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The NRA & Libertarians are probably so happy with this.
POST FALLS, Idaho —
Two home-schooled teenagers in this northern Idaho town say they are carrying loaded guns to the library, grocery store and other public areas for self-defense, as a crime deterrent, and to educate others about their rights.
Zach Doty, 18, carries a loaded Glock handgun on his hip. His 15-year-old brother, Steven, carries a .22-caliber rifle in a sling on his back.
Police have been called on several occasions to question the teens but have not found the teens to be in violation of the law.
In Idaho, residents 18 and older can openly carry a firearm in public. And those ages 13 to 17 who have parental permission can carry a rifle in public.
"I certainly don't anticipate that I'll need to use it, but I'd rather have it and not need it than to not have it and need it," Zach told the Coeur d'Alene Press. "There's no reason for me to hide a weapon."
Zach was stopped April 17 on his way to Bible study. On Friday, police again responded when someone reported the brothers with guns in a park. But police left after confirming it was the Doty's.
Zach has also been approached by others.
"There have been good opportunities to speak to people," he said. "I make sure they know that open carrying is legal, why I carry and I encourage them to consider doing so themselves."
The brothers carry their weapons to parks, the library, grocery stores and other places. They can't have their guns with them on school property, courthouses or jails.
Not everyone is comfortable with armed teenagers in the neighborhood.
"I turned back so that my wife could verify what I saw," said James Rebal, who called police after seeing Zach with his gun. "He was very nicely dressed and I saw nothing to be concerned about other than the weapon. It's not something you see in Idaho. Virginia Tech was fresh in my mind, and I thought it was better to err on the side of concern."
A lone gunman killed 32 people and himself last month at Virginia Tech University.
John Dunlap, commander of the American Legion Post 143, said he asked Zach to leave the Legion at a recent lunch because Zach was carrying his gun.
"He left and came back the next day (without the gun) for soup," said Dunlap, who described the brothers as "well-mannered."
Ed Santos owns Center Target Sports in Post Falls and is a gun safety instructor. He said the Dotys came to his shop but he doesn't sell handgun ammunition to people under 21.
He said that just because the Dotys are carrying guns in public doesn't mean they're not responsible with them, but questioned the need to carry them in town even though it was legal.
"My advice for them is the same as it is with adults — yes it's your right and yes it's legal, but why draw unnecessary attention to yourself just because you can?" Santos said. "I believe the intent (of the law) was to allow it more for hunting and recreation."
Zach said he's not paranoid or a radical.
"If I was an extremist, our founding fathers would all be extremists," he said. "Without them, we wouldn't have our independence. We'd be a disarmed British system of feudal subjectivity."
__________________ '08 Porsche 911 Carrera S Coupe, '08 VW Golf R32 # 3988
LOL thats ridiculous --- ! Whats wrong with this world!
Jesus christ - here in australia I cant even walk outside with a butter knife without a cop holding a gun at me saying "FRREEEZZEEEE... put down the butter knife sir"!
LOL thats ridiculous --- ! Whats wrong with this world!
Jesus christ - here in australia I cant even walk outside with a butter knife without a cop holding a gun at me saying "FRREEEZZEEEE... put down the butter knife sir"!
That's because you all are the reject criminals out of Europe.
I applaud this action. People need to realize the world is a dangerous place, not this fluffy-cloud PC version the gov and media has painted over the last 50 years.
The laws are on the books , use them. Carry weapons people.
Guys, when my dad was in highschool, they had a marksmanship class...a class with loaded guns that taught you to shoot, in a public school. I'd give a 6 year old a gun if i though he could handle it and be responcable for it.
I applaud this action. People need to realize the world is a dangerous place, not this fluffy-cloud PC version the gov and media has painted over the last 50 years.
The laws are on the books , use them. Carry weapons people.
LOL thats ridiculous --- ! Whats wrong with this world!
Jesus christ - here in australia I cant even walk outside with a butter knife without a cop holding a gun at me saying "FRREEEZZEEEE... put down the butter knife sir"!
What's wrong? Let's start with this:
You freak out about citizens who have shouldered (literally) the responsibility to legally carry a firearm, but think nothing whatsoever about police pulling a weapon on you for "carrying a butter knife".
Think about it.
If you're stuck, I'll give you a further hint. Perhaps, if more people carried firearms, the police wouldn't be so paranoid about rampant crime to due criminal lawlessness - they've be operating in a society which is more than capable of gunning down the law breakers at the time of the incident.
Now: your reaction might be this: "ZOMG, it will be the Wild West! People will be shooting each other over cups of coffee!"
My answer is this: perhaps. (I don't think so, but that's another topic, exhaustively covered on other threads about Conceal/Carry - you can search for it). We have to accept responsibility for the dysfunction we have caused in this society by drifting away from the long-honored tradition of carrying guns. That taught responsibility. It taught respect for life; respect for each other. It was restraining. Without it, we've lost those attributes. We've become a society in which lawlessness and "dissing" has become epidemic. The common criminal really has little fear of being confronted by a law-abiding citizen with lethal force.
Imagine if they did again. How civil things would suddenly be.
They are absolutely free security guards, and probably smarter than most of them. If they're ever around when some crazy goes on a rampage, rampage over.
That's because you all are the reject criminals out of Europe.
I applaud this action. People need to realize the world is a dangerous place, not this fluffy-cloud PC version the gov and media has painted over the last 50 years.
The laws are on the books , use them. Carry weapons people.
Dont be ignorant Pressure.... tsk
The world is not that dangerous! It could be worse.
I love the right we have to bare arms, thanks to our founding farthers. I don't know about you guys, but I will never give that right up to my government.
How many 18 year olds in the military carry firearms?
Society has no problem allowing teenagers to drive 2 ton vehicles on the road with little training. And driving is not a right, but it is allowed anyways.
Bearing arms is a right & I'm willing to bet these two have some pretty decent training in safely using a firearm.
How many 18 year olds in the military carry firearms?
Society has no problem allowing teenagers to drive 2 ton vehicles on the road with little training. And driving is not a right, but it is allowed anyways.
Bearing arms is a right & I'm willing to bet these two have some pretty decent training in safely using a firearm.
Picture Feudal Japan. Nearly everyone carried a sword or a weapon of some sort. When you talked ish to someone, or disrespected someone, you had a sword, but then he did too. You might kill him, or you might be killed. Im sure there were many disagreements that ended peacefully, or never even became an issue for that fact.
If I have a gun and you have a gun, the fact is, one of is likely going to be shot if it comes down to drawing weapons. Likely, one or both of us is going to die, maybe someone else. PHUNK DAT. Lets both be rational here and talk this out. The only time Im going to draw my weapon without hesitation, is if Im defending my life, or someone elses (like my wife or son).
Cas, have a guy hold a gun to your neck for a 5 minute car drive not knowing whether hes driving you to an ATM or to a deserted parking lot to kill you, and tell me you didnt wish you had a gun. With the exception of schools, and places that sell liquor, I think open carry should be allowed. Its a deterrent, plain and simple.
I'll feel more comfortable if my friends all had handguns with them too. No seriously, can't wait till I'm 21 so I can legally carry concealed weapons.
Kids Allowed To Carry Firearms In Public
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