# People who open carry, how much police harassment do you put up with? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 1, 2015, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-open-carry-how-much-police-harassment-do-you-put-up-with/708710 "2015-01-01T20:59:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Onomatopoeia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/onomatopoeia/32/4145_2.png) [@Onomatopoeia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Onomatopoeia)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2015, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-open-carry-how-much-police-harassment-do-you-put-up-with/708710/21 "2015-01-02T02:25:56Z")
> [@splatterpunk](#): > > Well, yeah, thanks to the brave, selfless acts of people like **Fear Itself**! > > See something, say something. Well, no, it’s thanks to the double-standard that many seem to believe is hunky-dory. ---
**Author:** ![grude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47774/32.png) [@grude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grude)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2015, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-open-carry-how-much-police-harassment-do-you-put-up-with/708710/22 "2015-01-02T02:29:24Z")
> [@Onomatopoeia](#): > > Well, no, it’s thanks to the double-standard that many seem to believe is hunky-dory. I’m unclear exactly what you want people to do, I mean I support everyone’s right to open carry. There is a double standard there I absolutely agree, but how exactly should the individual fight it? ---
**Author:** ![Onomatopoeia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/onomatopoeia/32/4145_2.png) [@Onomatopoeia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Onomatopoeia)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2015, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-open-carry-how-much-police-harassment-do-you-put-up-with/708710/23 "2015-01-02T02:50:57Z")
> [@grude](#): > > I’m unclear exactly what you want people to do, I mean I support everyone’s right to open carry. There is a double standard there I absolutely agree, but how exactly should the individual fight it? The real answer is one you won’t like, which is open-carry for no one until such a time as blacks have a realistic expectation not to be shot when abiding by the same laws as whites as relates to the ownership and transportation of unconcealed firearms. How we get there is a discussion that should be had, but one that won’t even be contemplated unless whites believe their rights are being abridged as well, sorry to say. ---
**Author:** ![grude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47774/32.png) [@grude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grude)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2015, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-open-carry-how-much-police-harassment-do-you-put-up-with/708710/24 "2015-01-02T03:12:11Z")
> [@Onomatopoeia](#): > > The real answer is one you won’t like, which is open-carry for no one until such a time as blacks have a realistic expectation not to be shot when abiding by the same laws as whites as relates to the ownership and transportation of unconcealed firearms. > > How we get there is a discussion that should be had, but one that won’t even be contemplated unless whites believe their rights are being abridged as well, sorry to say. I actually think the solution is the other way around, for more non-whites to start open carrying. But no one is going to want to be among those inevitably killed for exercising their rights, so I fully understand why the sickening current status quo stands. I’m not going to tell anyone to risk their life over principal, and making everyone less free isn’t the answer. I also think society at large needs to start calling out the asses that call the cops, notice in the story you linked to it all started with a call from a terrified store customer. Curiously no one else was panicking or rushing out of the store, so because of one scaredy cat and out of control cop a man is dead. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2015, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-open-carry-how-much-police-harassment-do-you-put-up-with/708710/25 "2015-01-02T03:24:31Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > It is up to law enforcement to decide if it is worth investigating a report of a man with a gun. If they decide it is prudent to make sure it is a legal carry, then I guess my report is justified. If they decide it isn’t worth responding to, then no one’s time is wasted. It is not my job to decide if a crime is being committed. See something, say something. Have you ever done so before? And if so, what was the reaction of the police? ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2015, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-open-carry-how-much-police-harassment-do-you-put-up-with/708710/26 "2015-01-02T04:13:31Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > It is up to law enforcement to decide if it is worth investigating a report of a man with a gun. If they decide it is prudent to make sure it is a legal carry, then I guess my report is justified. If they decide it isn’t worth responding to, then no one’s time is wasted. It is not my job to decide if a crime is being committed. See something, say something. Except, it’s not a crime _where permitted by statute_. See nothing, say nothing. I’ve never owned a gun, but I support the right of people to peacefully carry one. I live in Arizona, where both open carry and concealed-carry are legal without a permit. I’ve never felt threatened or nervous about anyone carrying a weapon in public. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2015, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-open-carry-how-much-police-harassment-do-you-put-up-with/708710/27 "2015-01-02T04:24:43Z")
> [@Rhiannon8404](#): > > All this would likely accomplish is the police being upset with you for wasting their time. You call 911 and tell them some guy is walking down the street with a perfectly legal gun, acting in a perfectly legal manner and they’re not going to harass that guy, they’re going to be upset with you. And if you lie and say the guy is brandishing when he’s not, you’re making a false report. More trouble for you. Why would you even bother? Got nothing better to do? How does he know the guy carrying the gun is doing so legally? ---
**Author:** ![grude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47774/32.png) [@grude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grude)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2015, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-open-carry-how-much-police-harassment-do-you-put-up-with/708710/28 "2015-01-02T04:44:50Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#): > > How does he know the guy carrying the gun is doing so legally? It is either legal or illegal depending on the state, so there isn’t much ambiguity. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2015, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-open-carry-how-much-police-harassment-do-you-put-up-with/708710/29 "2015-01-02T04:51:53Z")
> [@grude](#): > > It is either legal or illegal depending on the state, so there isn’t much ambiguity. Riiiight. So every single person with a gun in a state with open-carry is automatically assumed to bedoing so legally? I live in Michigan, can I just buy a gun on the street and open-carry it and be all good? ---
