Guns in Tennessee (Page 13): PA is one of those states where any adult, not otherwise prohibited, may open carry without a permit. It has been that way for a very long time so I can't...

Blaster6 Loc: Central PA

Eugene wrote:

Have you seen a large increase in the numbers of people taking advantage of this and actually do open carry?

PA is one of those states where any adult, not otherwise prohibited, may open carry without a permit. It has been that way for a very long time so I can't speak to any increases.

In the last 10 years I recall seeing this right being excercised maybe 3 times...total. People in different areas of the state may have different experiences and I am not counting law enforcement.

Why?
I think I have some ideas why people don't open carry:

1. People don't know it is legal. There are rumors you can be arrested for disorderly conduct if someone is offended by your open carry and some dumb cops have tried this but simply open carrying does not violate the law even if someone doesn't like it. A con-ed update came out a couple years ago for all cops in the state to remind them it is not legal for them to harass someone for simply excercising open carry rights. I think this came about from a group having their open carry meetings in a Pizza Hut or something.
2. People know it is legal but don't want to be seen as a gun nut or social outcast.
3. People prefer to carry concealed because a concealed carry permit is easy to get and you will need a permit if you plan on geting in a car while wearing your gun (where it is concealed by the car.)
4. People realize open carry is a big responsibility and makes you a target in many ways.

So to answer your question, Pennsylvania does not look like the wild wild west.

marcomarks Loc: Ft. Myers, FL

colin mikesell wrote:

Ohio has had open carry for years...hate to tell ya folk's but i have never seen the first gun yet to be carried open...but i know many people who have permits to conceal carry ....get over it...it's not us you need to worry about......

The State does but I know of a rebellious kind of guy in Toledo who went to a public city park with some friends and the news media while open carrying a holstered revolver and was arrested immediately because that breaks city laws that they think override the State. So cities don't always abide by the State's open carry.

chiya Loc: Wellsboro, Pa.

Interesting read

http://www.policymic.com/articles/26570/14-crucial-moments-in-u-s-gun-control-history

CatMarley Loc: North Carolina

RichieC wrote:

In Upstate NY as well, I had a pocket knife every day, (still do) and there were shotguns on racks in some pick up trucks in the parking lot... Never one stabbing or shooting, nor did it ever cross the mind of anybody I know! They were right at hand and there were fights...!

You have to ask, when did society turn the corner? What has changed? Who or what is causing it all? Is it the middle class? The affluent? What is the common denominator?.

We didn't have compulsory seat belts, or helmets either. We rode our bikes and sat in cars. But then the Nanny State decided we were too incompetent to take care of ourselves. Social progressives decided they need to supervise us in the conduct of our daily lives. Now they are going to supervise what we eat, what medical care we are allowed to get, what doctor we can go to, and how many times, and what that doctor can prescribe for each condition we have.

dljen Loc: Central PA

Blaster, in PA are ppl allowed to carry guns into bars?

Blaster6 Loc: Central PA

wilpharm wrote:

yep, in Oklahoma in mid-60s was very common to have guns in cars at high school.most boys carried pocket knives..nothing ever said about it..

I remember seeing hunting rifles, shot guns, bows... whatever in the gun racks of pickup trucks in the student parking lot. Nobody would ever dream of bringing one inside and certainly not shooting anyone. Most of the boys also had pocket knives and a teacher would occassionally ask who had one, would borow it and give it back. Nobody ever got stabbed but some initials were carved in desks.

This was in the 80s.

Times have changed.

CatMarley Loc: North Carolina

handgunner wrote:

Personally, I always carry concealed. If you open carry you will be the first one targeted if you walk into a hold up situation. All my friends in my two gun clubs agree.

