bobcul
Regular Member
Sent to <Help@TedNugent.com> Tues 4/3/2011
If there is any reply, I will let you know.
Bob
--------
Thank you Uncle Ted - But...
A View from the NRA Meeting and Convention
My wife Cathy and I enjoyed your rousing presentation at the NRA Experience on Sunday. As you say, if you see a problem - Fix It. As an engineer, I usually do that and now I see a problem that needs addressing.
You spoke about Open Carry of firearms and obviously did not support that practice. I do not remember the precise words you used to describe that activity or those who undertook it, but they were sharp words.
Obviously if one open carries and some criminals decide to attack, and if they are going to shoot someone, the first target they might shoot are the open carriers. Let me explain why I am a sometime open carrier.
1) I, and some other folks, can not or do not want to apply for a concealed carry permission slip. It is a point of personal freedom I am sure you might understand. It sometimes revolves around the background check and fingerprinting of the applicant, as if he were the criminal. Many folks have been fingerprinted in the past as part of other activities they have taken part in. They have given up that part of privacy and have nothing to loose. Others have not and decline to surrender this one remaining piece or personal information. Fortunately, Wyoming, our present part time home and soon to be our full time home, has adopted Constitutional Carry, the fourth state to do so. Constitutional Carry is on a trend as was Concealed Carry a decade or two ago.
2) Open Carry is sometimes done for “Educational” purposes and not just self defense. Yesterday I read an essay from a peace officer about folks who open carry to protest. I believe that education is the term that is more correct than protest in most of these cases. Never the less, some folks get confrontational as in a protest. Fortunately that peace officer acknowledged and strongly supported the Constitutional right to protest or demonstrate by legally open carrying. I direct you to an Open Carry activity from last Independence Day, the Walk In The Park, at; <http://www.mcsm.org/walkinpark.pdf> and <http://www.mcsm.org/walkinpark2.pdf> The first is the educational flyer that was used and the second is a travel log description of the event.
In closing, if you see something wrong, fix it. You can start by pointing out the problem, strongly if necessary, but then offer corrective recommendations. We know that open carry makes us a target. That is something we freely commit ourselves to, without reservation, and plan to counter an attack, if and when needed. We know that there are others around us openly or discretely carrying. It would amaze you how few people notice an openly carried firearm and how heightened it makes the carrier, more aware of his surroundings. See the second above PDF title about the dinner at Billy’s Burgers.
If you care to discuss this at any time, let me know. It could provide a new point of view or even new material for your presentations. BTW, the American Militia essays at; <http://www.mcsm.org/ammilitia01.html> might also be interesting to you.
Your brother in freedom.
Bob Culver, MCSM
If there is any reply, I will let you know.
Bob
--------
Thank you Uncle Ted - But...
A View from the NRA Meeting and Convention
My wife Cathy and I enjoyed your rousing presentation at the NRA Experience on Sunday. As you say, if you see a problem - Fix It. As an engineer, I usually do that and now I see a problem that needs addressing.
You spoke about Open Carry of firearms and obviously did not support that practice. I do not remember the precise words you used to describe that activity or those who undertook it, but they were sharp words.
Obviously if one open carries and some criminals decide to attack, and if they are going to shoot someone, the first target they might shoot are the open carriers. Let me explain why I am a sometime open carrier.
1) I, and some other folks, can not or do not want to apply for a concealed carry permission slip. It is a point of personal freedom I am sure you might understand. It sometimes revolves around the background check and fingerprinting of the applicant, as if he were the criminal. Many folks have been fingerprinted in the past as part of other activities they have taken part in. They have given up that part of privacy and have nothing to loose. Others have not and decline to surrender this one remaining piece or personal information. Fortunately, Wyoming, our present part time home and soon to be our full time home, has adopted Constitutional Carry, the fourth state to do so. Constitutional Carry is on a trend as was Concealed Carry a decade or two ago.
2) Open Carry is sometimes done for “Educational” purposes and not just self defense. Yesterday I read an essay from a peace officer about folks who open carry to protest. I believe that education is the term that is more correct than protest in most of these cases. Never the less, some folks get confrontational as in a protest. Fortunately that peace officer acknowledged and strongly supported the Constitutional right to protest or demonstrate by legally open carrying. I direct you to an Open Carry activity from last Independence Day, the Walk In The Park, at; <http://www.mcsm.org/walkinpark.pdf> and <http://www.mcsm.org/walkinpark2.pdf> The first is the educational flyer that was used and the second is a travel log description of the event.
In closing, if you see something wrong, fix it. You can start by pointing out the problem, strongly if necessary, but then offer corrective recommendations. We know that open carry makes us a target. That is something we freely commit ourselves to, without reservation, and plan to counter an attack, if and when needed. We know that there are others around us openly or discretely carrying. It would amaze you how few people notice an openly carried firearm and how heightened it makes the carrier, more aware of his surroundings. See the second above PDF title about the dinner at Billy’s Burgers.
If you care to discuss this at any time, let me know. It could provide a new point of view or even new material for your presentations. BTW, the American Militia essays at; <http://www.mcsm.org/ammilitia01.html> might also be interesting to you.
Your brother in freedom.
Bob Culver, MCSM