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Post by AeroCooper on Jul 31, 2016 7:04:55 GMT -5
I see there has been another shooting in Texas, the state where people usually point in defense of open carry. I've heard many times, "This doesn't happen in Texas because they have open carry laws and everyone knows it." Well, obviously the sad events of recent weeks have show that that isn't true.
I'm just curious where everyone stands on open carry. Personally, I have never owned a gun, although I have gone target shooting a few times when I was younger. All the shootings recently though (not just in TX) have me considering getting a small gun, along with safety classes and all that. It seems it can happen anywhere, and if it does happen while I am out, or even in my own home, I would prefer to not be one of the victims hopelessly begging for my life. I would like to at least have a shot (no pun intended) at saving myself and others. It's a sad world we live in, and the crazies are spreading like maggots everywhere.
Any thoughts here? Anyone carry, or have a strong reason not to?
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Post by AeroCooper on Jul 31, 2016 7:09:32 GMT -5
Just to bring everyone up to speed:
Gunman in Austin, Texas, kills one woman, wounds threeAlex Dobuzinskis (Reuters) - A gunman killed a woman and seriously wounded three others in Austin early on Sunday when he shot into a crowd as people streamed out of nightclubs in the Texas capital's downtown area, police said. The unidentified gunman opened fire at about 2:15 a.m. local time before fleeing, Austin police chief of staff Brian Manley told reporters. The motive for the attack, which occurred just minutes after bars closed, was not immediately clear. "It was a very chaotic scene," Manley said. He described people emerging from clubs and bars running in all directions at the sound of gunfire, as police officers on patrol rushed to the scene. The gunman killed a woman in her 20s and wounded three other women, who were transported to a local hospital with injuries that are serious but not life-threatening, Austin-Travis County Emergency Medical Services spokesman Mike Benavides told reporters. Manley said police were seeking help from the public, including any video recordings, in an effort to find the shooter who is believed to be in his 20s. Minutes after that shooting, a man opened fire several blocks away in a confrontation at a parking garage, Manley said. Bystanders tackled the shooter, he said. Police initially believed the two shootings were related and that they were dealing with an "active shooter," but that was not the case, Manley said. "From everything we can tell at this point through the initial investigation, these are two unrelated incidents," Manley told reporters. The suspect who opened fire in the parking garage was transported to a hospital for injuries he suffered when bystanders subdued him, Manley said. There were no reports of anyone being struck by bullets in that incident. The shootings in the Texas state capital follow several recent major acts of gun violence in the United States. On June 12, a gunman who sympathized with Islamist extremist groups killed 49 people at a nightclub in Orlando, Florida, in the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history. On July 7, a U.S. military veteran shot and killed five police officers in Dallas in the deadliest day for U.S. law enforcement since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. Just over a week later another gunman killed three officers in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The attackers in all three incidents were killed by police. Austin, whose downtown area is known for its lively music scene, has a population of more than 900,000. (Reporting by Alex Dobuzinskis in Los Angeles; Editing by Catherine Evans) www.yahoo.com/news/multiple-victims-reported-active-shooter-austin-texas-police-081552987.html
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Post by RiffsOnRuts on Jul 31, 2016 7:56:13 GMT -5
I first have to mention that Austin is an absolutely awesome place. I have had some great times there.
About guns:
I don't know if I would feel comfortable having a gun on me out running errands. Its a huge responsibility and may be very uncomfortable.
It may sound silly but very strong mace or pepper spray may be a compromise. It may not stop all situations, but at least you could try something in a close contact situation.
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Post by AeroCooper on Jul 31, 2016 12:52:39 GMT -5
I agree that it would be uncomfortable carrying on a daily basis, but for me I mean physically, not mentally.
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Post by black911 on Aug 1, 2016 9:37:04 GMT -5
I carry and it is not a huge deal. I started in Missouri, where you can buy and sell guns like a used guitar. You can assume someone had a gun in Missouri because so many people do carry there, so open carry would not freak anyone out in that state. I have pulled a gun twice in my life and it has gotten me out of getting into a physical fight......which I am certain to have lost had I gotten into that fight. I believe non criminals carrying guns is a non event in this country. Accidental shootings do happen and are sad. But they are not an epidemic.
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