Thinking about the open carry laws.
Where?
The phrase, "open carry" automatically means a reference to my Second Amendment Rights, here in this land. Everyone knows how I feel about that, so not much more I can add.
But municipalities all over this land have set up ordinances for even walking down the street with a beer in your hand. Even unopened carry of wine, beer or liquor is restricted in many cities, especially after certain evening hours. With weaponry, it can be even more ridiculous.
Many of the larger cities in this land have actually tried to restrict open carry Federal Rights and they all happen to be some of the most crime ridden places in the nation.
Unfortunately, not everyone is as law abiding as most of us.
All of my "friends" on the two Indiana and Michigan gun guy sites I visit are law abiding citizens and we carry (open or concealed) for an infinite number of reasons.
First and foremost, as law abiding citizens, it is our constitutionally protected right. Any of the other reasons come after that one.
NOW, we ALL agreed on this federal constitution and for those who want to back out can do so with no questions asked, but they can not back the rest of us out of what WE ALL agreed upon, many years ago.
There are some places, though, as I mentioned earlier in the week. Cops were nervous about the proximity to a school and a random unknown person carrying something they suspected might have been a firearm.
Lots to talk about in that regard.
To answer your first question: in the US, not more specifically than that.
I'm wondering if the second amendment really was intended to cover openly carrying that thing in the Youtube video. AFAIK, the amendment discusses the right to a militia and your founding fathers had quite a bit of discussion around that.
True.
Back when I was still in the music business, I used to write my own bi-lateral/mutually binding contractual documents. Hardly ever had problems except for an occasional breach, never mine. Used a set of documents for many years and then got fancy. I had a lawyer look them over. I heard things like:
You need a comma here.
You need to remove this period and make this one sentence.
You have an extra comma. Take this one out.
Etc.
The devil was in the details as some say. I had drawn up very good, dual binding contracts, but they were not lawyer bullet proof. YET. I had them "fixed." Only problem was that they became immediately something more than an agreement between two working pals. I was suddenly having to have contracts inspected and possibly revised by the other party's own lawyers, instead of just signing them and shaking hands.
SO looking back at that Second Amendment, from what I learned in my experience, there might possibly be too many commas.
It changes dramatically with removal of one and more so with another. Again remove another two and chaos or certainty. Pretty sure it was done on purpose. I think it is interesting how few times the Supreme Court has had a say on this question.
In the old days (late 1800s and early 20th century, two very well known cases - look them up if you want me to do so. Every one time NRA member has ignored them for years) there seemed to be more of a focus on the "well regulated militia" phrasing and some people lost a bit of right with those two decisions.
One of them had to do with a sawed off shotgun and to me that type of weapon has no use in a militia nor on a hunting trip. However, in protecting my own indoor household, I would enjoy to still have that option. As for now I use my hunting shotgun as my main "YOU SHALL NOT PASS" weapon. Its barrel is twenty two inches long, but a twelve inch barrel would be much lighter and easier to wield as a simple self defense weapon. That particular type of design is not legal to own under any circumstance after that ruling.
More currently, it seems as if the rights of the individual are the focus of the more recent decision. I found this quote with one Wiki search:
“The Second Amendment protects an individual right to possess a firearm unconnected with service in a militia, and to use that arm for traditionally lawful purposes, such as self-defense within the home.”
That does not address open carry at all, however if you were to read the entire court ruling, there is a lot more. I believe that all states have well defined open carry AND concealed carry laws and they generally seem almost insane to me. As a law abiding citizen, I will be one of the last to give up my chance to keep my family and "friends" safe while in my company.
Don't like my Colt tucked under my arm when we go shopping for records then do not come. We both have choices. ... at least at this point in time.
