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I don't know whether or not we can understand the criminal mind, or believe statements by criminals regarding their intent, but it seems intuitive to me (as it does to everyone I know with urban /gangland police experience) that someone openly carrying a weapon is far more likely to draw first fire than one who appears unarmed.  In plain clothes concealed carry you are more likely to at least see the one who may want to do you harm, and perhaps take defensive action.  Open carry and you won't even kinow who/what hit you. 

Again, I am talking about city environments.  And that is where the confusion comes in.  Open carry advocates are thinking 'family friendly places' ...Starbucks / the watefront / maybe even a church picnic.  I am thinking gangland at night.  These are both 'city environments' but how you carry in each place better be different.

posted 3 years, 1 month ago
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I am a gun owner, grew up around guns and hunters, and have a concealed carry permit for both Oregon and Washington plus all the other States that recognize these permits.  But I think that open carry in a city environment is a bad idea.  We all agree that guns don't commit crimes, criminals do.  And I can't imagine any law-abiding citizen wanting to supply guns, especially handguns, to criminals.  But if you walk around carrying a handgun in the open you are, effectively, telling criminals where they could get a gun...  ("off of your cold dead fingers" perhaps)

posted 3 years, 1 month ago
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