Monday, December 1, 2008

So What's the Problem?

Over the weekend I read that there's a movement afoot in my home state to allow open carry of handguns, presumably by those who have already qualified for their currently concealed permits. A group has collected 30,000 signatures on a petition which they plan to deliver to the Legislature when it meets in January.

Of course, there will be the usual clap-trap about how blood will run in the streets, that it will be a return to "Wild West" shootouts, and other nonsense despite evidence to the contrary, much as was heard when the concealed carry law was enacted about ten years ago. While I was very much a proponent of the CHL legislation then, this new twist has caught me a bit off guard.

So, as one who likes to be in the vanguard of the latest (1880's) trends, I say...Cowboy Up, y'all!

9 comments:

todd said...

I was gonna say something about admiring the hogleg but was afraid you would take it as too much of a personal compliment.

an Donalbane said...

I will admit to its being a pleasure to hold. Ruger New Model Blackhawk, Stainless 4-5/8" bbl.

The truly observant viewer would note that the ammo belt cartridges do not match the lever gun shown. Even reasonably observant viewers probably will not identify the cartridges, which are indigenous to the lever action (but not the brand or model shown), but not actually an old or "traditional" caliber. Call it artistic license on my part.

an Donalbane said...

The "model" forgot to pull his stampede string out from under the ammo belt...

Don Dodson said...

I lived in Arizona, which is an open carry state, and now I reside in the great state of Texas where I have a CHL. I have thought about the issues of open carry verus concealled carry quite a bit, and I was forced to conclude that concealled carry is the way to go. I don't want to give up the element of surprise. In the event of a criminal attack, I don't want the bad guy to know I am armed while my Sig is still strapped to my hip. That gives him the opportunity to act first. John Lott's research confirms this. He found that concealled carry provided a greater deterence to crime than open carry, because the criminals don't know who is armed, so they must assume that everyone may be armed. So keep it concealled and let the first thing the bad guy sees be your muzzle flash.

Anonymous said...

I have to agree with D.D. The element of surprise appeals to me more than the idea of an open show/deterrent.

Dew

p.s. Are you playing dress up?

an Donalbane said...

Hey, it was a slow blog day...

an Donalbane said...

But Dew, how in the heck do you conceal that Buntline Special to gain an element of surprise?

Anonymous said...

how long is the barrel on the buntline spl






-dee redd

Anonymous said...

ehhh possibly let the barrel hang down one of your pant legs...no "short shorts" please





-dee redd