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Showing Original Post only (View all)Dallas Mayor Calls Bullsh*t On Open Carry: It Didn’t Help During Shooting, And Made Things Worse [View all]
http://www.ifyouonlynews.com/politics/dallas-mayor-calls-bs-on-open-carry-it-didnt-help-during-shooting-and-made-things-much-worse/Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings (D) stood next to Texas Governor Greg Abbott (R) and dropped an extremely uncomfortable reality check: Open Carry, the movement pushed with near-fanatical obsession by Texas Republicans, not only did nothing to help stop the mass shooting of police officers in Dallas, but it actually made the situation far worse. Open Carry had an opportunity to justify its existence and it failed on every conceivable level.
For Rawlings, examining the aftermath of the shooting made it clear that having dozens of scared civilians clinging to assault-style weapons during a mass shooting was a recipe for disaster. The good guys with guns didnt suddenly become action heroes bravely stopping a heavily-armed lunatic. They acted like any of us would: When the shooting started, they scattered in every direction in terror of their lives. Only unlike others, these fleeing victims were strapped with weapons that sowed confusion. Any of them could have been a shooter attempting to blend in. At a moment when cops were being targeted by a sniper, officers had to track down these innocent gunmen just to make sure they werent one of the bad guys.
As Rawlings explained:
Its logical to say that in a shooting situation, open carry can be detrimental to the safety of individuals.
Heres how bad the situation became in Dallas during the shooting:
Rawlings said Dallas police Chief David Brown told him that people running through the shooting scene with rifles and body armor required officers to track them down and bring them to the police department. Whether that was time that could have been spent trying to find and stop the shooter is something police will have to comment on, Rawlings said.
In other words, the exact reason gun rights activists often give to justify guns everywhere bills is false. They dont keep people safe, they put peoples lives at risk by causing chaos.
A major in the Dallas police department was equally furious about the danger Open Carriers put the rest of the population in. Maj. Max Geron pointed out that the police scanner was filled with chatter of confused officers desperately trying to figure out who was a bad guy and who was an Open Carry supporter while calls of officer down continued to ring out.
/Snip. More at link.
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Dallas Mayor Calls Bullsh*t On Open Carry: It Didn’t Help During Shooting, And Made Things Worse [View all]
Photographer
Jul 2016
OP
No, he'll no doubt get re-elected in DFW... the GOP overtly gerrymandered the place but not on
uponit7771
Jul 2016
#11
He's 100% right, and anyone who takes a gun to protest isn't a "responsible" gun owner.
Hoyt
Jul 2016
#5
The next election cycle the NRA will make sure someone more to their liking wins
LiberalLovinLug
Jul 2016
#12
For self defense against an immediate and direct attack on themselves and/or bystanders that
Hangingon
Jul 2016
#65
Yes, oc would have to be cleared. I am glad DPD had discipline in finding the source of shooting...
Hangingon
Jul 2016
#75
slung or holstered agree - but the panic that ensues when one hears gunfire
NoMoreRepugs
Jul 2016
#84
Most law enforcement is against it, but they have no voice or say when it comes to
rladdi
Jul 2016
#16
Apparently Chief Brown's son was high on PCP and had shot someone else before getting shot
tblue37
Jul 2016
#25
Many rank and file cops support the NRA and whatever they say, including open carry.
Dustlawyer
Jul 2016
#72
Should also call into question the entire 'good guys with guns' argument in general ...
brett_jv
Jul 2016
#21
No I want to point out the NRA and their ammosexual friends arguments are bullshit ...
brett_jv
Jul 2016
#52
The CCW person is far less likely to commit a crime compared with the gen. population.
Eleanors38
Jul 2016
#32
Thus 90 gun accidents per 100 mill. gun owners exceeds that of 100 mill. non-owners?
Eleanors38
Jul 2016
#83
Oh agree about open carry - I don't get it either. Immedate is usually expressed as "imminent",
jmg257
Jul 2016
#46
An open carry permit, concealed permit or simply owning a gun does not require you to defend anyone
RB TexLa
Jul 2016
#47
Okay... And in what context is this statement supposed to be taken as in there has been
Photographer
Jul 2016
#68
And let's make no mistake about WHY these 20 dudes w/assault weapons were THERE ...
brett_jv
Jul 2016
#55
Thank you, Mayor Rawlings, for rubbing the gun-worshippers' noses in their lethal BS.
Surya Gayatri
Jul 2016
#69
gee, do you think this could prompt the Texas Lege idiots to re-think Open Carry?
RussBLib
Jul 2016
#80