Comic Strips

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Right to Flex Arms (lemmy.sdf.org)

submitted 6 months ago by [email protected] to c/comicstrips

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[–] [email protected] 24 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago) (1 children)

It's not really an actual problem more than it is a fashion statement, which is against the ideals of people trying to use it as a legitimate self defense tool if all else fails.

Most people want to live a normal life. Go to places with family and friends etc. Having a gun is a personal choice, and those that choose to carry usually feel that if they have the capability to carry legally and safely to do so just in case no other help can get to you in time. Similar to wearing a seatbelt without expecting an accident to occur. And if it's not for you it's okay we understand.

Open carry has a place. On police officers, in wilderness areas where predators are common, and on range days. But at a restaurant or store is NOT one of those places you should open carry even if you can legally.

It brings all the attention to you and your gun and usually gives off a negative first impression. Any "bad guy" will simply target you first and by surprise. Or take your gun's value as a sign of how much expendable income you have. And it brings about unwanted interactions as seen in the comic, but if you are open carrying maybe you are probably looking for that reaction and in that case it's not purely self defense it's attention seeking.

I carry a concealed gun when I can, I respect responsible gun owners but open carry people are not responsible in my eyes. They make us all look bad imo.

[–] [email protected] 11 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago) (2 children)

You're also leaving out that some people feel uncomfortable around firearms. Always forgetting about empathy. I could walk around with clothing that makes people feel uncomfortable, but I don't because that would be inconsiderate of me.

Also, just FYI, even CC doesn't really help you. It puts you more at risk in most cases, and it's often especially bad when dealing with cops. Of course that depends a lot on where you are and what you look like though. Some cops might show you respect for CCing, rather than the typical fear and panic. If you need to use it, a "good guy with a gun" looks exactly the same as the bad guy.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago) (1 children)

Yeah it goes without saying that a gun being displayed out in the open by an unknown person is going to make people uncomfortable, and nobody will want to talk to them.

I've talked with my local cops when I was a firefighter. They are okay with concealed carry and understand it's a increasingly common thing. They told me to be sure my weapon was holstered or dropped as soon as it isn't needed anymore and wait for them to arrive.

Long response times in my area is the biggest thing for me. That's not just a factor for guns but also for the medical stuff and fire extinguisher I have in my car because fire/ems is the same way.

[–] Flummoxed 4 points 6 months ago

I appreciate this dialog, and I encourage all carriers to go and introduce yourself to the cops. Especially if you are not white or neuro-typical.

[–] Tudsamfa 2 points 6 months ago (1 children)

I'm not sure I follow, you are after all in your right to dress how you see fit even if someone else finds it uncomfortable. Pardon the obvious, but quite a few people are uncomfortable around queer people, and you know damn well the queer should never apologize for that!

I believe open carrying is linked strongly to the identity of these people (but, you know, stupider), the same way people wear anarchist symbols or define themselves as Marxist/Leninists/whatever. They live the "don't step on me" life. And as long as it stays as a political statement itself, it's their right.

Open carrying of course has a lot more problems with it than a pride flag on your shirt, but that doesn't seem to be what the comic is about.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 6 months ago (1 children)

The uncomfortable people feel around firearms is much different than around queer people. Hand guns are designed to kill people. That's the only reason these exist. It's fear of life for some people, which is pretty reasonable. I'm sure that's part of the point though. People are less likely to confront them when they do something bad because they fear retaliation.

It's also not a part of who they are. Queer people are queer. People who open carry aren't different when they don't open carry. It doesn't change who they are internally if they don't open carry.

We take people's comfort into account in society. I can't walk around exposing myself, for example, because it makes people uncomfortable. You can walk around exposing your weapon though, which is likely just as bad or worse for some people.

It goes further than that too. Personally, I wouldn't wear a piece of clothing designed to offend someone. (Note: not the same as someone being offended by something else, like a pride flag, that isn't designed to offend.) I'm pretty confident most people do this because it's the right thing to do. Hopefully people who own firearms have empathy and consider how it makes others feel, and also don't want to make people uncomfortable.

[–] Tudsamfa 0 points 6 months ago

It’s also not a part of who they are. Queer people are queer. People who open carry aren’t different when they don’t open carry. It doesn’t change who they are internally if they don’t open carry.

I hope you don't need me to point out the uncomfortable parallelism here: You can be a lib. owning jackass at home, but don't be it in public, please conform to societal norms.

Again, it's not open carrying to make anyone uncomfortable to them, it's expressing who they are politically. Just that the way they chose to express it is inherently problematic, but nonetheless, personal expression trumps making others uncomfortable.