Open Carry

There are days when you read the newspaper or watch the news and it seems as if our country is back in the Wild West. Suddenly, it seems that some people are finding it necessary to bring their guns with them anywhere and everywhere, and to show everyone that they're "carrying."

The "open carry" movement is growing at a time when the federal courts have been looking more favorably on the rights of gun owners than on the authority of governments to restrict gun ownership. In the past two years, open carry has become part of the national gun discussion. The Starbucks coffee chain put the issue before a broad audience earlier this year when it decided to allow obviously armed customers into its stores in states that permit open carry

There are only three states, Florida, Texas, and Illinois, that outright prohibit the open carrying of handguns. In Connecticut, Open Carrying of Guns in Public is allowed as long as the person carrying has a permit. No person may carry a handgun either concealed or openly, without a permit, except in his or her home or place of business.

Lawsuits are pending related to the issue here in Connecticut. In the most publicized one, James Goldberg is suing the town of Glastonbury where he was arrested for walking into a Chili's restaurant there wearing a gun on his hip and dressed in camouflage. An employee, concerned and perhaps intimidated, called the police who arrived and arrested Goldberg. The charges against Goldberg were dismissed because nothing currently prohibits Open Carry in Connecticut by a permit holder and Goldberg is suing Glastonbury as a result.

It seems that gun rights extremists are on the move, bearing their guns and intimidating our communities. Most members seem to be indulging their fantasies of being warriors. On the anniversary of the Oklahoma City bombing, there was a Second Amendment march on Washington. They're not allowed to bring guns onto the National Mall, but if they had their way, someday they could march into Washington with guns at their sides.

In a Rasmussen poll reported on May 13 of this year, 47 % said they oppose open carry laws while 41% were in favor of allowing open carry. CT Against Gun Violence is studying the issue now and may propose legislation in the next Legislative session that would prohibit open carry.