srinath wrote on 01/02/13 at 13:17:51:


Utah is that way as well. However, from what I've seen, those that choose to carry open do so to exercise their rights. It's a pollitical statement, not an attempt to deter a physical attack. As for those of us that carry concealed legally, we are also not trying to deter anything. We just want to be prepared in the event we need to protect ourselves or our loved ones. With that said, when I do carry, I make a conscious effort to avoid any place that one might feel the need to carry. It keeps me out of trouble, and the last thing I want to do is have to take someones' life. Even if they're a criminal. But.........I will do what I have to do if put into that kind of situation.

Valid point.    I suppose, whatever the motivation of the carrier, criminals are less likely to try something if the guy standing next to them is strapped with an open .45

LANCER wrote on 01/04/13 at 04:49:50:

Very true.

Web, I agree with your point as well. There are many mentally ill people that never get the help they need and things like the school shootings happen. It is possible that the mental illness drives them and then cowardice takes over at the end. I refuse to believe that EVERYONE who kills other people and/or themselves as being mentally ill. Unless the definition of mental illness is just someone who's mind works differently than yours. We will never truly know how the mind works for the majority of the people, so we can't call the majority normal. Perhaps some of the mass killers just didn't know how to deal with all the brainwashing and chemicals that the government and others are forcing them to accept as correct and normal. They made their statement and killed themselves because they are cowards. But then again, cowardice can be called a mental illness. If it's not in 'the magic illness book', I am sure it will be soon. There is certainly a drug for that I am sure can make some big pharm company tons of money.

I don't know if I could open carry. When in a crowd, I am constantly checking to be sure my wallet is still there. I can't imagine the paranoia I would have about someone taking my open weapon. I don't check for my concealed weapon except on the bike. I do that periodically if I can't feel it.

Retread wrote on 01/04/13 at 08:33:43:

Not being a rancher, I didn't experience everything, but this was the norm when I was younger.

Don't misunderstand my point. I'm not suggesting mental illness removes guilt after the commission of a crime or they are not criminals. I was just commenting on the coward comment, that's all.

srinath wrote on 01/04/13 at 10:13:34:


And how do you, or anyone civilian or in gov't, decide who those people are BEFORE they do the evil deed ?
In 99.99% of the cases you can't, because you cannot read another persons mind or know what is in their heart.  Are not most of the mass killers "LONER'S" ?  If they are loners then there may be no one who has a clue of what is on their mind or in their heart.  There is no way to stop someone like that before they do evil.

Another person could look at you and having heard that you grew up in India, decide that you may be associated with a terrorist group, and call the Fed's to report you.  Would they be correct ?  Not that I know of you, but who knows what they may think ?  If they called the Fed's would you think it was fair ?  I doubt it.

Anyway, point is that unless you have personal knowledge of factual information of a criminal conspiracy there is nothing that can be done.
The fact is that evil happens.  It is a terrible thing but this is the world we live in.