**Author:** ![AClockworkMelon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aclockworkmelon/32/10803_2.png) [@AClockworkMelon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AClockworkMelon)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2015, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-open-carry-how-much-police-harassment-do-you-put-up-with/708710/30 "2015-01-02T04:54:04Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#): > > Riiiight. So every single person with a gun in a state with open-carry is automatically assumed to bedoing so legally? I live in Michigan, can I just buy a gun on the street and open-carry it and be all good? I don’t know about Michigan but here in Arizona that’s exactly how it is. No special license needed or anything. As soon as you’re 18 you can carry a handgun on you, open or concealed. ---
**Author:** ![grude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47774/32.png) [@grude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grude)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2015, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-open-carry-how-much-police-harassment-do-you-put-up-with/708710/31 "2015-01-02T05:41:50Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#): > > Riiiight. So every single person with a gun in a state with open-carry is automatically assumed to bedoing so legally? I live in Michigan, can I just buy a gun on the street and open-carry it and be all good? Yes that is kind of what it means for open carry to be legal, obviously it is not legal to brandish or threaten with it or fire it anywhere unless in self defense. But just carrying it yep legal. If you mean like how do you know the person isn’t a felon, or the gun stolen or something well how do you know every person you see driving a car has a license 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2015, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-open-carry-how-much-police-harassment-do-you-put-up-with/708710/32 "2015-01-02T05:46:05Z")
> [@AClockworkMelon](#): > > I don’t know about Michigan but here in Arizona that’s exactly how it is. No special license needed or anything. As soon as you’re 18 you can carry a handgun on you, open or concealed. I honestly did not know it was that easy. No license or any sort of documentation required whatsoever? Wow. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2015, 5:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-open-carry-how-much-police-harassment-do-you-put-up-with/708710/33 "2015-01-02T05:49:38Z")
> [@grude](#): > > Yes that is kind of what it means for open carry to be legal, obviously it is not legal to brandish or threaten with it or fire it anywhere unless in self defense. But just carrying it yep legal. > > If you mean like how do you know the person isn’t a felon, or the gun stolen or something well how do you know every person you see driving a car has a license 🙂 Well, cars are for transportation. Guns are for killing people. ---
**Author:** ![AClockworkMelon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aclockworkmelon/32/10803_2.png) [@AClockworkMelon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AClockworkMelon)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2015, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-open-carry-how-much-police-harassment-do-you-put-up-with/708710/34 "2015-01-02T06:00:30Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#): > > I honestly did not know it was that easy. No license or any sort of documentation required whatsoever? Wow. Nope. I’ve never owned a gun but if I had a few hundred bucks I could head down to the store on the corner or one of the gun shows we have pretty regularly, or hell - to the home of a buddy who’s looking to sell - and pick up a gun and carry it out the door under my jacket. Perfectly legal. ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2015, 6:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-open-carry-how-much-police-harassment-do-you-put-up-with/708710/35 "2015-01-02T06:13:26Z")
I can’t help but think that Fear and a few other dopers should stay out of Arizona. It might cause their brain to asplode. ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2015, 6:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-open-carry-how-much-police-harassment-do-you-put-up-with/708710/36 "2015-01-02T06:14:43Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#): > > I honestly did not know it was that easy. No license or any sort of documentation required whatsoever? Wow. What part of shall not be infringed isn’t clear? ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2015, 6:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-open-carry-how-much-police-harassment-do-you-put-up-with/708710/37 "2015-01-02T06:18:26Z")
> [@Rick](#): > > What part of shall not be infringed isn’t clear? \ Absolutely nothing. ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2015, 10:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-open-carry-how-much-police-harassment-do-you-put-up-with/708710/38 "2015-01-02T10:10:28Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#): > > I honestly did not know it was that easy. No license or any sort of documentation required whatsoever? Wow. it’s not so simple in Michigan. for a handgun, if buying from a private seller you need to apply for a “permit to purchase” from your city’s police board (or county sheriff if you live somewhere w/o a municipal PD,) wait overnight for a background check, then after buying you have to return the form and get a registration card. If you buy from an FFL-holding dealer, you don’t need to go to the police board first since the NICS check the dealer does pretty much queries the same systems, but they give you a “pistol purchase record” which you need to submit to the police station within 10 days. Long guns are only subject to a pre-purchase NICS query by the dealer. Both handguns and long guns still require the dealer to retain the federal Form 4473 you fill out. After that, technically Michigan is an “open carry permitted” state except in your car (!) but I haven’t heard of any people agitating for it here. That said, I wouldn’t do it. while it may be _de jure_ permitted, the people who advocate it are IMO little more than real-life trolls. ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2015, 10:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-open-carry-how-much-police-harassment-do-you-put-up-with/708710/39 "2015-01-02T10:22:46Z")
> [@Rhiannon8404](#): > > All this would likely accomplish is the police being upset with you for wasting their time. You call 911 and tell them some guy is walking down the street with a perfectly legal gun, acting in a perfectly legal manner and they’re not going to harass that guy, they’re going to be upset with you. And if you lie and say the guy is brandishing when he’s not, you’re making a false report. More trouble for you. Why would you even bother? Got nothing better to do? Eh, if you tell the police there was brandishing, they’ll possibly shoot the guy. So your false witness would get someone killed. Don’t do that. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2015, 10:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-open-carry-how-much-police-harassment-do-you-put-up-with/708710/40 "2015-01-02T10:37:44Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > Then my job is done. Maybe I can’t take your guns away, but anything I can legally do to make it more of a bother to open carry is my goal. This is harassment. And your username is apt. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-open-carry-how-much-police-harassment-do-you-put-up-with/708710.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-open-carry-how-much-police-harassment-do-you-put-up-with/708710.md?page=3)