This is an interesting take on gun laws/control

[stormrider]

This article has a poll which asks your view on open carry. I wasn't suprised by the results. The article also brings up a point by the Brady Bunch stating several Starbucks employees were killed in a robbery attempt in 1997. I wonder if several patrons had've been openly totting would the thugs still got the same results. Likely not. So Brady's argument, IMHO, just don't hole water. What's your view?

http://www.aolnews.com/nation/article/facing-gun-issue-starbucks-throws-up-its-hands/19381679?icid=main|htmlws-main-n|dl1|link1|http%3A%2F%2Fwww.aolnews.com%2Fnation%2Farticle%2Ffacing-gun-issue-starbucks-throws-up-its-hands%2F19381679

[doubletee]

I still contend that if we ever get to a point where the bad guys know law abiding citizens won't be armed, the incidence of crime will go up.

Re:  the situation at Starbucks where several employees were killed. I'm sure the laws vary by state, but I wonder what would happen to the individual, legally carrying concealed in a state that permits it, who would've opened fire on the robbers. That person would be a hero in my book, but something tells me he/she would be in for a world of legal hassles, unless he could demonstrate he shot in self defense (and maybe even in that case).

[Bladedog]

Like I always say - you can vote with your wallet.  Peets and California Pizza Kitchen are cited in the article as supporting anti-gun policy.  I'll continue to get my coffee from the cute blonde at the Chevron station and my pizza from the local Papa Murhpy's.   

[papa bear]

I agree with being able to carry a gun openly. But if it is unloaded what's the point. An armed gunman could easily rob and / or kill someone in a place while those that are carrying unloaded weapons fumble to try and load up before he kills them too. I will always carry a loaded gun, and if a place prohibits it I will not enter. ( hospitals and federal building excluded )

[MAD6Gun]

 I like thev quote
The company noted that if it prohibited weapons in its shop, its employees would have to ask law-abiding citizens to leave, placing them in "an unfair and potentially unsafe position."

What do they think that if they ask a law abiding citizen to leave he will pull out the gun and just start shooting. BS. As far as the killing of the Starbucks employee's. It happened in DC. Duh. From what I hear since the Heller case the crime rate in DC has gone down. You will never hear the Brady idiots state that or the main stream Media for that matter......

[valkmc]

At the risk of sounding like an anti gun person which I am not. I carry and have for many years. I don't believe a totally open carry is the way to go, just like I don't think banning guns is the way to go. We all know if you ban guns the bad guys will be all over us, got to have law abiding mentally well citizens with the right to carry if they want. However letting eveyone carry where ever and when ever they want will lead to pissed off people (like road rage) using a weapon, mentally unstable people like the West Virgina shooter using their weapon etc. Yes he would of killed less if all the staff at the school were armed, but is it not better to get the gun out of his hand before he does his deed. To me the problem is where do we draw the line and who draws it? I sure do not want people in Washington who are out of touch with the everyday American telling us where, but I feel the same way about the people in Tallahasse, Florida deciding.  Kind of seems like you're dammed if you do and dammed if you don't.

[Jess from VA]

If we're going to dramatically alter the character of our Constitution to mandate government provision of universal health insurance, we should begin with something that's actually in the Constitution.

Unlike healthcare, the right to bear arms is specified as a check against government encroachment.

Therefore, following liberal reasoning, if anyone can't afford a gun, then the government should arm them.

[big turkey]

Jess has got the right idea, Government has to Arm us.

I am all for that.

Where do I sign up.

Oh well there goes the deficit again.

Al

[Jess from VA]

Actually, there is a Civilian Marksmanship Program which provides certain military arms to the populace at a reduced rate; not free, but better prices than over the counter or gun shows.  The libs would like to see this go away, but so far so good. 

http://www.thecmp.org/

Good way to get a M1 Garand.
http://www.thecmp.org/m1garand.htm

The CMP was created by the U.S. Congress as part of the 1903 War Department Appropriations Act. The original purpose was to provide civilians an opportunity to learn and practice marksmanship skills so they would be skilled marksmen if later called on to serve in the U.S. military. Over the years the emphasis of the program shifted to focus on youth development through marksmanship. From 1916 until 1996 the CMP was administered by the U.S. Army. Title XVI of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1996 (Public Law 104-106, 10 February 1996) created the Corporation for the Promotion of Rifle Practice & Firearms Safety (CPRPFS) to take over administration and promotion of the CMP. The CPRPFS is a tax-exempt non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation that has been Federally chartered by the U.S. Congress, but is not an agency of the U.S. Government (Title 36, United States Code, Section 40701 et seq). Apart from a donation of surplus .22 and .30 caliber rifles in the Army's inventory to the CMP, the CMP receives no Federal funding.

[Ratdog]

I like thev quote
The company noted that if it prohibited weapons in its shop, its employees would have to ask law-abiding citizens to leave, placing them in "an unfair and potentially unsafe position."

What do they think that if they ask a law abiding citizen to leave he will pull out the gun and just start shooting. BS. As far as the killing of the Starbucks employee's. It happened in DC. Duh. From what I hear since the Heller case the crime rate in DC has gone down. You will never hear the Brady idiots state that or the main stream Media for that matter......

Now... how could that happen to anyone in D.C.?  Hasn't it been against the law to possess a handgun in D.C.?    

[Piper]

I agree with being able to carry a gun openly. But if it is unloaded what's the point. An armed gunman could easily rob and / or kill someone in a place while those that are carrying unloaded weapons fumble to try and load up before he kills them too. I will always carry a loaded gun, and if a place prohibits it I will not enter. ( hospitals and federal building excluded )

This is close to the argument I have with the S/O.
Carry full clip, chambered.
If you have to pull, the bad guy is not going to wait until you chamber a round.
Else get a revolver.