Posted by NavyLCDR: What defines an activist? A person who chooses to engange in a legal behavior because they have evaluated the facts/theories presented to them and have come to the informed conclusion that open carry is the most effective means of personal protection using a firearm?
I define an activist as someone who demonstrates against or in favor of something.
Regarding these open carry activists, I know neither their beliefs nor their motivations.
I do know that most, if not all, of my friends who support concealed carry believe that all they are doing is causing trouble for supporters of rkba.
Do you have example/citations to these new ordinances against open carry that have been enacted with amazing speed in Missouri?
Yes. It's public information, widely reported.
By the way, our state preemption law allows municipal regulation of open carry but prohibits local control of concealed carry. My city council recently passed an unlawful ordnance prohibiting both open and concealed carry.
Let me make it clear that, whatever I think of the idea of carrying openly, I agree with Owen Sparks: "Whatever opinion you have, it should be left up to you how you carry and not the state. A holstered pistol is no more a threat than a parked car.". However, I am in the minority here.
I also believe that having the
option to carry openly can give the concealed carrier a big advantage in a situation that may seem to be a little "iffy": if there are indications that casually removing one's jacket to remove the concealment from one's firearm in a non-threatening manner would provide the "deterrence' often discussed here, one should be able to do so lawfully without risking either a weapons violation or being charged with unlawful use of force.