Guns In Public

[Wingates_Hellsing]

From what I'm told, Virginia open carry specifically says that not only the entire weapon, but any one part of the weapon being exposed ('clearly visible') counts as open carry. This means that inside waistband holsters can be used so long as the grip is not concealed by a coat etc.

I personally plan on getting my CC license and using a paddle holster. Only places I wouldn't take it would be federal buildings that restrict weapons (duh) and those bullshit 'gun-free' school zones, if only because I'd get nailed good if discovered (not that that's too likely.)

Also,

Very simply, you cant say “we want the police to protect us, they have to be armed to fight crimes, but no one else can carry.” and then say on the other hand “I’m scared of guns. I don’t want them around ME.” If we’re going to give only a small amount of people the ability to carry firearms then they have to be able to carry them were ever they go, not every where except when someone doesn’t feel “comfortable”. I hate to sound malicious, but grow a thicker skin.

Quite simply, yes. You get 7 internets.

[KitterCat]

This is one of my hot topic, so just to warn you its long.

I come from a state without conceal and carry, and I've always wanted to know if people from states that do have it, do people really take their guns everywhere they go, like literally, everywhere?

I’ve found that people get carry laws confused. There’s concealed and open. You may still live in a state that allows open sited carry. Its highly doubtful, but possible. Pretty much if a person can see it, you can carry the weapon. So having a gun on your hip, not a problem so long as there isn’t a coat covering it. Having a gun in your pocket, you’ve got a problem unless you’ve got the paperwork for a concealed carry.

Having lived in West Virginia I’ve come across both. In that state anyone can open carry. Getting a concealed carry permit is pretty easy. Fill out a form of about 2-3 pages, pass the background check, take a safety course and pay a $75 tax. Before we moved to Maryland, Mr.KitterCat had a CC permit along with a few friends. I never bothered to get a CC because sharp pointy things have always been more up my line than things that go boom. None of us were/are gun toting nut jobs waiting to blow something up. Most carried for self protection against criminals or keeping 2nd amendment rights in use. None of us, myself included, has ever had to draw except at a firing range.

Because it is still part of the culture there, you don’t come across that many people who freak out. Crime is also down. Criminals don’t want to rob you if they think your armed. I cant tell you the amount of times I’d hear the same story for 3 months of the local gas station getting robbed, and the robbers peacefully leaving afterwards. Coming just out of MD, close to Baltimore, I was use to hearing about weekly robberies, shootings, and rapes, possibly not in that order. Take a guess which state doesn’t allow even open carry. The first one doesn’t count..

Do you think that an officer of teh law should be allowed to refuse to put away his/her weapon while at a place that does not allow weapons (such as a hospital)?

Very simply, you cant say “we want the police to protect us, they have to be armed to fight crimes, but no one else can carry.” and then say on the other hand “I’m scared of guns. I don’t want them around ME.” If we’re going to give only a small amount of people the ability to carry firearms then they have to be able to carry them were ever they go, not every where except when someone doesn’t feel “comfortable”. I hate to sound malicious, but grow a thicker skin.

In places were its not allowed for an officer to carry, such as a federal/state building they have their own security set up. Their own security carries their own firearms in those cases. I’ve yet to go through a military base where the check in personal did not have a rifle, I’ve yet to come across a judicial building where the screening technician was not also an officer with a firearm. I’ve yet to be in a school with an officer working security who was not carrying a firearm.

In the case of a hospital, a lot of them hire in security who are off duty cops, ex military, retired cops (who can carry where they wish as well) or specially trained to use firearms. Or their security is trained to call the police if force is needed. I don’t see how people can cringe at the mere sight of a gun and then demand that these people protect them when chaos decides to take a look at their world.

[IDrinkaRum]

The state of Virginia has (had?) a law that states you don't need a permit to carry a gun as long as the gun is in plain sight.

This was a little known law and it made the headlines a few years ago, when there was an article about it in the local newspapers.

Some men went into a restaurant and one of them had a gun in plain sight. There was some talk with management, and I think police were called, but because of the law, there was nothing anyone could do about.

It sparked a great big debate over whether or not this is such a good idea, etc., etc.

As for me. I don't care. If you feel safer with a gun, either out in the open or concealed while you carry, more power to you.

As long as you know how to fire the darn thing, that's all I ask.

[joe hx]

do people really take their guns everywhere they go, like literally, everywhere?

Yes they do. Back when I worked at the auto shop, one of the techs always had his gun on him.

[jackfaire]

Recently I was seeing a girl who has a concealed weapons permit and yes as long as she is in this state she carries her gun everywhere.

[blas87]

I don't like the idea of rent-a-cops with guns or even tasers.

A taser gun took down my boyfriend and made him pee his pants....if that's what it does to a body builder, I wonder what it does to a smaller girl.

[daleduke17]

Do you think that an officer of teh law should be allowed to refuse to put away his/her weapon while at a place that does not allow weapons (such as a hospital)?

If he is on duty and in uniform, definitely. Off duty (or in plain clothes), if he can prove identification that he is an officer of the law, then definitely as well.

I'd rather see one cop with a sidearm in an ER than ten "Security Officers" without sidearms (and probably no training at all).

[blas87]

Based off of the thread in Sightings currently on CS....

Now, in that thread, it was an officer of the law who was refusing to put away his gun while he was at the doctor's office.

I come from a state without conceal and carry, and I've always wanted to know if people from states that do have it, do people really take their guns everywhere they go, like literally, everywhere?

Do you think that an officer of teh law should be allowed to refuse to put away his/her weapon while at a place that does not allow weapons (such as a hospital)?