Ruger Forum banner
Status
Not open for further replies.

Open Carry Videos on Youtube. Your opinion???

9K views 71 replies 39 participants last post by  Biggs300 
#1 ·
I was skimming through youtube a few days ago and I came across several videos that I find to be quite frankly disturbing. They videos consist of several people walking around crowded streets in cities and towns throughout the country to test law enforcement on the open carry right. In most of the videos the people are walking around with loaded AR-15's or other assault rifles and they wait until the police approach them and start filming to show they are exercising their 2nd Amendment rights. Most result in heated arguments with law enforcement and the people filming testing the police and going on and on about their rights. Most of the time I find the police to be responding to calls from citizens and to make sure that the person is not some nut that is going to shoot up the streets. But the people making the video think that just by the police questioning them that somehow they are being discriminated against and begin to cause a scene in public. So here's the question. Do you think the people in the video are in the right or are they grossly abusing the open carry right just to create confrontation. I personally find the people in these videos flat wrong and they are just doing it to agitate law enforcement. While I am a huge proponent of the right to carry and even open carry where it is allowed I am not a fan of people walking around with assault rifles in large groups of people just for the sole purpose of stirring up trouble. It makes people uncomfortable and the open carry laws were not intended to have this effect. It was for decent people to be able to carry in public, not walk around just looking for trouble so you can film it. I find people like this further damage CC laws and give good honest people who carry for the sole purpose of protection a bad rap. So whats your opinion if you have seen these videos? Exercising 2nd amendment rights? Or just plain causing unnecessary problems in public for citizens and law enforcement?
 
See less See more
#2 ·


I like seeing people exercising their 2d Amendment right in a responsible manner.

I don't like seeing it done in a juvenile manner. I find the "in your face" folks childish.

The reason to carry a firearm is to defend oneself, simple as that.
 
#3 ·
I agree LeMat. All the videos in my opinion do is show some jackass walking around trying to cause a scene in public so they can go on and on how they are right! I feel like those people cause more damage than good to the gun control issue in our country. Im a firearms enthusiast, a card carrying NRA member, have my CC permit, and feel every person in this country has the right to be able to defend themselves against threats of criminals and a corrupt government. But these guys I think are just flat wrong.
 
#12 ·
I agree wholeheartedly, there are right ways and wrong ways to get your point across, baiting the LEO's is not the right way to do it...JMHO
 
#5 · (Edited)
If open carry is legal where they are, the police need to tell the callers they are not breaking the laws. People need to learn not to panic just at the sight of a gun and mind their own business if no laws are being broken. Just my opinion. Saw some good videos but there are a lot of people just being jerks and just want a confrontation.
 
#7 ·
mwnahas, your right, they are not breaking the law. But 9 out of 10 people would get freaked out if they saw someone walking around with a loaded weapon strapped to their backs. Hell if I saw it I would be on edge and have my hand on my gun just in case. We live in an era where at anytime someone could just start shooting. And this is why it frightens them, so they have every right to call the police because a someone is walking around with a gun. I think the point here is the people on the video are doing it for that very reason. To alarm people and get the police involved so they can start mouthing off about how they are protecting the 2nd amendment. I in no way agree with these people. Again, all they are are agitators who fuck it up for people like me who carry responsibly and who do it for the sole purpose of making sure in the event things go bad i can protect myself and my loved ones. They are idiots!
 
#8 ·
If I was a cop and I saw someone toting a handgun, I'd probably take a minute or two to observe them and maybe say hello, see what they are all about. Not harass them, just some small talk. Many of the open carry videos are made with the intent to outright taunt cops. If the person making the video was not a total D bag and the cop gave them a hard time, I'd be inclined to cut the video maker some slack. Sadly though, too many of these videos are meant to antagonize LE, and lets face it. If you saw someone carrying and they were behaving strangely, you'd be a little wary.

People who open carry just to taunt LE and make videos for YT are jackasses. They cause more harm than good.
 
#10 ·
This is where we are from 30-35 years ago when we could almost all open carry our rifles without alarming the citizenry. To do it as a taunt to LE or your neighbor is irresponsible and hurts our cause. Those who think they're making a point by overzealously exercising their 2A even though they are in their right just provide fodder for the left.
 
#13 ·
If some guys want to open carry, that is fine with me. I'm not one of them, and prefer to carry concealed.

The open carry videos I have seen (and I haven't seen all of them), strike me as being just a little narcissistic. I know selfies are all the rage right now, but mixing it up with gun rights doesn't quite cut it for me.

