberals have used this same behavior to make THEIR points for decades, and have frequently been VERY obnoxious when doing so. For instance, when the “Occupy Wall Street” crowd was exercising their particular brand of revolting political speech, the powers that be allowed outrageously illegal and anti-social behavior to go unpunished. At least none of the "Open Carry" crowd down in Texas took a dump on the hood of a police car (as far as I know).

But we live in a time when the liberals/progressives have adopted the position that even sacred Constitutionally-protected rights are not protected unless THEY agree with their existence and the manner in which you exercise them. As I have observed before, there is no compromise with these people because to them, "compromise" means that they demand you go at least halfway to wherever they want you to stand, after which they will demand that you go the rest of the way to their extreme. That's not compromise. That's just procrastination. I hate to say it, but when one side becomes so intractable that compromise is impossible, conflict at some point becomes inevitable. Hope I don't live to see it.

[SHMIV]

@ Bob

The NRA statement declares that OC of long guns is "Downright weird", which implies that normal folks wouldn't do such a thing.

It also submits that OC of long guns is impractical when going about daily business, which implies that the author really has no use for the practice, and since he is writing on behalf of the NRA, they don't, either.

Funny thing about riots; they are not scheduled. There is no press conference from the cheif riot maker to make citizens aware of the upcoming riot. They just break out. And, when they start, some folks get caught in the middle of it.

Some folks are in a position to only afford one gun, and if they choose a long gun, it seems that the NRA would exclude them from OC practice.

If that is not what the NRA meant, they made a bad choice in words and phrases.

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[mamabearCali]

http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government ... tors-Weird

They apologized for saying Ocers were "weird". Best to keep to the facts NRA and leave judgement calls to others.

[bryanrheem]

IMHO, the NRA is an organization that WE NEED to push back against gun control. I can understand this statement even if it was a 'political' statement.

Gun control activists are savvy, and the pro 2A group needs to be just as savvy.

I'm not saying it's right, I'm saying I understand.