-=> Quoting Dave Appel to Steve Gunhouse on 06-15-96  11:46 <=-
 Re: Dusters?

 DA> Oh fer cryin' out loud.  You're afraid of a cop who comes across
 DA> someone who is exercising his rights.  What kind of society is it
 DA> where we have to fear cops when we are lawfully exercising our
 DA> rights?  If you are correct, and you mean we DO have to fear cops
 DA> when we exercise our rights, then our society is too far gone already.
 DA> Not only that, but you are fostering or at least tolerating the
 DA> notion that only bad guys are armed.
Not at all, Dave. I'm only saying that it is still generally illegal to
carry a handgun openly here, and that the police are not required to
figure out if you fall into the few exceptions. Read my followup to Paul
if you haven't (a couple of days ago now).
 DA> That's why a combination of people carrying open and people
 DA> carrying concealed is good.  The possibility of someone carrying
 DA> concealed is brought to the bad guy's mind when he sees someone
 DA> carrying openly.
Would be nice if it were allowed.
 DA> I don't understand why so many Texans have gotten so prissy over
 DA> carrying a firearm. (I think you guys shot yourself in the foot
 DA> with the training requirement and fees. Like Florida, yours will be
 DA> harder to get, and permit fees will go up.)  AZ and VT have
 DA> unlimited open carry, no permit needed.  How have gunowners
 DA> survived there?  I have a friend who used to carry openly and he
 DA> never drove after drinking in the least.  He had to remind quite a
 DA> few prissy civilians that open carry in Indiana is legal, but cops
 DA> did not hassle him over it.
As I understand it, it's also legal in Virginia. Beyond that, I can't
say.
Most of our problem here seems to be the influence of Easterners who've
settled in the major cities. The older folks at least say they wouldn't
mind - though of course that has never been put to the test.
Your other comments obviously should be pointed at someone on the other
side (the most obvious example being Royce West). I'm all in favor of
Vermont carry, as are most of my friends, but we have to fight the cops,
the media and the (so-called) liberals.
As far as it being made tougher and more expensive - well, they'll try.
Of course, we'll be trying to do the opposite. That flap over the Dallas
shooting is a perfect example. Though the people decided it was
justified, the liberals still attempt to use it to conjure up fear and
get support.
 DA> I know you're "one of us" Steve, but get used to the idea of open
 DA> carry, which is an essential part of RKBA.  And PLEASE push for
 DA> removing the restriction against open carry in your state, and
 DA> for removing all other restrictions on RKBA while you're at it.
We have been. The first thing we need to bolster our arguments is hard
data, though. Florida was (barely) enough for us to get this passed. Once
our opponents see they were wrong, and enough people get upset with the
hoops they have to go through, we'll be able to do even more. But it took
us several years to finally get a legislature and governor who'd do even
this much. And as I say, the various metropolitan police groups were
among our most vehement opponents - the DPS has beeen fairly quiet.
 DA> When the government intimidates us into not exercising a right,
 DA> and makes us believe that exercising a right is "asking for
 DA> trouble" it's the same effect as taking that right away.
You're 100+ years late, here. Turning back that much history takes time.
:-(
Steve
... The most dangerous weapons in homes?  The TV set!
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