Likewise. Carrying openly defeats the purpose of being armed. No-one knows if you are a safe target or not in a state where cc is common. Knowing for sure you are packing invites a preemptory move.

marcomarks Loc: Ft. Myers, FL

RichieC wrote:

In Upstate NY as well, I had a pocket knife every day, (still do) and there were shotguns on racks in some pick up trucks in the parking lot... Never one stabbing or shooting, nor did it ever cross the mind of anybody I know! They were right at hand and there were fights...!

You have to ask, when did society turn the corner? What has changed? Who or what is causing it all? Is it the middle class? The affluent? What is the common denominator?.

Same way with bar fights. In the old days the fighters "duked it out" with fists and got thrown out for fighting. In the 1990s bar fights with knives started to dominate instead so police and ambulances were required. Now bar fights have escalated to more gun-related. Those who duked it out many times stood back up and drank together, practically forgetting the whole thing by a couple days later. That's not the case with knives and guns. Those fighters and not buddies having a disagreement - they have vile intent and wish to cause lethal harm.

So I believe it's social degradation. A slow sociopathic loss of the value of life. Which also seems to be why there are so many mass murders, bombings, etc. by young people like the various schools we've seen recently and the Boston marathon. It's commonly called a mental illness but I'd say it's more of a societal illness.

Ka2azman Loc: Tucson, Az

CatMarley wrote:

Oveis checked with web site for Jeffersons Monticello for help in authenticating the quote. The site says:

We currently have no evidence that Thomas Jefferson said or wrote The beauty of the second amendment is that it will not be needed until they try to take it or any of its listed variations.

The absence of evidence is not proof of non - existence. So the quote's provenance is controversial. Jefferson had plenty to say on the subject suffice it to say!

:thumbup:

Blaster6 Loc: Central PA

dljen wrote:

Blaster, in PA are ppl allowed to carry guns into bars?

Yes.

Just because it is legal does not make it a good idea. The idea of using a gun with alcohol in your system is a very legally scary one even if you do everything right.

Property owner's rights rule all though. If there is a sign on the door that says no guns allowed then you can be asked to leave or arrested for trespassing.

dljen Loc: Central PA

marcomarks wrote:

Same way with bar fights. In the old days the fig... (show quote)

Not so long ago, a man was in a bar playing pool and another man bumped him, accidental or intentional, I don't know but later that night, one of 'em was dead by a gunshot.

chiya Loc: Wellsboro, Pa.

marcomarks wrote:

Same way with bar fights. In the old days the fig... (show quote)

:thumbup:

dljen Loc: Central PA

Blaster6 wrote:

Yes.

Just because it is legal does not make it a good idea. The idea of using a gun with alcohol in your system is a very legally scary one even if you do everything right.

Property owner's rights rule all though. If there is a sign on the door that says no guns allowed then you can be asked to leave or arrested for trespassing.

I agree with you on that 100%.

But, I don't think it's necessary to carry guns as often as ppl do. I remember last yr one guy I know wasn't going to go to the Bloomsburg fair because at first they announced that no guns be there, then later gave in. SMH

handgunner Loc: Windsor Locks, Connecticut

marcomarks wrote:

The State does but I know of a rebellious kind of guy in Toledo who went to a public city park with some friends and the news media while open carrying a holstered revolver and was arrested immediately because that breaks city laws that they think override the State. So cities don't always abide by the State's open carry.

The Conn. Citizens Defense League (CCDL) had a rally at the State capital last month. Some folks were openly carrying and the Police could not have been nicer. There were no arrests for open carry. http://www.ccdl.us/aboutus/events/277-gun-rights-rally

lovesnature

Think there's plenty of action going on in the background regarding guns and taking them out of Americans' hands. The nuts and criminals don't care about laws or registration. Our Constitution doesn't mean very much to a lot of those in charge lately. It may be that the Nevada incident is not finally over.
Saw this news article of interest. I wonder whose pocket will be lined with money in some gray area of these requests:
http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2014/04/09/Obama-Requests-1-1-Billion-DOJ-382-1-Million-For-Gun-Control