Still, to each his own, I guess.
 
#14 ·
I agree with what has been said here. Open Carry the way some folks display it is just bringing negative attention to the rest of us who do CCW. Might affect our gun rights as well & our 2 A rights we have enough problems already that we are having to deal with from our current administration. Right after the terrible New Town Conn. incident here in Utah on the news I can't remember the place but so obvious right out in public to bring the attention that has been discussed here a fellow had hanging over his back a AR15 walking around in the public turning heads! I guess if someone wants to do the open carry then they need to do so with more sense if thats possible! I love guns and enjoy hunting and target shooting and recreational shooting as well. Also have my CC permit but I only do CCW when I am in areas I feel I want the extra comfort if that makes sense to be able to defend myself if needed!
 
#15 ·
I agree 100%....some are good, some give us all a black eye. I understand it is our right, but just because you can do something legally doesn't mean you should. Especially if it's all about drawing attention to yourself just to prove a point.

In this day and age people are scared. I fault the media more often than not for repeated misinformation and blatant disregard for the truth.
 
#17 ·
And I'm offended that anyone would dare come on this forum and express their opinion. Oh wait, that's your right. Allow me to step aside while everyone says I shouldn't have the right to open carry a handgun, shotgun, or AR-15 through town. Now that the joking is over...

So what are some of the things about fighting? Bring a gun to a knife fight, bring a bigger gun than the other guy, use a handgun while you get to your long gun. Okay, so not perfect, but you get the point. So why not start with what is already deemed as a better fighting tool for your defense? And of course, always carry a backup weapon (hence the handgun on your hip).

But lets be real for a moment. Yes, there are some idiots on YouTube that give all firearm owners a bad name. I can't argue that, nor can I defend them. Next, it doesn't matter what level of law enforcement a person is, they too have laws they must follow in every situation. Just because they get a call about someone walking around with a firearm does not give them ANY right to stop, detain, search an individual. If you watch MarkedGuardian and some of the other videos of decent stops, you'll see Officers are stopping and talking to them, but they tell them they are free to go if they'd like but would still like to chat with them. During those chats though half the time the Officer is attempting to get the individual to say something that allows them to go ahead and detain, ID them, etc. That is why you see so many people "baiting" the police. They are tired of the police thinking they can do anything they want. the US Supreme Court has ruled in the people's favor over a lot of things the last 10+ years and it's time the police get off their butt and learn the laws.

I can tell you I've already talked with the brass at the local department about these laws and straight up asked them how I would be treated in these situations. I've been assured repeatedly they know the law and will not bother me if I am within my rights and follow the law. To this date, I've yet to have one negative occurance while open carrying. Granted, I open carry handgun only and don't go looking for trouble like some. But I won't be afraid to educate someone if they want to flip me crap about expressing my rights and freedoms that our soldiers have faught and died for, and that our law enforcement are to help protect.

Just my opinion though, one of many rights I choose to exercise.
 
#18 · (Edited)
Its all of our rights to be able to do this. No one on here said that it wasnt. What we did say was that if your sole purpose is to openly flaunt and use the open carry laws just for the purpose to agitate law enforcement and make youtube videos showing this your number one wrong, and number 2 making life very difficult for responsible citizens who carry with the purpose of defending themselves. Look your missing the point here. In almost all the cases the police were simply respsonding to calls from citizens that there was a person walking around making them feel uncomfortable. Last I checked the police are required to investigate when the public calls concerned for thier saftey. That is their job, to protect and serve. They have every right to ask questions pertaining to the reason why. Just like the person carrying has a right to explain that it is his right to do so. But there is a fine line when you go beyond doing it for the right reasons and the wrong reasons and most of the time the people making these videos have crossed well beyond that line into the realm of being people who draw attention unto themselves. Like I said, IM as big of a supporter of gun rights as any, I feel that if we as humans have certain rights, one is to be able to defend yourself against anyone who puts your life in danger. Just by using the word "bait", like you did above that word in its self proves that the only reason they are doing is to "bait" law enforcement, which again is just plain wrong. You say that we all have a right to do this where it is legal, well people also have the right to call the police if they feel they are in danger and the police in turn have every right to resond to these calls and question the person. And I have a right as an citizen openly carrying an AR-15 on my back to expect it may cause concern and I may get stopped and questioned by police. I can either be civil and say i understand peoples concern and give them my info to show them I am a law obiding citizen who is not a criminal, so I have the right. Or I can be a jackass and start reading off laws and mouthing off making life more difficult for the people simply trying to protect our streets. Most of the people poke the bees nest by being difficult in those videos. The police have no idea if you are a criminal (which it would be illegal to carry if you were) or a law obiding citizen. Once they investigate and find out you are not a criminal, then if they further press the issue you have every right to begin to be difficult. Its wrong as soon as they walk up to start giving them shit. Ill give you a little nugget to chew on. Imagine that you were in an area where open carry was legal. And as you and your family were leaving a store you came outside and saw 4 black males who had the appearance of "gang bangers" walking around with pistols strapped to their sides and rifles on their backs? What would you do? Would you just assume they were carrying out their 2nd amendment rights? Or would you become a little on edge and maybe alert police? And be honest here. Just like you know nothing about the people in this situation, the citizens know nothing about the person in the video doing it as well. The debate was never if it was ok to open carry. The debate was doing it quitely and not for the purpose of causing problems with law enforcement. Again, all i think they are doing is giving these idiot politicians who think all guns should be banned more fuel to show that people grossly abuse laws, which ruins it for everyone else who are responsible. We as the public who want these right need to be smarter about what we do if we want to convince others of our cause, not do things that shines the spotlight on us. Now thats my opinion
 
