Triangle Tactical Podcast and Blog on Guns, Gear, and Competition Shooting
Tonight a pro-gun facebook page posted this picture without comment to their page. I quickly scanned it, and didn’t think much of it. I ended up scrolling past it again a couple of minutes later, and I gave it a closer look after I noticed that there were lots of comments asking where these cards could be purchased.
As a gun blogger (I think I’ve achieved that status now?) I’m going to come out and say it: This card sucks.
We shouldn’t be perpetuating the myth that a Government issued license is required to carry a gun. Even here in NC, there is no license required to carry a pistol openly, and that’s the way it should be (for concealed carry too in my opinion).
No Compromise.
I have mixed feelings about the card and I am still considering both the pros and cons of the message being delivered. I do believe the card could have a better design.
Having said that, I am leaning towards the argument that these cards may be effective for what they are designed to do and that is change a store owners mind about concealed carry on “their” property.
If they changed the wording, and got rid of the “unlicensed” part, I don’t have a problem with them. IIRC the NCGO cards don’t say that on them.
I forgot to say in my previous posts that these cards (or something very similar) are available from the NC Gunowners website.
I think I’m OK with this card. I agree with you that as a matter of law, we shouldn’t have to get licenses to carry guns. But this card is aimed at private business owners who are squeamish about guns. It’s safety theater: if it makes them (and their customers) feel better to post a sign banning *illegal* guns from their premises, fine. It won’t make them safer, of course; but it also won’t interfere with my ability to carry there, which the blanket “no guns” signs do.
Bottom line, there are some business owners who might be willing to go this far, but would not be willing to take their signs down entirely. It’s their business, so that’s up to them. At least this way they can meet us halfway.
I am a HUGE gun advocate and a supporter of the Second amendment. But, I am a supporter of getting licenses to carry a weapon. After all, a Police Officer has to have special training to carry a weapon and be a Police Officer. I DO NOT see the harm in requiring licenses to carry a weapon along with a class being required to obtain that license. Without this type of uniform conformity, any jackass could be walking around carrying a loaded weapon with no clue on how to use it could be a bigger threat than someone carrying one with the intent to do no good.