Is that a gun on your belt, or are you just happy to see me?

While Ohio just recently made it legal to carry a concealed weapon with permit, what many people don’t realize is that if you just strap it on in the open- it’s legal. Do you feel safer already?

And although I know a few people who have a CCW permit, and have been around my share of cops who pack off duty, I’ve not seen anyone carry a sidearm unless they worked in a gun shop.

Those days may be ending.

In recent months, the “open-carry” arm of the gun-rights movement, which advocates that gun owners carry visible weapons as they go about their daily business, have been exercising their rights. They’ve been proudly displaying their sidearms in public places, sometimes meeting up in groups.

via The Associated Press: Politics and retail a no-win mix.

We’ve always had people who are staunch supporters of the 2nd Amendment, and some states have always been more gun friendly, but this recent movement to “normalize” the carrying of firearms is a step in a direction I’m not sure I’m comfortable with. That doesn’t mean I don’t think people should be able to own guns, I just think the idea of having one on you at all times is a recipe for disaster. When guns are more accessible- more people get shot (one of the reasons we have more people dying by getting shot in this country every year than any other industrialized nation- and I should take some time to dig up a source- but, it’s not that important to make this point).

Although I’m perfectly comfortable around guns, when with people who are trained and responsible, I’m not sure that everyone walking around with a pistol has society’s best interests at heart. We’ve already got a ridiculous number of people in prisons- do I really want every Tom, Dick and Dirty Harry playing judge, jury and firing squad if they think a crime is being committed?

In today’s Dayton Grassroots Daily Show, Greg Hunter and I (both gun owners) discuss our feelings about this hot-button issue.

If anyone knows what the open carry rules are in Dayton, Ohio, I’d appreciate it if you post in comments. We’d also like to hear from members of the Dayton law enforcement community what their views are on open carry. Does it make your job easier, safer or more dangerous?

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