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Gun enthusiast attempts to repeal open-carry ban
Jack Willems
Issue date: 10/20/08 Section: News
While never being a victim of gun violence, Brian Martin of Jonesboro said he hears about it getting closer to his home every day.
"If I can't live, what can I do?" Martin asked rhetorically.
What Martin is doing is attempting to change state law to make it legal for him and others to openly carry guns. Arkansas law specifically prohibits the carrying of handguns outside a person's home or car unless that person has a concealed weapons permit, is hunting using a handgun permitted by the State Game and Fish Commission, or is acting in the capacity of a law enforcement official, security guard, correctional officer or member of the armed forces. The law does not allow the open carry of handguns for those not in law enforcement.
Martin is the founder of a movement to change that law.
"I believe something can be done," Martin said. "This is the voice of the people."
Martin said he believes that the open carry of handguns should be allowed because it is a crime deterrent. If given the choice between attacking an armed or unarmed individual, criminals would choose to attack the unarmed individual, Martin said. Concealing firearms impedes the ability of the person carrying the gun to use it in self defense, he said.
"If you are stalled even for a second, you are losing seconds that could possibly cost you a life," Martin said.
While people have the right to defend themselves, defense in such a situation has more to do with training than it does with reaction time, said Greg Tabor, chief of the Fayetteville Police Department. Open carry of hand guns would make it more likely that a gun fight would break out during an incident of road rage, Tabor said. The state of Arkansas has significant laws that work quite well, he said.
"I don't think we need to go back to the old West where everyone has a gun at their side," Tabor said.
Repealing the open-carry ban would not add to safety, said Gary Crain, public information officer at the UA Police Department. There was a time in this country's history when the open carry of handguns was common, but that has changed and for good reason, Crain said.
"If I can't live, what can I do?" Martin asked rhetorically.
What Martin is doing is attempting to change state law to make it legal for him and others to openly carry guns. Arkansas law specifically prohibits the carrying of handguns outside a person's home or car unless that person has a concealed weapons permit, is hunting using a handgun permitted by the State Game and Fish Commission, or is acting in the capacity of a law enforcement official, security guard, correctional officer or member of the armed forces. The law does not allow the open carry of handguns for those not in law enforcement.
Martin is the founder of a movement to change that law.
"I believe something can be done," Martin said. "This is the voice of the people."
Martin said he believes that the open carry of handguns should be allowed because it is a crime deterrent. If given the choice between attacking an armed or unarmed individual, criminals would choose to attack the unarmed individual, Martin said. Concealing firearms impedes the ability of the person carrying the gun to use it in self defense, he said.
"If you are stalled even for a second, you are losing seconds that could possibly cost you a life," Martin said.
While people have the right to defend themselves, defense in such a situation has more to do with training than it does with reaction time, said Greg Tabor, chief of the Fayetteville Police Department. Open carry of hand guns would make it more likely that a gun fight would break out during an incident of road rage, Tabor said. The state of Arkansas has significant laws that work quite well, he said.
"I don't think we need to go back to the old West where everyone has a gun at their side," Tabor said.
Repealing the open-carry ban would not add to safety, said Gary Crain, public information officer at the UA Police Department. There was a time in this country's history when the open carry of handguns was common, but that has changed and for good reason, Crain said.
Viewing Comments 1 - 5 of 5
Mike Stollenwerk
posted 10/20/08 @ 7:55 AM CST
It sure is kinda weird when folks can open carry handguns without any license in Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Raleigh, Milwaukee, and Seattle - but not Arkansas. (Continued…)
George Lyon
posted 10/20/08 @ 9:04 AM CST
If the right to bear arms means anything, it means that a citizen should be able to have a holstered firearm available to protect himself or herself. Whether that is openly carried or concealed should be a matter of personal choice. (Continued…)
Ron Williams
posted 10/20/08 @ 6:57 PM CST
A majority of the States of the Union allow open carry of firearms. It seems odd that "the government" would say, "sure, hide it, thats OK, but don't carry it openly". (Continued…)
Bob Burton
posted 10/21/08 @ 1:00 AM CST
We have rights in this Country to decide for ourselves, let's start using these rights!
Lynn Vickers
posted 10/21/08 @ 5:05 AM CST
Only 6 states in the Union have laws that forbid open carry.The rest have either open carry or concealed carry or some combination. How many of those state have reverted to 'the old west'? Also, if you check the statistics of the cities in the 'old west' you will find lower crime rates than we have now. (Continued…)
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