... is a concealed weapons permit in Illinois. Well, cross that item off my list. Guess I'll be getting a lump of coal, instead.
Wyoming has the right idea. Open carry. And I don't mean alcohol in the car.
"Open carry" of handguns will be allowed in Wyoming after January 1, according to information provided by one reader. A few other states allow open carry, too. In other words, just strap on the ol' six-shooter and ride into town.
Not to make light of a serious situation, of course. "Packing heat" carries with it a very serious responsibility. And it won't keep you from being hassled by some law enforcement officers.
In Illinois you'll not only get hassled; you can count on being arrested if you are not a cop and you get caught carrying a gun.
There was a court case in Illinois in the past year or so involving a man who had a gun in the console of his car. The court decision was in his favor, but you can bet he spent a fortune defending himself. Like the man in DuPage County who had a gun in a fanny pack; he won his case, but it too had to cost a fortune in defense fees.
Why the console or the fanny pack? The guns were in a "container." Illinois state law says you can carry a gun in a container, and it doesn't define container.
When you have a concealed carry permit, you must be informed about the laws in your own state and about the laws of other states, where you might be able to carry because of reciprocity. As you cross each state line, you may have cover your weapon, if you are carrying it in the open, or remove it from your belt or other holster and place it, unloaded, in the trunk of your vehicle.
Assuming, of course, that you have a trunk. What if you are traveling by motorcycle? I wonder whether placing it in luggage that you can't reach from the rider's position qualifies.
What it boils down to is knowing your rights and knowing in advance to what extent you will stand up for them. For example, if an officer asks if he can search you, do you refuse (because it is your right) or do you agree because you know he won't find any illegal item and you'll be on your way sooner?
I say, "Know your rights and stand up for them, even if you are delayed."
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3 comments:
Wyoming and most states already allow open carry without any licnese, see more at OpenCarry.org - check out our maps tab
Thanks, Mike.
When I lived in Denver, a kid from New Mexico was riding his motorcycle through Denver and was arrested for open carry. It was legal where he was from, but not in Denver (or Colorado at that time (1978?), I think.
I was pleasantly surprised to see the number of open-carry states on your map.
Thanks!
Thugs be a little more reluctant to engage you if they know ur pack'n. Afterall, citizens that cap a hood while commiting a crime are revearred as heros in society.
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