I'm a bit divided on the issue of whether or not I'd be happy with it. However, I'm all for American's being allowed to exercise our Constitutional Rights. It'd be kind of nice on the one hand to have the option, tho mostly for the convenience of not having to worry about something calling in a "MWAG" (Man with a gun) to the polie because I bent down to tie my shoe, pick up my son or just bent the wrong way and someone ignorante of the laws and gun-phobic freaks out and calls the local constabulary. That and hiking or hunting. I'm also of the mindset that it might well deter all but the most hardned and determined of criminals from performing robberies and the like if they might possibly walk in to a bank, liquor store, restaurant or other business or public place where chances are better than they currently are that several patrons might be armed and said arms were easier to reach than with a concealed firearm. Even if Open Carry holders were required to get the same training and were vetted by the ASP and FBI, as Concealed Hangun Carry License holders currently are required. henrihil wrote: "Should it be legal for you to walk around town with a gun on your hip? NO, it would only compound the problem for violence in some of our cities. Tactic and situation would be the key issue and that takes training" You *do* realize that there are several tens of thousands of Arkansas who already "walk around town with a gun on their hip", right? I mean no insult, just asking if you are aware of this or not. I would think not, as those CHCL holders in our state don't "currently compound the problem", or at least not that I've yet heard. There's a quote that I like and repeat every chance I get, tho I don't remember the exact source nor the exact numbers involved. It goes like this: Today, 6,xxx,xxx legal gun owners in the United States of America killed no one. :)

I'm a bit divided on the issue of whether or not I'd be happy with it. However, I'm all for American's being allowed to exercise our Constitutional Rights. It'd be kind of nice on the one hand to have the option, tho mostly for the convenience of not having to worry about something calling in a "MWAG" (Man with a gun) to the polie because I bent down to tie my shoe, pick up my son or just bent the wrong way and someone ignorante of the laws and gun-phobic freaks out and calls the local constabulary. That and hiking or hunting. henrihil wrote: "Should it be legal for you to walk around town with a gun on your hip? NO, it would only compound the problem for violence in some of our cities. Tactic and situation would be the key issue and that takes training" You do realize that there are several tens of thousands of Arkansas who already "walk around town with a gun on their hip", right? There's a quote that I like and repeat every chance I get, tho I don't remember the exact source nor the exact numbers involved. It goes like this: Today, 6,xxx,xxx gun owners in the United States of America killed no one.

I TRULY BELIEVE HAVING AN OPEN-CARRY OPTION HERE IS IMPERATIVE. IT WILL GIVE RESPONSIBLE GUN OWNERS WITH THE LEGAL RIGHT TO CARRY CONCEALED CURRENTLY MORE COMFORT. I HATE HAVING TO CONCEAL MY GUN. I HAVE GONE THROUGH ALL THE LEGAL CHANNELS TO OBTAIN THE RIGHT TO EVEN CARRY A HANDGUN. JUST AS YOU HAVE TO MEET THE QUALIFICATIONS TO OBTAIN A DRIVER'S LICENSE OR ANY LEGAL-BINDING PRIVILEDGE, SO SHOULD STANDARDS OF AN OPEN-CARRY LAW BE IMPLEMENTED. I STRONGLY BELIEVE THE PASSING OF THE BILL WILL EVEN SUPPORT PROACTIVE VIOLENT CRIME PREVENTION ALLOWING LICENSED CITIZENS TO OPEN CARRY. I LIVE IN A HIGH-CRIME AREA AND HAVE BEN ROBBED TWICE. I'M SURE IF I WAS ABLE TO HAVE THE RIGHT TO OPEN-CARRY, THOSE WHO ROBBED ME WOULD HAVE THOUGHT TWICE BEFORE JUMPING ME, TAKING MY CAR, AND STOMPING ME TIL I WAS ALMOST UNCONSCIOUS. SOME CITIZENS MAY FIND THE PASSING OF THE OPEN-CARRY LAW AS A TOOL FOR DESTRUCTION FOR HOT-HEADED VIGILANTES. IF THOSE THAT LEGALLY CONCEAL GUNS NOW WERE GONNA GO OFF THE EDGE I TRULY BELIEVE IT WOULD BE MANY CASES OF CONCELED LICENSE OWNNERS INVOLVED IN GUN CRIMES. THE GUN CRIMES ARE BEING COMMITED BY THOSE WHO DONT EVEN HAVE THE RIGHT TO CARRY A CONCEALED WEAPON. THE BILL DOESNT SUPPORT ANYONE TO OPEN-CARRY, DOES IT? THE RATIONAL THING TO DO IS TO LOOK AT THE CRIME RATE IN STATES THAT ALLOW OPEN-CARRY COMPARED TO OURS AND THAT SHOULD SPEAK FOR SOMETHING. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS NEEDED HERE. I AM A LIVING WITNESS. I ONLY CARRY FOR "PROTECTION". THE POLICE CARRY FOR "PROTECTION". OPEN-CARRY LAWS ARE FOR "PROTECTION".

Should it be legal for you to walk around town with a gun on your hip? NO, it would only compound the problem for violence in some of our cities. Tactic and situation would be the key issue and that takes training

Strongly support open carry!

Open carry may deter criminals from some of their activities as they seem to have open season on anyone or any business. Law Enforcement very seldom is in a position to prevent a crime, and usually only respond to it after it happens. They can't be everywhere. And many times it's the innocent victim that's dead. Open Carry should still be only available to those persons who have concealed carry permits. They are trained and vetted by the State Police and FBI. Most politicians forget who they work for. They work for us. It's still majority rules, even in Arkansas. I don't care what the Governor thinks or wants on a personal level. Do the peoples will if this is indeed their will! I have and do carry. Open and concealed, there are advantages and disadvantages to both. The bottom line is that I'd like to have that choice. Look at statistics for those who carry concealed. Miniscule percentage ever involved in a crime or unjustified shooting. In Tucson who stopped the attack? Three unarmed bystanders and only after lives were lost and he was reloading. A trained person with a weapon either concealed or open, most likey would have decreased the carnage. Carrying a weapon, whether concealed or open heightens the senses, you are more aware of your surroundings because now you are not only responsible for your safety, but those around you as well.

I agree with those who say that people who carry guns should be trained- BUT I believe that training must be a matter of personal responsibility. We don't need the nanny state to babysit us and put a stamp of approval on our citizens and pacify them with the privilege of carrying a gun in the way deemed fit by suits in a granite building. We need the State to get out of the way of our rights! I refuse to accept that Arkansans are a bunch of backewards, barefoot hillbillys who don't have the sense to do the same thing that is working perfectly in other states. Furthermore, I am still waiting for ONE SINGLE opponent of this bill to offer ONE SINGLE FACT to support their position.

yes it should be legal to open carry.

Then we should have regulated shootouts every Saturday night.

I support open carry. I have carried concealed for a couple years now. I believe bearing arms is a constitutional right to protect myself and my family. Open carry would detour criminals from committing crimes so readily.