Sgt Patrick Hayes saw the Jerry Miculek video on open carry protocol. He couldn’t agree more:
There have been a number of news stories recently concerning folks running around with long guns. Most were from Texas where such carry is legal and open handgun carry is not. I live in Georgia, a state with very good gun laws. Open carry of long guns is legal and open or concealed carry of handguns is legal with a carry permit. In 20 years as a law enforcement officer, other than hunters during hunting season, I have never seen anyone carry a long gun just to do it. This seems to be an attention-getting tactic that makes the public very uncomfortable. It causes negative feelings about gun owners with the voting public . . .
If the gun is slung on the shoulder it’s just a display, right or wrong. What concerns me: the owner carrying his firearm at port arms or low ready. These folks are just asking for a confrontation with cops or armed citizens. Cops don’t walk around all day with a gun in their hand or a rifle at low ready. If you see me with my gun unholsterd, there is a reason.
It’s common sense folks! If I see a man walking into a Walmart with an M4 at low ready I am going to stop him. His manner of carry presents as an immediate threat. That is just how it is. I cannot ignore him just because he might be exercising his rights. I don’t know his intent and until his hand comes off that pistol grip I don’t care. He will be at gunpoint. He doesn’t comply, he gets shot.
Please . . . stop doing this. The armed citizen might not even give you a chance to stop. Anyone can articulate the threat of a rifle in hand with your finger millimeters from the trigger. It’s no different than doing the same with a hangun in your hand. Most of you would never walk into a store with a handgun in your hand. Why would you do it with a rifle?
Leave the rifle at home or in your car. Carry a handgun, open or concealed. We don’t need the bad press and we certainly don’t want two gun owners shooting each other because one wanted to act irresponsibly.