# Why are those in favor of greater gun control opposed to concealed carry licenses? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [December 11, 2012, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-those-in-favor-of-greater-gun-control-opposed-to-concealed-carry-licenses/643757 "2012-12-11T22:11:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![A\_nice\_guy\_with\_an\_opinion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/76d3ee/32.png) [@A\_nice\_guy\_with\_an\_opinion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/A_nice_guy_with_an_opinion)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2012, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-those-in-favor-of-greater-gun-control-opposed-to-concealed-carry-licenses/643757/41 "2012-12-12T02:28:01Z")
> [@Lobohan](#): > > I’d assume that someone who is carrying a pistol is more likely to be afraid. Like if I saw a guy with a lifejacket on a cruise ship or a parachute on an airliner. > > If someone is so afraid for his life that he wants to carry a gun at the Piggly Wiggly, I don’t want to be around him. > > So open carry is better than concealed, since it flags those guys. Is someone afraid if they lock their doors at home? ---
**Author:** ![Glazer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a88e57/32.png) [@Glazer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Glazer)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2012, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-those-in-favor-of-greater-gun-control-opposed-to-concealed-carry-licenses/643757/42 "2012-12-12T02:29:35Z")
The guy in that video should be charged. The first shot I’m ok with they where threatening other people. But he continued to fire and pursue them when they started to flee. ---
**Author:** ![Lobohan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobohan/32/79_2.png) [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2012, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-those-in-favor-of-greater-gun-control-opposed-to-concealed-carry-licenses/643757/43 "2012-12-12T02:31:30Z")
> [@A\_nice\_guy\_with\_an\_opinion](#): > > Is someone afraid if they lock their doors at home? No. I’d say they’re afraid if they set up dangerous traps. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2012, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-those-in-favor-of-greater-gun-control-opposed-to-concealed-carry-licenses/643757/44 "2012-12-12T02:33:56Z")
> [@A\_nice\_guy\_with\_an\_opinion](#): > > Is someone afraid if they lock their doors at home? > [@Lobohan](#): > > No. I’d say they’re afraid if they set up dangerous traps. Yes. Locking your doors is more like not leaving your wallet or purse on the table when you go to the restroom. Walking around with a gun is like having a remotely detonated shaped charge under the welcome mat. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2012, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-those-in-favor-of-greater-gun-control-opposed-to-concealed-carry-licenses/643757/45 "2012-12-12T02:34:28Z")
There are concealed carry laws. Pro-guns don’t like them. Anti-guns like them. Any attempt to change them will result in both sides vigorously defending the status quo or moving the pendulum in the opposite direction. Politicians, lobbyists, and political consultants prosper. ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2012, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-those-in-favor-of-greater-gun-control-opposed-to-concealed-carry-licenses/643757/46 "2012-12-12T02:36:18Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > In the _real world_, a criminal is highly unlikely to do _anything at all_ when there are multiple people around. And if they do, the usual result is that the gun carrying people get shot without even drawing their weapon. In the real world literally 10’s of thousands of Americans carry concealed every day. How many incidents have there been where someone legally carrying a concealed firearm is involved in any sort of shooting altercation? A handful, maybe? It’s ironic that you point to fear though…I mean, we are talking off the charts. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2012, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-those-in-favor-of-greater-gun-control-opposed-to-concealed-carry-licenses/643757/47 "2012-12-12T02:37:47Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > There are concealed carry laws. Pro-guns don’t like them. Anti-guns like them. Any attempt to change them will result in both sides vigorously defending the status quo or moving the pendulum in the opposite direction. Politicians, lobbyists, and political consultants prosper. Unless you have that backwards, can you point to some ‘pro-guns’ who don’t like CCW, and some ‘anti-guns’ that do? Again, I’ve never, ever heard such sentiments from either side wrt CCW laws…in fact, just the opposite, as is pretty clear in THIS thread. ---
