An open letter to open carriers.

It is as a responsible gun owner, and as someone very enthusiastic about the unique freedoms we have in this great nation, that I feel the need to write this. The number of organized open carry "protests" has been steadily increasing, making major news every other week or so, and we as responsible gun owners need to attempt to police our own. Forgive me if I'm a little sarcastic or abrasive in my delivery, it's in my nature.

Before I start, here's who this letter is NOT addressed to:

You, guy, wandering around in the woods by yourself, holstering a large caliber pistol or revolver or a 12 gauge shotgun loaded to the gills with "Eat Shit, Grizzly Bear!" (ESGB, trademark pending) 1 oz. slugs. Chances are approaching 100% that if you see me in the mountains or on a trout stream, there'll be a Springfield 1911 hanging under my left arm in a shoulder holster - if you don't see it, it's either under the waders or my coat, or I'm elk hunting and don't want redundant weight.

You, other guy (or girl, I don't discriminate), who for whatever reason feels the need to protect yourself, yet is prohibited from carrying concealed. In places where it's legal, strap something comfortable in an outside-the-waistband holster with good retention, leave it there, and go on about your business.

Here's who this letter IS addressed to:

You, guy, slinging an AR, AK, SKS, shotgun, or whatever long gun across your chest, getting ten of your best online buddies to do the same, and going to eat at a busy family restaurant.

Stop it. Stop that shit right now. Pay attention and I'll disprove your favorite arguments until you understand why.

Open Carry Protestor (OCP) Argument 1: "Rights not exercised will be rights lost."

To an extent, you're right. If no one (or only a tiny minority) in the US owned firearms for some length of time, we probably would regulate that right out of existence, but that is simply not the case - according to recent data, there are approximately 100 million gun owners in this country; that's roughly one third of the population. Hardly that "tiny minority" mentioned above.

By and large, though, this argument is being proven wrong weekly as various affected businesses (many of which formerly had no policy on guns, meaning carry was allowed) are putting up "No Guns" signs (some of which do carry the force of law), after these types of "protests" occur on their property. It is their right as business owners, and you have no one to blame but yourselves. Now not only are you restricting your own right to carry in public places, you're restricting MY right to discretely protect myself and those I love as I go about my day. Your argument is not only misguided, it is patently wrong - and in this case, its inverse is true.

OCP Argument 2: "People who get upset about it were anti-gun anyway, I'm not hurting our cause."

Nah dude. Despite what lobbyists and "news" machines on both sides of the debate would have you believe, there is a pretty solid chunk of the population that has no experience with guns and little or no opinion on them. In fact, by being open minded, helpful, and generally not a pushy asshole, I've turned several of that demographic into lifelong gun owners and enthusiasts.

And then there's your approach. Here's Average Suburban Folk, going about their day - grocery shopping, errand running, maybe lunch with the kids or significant other. What they're NOT expecting to see (because they don't live in Afghanistan) is a squad-sized element of dudes (actually, based on the pictures I've seen, many of you are squad-sized elements even without your internet buddies, but that's beside the point) with what the news media tells them are "evil assault rifles." Right or wrong, that's one BIG fucking red flag right there. Immediately, you (more importantly, WE) are seen as antagonistic, pot-stirring, wannabe-gun-toting-badasses with no respect for the wishes of others. Thanks, asshole, you just created another member of Moms Demand Action. Way to support the right to keep and bear arms.

OCP Argument 3: "The government needs to be reminded that we are armed to prevent it from becoming tyrannical."

Again, no. The government's march towards tyranny is and will continue to be slow and calculated, not some bloody Central American banana republic military coup. "They" don't need to act radically, because idiots like you give them all the fuel they need to stoke the flames of gun control. After all, they only need public approval (or, even better, apathy). Remember when the Patriot Act had overwhelming public support? Remember when the current president renewed it, despite campaign promises to the contrary? You should be much more concerned about that than little jack-booted thugs flying in on black helicopters to take your guns away.

Finally, and most importantly, you need to stop simply to respect the rights of others. This isn't Iraq, this isn't Afghanistan, you aren't fighting anything other than your overworked heart and your unwillingness to accept that you're NOT in a combat zone, you're NOT a Ranger Delta Seal Ninja, and life is NOT a fucking Call of Duty game. I speak from experience when I say that you don't want this country to be like that.

I, for one, don't want to encounter someone like you in public. Concealed carry exists for a reason. It is pretty much impossible to sling a rifle across your chest without having to manipulate it at some point, unless you're doing nothing other than standing guard. One of these days, one of you is going to have a negligent discharge from handling your weapon, and then shit is really going to hit the metaphorical fan. If you're very, very lucky, it won't injure or kill anyone.

I won't claim to speak for any other gun owners (or even Americans) here, though I know there are many that would agree with me. So from me, at least, consider yourself disavowed from my camp - I don't want you, I don't need you, and I certainly don't like you.

Stop that shit. Right now.

That is all. Have an airborne day.