Can We Change Our Wording?

[MikeBjerum]

I would like, check that, I want us to change the way we address and push for our Second Amendment protections.  It is time we drop the words "Conceal" and "Concealed" from our vocabulary when it comes to Bills and exercises.

Anybody that does not realize that I am all for concealing when carrying for a variety of reasons.  However, we should not be painting ourselves into the corners by limiting ourselves to concealment only.

There are two main reasons, plus many others, as to why I want to see the words applying to concealment removed from the political debate:

#1.  Concealing, and requiring concealment, implies that there is something to be ashamed of or that others should be sensitive to our bearing arms.  It implies that by carrying a firearm we have something to be ashamed of, and you know how the homosexual crowd felt about "phobes."  The Right to Keep and Bear Arms is a fundamental, God given Right, that is protected by our Constitution, and we should not be ashamed of our full exercise there of, and nobody should be allowed to put us in a closet because they are afraid of something the Founding Fathers saw as so important that they put such high value on this protection;

#2.  By allowing concealment to be a part of regulations we are leaving a crack in the dam.  We are weakening any carry legislation in a way that makes us vulnerable to prosecution or punishment for exercising our rights.  Many states and municipalities currently consider printing or accidental display (a shirt or jacket that raises or opens to allow the firearm to be seen) as a crime.  This crack is something that continual manipulation can turn into a full disaster, just like wedges will split a boulder or water seepage will destroy a dam or dike.

If you don't think that the use of these words matter, come to the State of Minnesota where we do not have concealed carry.  We can obtain a Permit to Carry a Pistol.  The inappropriate use of the phrase concealed carry has the general public, most of law enforcement, legislators, and even many permit holders believing that we are a concealed carry or conceal and carry state.

It is time that we take a stand and say "Carry."

I will point out that this discussion was had and is the reason Minnesota's law is written as it is.  The intent of the law was not to have people strutting down the street in open carry, which is what we had before this Bill passed (you could open carry without a permit, but you needed a permit to conceal).  The intent was that people would carry concealed, but there would be no penalty or punishment for someone seeing that you are carrying.  It is the same with our penalty for carrying where a business says no guns are allowed:  If it is learned that you are carrying in their posted place of business it is no harm, no foul, unless you are asked to take the firearm from the business.  If you are asked to remove the firearm from the place of business and refuse, and if law enforcement is called over it, you will be cited for trespass, and that is all.

Bring common sense back to the debate as we fight to restore our Constitutionally protected God given Rights!

[Timothy]

I have no problem with what you've expressed at all!

Here in the Peoples Republic, I don't have a Concealed Carry license.  I have an LTC or "Class A License to Carry" which allows me to carry a large capacity firearm!  Technically, there is no law against open carrying of a handgun in this state but I take care not to make waves!

[jaybet]

Some good points, Mike. In many places you can be licensed to carry concealed, but if someone gets a glimpse of your weapon, your rights are somehow null.  Carry is carry.

[tt11758]

Mike, your points are valid.  Here in Iowa it's known as a "Permit To Carry Weapons".  Hell, we're not even limited to handguns.  Rifles, shotguns, tasers, you name it are all covered by the permit.

Do I have a burning desire to carry a loaded Ar-15 around?  No, but I could if I wanted to. 

[tombogan03884]

Mike, your points are valid.  Here in Iowa it's known as a "Permit To Carry Weapons". Hell, we're not even limited to handguns.  Rifles, shotguns, tasers, you name it are all covered by the permit.

Do I have a burning desire to carry a loaded Ar-15 around?  No, but I could if I wanted to. 

NH is limited to "Pistol or Revolver", long guns are governed by Fish and Game regulations since they are not usually concealed and "open carry" is not regulated here.

[Sponsor]

[MikeBjerum]

NH is limited to "Pistol or Revolver", long guns are governed by Fish and Game regulations since they are not usually concealed and "open carry" is not regulated here.

Up here the DNR (Department of Natural Resources) is Pissed!  They oversee hunting activities, and transportation of firearms has always fallen under their power.  However, they have been told, told again, and retold that they can not penalize citizens with a Permit to Carry a Pistol.  They were also told they can no longer deny people who are legally carrying from carrying while hunting.  This is a very big victory for the citizens of Minnesota!

[tombogan03884]

 The way it works here , if you are carrying a rifle in the woods you have to have a hunting license since it is assumed to be Prima Facie (sp ? ) evidence of hunting.
Cops will not care, but Game wardens will bust you.
If you are carrying  a pistol, it depends, concealed, you need a permit, open, no one cares unless it has been obviously modified for hand gun hunting with a scope or some such.
If you are carrying both, it is assumed the pistol is to finish off an animal dropped with the rifle.

[MikeBjerum]

The way it works here , if you are carrying a rifle in the woods you have to have a hunting license since it is assumed to be Prima Facie (sp ? ) evidence of hunting.
Cops will not care, but Game wardens will bust you.
If you are carrying  a pistol, it depends, concealed, you need a permit, open, no one cares unless it has been obviously modified for hand gun hunting with a scope or some such.
If you are carrying both, it is assumed the pistol is to finish off an animal dropped with the rifle.

This is along the thought line of Minnesota DNR.  They claimed you couldn't carry a hand gun while archery hunting unless it was a bear hunt, you couldn't carry a handgun while hunting unless it met hunting regulations, you couldn't carry a handgun during hunting season unless you had a hunting license, and if you were hunting or going to or from the hunt DNR would consider your holstered handgun as an uncased firearm and cite you.  Minnesota DNR likes to view that they only reason for a firearm is to hunt, and during hunting season they view every gun as being a part of hunting.

[tombogan03884]

The down side in NH is that if you have a rifle in the woods when it's NOT hunting season they will still assume you are hunting IE poaching.

[Timothy]

Here's the deal in MA.

Hunting; rifles are not allowed except for coyote, everything else is shotgun/muzzleloader only including deer and only one firearm per hunter or you share a gun with someone under 18.  No handguns are allowed while actively hunting.

Another weird condition here is you can only carry ammunition for the firearm you are using to hunt with.  Don't get caught with a live .22 lr cartridge while you're carrying a 12 ga shotgun or anything else for that matter.  No hunting on Sundays or holidays which is really a pain in the butt.

Deer, you cannot have any part of the animal visible on your vehicle until after you've checked into a tagging station.  After that, you can drag it down the road for all they care!

All state lands in MA are available for target practice with any type firearm as long as you're licensed with an LTC.  Obviously safe practices are "encouraged"!  Shooting hikers is not allowed.....

 

And, there is no closed season or bag limit for crows!