**Author:** ![A\_nice\_guy\_with\_an\_opinion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/76d3ee/32.png) [@A\_nice\_guy\_with\_an\_opinion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/A_nice_guy_with_an_opinion)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2012, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-those-in-favor-of-greater-gun-control-opposed-to-concealed-carry-licenses/643757/48 "2012-12-12T02:38:00Z")
> [@Glazer](#): > > The guy in that video should be charged. The first shot I’m ok with they where threatening other people. But he continued to fire and pursue them when they started to flee. Yeah. He was bullying them. ---
**Author:** ![A\_nice\_guy\_with\_an\_opinion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/76d3ee/32.png) [@A\_nice\_guy\_with\_an\_opinion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/A_nice_guy_with_an_opinion)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2012, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-those-in-favor-of-greater-gun-control-opposed-to-concealed-carry-licenses/643757/49 "2012-12-12T02:41:04Z")
I’m for open and concealed, but you are a fool to open carry if you can conceal. I would only open carry if I were out on a horese in the tetons, or fishing or hunting. In an urban environment I would prefer to be trained and comfortable in my ability to draw a concealed weapon. Guess I am a big scaredy cat. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2012, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-those-in-favor-of-greater-gun-control-opposed-to-concealed-carry-licenses/643757/50 "2012-12-12T02:42:49Z")
Of course I’m opposed to concealed carry licenses. That doesn’t mean I want you to carry without a permit, I don’t want you to carry at all. My first choice would be that you didn’t have a handgun at all. If you have one, I’d prefer you kept it at home. If you take it with you, I’d rather you have it where the police can see it at all times. Not that I didn’t enjoy Dirty Harry, I just don’t want to see guys play act it in real life. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2012, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-those-in-favor-of-greater-gun-control-opposed-to-concealed-carry-licenses/643757/51 "2012-12-12T02:46:51Z")
> [@XT](#): > > In the real world literally 10’s of thousands of Americans carry concealed every day. How many incidents have there been where someone legally carrying a concealed firearm is involved in any sort of shooting altercation? A handful, maybe? You do realize that you are arguing for carrying guns being _useless?_ If I just take your claim at face value, that just means I’m _right_ and people who carry guns virtually never have the chance to use them to defend themselves. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2012, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-those-in-favor-of-greater-gun-control-opposed-to-concealed-carry-licenses/643757/52 "2012-12-12T02:47:57Z")
> [@XT](#): > > Unless you have that backwards, can you point to some **‘pro-guns’ who don’t like CCW,** and some ‘anti-guns’ that do? Again, I’ve never, ever heard such sentiments from either side wrt CCW laws…in fact, just the opposite, as is pretty clear in THIS thread. _raises hand_ I have no objection to people carrying guns, so long as I know they’ve got them so I can stay out of their line of fire. ---
**Author:** ![Glazer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a88e57/32.png) [@Glazer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Glazer)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2012, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-those-in-favor-of-greater-gun-control-opposed-to-concealed-carry-licenses/643757/53 "2012-12-12T02:49:44Z")
> [@A\_nice\_guy\_with\_an\_opinion](#): > > Yeah. He was bullying them. It’s not that. Fuck them. He was putting other people at risk by continuing to pursue. That is the job of the Police. ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2012, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-those-in-favor-of-greater-gun-control-opposed-to-concealed-carry-licenses/643757/54 "2012-12-12T02:51:27Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > Of course I’m opposed to concealed carry licenses. That doesn’t mean I want you to carry without a permit, I don’t want you to carry at all. My first choice would be that you didn’t have a handgun at all. If you have one, I’d prefer you kept it at home. If you take it with you, I’d rather you have it where the police can see it at all times. Not that I didn’t enjoy Dirty Harry, I just don’t want to see guys play act it in real life. Because it does get acted out in real life. Every day is the shoot out at the OK Corral with so many Americans who are armed and…oh, wait. Your fears are completely unfounded, as this happens extremely rarely, and you are more likely to fall off a ladder at home while cleaning out the gutters than you are to be shot by a licensed citizen legally carrying a firearm. And will this change your opinion? Oh, hell no…it’s like talking to the anti-nukes about. They know what they know, and what they know is that nuclear energy is DANGEROUS!!! :eek: Pointing out that you are more likely to be struck by lighting than killed by radiation released by a nuclear power plant (even in Japan) is useless…don’t bother me with the facts, man, I knows what I knows… Anyway, I think the OP has his or her answer…the reason why those who want greater gun control don’t favor such licenses is because they are afraid and ignorant, with fear being the primary factor in the anti-gun types in this particular thread. ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2012, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-those-in-favor-of-greater-gun-control-opposed-to-concealed-carry-licenses/643757/55 "2012-12-12T02:52:52Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > You do realize that you are arguing for carrying guns being _useless?_ If I just take your claim at face value, that just means I’m _right_ and people who carry guns virtually never have the chance to use them to defend themselves. Why do you think I don’t carry one? I don’t see the need, and I think that it’s generally a waste of time and effort to get a CCW (it’s a hell of a lot of work, costs money and has to be maintained). ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2012, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-those-in-favor-of-greater-gun-control-opposed-to-concealed-carry-licenses/643757/56 "2012-12-12T02:55:29Z")
> [@XT](#): > > Anyway, I think the OP has his or her answer…the reason why those who want greater gun control don’t favor such licenses is because they are afraid and ignorant, with fear being the primary factor in the anti-gun types in this particular thread. Actually I think the fearful ones are the guys that think they have to carry guns. ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2012, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-those-in-favor-of-greater-gun-control-opposed-to-concealed-carry-licenses/643757/57 "2012-12-12T02:55:45Z")
> [@Ethilrist](#): > > _raises hand_ > > I have no objection to people carrying guns, so long as I know they’ve got them so I can stay out of their line of fire. That’s just silly. Are you so hyper aware of your environment that you are going to be able to see everyone who carries a gun where ever you are and so fearful that you are going to take steps to avoid any sort of angle that those gun carriers MIGHT have to fire on?? :dubious: And, again, what is your fear based on? How many incidents can you point to where someone with a legally concealed firearm has even fired their weapon in public, let alone fired and hurt or killed someone, innocent or otherwise? The reason such incidents make the news is because they ARE so rare. ---
**Author:** ![A\_nice\_guy\_with\_an\_opinion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/76d3ee/32.png) [@A\_nice\_guy\_with\_an\_opinion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/A_nice_guy_with_an_opinion)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2012, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-those-in-favor-of-greater-gun-control-opposed-to-concealed-carry-licenses/643757/58 "2012-12-12T02:56:13Z")
> [@Glazer](#): > > It’s not that. Fuck them. He was putting other people at risk by continuing to pursue. That is the job of the Police. I thought their job was to draw chalk outlines of victims. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2012, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-those-in-favor-of-greater-gun-control-opposed-to-concealed-carry-licenses/643757/59 "2012-12-12T02:57:48Z")
> [@XT](#): > > Unless you have that backwards, can you point to some ‘pro-guns’ who don’t like CCW, and some ‘anti-guns’ that do? Again, I’ve never, ever heard such sentiments from either side wrt CCW laws…in fact, just the opposite, as is pretty clear in THIS thread. I was making the generalization that pro-gun political forces oppose gun laws. They may not specifically take actions to remove concealed weapons laws right now, but I would need to be convinced that there wouldn’t be opposition to making those laws more restrictive. Gun laws are a special interest, the each side opposes whatever the other side is for. ---
**Author:** ![A\_nice\_guy\_with\_an\_opinion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/76d3ee/32.png) [@A\_nice\_guy\_with\_an\_opinion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/A_nice_guy_with_an_opinion)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2012, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-those-in-favor-of-greater-gun-control-opposed-to-concealed-carry-licenses/643757/60 "2012-12-12T03:00:05Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > Actually I think the fearful ones are the guys that think they have to carry guns. That’s funny. All of the people pointing at fear for carrying are the same ones that say they want to know who is carrying because they FEAR(don’t want to be around) them. Where I live, I know people are armed to the teeth. We can carry concealed. My 70+ mother carries a .357 still. I walk around pretty confident that if a loony goes off, he better be a good shot if he wants to last long. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-those-in-favor-of-greater-gun-control-opposed-to-concealed-carry-licenses/643757.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-those-in-favor-of-greater-gun-control-opposed-to-concealed-carry-licenses/643757.md?page=4)