Gun association seeks right to 'bare' arms in Oklahoma
Capitol: Group opposes six states’ requirements to conceal weapons
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106
BY JOHN GREINER
Published: October 20, 2008
Donald Ohse is spearheading an online effort at obtaining signatures from supporters urging legislators to pass a law allowing citizens to openly carry guns. He is photographed with his Glock Model 21, a .45 caliber pistol Wednesday, October 15, 2008. BY JIM BECKEL, THE OKLAHOMAN
To at least one Midwest City man, openly carrying a gun is a matter of safety for him and his family.
Fears of shoot-outs like those of the Old West are just fear-mongering, he said. Donald Ohse is part of a movement to change laws in several states, including Oklahoma, so people can openly carry their weapons. This movement is an online drive to get enough signatures of like-minded people to influence legislators to pass open carry laws. He said he’s gotten 1,300 signatures. Ohse already is licensed under Oklahoma law to carry a concealed weapon. But Ohse thinks openly carrying his pistol would be better and safer for him and others. If he or his family were in danger, it would be a lot easier if he could quickly reach his gun instead of having it hidden in his coat and having to pull it from his pocket, he said. "It’s not like you could see something happening and, say, ‘Hey, give me a moment,’” he said. "The quicker the access, the better in a life-or-death situation.” Being able to openly carry his gun would have helped him when someone once tried to run over him following an accident, Ohse said. Ohse saw a car accident and went to help. One driver tried to leave the scene of the crash. Ohse was behind the car writing down the tag number when the driver backed up. The driver stopped when he saw Ohse fumble in his coat and pull out a gun, Ohse said.When the movement began
In 2004 in Virginia, Mike Stollenwerk and John Pierce started OpenCarry.org to push for the right to carry guns openly.
The Web site now has about 10,000 registered members, said Stollenwerk, a retired Army lieutenant colonel.
Stollenwerk and Pierce determined that at least six states ban openly carrying a gun: Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas, Florida, South Carolina and New York.
This movement includes only handguns, which Stollenwerk calls "the quintessential self-defense weapon.”
The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence lists gun laws of each state. But Chad Ramsey, a senior associate director of the Brady Group, said it is difficult to determine which states allow open carry.
But Ramsey said Stollenwerk appears to be correct about the six states that ban openly carrying firearms.
Law enforcement objections
Officials with two Oklahoma law enforcement associations said they don’t like the idea of people openly carrying guns.
"I would guess that very few would want to go back to the early west appearance where people carried guns strapped down on their hip,” said Ken McNair, a retired police officer and executive director of the Oklahoma Sheriffs’ Association.
Jim Cox, executive director of the Oklahoma Association of Chiefs of Police, said he doesn’t think that openly carrying a gun accomplishes very much.
A concealed weapon gives a person the element of surprise, he said.
"The bad guys aren’t going to be openly carrying,” said Cox, a former police officer and police chief in Midwest City.
Right to choose
Stollenwerk said he thinks that letting people carry guns openly will let someone with bad intentions know that you are armed.
"While I understand that sometimes it is a tactical advantage to be concealed, sometimes it might be the other way,” he said. "Everybody should have the right to choose.”

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Also Open Carry would most bring since to the person that is thinking about doing something like that because he/she would see that I am able to protect my self and would think twice about committing his/her crime.
Anyhoo, if you read the actual statistics, more guns in the hands of law-abiding citizens does NOT equal more gun violence. It's the opposite, in fact. Check out Massachusettes some time.
I have often thought about how difficult it could be to access a concealed weapon in an emergency. If it was out in the open you would have a much quicker response.
it's basically advertising a free gun for people who otherwise couldn't afford one or buy one. I like concealed weapons way more than I like this- which is pandemonium waiting to happen if this guy gets his piece pick-pocketed while at a shopping mall.
justin, oklahoma city Why do you do people learn CPR... You just never know when you might need to use it.
Bryant, Lindsay & Susan, Oklahoma City. Check your facts before being stupid. Last check that holster is the best in the business. There are 3 levels of holsters and that one is a level 2.
Armbrooke, Pocasset, Thank you I am so glad you are such a good judge of people. I don't know What we would do with out you looking out for us. I am glad you can call me and all the people in the US of A that own guns Nuts Because I can call you nuts too.
Desiderius, Tuttle
Seconds the motion.
Uh, that's because most of the "righties" are old and not computer savvy.