Uneasy Rhetoric

An article from the July 14th Washington Post describes a bit of civil “obedience” whereby members of a certain gun group, in recognition of the fact that, in Virginia, it is legal to openly carry a firearm, do so. To carry a concealed weapon, one must have a permit.

Generally, I’m all for the open display of ones rights; however, I get squeamish thinking about openly displaying one’s right to openly carry a deadly weapon. In and of itself such activity may not be dangerous, but it could have dangerous repercussions.

Moreover, it’s downright childish. These people are adults playing at a childhood “cowboys and Indians” dress-up game, but they’re using real guns that can really kill people.

Carrying guns in a public place is dangerous, even for cops. I’m very uncomfortable about the prospect of even less trained people carrying guns on the street.

The article concludes with the following:

Van Cleave said most gun owners, particularly defense league members or concealed weapon permit owners, are law-abiding. Anti-gun forces “have come to think guns themselves are evil. You’ve got to worry about the person, not the gun.”

Yes, you do have to worry about the person. And I worry about a person who feels compelled to wear a gun openly in public.