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you must not get out (of your state) much. Open carry is not uncommon in my state, and it's even legal to do in bars!

Brandishing Laws ... be aware of them. Of the many states I travel and open carry, the mere presence of the weapon or it's print is not relevant if lawfully open-carry. Every state has potential to variety their laws. Several offer non-resident conceal permits if there are reciprocal rights between originating conceal states. Oregon is open-carry but many cities have preemptive laws that in public areas the open carry must be unloaded. A good start below ... plus there is a Wikipedia page on most states gun laws.

http://www.opencarry.org/

"Most states" says the person who clearly knows very little about states' firearms laws. Open carry is legal throughout most of the US, in many (but not most) cases predicated on having a concealed carry license/permit.

This map specifically enumerates and delineates where and how registration is required. Here's a hint: it's only in like 10% of the country where the Constitution is regularly ignored, e.g. California and New York.

in almost no states is it legal to travel around with it in a useful condition, i.e. fully loaded and close at hand.

According to the map compiled by opencarry.org, ~35 states allow unlicensed vehicle carry, though some have some restrictions (must be visible, must be concealed, must be in glove box, may be restricted by local law, etc.).

The truth is, I'm going to feed a retarded troll. Every state that has a carry permit requires you to take a class: "training". You're an idiot.

Would you care to cite any facts?

12 states permit unlicensed open carry of firearms as a _right_ of competant adults. An additional 16 states permit some unlicensed open carry, albeit with some restrictions. So in over half the states, no, training is not required to exercise this right, no more than training is required for freedom of expression.

See: http://opencarry.org/opencarry.html

Now, of course being familiar with and practicing with your firearm is a really good idea. But that familiarity and practice could come from any number of sources. Perhaps someone has been taught by a parent, friend or family member, is ex-military, etc. Just because being famliar with your firearm is a good idea doesn't mean the government should mandate X as a precondition for exercising such a right.

To the GP's point, modern handguns ARE rediculously simple, and they do more effectively level the playing field when dealing with an attacker.

http://www.opencarry.org/airport.html

My apologies. I knew it was prohibited in my state, and assumed it was elsewhere. I was clearly mistaken.

Utah is also an open carry state. So he may not have been carrying concealed.

In some respects he may have even been transporting from wherever to his office. Which means that the gun is not on or about the person rather stowed in a container that is generally inacessible. Specifics vary state to state, some do not consider the glovebox 'on or about' others mandate locked containers, ammo separate from the gun, etc.

http://www.opencarry.org/ut.html

We trust government employees to do all kinds of stuff we don't allow the general citizenry to do.

You maybe but not me.

For example, it is generally illegal to walk around visibly strapped, but cops can do it all the time.

Open carry is still allowed and legal in places. "In Pennsylvania, persons 18 years of age and older whom are not prohibited by law from owning firearms may openly carry a handgun in plain sight with no license except in vehicles*, cities of the first class** (Philadelphia) and where prohibited specifically by statute." States are also re-legalizing concealed carry, with support from advocates.

Falcon

Its not a permit process, its a background check.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Instant_Criminal_Background_Check_System

I'm in Alaska, there are no permits needed here unless I want to carry a concealed firearm, same as when I was in Oregon before that.

But I can open carry without a permit, I just need to not be dinged on the background check or to buy a firearm from someone else.

http://www.statemaster.com/graph/gov_gun_law_per-government-gun-laws-permits

http://www.opencarry.org/ak.html

http://opencarry.org/ca.html

http://www.handgunlaw.us/states/california.pdf

Yes, and?

Not exactly.

"Right, but in this instance the police acted appropriately... They were alerted to a potential threat, contained it, discovered it wasn't a threat at all and left. No charges were filed, and a suggestion was given that would result in a whole lot of police and Bungie staff not having their time wasted."

The problem is that Washington State allows open carry of firearms.

http://opencarry.org/wa.html

AND, the police know it:
http://www.opencarry.org/pdf/FederalWay.pdf
http://www.opencarry.org/pdf/KingCountySheriffsBulletin.pdf

For those who are intellectually opposed to PDF's, the last are training documents from actual police departments telling officers that openly carrying a weapon is legal in the state. The type of weapon reported - an "ak47" is legal in the state. They had no probable cause to act.

The closest they could have come is the following:

"It is unlawful to carry, exhibit, display or draw any firearm in such a way as to manifest an intent to intimidate another. This does not apply to persons in their own home or place of business or to instances of self-defense or acting in furtherance of one's official duties. "

Except that's not what he was doing - he was walking down the street. If he was pointing it at people, sure - take him down.

A person's rights should not be curtailed because someone else is frightened.

Not exactly.

"Right, but in this instance the police acted appropriately... They were alerted to a potential threat, contained it, discovered it wasn't a threat at all and left. No charges were filed, and a suggestion was given that would result in a whole lot of police and Bungie staff not having their time wasted."

The problem is that Washington State allows open carry of firearms.

http://opencarry.org/wa.html

AND, the police know it:
http://www.opencarry.org/pdf/FederalWay.pdf
http://www.opencarry.org/pdf/KingCountySheriffsBulletin.pdf

For those who are intellectually opposed to PDF's, the last are training documents from actual police departments telling officers that openly carrying a weapon is legal in the state. The type of weapon reported - an "ak47" is legal in the state. They had no probable cause to act.

The closest they could have come is the following:

"It is unlawful to carry, exhibit, display or draw any firearm in such a way as to manifest an intent to intimidate another. This does not apply to persons in their own home or place of business or to instances of self-defense or acting in furtherance of one's official duties. "

Except that's not what he was doing - he was walking down the street. If he was pointing it at people, sure - take him down.

A person's rights should not be curtailed because someone else is frightened.

Not exactly.

"Right, but in this instance the police acted appropriately... They were alerted to a potential threat, contained it, discovered it wasn't a threat at all and left. No charges were filed, and a suggestion was given that would result in a whole lot of police and Bungie staff not having their time wasted."

The problem is that Washington State allows open carry of firearms.

http://opencarry.org/wa.html

AND, the police know it:
http://www.opencarry.org/pdf/FederalWay.pdf
http://www.opencarry.org/pdf/KingCountySheriffsBulletin.pdf

For those who are intellectually opposed to PDF's, the last are training documents from actual police departments telling officers that openly carrying a weapon is legal in the state. The type of weapon reported - an "ak47" is legal in the state. They had no probable cause to act.

The closest they could have come is the following:

"It is unlawful to carry, exhibit, display or draw any firearm in such a way as to manifest an intent to intimidate another. This does not apply to persons in their own home or place of business or to instances of self-defense or acting in furtherance of one's official duties. "

Except that's not what he was doing - he was walking down the street. If he was pointing it at people, sure - take him down.

A person's rights should not be curtailed because someone else is frightened.

Even if the rifle was real what reason did the police have to swarm the Bungee office? Open carry is 100% legal in Washington. http://opencarry.org/wa.html

Washington is an open carry state.

http://opencarry.org/wa.html