Thursday, January 20, 2011

Utah is an open carry gun state

The local news reported an incident where a guy took a gun to the local mall.  He didn't actually go into the mall.  He walked around outside the mall carrying the guns.  The guns he had were in plain site and were in the style of "assault weapons". 

So, why is he doing this?  Well, Utah is an "open carry" state.  What does that mean?  It means that you can openly carry an unloaded firearm in public.  Actually, if I remember correctly, you can carry a loaded weapon, such as a revolver, but you can't have a round in the cylinder directly behind the barrel and the next cylinder.  So if you have a six shooter, two of the six cylinders need to be empty.  Anyway, Utah state law allows you to do what this guy is doing and so he decided to do it.  Is it his right?  Absolutely.  Is it the right thing to be doing, especially after the shooting of Gabrielle Giffords?  Probably not.  People tend to get a little freaked out when you're marching around the mall with a gun or two in plain view.  Not smart.  It kind of reminds me of this video.

I'm sure Mr. Taylor is trying to prove a point that if a law permits him to walk around with an unloaded gun, he should be free to do it.  Well Mr. Taylor, you're really not helping the gun group's cause.  You're coming across as a gun nut.  And frankly, with the recent shootings in Arizona, you really can't blame people for over-reacting just a bit.  If you want to help the gun cause, then go teach someone how to shoot.  Don't go parading around like you do because you're becoming the next poster boy for the anti-gun group.  There are enough of those right now to go around.  We don't need another one.

4 comments:

Mike Stollenwerk said...

Actually, in Utah, folks with concealed handgun permits, may carry loaded handguns openly, including on college campuses. Additionally, no permit holders may carry loaded handguns in vehicles, concealed or not, as well. Learn more at OpenCarry.org.

Tom said...

Mike, I'm not talking about concealed weapons permits here, I'm talking about an average Joe with out a permit carrying a gun in public. He has the right to do that in Utah. And like I said previously, I don't think it is a wise thing to trot around the mall with your AR15 slung over your shoulder. That just freaks people out. This guy better be glad he didn't meet with someone that had a concealed weapons permit that was actually packing. He might not be alive if he did.

For concealed permit holders, they need to conceal their weapons. If it isn't concealed, then they too can get in trouble because now you have a loaded weapon ready to go in plain site. And you can get in trouble for that.

Anonymous said...

actually no you cant get introuble for that if you have a permit you can carry openly fully loaded it is not a problem and as with if you carry openly plan on getting stopped and talked to but if it is your right to do so more power to you my friend

Anonymous said...

You both have it basically correct...if you have a permit you can open carry loaded...if you do not have a permit...you have to have two actions to fire...if you open carry an AR...at a Mall...your not real bright and only hurt the argument that you don't have to be a right-winged nut to carry a gun...obviously you can NEVER open carry a loaded long gun...