11.04.14
Last night’s Corvallis City Council meeting on a proposed loaded carry bad was appropriately held in a theater.
Although the public opposed the proposal overwhelmingly (37 to 12 by one count) most of the Council voiced the opinion that the ordinance should be passed, while noting that it would accomplish exactly… nothing.
Corvallis is legally allowed to ban loaded carry of firearms, in public places by persons without concealed handgun licenses, they have no power to ban open carry of unloaded guns or any carry by license holders.
Since the proponents of the ban based their support exclusively on their discomfort seeing guns, clearly this ordinance would not help ease their delicate sensibilities. As one Oathkeeper pointed out, if you don’t have XRAY vision you still don’t know if the guns that strike fear into your heart are loaded or not. So all those who are fearful or offended by the sight of a firearm are just going to have to continue to live in terror.
Much of the testimony in favor of limiting gun owners’ rights made it clear that the real goal is the elimination of guns altogether and had nothing to do with the ordinance. All of the talk about suicides and the violence in the hearts of men really didn’t address the issue of “seeing” a gun.
Several people said that they wanted to end open carry because a person carrying a gun could kill you over any minor disagreement, like asking them not to smoke in the park. None of these folks acknowledged that a person who was concealing a gun can kill you too.
One of the principle arguments the gun grabbers use against concealed carry holders is that by “hiding” their guns they are capable of committing all kinds of mayhem that could be avoided if people could see the guns and flee. But now they don’t want to see them either.
Councilor Joel Hirsch spent the entire hearing ignoring speakers and staring at his laptop. (Updating his My Space page no doubt.) Councilor Mike Bielstein hid behind his laptop which is covered with a flag of Cuba. When questioned about his allegiances he said “talk to me after the meeting” but during one short break he high-tailed it off the stage to seek refuge behind the curtains.
There was essentially no police presence there in spite of the attempts by the liberty haters to gin up fear. And amazingly, there were no incidents.
Ironically, there were probably more people openly carrying firearms at the Council hearing last night that in all of Corvallis…forever.
The supporters of this new intrusion have admitted it is entirely symbolic. They are more concerned with people who want to feel safe than people who want to be safe.
As of now, the Council has chosen not to vote on the ban and has referred it back to the Administrative Services Committee. A referral to the voters is being discussed.
To everyone who showed up or emailed, make no mistake. You are the reason this pointless attack on your rights has not moved forward. Thank you for your efforts.
Contact info for the entire council is available here.