Guy in Fort Collins Open Carries rifle at Walmart.

[BuffCyclist]

I would be all for that as long as we can get the hot women to carry rifles like they do in Israel. They are not scary.

Okay, now we're talkin!

I'll talk to my Fiancee and have her carry my M&P15T. Thats two, anybody else in?

[Ronin13]

I see the points everyone is making about this being dumb or not well thought out, however, I'll present a counter-point... How is this hurting "the cause"? It's already been hurt beyond repair. I was not alive for it, but there once was a time where walking around with a rifle on your shoulder was no big deal. People weren't afraid of guns back when, and now the new paradigm is that we must fear guns and anytime a gun is spotted call the police! It's a disgrace! So it's stupid to exercise your rights? What if I were to walk around with a "Fuck Barrack" tee shirt? Would anyone call the cops because I'm exercising my 1st Amendment right? Doubtful. We need to help to educate, inform, and make it normal for guns to be seen in public where it's perfectly legal. Yes, this kid is drawing unwanted or unwarranted attention to himself, but I think if more did this eventually it would become normal to see guns, of course that would take a while... But it's a step in the right direction. I applaud this young man for exercising his rights and proving that armed, law abiding individuals don't just run around maniacally killing others.

[Dingo]

Ronin, I see your point, but I think it comes down to an issue of respect. Would I love it if the 80 million gun owners could congeal as a collective and start openly carrying? Sure. I'd jump in with both feet and stride proudly around town with my AK slung over my shoulder. But we do live in a very polarized, split society right now. A good 50% of the populace still feels threatened by guns and open displays like that. Just because the gays/illegals/liberals/assorted minorities are attempting to ram their beliefs down our throat, doesn't make it ok for us to do the same. As Americans who believe in the principles we were founded on, it's about being on the more mature, upright side of things. Until things disintegrate to the event horizon of open revolution, I still intend to at least attempt to be respectful of non-gun-owners beliefs, no matter how much I disagree with or oppose them.

[Ronin13]

Ronin, I see your point, but I think it comes down to an issue of respect. Would I love it if the 80 million gun owners could congeal as a collective and start openly carrying? Sure. I'd jump in with both feet and stride proudly around town with my AK slung over my shoulder. But we do live in a very polarized, split society right now. A good 50% of the populace still feels threatened by guns and open displays like that. Just because the gays/illegals/liberals/assorted minorities are attempting to ram their beliefs down our throat, doesn't make it ok for us to do the same. As Americans who believe in the principles we were founded on, it's about being on the more mature, upright side of things. Until things disintegrate to the event horizon of open revolution, I still intend to at least attempt to be respectful of non-gun-owners beliefs, no matter how much I disagree with or oppose them.

I agree, but it's not ramming anything down anyone's throat carrying a firearm openly. I see the "gay agenda" proudly displayed EVERYWHERE and that I consider being rammed down our throats... a few guys carrying a gun legally is not pushing or being disrespectful... of course that's my opinion, I could be wrong.

[MCarp71]

He's not the first to try it in recent months. Personally, I don't think there's anything courageous about it - the guy's naive and ignorant at best, and an attention-craving douchebag at worst. We want non-gun people to respect our rights to own and bear arms, and yet it's ok to deliberately antagonize the situation, despite knowing their reservations? That's the entire point of concealed carry - the ability to be armed discreetly. If it was a rural community where more people openly carried, nobody would think anything of it. But going into a mixed-reception area like a college town Walmart, and ramming the gun thing down everybody's throats... I'm leaning toward him just being a douchebag. I can respect somebody else's beliefs that they don't want to own a gun, and are nervous about/around them, as long as they're not infringing on my rights therein. And vice versa - while I'm armed 100% of the time, I don't shove it in everybody's face. While we may have a right to open carry, it doesn't mean it's always a good idea. While not quite as openly offensive, this reminds me of a person claiming they're exercising their right to free speech and peaceful assembly by picketing military funerals...

Amen!

[Rucker61]

I agree, but it's not ramming anything down anyone's throat carrying a firearm openly. I see the "gay agenda" proudly displayed EVERYWHERE and that I consider being rammed down our throats... a few guys carrying a gun legally is not pushing or being disrespectful... of course that's my opinion, I could be wrong.

I don't see that as fair comparison. A rainbow sticker is the same as an NRA sticker on your window. The "gay agenda" version of open carrying a rifle in Walmart would be walking around Target wearing only assless chaps and a leather policeman's hat.

[Dave_L]

I don't see that as fair comparison. A rainbow sticker is the same as an NRA sticker on your window. The "gay agenda" version of open carrying a rifle in Walmart would be walking around Target wearing only assless chaps and a leather policeman's hat.

Or going to Chick-fil-a and demonstrating?

[Rucker61]

Or going to Chick-fil-a and demonstrating?

Good example, assuming you're referring to PDA.

[Dave_L]

Good example, assuming you're referring to PDA.

Correct. I'm just becoming jaded to all of this. I'm expected to be tolerant of everything except my right to open carry?

[Dingo]

Ass-less chaps... AGREED. And thanks for the nasty visual. lol.