Thursday, February 17, 2011

worth a thousand words

On December 11, this young man* carried a shotgun into a Michigan public library.
“If my coat covers my firearm it’s a felony. I opted for something that is pretty much impossible to conceal.”
And yet, there he stands outside that same library - wearing both a winter coat and a pistol on his hip. (which, by the way, I'm totally okay with)

Perhaps Lansing wasn't windy the day this photo was taken.

*over 18, under 21 - which would make it legal for him to OC in MI.

18 comments:

instinct said...

Wannabe badass/mall ninja.

Wonder if his parents had any kids that were born with a brain.

wecrosscreek said...

That is a serious set of key rings there. I can only imagine what wondrous doors such keys would open... and what mysteries they would unlock.

Josh Kruschke said...

Wow, with deductive reasoning like that who could argue...sigh.
I wonder if any ones ever told him they make tactical holsters that ride lower on the thigh and could wear his a jacket to the waist.
Looking at him he might even think it would up his cool factor.

Josh

Will said...

Joshkie
your suggestion of using a tactical thigh rig is good!
Keeps it visible while staying warm, has a bit of that "in your face" attention getting ability some of them want, yet still has a cachet of official carrier of handguns look to it. Plus a dash of Star Wars' Han Solo style for the older crowd of Baby Boomers. [bonus points if packing a Broomhandle Mauser... :) ]

Might be a win-win for all sides of this argument over acceptable forms of OC.

Rich B said...

Interesting. I can remember many people being rabidly against drop leg holsters when they were listing 'rules' about being clean shaven and never wearing camo.

Borepatch said...

Breda, can I add to your excellent list of rules for Open Carry?

6. Wear a dress shirt (with collar). Yes, it has to be pressed. Up to you if you want heavy starch, but you have to look like the guy that the library ladies would like to date their daughter.

7. Wear slacks (chinos are OK). Yes, they have to be pressed, too. Ladies, you get double plus crazy style points for a (tasteful) skirt. Remember, you need to look to the library ladies like the daughter-in-law that they'd like to have.

8. Sneakers are a no-no. Ideally, you wear dress shoes, but if you want to "walk on the wild side", then cowboy boots are OK. Yes, whatever is on your feet has to be shined.

9. Shave.

10. If you have tattoos, make sure they're covered up.

Yes, this is boring. That;s the point. You want to look like the sort of person that a normal, curious person will strike up a conversation with. As far as "edgy", remember that the gat on your hip gives you extra crazy edgy points. You don't need anymore.

Quite frankly, if you can't dress like you would to go to church, don't OC. You're hurting the team.

Murphy's Law said...

So where was this joker when the real warriors were fighting for a concealed-carry bill in Michigan not that many years ago? Where were all of his friends and supporters?

Now they want to come along after all that work was done by others and pretend to be part of the pro-team by picking an asinine fight that didn't even need to be fought and is only making all of us gun owners look unbalanced. Phooey.

And I agree with the other posters--if you're going to dress like a slob, don't stand near us or claim to be with us.

Full disclosure: My H&K P7M-13 conceals quite nicely under my suit jacket and it looks damned respectable if/when I take that jacket off in certain venues where I know that it won't cause problems.

Stan said...

Perhaps after the massive shit storm that erupted he decided to stop carrying the shotgun.

So where was this joker when the real warriors were fighting for a concealed-carry bill in Michigan not that many years ago? Where were all of his friends and supporters?

Being that he was around ten years old at the time probably being a kid. Being that the current shall issue law passed around 2001 which is around ten years ago and he's under 21 now.

Stan said...

Perhaps after the massive shit storm that erupted he decided to stop carrying the shotgun.

So where was this joker when the real warriors were fighting for a concealed-carry bill in Michigan not that many years ago? Where were all of his friends and supporters?

Being that he was around ten years old at the time probably being a kid. Being that the current shall issue law passed around 2001 which is around ten years ago and he's under 21 now.

tanksoldier said...

Yep. He was walking around with something perfectly legal in his hand.

Don't drive the speed limit, they might pass a law lowering it. Don't own a gun, they might outlaw them.

The fact that GUN people are having such an issue illustrates the problem.

Kristophr said...

He was playing teenager macho flash games.

Deliberately trying to "freak the mundanes".

I can walk around my own town with a loaded AK held at port arms instead of a pistol ... but unless I have a damned good reason to do so, I won't.

Stop trying to make excuses for this dumbass kid. He wanted to be an dick about it, and he succeeded.

