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Consealed VS Open Carry & Constitutional Carry

rcurtner

rcurtner

Professional
I don't know how many states have open carry. We have open carry in Texas. A few years ago for less than a week I opened carried just to see how the general public would react. Although I didn't get any verbal comments I got numerous stares and some even showed fear on their faces. I believe in constitutional carry but I do worry about people carrying that may or may not have very much or not any training. The license to carry permits at least show some knowledge of firearms. The classroom portion does give info on state laws and use of lethal force. Granted, the range qualification isn't very difficult but puts a little stress on shooters.
 
We have open carry here, but I rarely see anyone carrying that way.

As far as training, the concealed carry training here is mostly about the state statutes concerning firearms and carrying them concealed. It is training, but a little on the minimalist side.

I have posed this question here before, but just how much training is enough? I would really hate to be in Walmart and have folks start shooting at a thug, but at the same time I would prefer someone take the thug out before the thug takes me out. :)
 
somorris said:
We have open carry here, but I rarely see anyone carrying that way.

As far as training, the concealed carry training here is mostly about the state statutes concerning firearms and carrying them concealed. It is training, but a little on the minimalist side.

I have posed this question here before, but just how much training is enough? I would really hate to be in Walmart and have folks start shooting at a thug, but at the same time I would prefer someone take the thug out before the thug takes me out. :)
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I'm on your side. Putting it mildly Texas is a well armed state. On a busy day at Walmart or other big box stores reacting to an active shooter with lethal force not only puts you in serious danger, but you could be shot by other shoppers that carry. Catch-22
 
somorris said:
We have open carry here, but I rarely see anyone carrying that way.

As far as training, the concealed carry training here is mostly about the state statutes concerning firearms and carrying them concealed. It is training, but a little on the minimalist side.

I have posed this question here before, but just how much training is enough? I would really hate to be in Walmart and have folks start shooting at a thug, but at the same time I would prefer someone take the thug out before the thug takes me out. :)
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We have open carry here, but you rarely see it. I won't. One of my instructors likened it to taunting bad guys (extreme comparison), and inviting verbal confrontation. Training here covers very basic skill and covers state laws and statutes, which around here is important because we are on the ND/MN border. MN has open carry; ND has constitutional carry. Laws where FED property are the same, but state statutes and laws differ.
 
rcurtner said:
I believe in constitutional carry
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rcurtner said:
but I do worry about people carrying that may or may not have very much or not any training.
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These two statements don't go together.

The majority of States now permit constitutional carry. No permit is required to carry a concealed or open handgun outside your home.

That's the way the Second Amendment is supposed to work
 
rcurtner said:
I believe the statements go together. My concern is just being a citizen that can legally carry a firearm doesn't exempt them from being knowledgeable of our laws. If you think everybody carrying a firearm has this knowledge/training I respectfully disagree with you.
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This topic comes up here often. The debate boils down to two things. A) The state or some governing body dictates some sort of criteria you must meet and obviously pay for to exercise your constitutional rights or B) an irrational fear of untrained people carrying guns causing some sort of issues.

I know where I stand on the issue. My permission slip from the government happened in like 1781 or something.
 
I agree with you about government having to much control over 2A rights. Our founding fathers did not have to deal with mass shootings and rampant crime like we do today. I make a weekly visit to my FFL dealer and often hear people that shouldn't carry pocket knives much less loaded firearms. I've been around for many years and I've seen a serious decline in America's moral fiber. Not referring to religion just how we treat each other.
 
rcurtner said:
I believe the statements go together. My concern is just being a citizen that can legally carry a firearm doesn't exempt them from being knowledgeable of our laws. If you think everybody carrying a firearm has this knowledge/training I respectfully disagree with you.
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I think most of the people carrying a firearm don't have this knowledge or training.

I also really don't see that it's causing a huge problem.

Tell me, what other constitutionally protected Civil Liberties would you place a training requirement on?

rcurtner said:
Our founding fathers did not have to deal with mass shootings and rampant crime like we do today.
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Do you think a training requirement would stop mass shootings and rampant crime?

80% of the murders committed with a firearm in this country are committed by people who already have a prior felony conviction.

A whole bunch of them are committed by people who are out on parole or out on bond.

Phone in possession charges are almost routinely thrown out as part of a plea agreement. They almost never get prosecuted.

How about instead of putting training requirements on law abiding citizens we start locking criminals up
 
We have open carry here, and I open carry pretty regularly (in process of waiting on my CCP).
I see some, let's say, interesting types also open carrying, but it's common to the point of almost expecting to see it when out and about.
I have noticed that most people are so completely situationally unaware that they don't notice. The people that do notice are either open carrying also, carrying concealed, or of the type that they'd be the ones concocting something until they see armed people.
I've also learned that you can dress to "openly conceal", it's just a matter of paying attention to your clothing. Presentation counts for a lot.
 
rcurtner said:
I don't know how many states have open carry. We have open carry in Texas. A few years ago for less than a week I opened carried just to see how the general public would react. Although I didn't get any verbal comments I got numerous stares and some even showed fear on their faces. I believe in constitutional carry but I do worry about people carrying that may or may not have very much or not any training. The license to carry permits at least show some knowledge of firearms. The classroom portion does give info on state laws and use of lethal force. Granted, the range qualification isn't very difficult but puts a little stress on shooters.
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Half the people I see at the range in Texas couldn’t pass the range qualification if their lives depended on it. That is basically the skill level you can expect from the vast majority of constitutional carriers. Hopefully none of us are nearby when one of these numbskulls breaks out a gun in a SHTF situation.
 
Constitutional carry is legal in Texas as written in the Texas Penal Code, Sections 46.02 & 46.04 In these two sections are listed several causes for not being eligible for constitutional carry. States do not do background checks but the individual should protect him or her self by knowing what their state and federal laws are. I agree with you no government should make citizens take mandatory training unless it's for a license to carry permit. Like you said you doubt a vast majority of constitutional carriers couldn't pass range qualifications. Here again I agree with you but that doesn't mean folks shouldn't at least know what laws govern constitutional carry, and it's not a bad idea to train themselves.
 
Do I support “constitutional carry”?

Yes, I do.

But, I don’t necessarily like it, because I feel it ignores the first 3 words of the second amendment:

“A Well Regulated”…

Sometimes I think that we, as 2A supporters, focus on the last four words (“…shall not be infringed.”) and ignore the first three.
 
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