Jerry Henry is the executive director for GeorgiaCarry.Org, a group that advocates the right to bear arms in Georgia.
Ever hear of the Second Amendment? I can think of no reason for not carrying guns openly. In fact, there are only seven states and the District of Columbia that continue to infringe on the Second Amendment by not allowing open carry. Fourteen states allow open carry with a license along with 29 states that allow unlicensed open carry, including four states—Arizona, Arkansas, Vermont, and Wyoming—which require no permits for carrying openly or concealed. If open carry were a big problem, wouldn't some of these states repeal these laws instead of trending toward open carry in more states?
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I carry openly daily here in Georgia. It is my strongly held belief that carrying a gun carried openly is a deterrent to crime. In fact, Georgia has a documented incident where two members of GeorgiaCarry.Orgwere openly carrying their firearms late at night in a Waffle House. They and the waitress were the only persons in the Waffle House when a man walked in, walked the length of the restaurant and left.
When our members left, there were several police cars outside with their blue lights on. The man who walked in was a "scout", noticed our members carrying openly, and left. He told the others in the car there were two guys with guns inside. The others, who were wearing ski masks, decided to wait for our members to leave in order to rob the Waffle House without resistance. Police on patrol noticed the suspicious actions and arrested them.
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It is much more comfortable for me to carry in a holster outside my waistband for quick access than to try to hide my gun from others. Hiding or concealing a firearm only adds to my discomfort and to the time required to mount a proper defense if and when necessary.
If a person carries openly and responsibly, citizen reaction is extremely low. If the carrier does not draw attention to the weapon, many will not notice he is carrying. If seen, most will not give it a second thought or ask questions, giving time for an educational moment. And, it is amazing how friendly people are when standing next to an obviously armed person. An armed society is truly a polite society.
However, the most important reason for carrying openly is that a right not exercised is a right lost. I do not wish to lose any more of my rights.
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