As far as I am concerned, one may take this passive aggressive bad-fuddies-not-supporting-us-OC-warriors crap and shove it sideways.

They are not helping normalize OC. Not helping.

Stop trying to be on my side, dumbass.

Rich B said...

What a well reasoned and rational reply to such a serious topic. I am proud to be supported by such obvious pro-2A supporters as Kristopher.

After all, with friends like him, who needs enemies?

Josh Kruschke said...

Tanksoldier -

If the stated goal of the OC movement is to normalize the perseption of gun carrier as normal and non-threatening.
How does wondering around armed to the teeth do this?
Our arguement is not is it legal or should it be baned, but the wisdom carrrying things that might alarm the public.
Let's get the public used to seeing us carry hand guns before we up the anty to the big guns.

Let's not knock the fence sitters off the fence into the yard of gun control by being obnoxious.

Let's keep the horse before the cart.

Josh

Mike W. said...

They are not helping normalize OC. Not helping.

And this is the only point us "fudds" (as some folks on OCDO are calling us) are trying to make.

We are not saying you don't have the right. We are not saying we won't defend your right, nor do we have any desire to make it illegal.

We are on your side. All of this macho "all these bloggers are fudds / anti's" is petulant, idiotic and counterproductive. Sadly it also proves the point that Breda and others have made.

Unknown said...

2nd Amendment
the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.

Now lets start infringing,
Sullivan Act, it dates to 1911, and is still in force, making it one of the older existing gun control laws in the United States. the Sullivan Act qualifies as a may issue act, meaning the local police have discretion to issue a concealed carry license.

For a gun rights advocate, to admonish a citizen of the United States For carrying any gun of any type
in any manner. says that personal feelings have overridden, Shall Not Be Infringed.

Now those with personal feelings get together, get with your state personal feelings representatives and petition for a new law to restrict the type of open carry firearm and restrict where the citizen can carry, citizen must be well dressed, clean shave, Also race should be considered? This is why the Sullivan Act was started.

Just a thought, Open Carry or Concealed Carry and your rights, I wander how many citizens that disregarded the 2nd Amendment. and fought with their feelings to keep you from possessing your gun, and whether they also belonged to a Gun Rights Organization, or Forum.

Remember the Kids!!
Just My Feelings.

Unknown said...

2nd Amendment
the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.

Now lets start infringing,
Sullivan Act, it dates to 1911, and is still in force, making it one of the older existing gun control laws in the United States. the Sullivan Act qualifies as a may issue act, meaning the local police have discretion to issue a concealed carry license.

For a gun rights advocate, to admonish a citizen of the United States For carrying any gun of any type
in any manner. says that personal feelings have overridden, Shall Not Be Infringed.

Now those with personal feelings get together, get with your state personal feelings representatives and petition for a new law to restrict the type of open carry firearm and restrict where the citizen can carry, citizen must be well dressed, clean shave, Also race should be considered? This is why the Sullivan Act was started.

Just a thought, Open Carry or Concealed Carry and your rights, I wander how many citizens that disregarded the 2nd Amendment. and fought with their feelings to keep you from possessing your gun, and whether they also belonged to a Gun Rights Organization, or Forum.

Remember the Kids!!
Just My Feelings.

Josh Kruschke said...

John -
Double posting does not for a Better arguement make.

One, the U.S. Constitution tells the 'government' what it can and can't do to it's citizens. The Founding Fathers understood that for self determining Republic to work we wood have to self regulate.
By your logic I should be able to yell fire in a crowed theater anytime I want. Who cares if there's an actual fire or not. They're standard of conduct built into all our rights.

Question, should I be allowed to carry at your house even if you don't want me to (just an example I don't know you). If you don't let me, are you infringing on 2nd Amendment rights?
There are limits to our exercising of our rights.

Just my thoughts. Oh, wait the Founders said similar things. Hmmm...

Your and others arguement seem to me to just be dictating to others how and what they should think and feel. In stead of using logic and reasoning to convince them.

Josh

Matthew said...

This isn't about limits being placed on rights with the implicit "by others".

This is choosing to act in a way so as to cause less concern while exercising those rights. When there's no "upside" to an action, why do it just because you can?

OC is legal, MI OC-ers have already won the big battle and have the law on their side. When someone violates the law, why not just politely inform them of that and take legal action? Why on earth be "in your face'? Why stir up the undeceided at all, file the paperwork and watch them fold.

Given the legal circumstances it is very hard to not consider this incident deliberate confrontation for the sake of confrontation and the attention gained thereby.