Year of the Open Carry

[jcabin]

So, when did open carry gain national attention? It appears that the majority of open carry media coverage, AND people who started open carrying started in 2008. Is there a reason why it only happened then? How long has the open carry movement been going on, and why did it take until 2008 to become a normal mode of carry for so many citizens?

[General Geoff]

and why did it take until 2008 to become a normal mode of carry for so many citizens?

The Internet is a powerful tool, and has just recently proliferated to the point where it is being utilized for massive political organization, including those who open carry. It's online communities like PAFOA that nurture the sharing of legal and political knowledge, and help us to stand our ground, because we know we are not alone. You could think of the Internet as a giant lightswitch that illuminated the real world to many of us. And it will only get better.


Together we stand, divided we fall.

[TimtheDestroy]

^^^^ good way to put it, though there is a slew of misinformation on the web there are also reliable sources that can get the facts out to the people. Additionally the low cost to post and distribute the information allowed more people to share what they want rather then rely on just who they know, what their town/county had to offer, and what the news reported. As for the news and internet it has allowed for increase in stories (though not necessarily quality) that might not make print or airtime. This can become a testing ground for the news agencies as they can count the page views and comments to see what their audience is interested in hearing about and adjust their programing to gain more viewers.

For open carry it seems to be people could check sources to see if what their friend told them was true, they found the laws for their area, read articles/blogs/forums of others experiences to know what to expect, police responded in some instances and news reported on it, enough interest from the general undecided public and its supposed controversy led it to more media exposure. Then some of the undecided became decided, some pro some anti.

[TheF00L]

Post deleted by poster, as I am, doing to almost all my posts.

[Azzy]

I think it really hit the news after they started doing it in California, which, correct me if i am wrong, is the only way to carry over there. Kudos to the people over there struggling to grab onto a right that is almost pried from their warm, living hands.

[renegadephoenix]

i do thing it hit mainstream in 2008 as i heard about the Old Country Buffet saga.

[son of the revolution]

Funny, I always thought it was VCDL and the OC movement in Virginia that really kicked things off. I do know for a fact I saw and heard alot more about OCing in Virginia way before I heard about it in California.

[jcabin]

Funny, I always thought it was VCDL and the OC movement in Virginia that really kicked things off. I do know for a fact I saw and heard alot more about OCing in Virginia way before I heard about it in California.

Definately. CA didn't really attract any media until last year, and then it was relatively small amounts compared to VA, imo.

[wa3ra]

A number of us have OCed for many years; I suspect that before the movement got bigger, most people just assumed you were a 'cop or something' and just let you go on about your business....

[jahwarrior72]

Definately. CA didn't really attract any media until last year, and then it was relatively small amounts compared to VA, imo.

besides VA, i think PA definitely has made the most impact. i've seen news reports from around the country, usually revolving around one guy getting harrassed by LEO. but Google searches on OC in the media usually bring up VA and PA, with the most hits. places like GA and CA have only recently made headlines.

i'm proud to say most of the stories have involved members here.