#21 ·
I've seen some of these videos & they're clearly abusing their right to carry in an ignorant manner, plain and simple. They weren't carrying rifles for SD. They did it to look like a bunch of D-bags to prove their point? Trying to scare or piss people off won't get their support or sway their beliefs. IMO most people simply need to be educated about gun laws.

A few years ago I worked at a hardware store & one day a customer I knew walked in & he had a pistol holstered on his hip. No big deal. A woman that had just been hired freaked when she saw his pistol & ran to the office, locked herself in, & called 911 to report "a man in the store with a gun". A few minutes later the police showed up & we explained what happened & all was well. The woman that freaked out was so shaken up that she asked for the rest of the day off & went home. (I guess to hug her family & thank God the evil plumber didn't attack her. :rolleyes:) IMO that's a good example of how sheepish people's mind's work & walking around with ARs strapped to your back at McDonald's isn't the best way to convince them that gun owners aren't the enemy.
 
#22 ·
We as the public who want these rights and feel it is our right need to be smarter about what we do if we want to convince others of our cause, not do things that shines the spotlight on us and further drives the wedge between the right and left. If our goal is truely to give everyone this right and understand the reason and the need for it, it needs to be done smarter.
 
#24 · (Edited)
A police agent needs "reasonable suspicion" that a law has been broken, is being broken or is about to be broken in order to make a "Terry Stop" (that is what these stops are called.) No one has a duty to prove they are not a criminal; the government has that burden. If a police agent dose not posses that information, he/she has no business stopping you.

Otherwise your "right" means nothing.


edit:

Stop= reasonable suspicion

Arrest= probable cause.

Sometimes I carry in plain view (open carry); it is legal in my state. If a policeman/woman violated my rights, I would at the very least notify his/her top LEO. If I felt their behavior was abusive, I would not hesitate to take the department to court. If his/her behavior was very abusive I would take him/her to court as well. Rights are rights; they mean something.
 
#25 ·
I dont recall in any of the videos the people are being "detained", just being questioned to make sure everything is kosher. The person is always free to leave instead of sit there and argue. But that wouldnt make for a good youtube video would it. If they didnt start a long drawn out debate with the cops. In fact it would be boring. Which again, goes back to the original point. They do it to agitate, not because they are trying to defend themselves.
 
#26 · (Edited)
Damn creampuff....great point thou. Thats the most logical response on the reasoning why it is wrong to just stop them anyone has made. Makes sense. I still think most in the videos have the wrong intentions and go about it the wrong way thou. Again, in order for the gun community to really start to rally those opposed to us we need to be smart and responsible and not drawn unwanted attention to us thou, which again, i feel the people in most of the videos are doing and only have that purpose in mind. I agree whole heartedly with your points. But you also have to agree that crossing lines and although upholding the rights, doing so in an agressive and very loud manner does not help out the cause, it just gives dipshits like Hillary Clinton and Diane Finestein more fuel to say that the gun laws in this country are causing irreponsible actions. Do I feel there are times and places to stand up and fight for rights and even do so in a loud manner, hell yes. Do i feel the people are going about it in the right way in most of the youtube videos, hell no. I feel we should have the right to open carry, just not abusing it for the cause of the social media. Thats the wrong kind of attention
 
#27 ·
I'm of the opinion that these videos are devices of some of the nefarious anti-gun groups. They are intended to be exactly what they appear to be. Law abiding folks generally don't have a desire to "bait" the LEOs and risk giving the left more ammunition. I carry openly, sometimes, but certainly not where I think it will wart the cops. I'm trying to make their jobs easier, not more difficult by becoming part of the problem. I may have the right to open-carry anytime, but I personally decline in giving anybody cause-to-pause by being that obvious. I say, "anybody," but if I can give a libtard indigestion, then I will ! !
 
