Well, sure, but keep in mind that brandishing a weapon is still a serious crime even in a place like Virginia, so this isn’t the best comparison to use.
In fact, were I an uncharitable sort, I’d accuse you of setting up a strawman - but I’ll just chalk this up to ignorance of the finer points of these laws.
All open carry is “brandishing,” as far as I’m concerned.
From a purely etiquette perspective, it depends on the context of the social event. If, for example, you’re going to a cookout at someone’s farm where you know folks will be plinking at targets after dinner, then I’d say it’s not rude. If it’s a social situation where guns are not typically found-- e.g. a Little League game, a church potluck, a kid’s birthday party–then I would say it’s quite rude. I’d say the same if the weapon in question was a broadsword or a bow and arrow. Because it’s so unusual to have weapons at these events, by openly carrying, you’re ensuring that people’s attention will be on you, not on the event itself. Not “Let’s watch little Tommy blow out the candles on his cake,” but “Why does this guy have gun/sword/machete? Is he going to go postal? Does he know something that I don’t about the situation?” It would be a bit like wearing a ballgown to a Little League game, but with added fear, since nobody has ever been killed by a Vera Wang strapless shantung.
So you answer that with childish accusations of your own?
Classy.
Anyway, you have my answer, for what it is worth. I don’t as a rule strap on the holster, but I have. And after shooting, if I want to stop for a burger, I’ll do so - and I haven’t had one person look at me crosseyed yet.
But then I don’t do this as a rule, and when I do I’m not a dick about it.
There is a legal definition of brandishing that you’re ignoring - and by doing so you weaken your argument.
I would feel about the same about them either way.
I’m sure I won’t.
But my comment was intended to rebut your “is intended to be intimidating” and “serves no other purpose” lines.
Now you agree that it’s not intended to be intimidating, and it does serve some other purpose – just not one that you agree with. Well, my friend, this is why we have laws, so that your irrational prejudices cannot prevent me from exercising my constitutional rights.
Why should I make a long drive and not stop to eat when it’s my right to do so? If this were a pet issue of yours, you’d be apoplectic at the mere suggestion that you should change your behavior to accommodate irrational prejudice or ignorance.
You are, of course, free to view this as rude – that is, after all, the purpose of the thread, asking whether this is seen as a rude act.
But this thread has convinced me that the groups of guys that make it a point to open-carry everywhere are right. Their view is that people react badly precisely because it’s so unusual, and outside of the ordinary. If it were a common sight, it would produce much less anxiety.
I can’t open-carry every day, but I’m now resolving to open-carry more frequently, if only to do my tiny part to make the sight seem more common.
Nothing childish about my rebuttals, I’m just offering logical responses to childish accusations. It takes less courage to carry a gun than not to carry one. That’s pretty simple and irrefutable.
We are not talking about legality, we are talking about ettiquette. I said that all open carry was brandishing “as far as I’m concerned.” I didn’t say it was the law. This is a thread about perceptions, not a legal debate.
I don’t have a problem with open carry in places where it is legal, coupled with the right of private property owners to refuse the patronage of and/or visits by carriers.
I’ve no sympathy for who freaks out when seeing a holster in a public place. Grow a spine.
I’d be tremendously apprehensive, and probably I’d be wishing fervently that I had started my policy of open carry, because that person’s committing a crime with a firearm.
Now, if I saw someone with a hunting rifle slung on their back – perfectly legal, as opposed to the illegal brandishing that you describe – I’d be utterly unconcerned. Indeed, if this were a Burger King near a hunting area, I doubt it’d even draw my attention, since it would be a very common sight.
When did I agree to that?
This is not a thread about legal rights but about ettiquette and perceptions. Brandishing a gun at my kids is rude. Please don’t do it.
Is it a reasonable assumption that people carry guns either concealed or open for reasons of self defense? If so, if carrying it not concealed gives a good warning that the person with a visible gun is not a good choice of victim. I understand that most gun owners do not think this is a good idea but it does seem to send a clear don’t fuck with me message.
Ever heard of James Huberty?
I’m suggesting to you, then, that based on the numbers, that’s an irrational fear or prejudice.
But that’s OK. Much like same-sex public displays of affection, no one should be demanding that your internal attitudes change. You’re perfectly allowed to think, “Oh, gross,” if you see two hot guys swapping spit, and you’re perfectly allowed to think, “Oh, scary!” when you see one hot guy wearing a holstered revolver.
What you cannot do, without stepping on constitutional rights, is seek to stop them.
PDA’s have no potential to kill anybody. An open display of a firearm anyplace where it would be inappropriate to discharge one (unless carrying a firearm is part of your job) is a death threat.
Of course. He proves my point nicely. Huberty walked into the McDonald’s brandishing a 9mm Uzi. As I said above, if I saw that, I’d be tremendously apprehensive, and probably I’d be wishing fervently that I had started my policy of open carry, because that person’s committing a crime with a firearm. And in fact, if I had been in that McDonald’s with my open-carry revolver, it’s a real possibility that the number of deaths would have been greatly reduced.
It’s not a death threat in any legal sense. In your own mind, as a result of your irrational prejudices, it’s a threat. But the numbers don’t bear you out.
Can you point to even one shooting crime committed by someone who was practicing open, legal public carrying at the time? Even one?
Or. he might just have shot you first.
The idea that the answer to gun violence is more guns has always seemed absurd to me. Unles you’re confident that everybody packing will be an expert marksman with icewater in his veins, all you’re going to do is escalate the chaos and the fatalities and make it more difficult for LE to figure out who the bad guys are.
I never did try to stop them but I also wouldn’t shed a tear if it were illegal to carry one in public. I simply don’t like being around guns. I’m not afraid of guns, I grew up around them, have handled and fired them. (I was actually a very good shot)
I don’t like PDA either, especially to the degree that it would be described as ‘swapping spit’. The gender of either party isn’t relevent, I just find it in poor taste.