Lubbock Left

The open carry movement is a fascinating one to watch.

Today I read a New York Times article describing the U.S. open-carry movement, and it’s got me thinking about what motivates people who happily wear a gun all over town.

A California group is wearing their guns to draw attention to the difficulty of getting a concealed carry permit in California versus the relative ease of open carry. It’s an interesting form of civil protest, but I don’t think it has the effect that second amendment advocates desire.

See, open-carry meetings are like the gay pride parades of the pro-gun movement. Sure, second amendment advocates are (in most states) within their rights to openly carry guns, but doing so creates an aura of unease around them. As the above NY Times article mentions, the NRA is (wisely) distancing themselves from the open carry movement — at least publicly.

Texas doesn’t have open carry, so this doesn’t apply too much here in Lubbock. However, I feel compelled to state what good “gun people” already know: you don’t need to wear your guns like a fashion statement. No one is coming to take your guns, either. Next time you feel the need to strap on a gun (or knife, for that matter) where it can be seen, don’t. Unless you’re a peace officer, you’re just going to scare people.