#28 ·
Difficult Topic......why would someone want to taunt the local/state police to prove a point. Yet they do.

On the other hand..... why would the police not know the laws regarding carrying a firearm when it's legal. Yet they don't.

Pandemonium is rampant when people see an individual has a gun in their possession.

I was watching some of those videos on Wednesday where 3 young women were in Walmart open carrying in a state (Arkansas I think) that's legal to open carry. The police were called & tried to figure out what was going on. There was no sign on the entry doors stating "No Firearms Allowed". The manager didn't want them in the store. Walmart policy didn't state anything about firearms.

A bystander stopped & wanted to give his opinion. He was against carrying a firearm in public. Police asked him to move on.
It shows that the citizens don't know the laws of their own state. They may not like them, but it is the law. Just like other laws, not all people know them or use them!!!!

Many of those videos have links to other confrontations, whether its DUI check points or open carry to go fishing. They seem to want to inform people of their rights, but definitely want them to "push the envelope" to show them how far they can go to do it.

I prefer to conceal carry here in Florida. No need for me to showcase my firearm.
We're allowed to carry a loaded firearm in a rug, case, thumb strapped holster in a glove box or closed console without having a Concealed Weapons or Firearms License.
It's the law!!!

My opinion for little it's worth
 
#30 ·
Most of the videos I've seen the guy with the gun is always asking to go and the LEO is telling him to stay and give up his ID.

We all want our rights.....but let the other guy stand up for them?

I prefer to see these guys put the long guns down and just carry pistol openly. What LEO need to tell "concerned" citizens is that we have that right to carry openly if the statues so state. I carry open when I'm returning from shooting out in the desert and stop for a soda or gas and have never had any problems other than other shooters wanting to know more about open carry and what my pistol model is and caliber. Some of the larger stores in our area like the open carry as from my conversation with one of the department managers. I agree. There are associations in our city for open carry and they meet at different gun friendly restaurants with their families once a month.

Most of the time I carry concealed but do not think twice about wearing my OWB rig when going into a store.

I'm getting tired of people being OOOOOFFFFFEEEEEENNNNNNDDDDDEEEEDDDD by the sight of a gun. If you are offended take a pill.
 
#31 · (Edited)
I think that these lame brains that open carry AK47's just to antagonize, give every gun owner a bad name to a lot of people. But what about the Rambo looking guy that goes to Wal-Mart without a shirt, just a camo vest open in the front, a bandana headband holding his 10 inch hair, a six inch beard, and carrying a Buntline special? I open carry most of the time, and have never had an instance where someone seemed bothered or intimidated by my carrying. Last week I was in Wal-Mart carrying and I got seven thumbs up, and a dozen smiles with a nod of their head from people. Rambo's on the other hand, without exception, intimidate people. I have seen people stop and turn around when they saw them approaching, hurriedly pass them and look back at them, etc. Granted, the Rambo's that dress like this in public tend to intimidate even without a weapon, their dress is meant to intimidate, just like a clowns dress. which is very similar, is meant to make people laugh. They also, IMO, do damage to all gun owners.
 
#32 ·
Around here, if someone calls the local police, the OC'er will be cited for disturbing the peace. Because OC is legal, you'll beat the ticket in court, but you've still got to go thru the hassle. Who needs that? Nobody knows I'm carrying unless I tell them. If OC's your thing, go ahead on. I personally don't need the aggravation.
 
#33 ·
There's a guy in Punta Gorda Fl who OC's while he rides his motorcycle when he "says" he going fishing which is legal in FL. He's been doing it for a long time as he obviously gets "excited" from it. He's been reported to police by many then gets pulled over which I guess is his "climax". I've seen two guys at our local watering hole who openly carry an empty holster in the bar and when I asked them about it they both say it's illegal to carry in the bar. I said wouldn't it be smarter to leave the holster outside too? But I think it's another matter of "to each his own climax". Finally, once a month here in Florida there's an open carry rally where many people will fish in large areas together showing the guns of there choice. It's a climax group therapy thing I guess.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
You have insufficient privileges to reply here.
Top