Hello All,
Greetings, I welcome you open minded discussion. In the spirit of educated discussion I will attempt to answer your questions presented in a curious and non-attacking way to the best of my abilities without introducing drama or hostility.
I first became aware of MOC after the well publicized news coverage surrounding the Ponderosa incident in Lansing. It is my understanding that MOC had prior authorization to hold a meeting at the restaurant, but that permission was rescinded when a member brought some sort of long gun. I read in the objectives on MOC’s main page “To exercise a natural right to self defense using the most efficient and common tool, a handgun.” While open carry of any weapon is legal in Michigan, your stated objective focuses on a lawful carry of handguns. I suspect that the Ponderosa meeting might have gone off without a hitch had members chosen to carry only handguns. I am somewhat bothered by this, because it appears to me that the inclusion of a long gun was designed to elicit a police response and/or media attention.
First, let me assure you, while we do not opposed Long Gun Open Carry (or LGOC as we call it) it is not our primary mission. The individual who OC'd the Carbine style weapon at Ponderosa was not a member of Michigan Open Carry, but was rather a person of the general public, much like you, who decided to attend the MOC event. I hope you can understand we are not responsible for what every person in Michigan does while carrying a firearm. Nor can we control what members of the general public do at our events. We ask that people consider how bringing a Long Gun to events will effect our message and think about the consequences of their actions in advance. While we cannot kick someone out of an event that is not on our property, our business host can. You can understand why we were a bit disappointed the business owner opted to kick us all out rather than just the person who brought the long gun. Also know, the owner was a bit disturbed by the scene that was mostly caused by the police response -- and how that would affect his business. When the dispatcher told him OC of a long gun was legal, he was fine to leave it be, but the dispatcher insisted on sending out the police.
I have also followed the ongoing saga between MOC and the CADL. If memory serves me correctly, the first action your members took there was to carry a shotgun into the library. It begs that same question as above. If your stated focus is hand guns, was the shot gun an attempt to draw police/media attention? I also have it on good authority that a person was contacted by both the security staff and the police for carrying an airsoft gun. I know that fact has been disputed by your members but I find it troubling. How is the lawful and responsible carry of handguns furthered by someone using a toy gun to incite a problem at an already unfriendly location?
Again, the person who brought the shotgun into the Library was not a member of MOC, Inc. at the time (unsure of this fact and the exact date his membership expired) and it is my understanding this person may be no longer welcome within the organization.
The person you reference with the "airsoft gun" was actually the same person as the shotgun. He was not carrying an "airsoft", but rather a CO2 propelled Pellet/BB Gun which is lawfully registered as a pistol in Michigan.
Once again, I hope you can understand we can't be responsible for the actions of every Michigan gun owner. We do not endorse his (or others) efforts when their only reasonable foreseeable end is to draw attention to himself.
As I stated above, I am generally supportive of open carry. However, just because something is legal does not mean it is always a good idea. It is perfectly legal for me to put on a Speedo bathing suit, high heels, and a pair of aviators and stand in front of the capitol building doing the hustle.
Many college girls in Lansing walk the public streets wearing less than you describe during the fall/spring as they visit the nightclubs downtown. These girls are often "open carrying" in another way. Being a Libertarian, I support them in their right to express themselves as they see fit as long as they do no harm to another. Most people subjected o this don't become hostile. You may not be as attractive as these young ladies, but having met you I do not feel qualified to address that issue.
Legal or not, that is most certainly a stupid idea that would be met with hostility by those who were subjected to it. I have similar views of open carry in an urban setting. I think openly carrying a firearm makes you a target in the event of an incident. You would present the strongest threat to a criminal which would rob you of the element of surprise.
You are entitled to your preferences regarding OC v CC, as I am entitled to mine.
1. We have not found that someone OCing is first to be shot. This simply doesn't happen. Someone committing a crime is in tunnel vision and probably won't even see the OCer.
2. OC is a faster draw.
3. OC is a visual deterrent to criminals. Yes, they may have a gun also, but they know if they get into a gun fight they could always lose. Most criminals aren't out to risk their lives (versus dead) while committing their crime.
4. OC is a faster draw. From practice and by timing I can tell you I can draw my firearm and squeeze off my first shot somewhere within .7-.9 seconds and accurately hit a person-sized target within 30' with that first shot. Can you draw from concealment that quickly? I can't. If you can, please teach me how...
I'd recommend the book entitled through Whitefeather Press. It's available at:
http://www.myparentsopencarry.com . The author, who is a regular member of this forum explains in details the advantage of OC over CC. I hope you'll take the time to read it.
Openly carrying a gun could result in an uneducated person expecting a response you know is not proper.
I believe each person has personal responsibility. Someone looking to me thinking I have a duty to defend them in peril might do well to buy their own firearm and train. This isn't to say I wouldn't help them. I honestly don't know, each situation is different.
I also worry about the image MOC is presenting to the general public. Whoever coined the phrase any publicity is good publicity is an absolute idiot.
"Let no crisis go to waste." - Rahm Emanuel.
I agree, he is an idiot.
The media coverage I have seen of your group pertains to the situations above. Might you be better served my involving yourselves in community events where your presence is invited? I am picturing a large MOC presence in a cancer or aids walk. I see community service events, and floats in parades. If your organization is already involved in such activities, I think greater effort should be placed on getting publicity. I know the media is less likely to run with such positive stories, but even in their absence, you are still reaching members of the general public in a positive way. I worry that the militant, in-your-face actions that have dominated the news coverage harm both MOC and the greater community of gun owners. I would hate to see libraries added to pistol free zones as a result of public outcry, or CPLs become harder to obtain. I would hate to see anti-gun forces unite to illegalize open carry entirely.
Have you seen our recent
I think you may find it more educational in value, like you suggested. Unfortunately, we can't control how the media often spins things.
In closing, I would like to thank anyone who took the time to read this. I hope that your responses will help me better understand MOC and your mission. Perhaps you may change my position on certain issues, and hopefully you are open to some of my constructive suggestions. I already agree with you in principle, just not necessarily in practice. Hopefully my thoughts will help you engage a large group of Michiganders who are undecided on these matters.
I am always open to open minded, non-attacking, and intellectual discussion.
