Opinion
“Sir! Put the gun on the bottom, please,” the deputy points a loud order to a citizen open carrying a rifle on a neighborhood avenue in a TikTok video now making the rounds on X.
“It’s authorized,” the Maryland gun proprietor protests, solely to be ordered in no unsure phrases to do as he’s instructed. A dialog after frisking for different weapons ensues during which the gun proprietor tries to clarify that the state legal professional common agrees with him, that “should you don’t have a hid carry you’re allowed to open carry.”
“You may’t stroll down the center of the road with a rifle in your arm,” the deputy replies. “I’ve by no means even heard of that earlier than.” He calls within the sheriff on the gun proprietor’s request, who exhibits up a couple of minutes later, agrees that “You may’t try this,” and responds to the citizen’s protest by telling him “With a gun like that in your shoulder, I don’t care what the legal professional common says.”
As anticipated, outrage ensues, at the least till a observe linking to a Delaware On-line article (protected by a subscription firewall) seems beneath the submit:
“This video from 2014 exhibits Maryland State Delegate Mike Smigiel and was coordinated with Maryland Sheriff Mike Lewis. It was filmed to focus on the legal professional common’s place that hid carry wasn’t wanted in Maryland as a result of open carry was allowed.”
“I don’t care what the legal professional common says” pic.twitter.com/c4Xc9z2p81
— Stu thats all you get (@Boldyboy1975) Might 19, 2025
That’s each bit as outrageous, however at the least it tells us the video was staged. It was additionally correct in its portrayal of police being clueless about open carry in lots of jurisdictions, making a scenario during which lawless legislation enforcers, conditioned to view themselves because the “Solely Ones” who ought to be armed, not solely deny residents rights they’re sworn to uphold, however threaten their lives within the course of.
That’s not hyperbole. It’s been documented for years. By me.
Again in 2010, I wrote an article (now solely accessible on the Web Archive, so it might load slowly) about an East Palo Alto, CA detective’s Fb feedback on open carriers:
“Sounds such as you had somebody working towards their 2nd modification rights final night time!” Tuason wrote. “Ought to’ve pulled the AR out and susceptible all of them out! And if considered one of them makes a furtive motion … 2 weeks off!!!”
That is what he needed to say about their lack of ability to get hid carry permits attributable to state disarmament “legal guidelines”:
“Haha that’s if you attend considered one of their conferences and snicker at them cuz they’ll solely dream to have a ccw…”
Again the Blue, proper?
And this [unedited] on-line dialog between two Ohio cops passed off beneath a narrative about two open carry advocates bringing their rifles right into a Texas Chipotle:
Shoot the child on the best.. And they need to by no means know you’re carrying yours anyhow!
Id be yelling at him drop the gun
Then faucet faucet
You are able to do each on the similar time.. Haha [Followed by 4 revolver emojis]
Haha, certainly. Is anyone else laughing?
Seeing attitudes like this in my dwelling state prompted me to write down successive attorneys common, culminating in a letter to then AG (now governor) Mike DeWine.
“I’m writing to specific concern that Ohio legislation enforcement is just not receiving correct coaching relating to the responsibility of sworn officers to respect and shield the best of the folks to brazenly bear arms in public,” I instructed him in a Return Receipt letter. “Some have exhibited ignorance occasionally, in addition to contemptuous attitudes that endanger the general public and should create blowback. I’m additionally providing an answer to assist make sure the legislation is noticed and that harmful conditions and unwarranted responses won’t be initiated by the authorities.”
“How onerous might it’s for the state’s prime legislation enforcement officer … to write down a memorandum recognizing the legality of peaceful open carry, after which sending it to each police and sheriff’s division within the state, in addition to to the Freeway Patrol?” I requested after reminding his I had requested the identical questions of his predecessor, and of the legal professional common earlier than that. “One would assume flow-down communications explaining your interpretations and positions on legislation enforcement points are already established and routine.
“And the way onerous would it not be for the person LE departments to transmit this info to their sworn personnel?” the letter continued. “ For those who’re already requiring workers to signal acknowledgments akin to they perceive sexual harassment guidelines, and many others., and are inserting such proof of coaching paperwork of their personnel recordsdata, how far more effort can be required to have every officer signal and date a easy acknowledgment that she or he understands that open carry is lawful?”
Curiously, the “double faucet” posts had been taken down after I despatched my letter. And DeWine washed his palms of it, saying coaching requirements had been as much as the legislature. Then a younger black man dealing with a pellet gun in a Walmart was swatted and shot to loss of life in an incident the place retailer surveillance movies weren’t launched and the 911 caller recanted his story concerning the gun being waved round. After which, after a second loss of life of a younger black by cop, DeWine determined he might conduct enhanced coaching in spite of everything.
Add to this the attitudes of prime police administration, together with for authorized hid carry, with then-Chicago Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy imposing a “shoot first” coverage:
“I don’t care in the event that they’re licensed authorized firearms. I’ll practice our officers that there’s a hid carry legislation, however when any person turns with a firearm of their hand the officer doesn’t have an obligation to attend to get shot to return hearth and we’re going to have tragedies on account of that. I’m telling you proper up entrance.”
After which there was the Canton, OH cop who screamed threats like a lunatic when a hid service lastly acquired a phrase in edgewise to tell him he was armed (@ 5:55 into the NSFW video.)
Backside line, armed residents are on the market. Numerous them. Legislation enforcement wants to know this and be ready to deal with encounters respectfully and professionally. What’s unknown is the extent of coaching required in every state, and that’s a worthy aim for our “gun rights lobbyists” to handle with our representatives.
Assuming that’s not going to occur, it’s as much as every of us to hold safely, to deal with every interplay with an LE as a scenario the place we have to keep away from emotionally escalating issues for our personal good, and wait till we’re in a secure place and with ample counsel earlier than getting legally assertive.
About David Codrea:
David Codrea is the winner of a number of journalist awards for investigating/defending the RKBA and a long-time gun proprietor rights advocate who defiantly challenges the folly of citizen disarmament. He blogs at “The Battle on Weapons: Notes from the Resistance,” is a frequently featured contributor to Firearms Information, and posts on Twitter: @dcodrea and Fb.
