Gun owners complain about treatment in West Valley City

A group of gun owners is upset with the West Valley City police force. They claim officers are treating them unfairly because they choose to carry their weapons in shoulder and hip holsters, completely out in the open.

In Utah, there are places no one but law enforcement can take a gun, and there are restrictions, for example people without a concealed carry permit can't openly carry a loaded gun, but much of the time, it's allowed.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Guns
• Firearms
• Open
• Carry
• West
• Valley
• City
• Allowed
• Legal

[diggingforgold]

I'm totally for open and concealed carry, I believe it's our INDIVIDUAL constitutional right. But put yourself in a cops shoes. How should cops handle open carry situations? How do you distinguish the difference between a lawful citizen carrying and a gangbanger carrying? By their skin color? The way they walk?

I think police and those that open carry should agree upon a universal open carry protocol that guarantees BOTH police safety AND citizens rights to travel freely while armed.

[OpenCarry]

"How should cops handle open carry situations?" How about by looking at the actions of the person carrying? If I am just minding my own business, why harrass me?

And another thing, criminals don't carry openly, at least not yet.

[lccmonkey]

Right on. I wish I made it to the wv meeting. Keep it up guys.

[cmdrdredd]

@OpenCarry That's very very true. Look at the actions, if they are not doing anything illegal then don't bother them. That's how LEOs should handle it. Criminals want to hide their weapons, they don't want people to know they're armed because it allows people to become complacent and relax a bit. Then they strike unexpectedly and catch you off guard.

[macuarr0]

Wyne have you read the 2nd A. ?

go back to school dude

[l0n0l0n0f0l]

I live in west valley and i have been car jacked and have my house broken into while my family was sleeping last year..i don't know if i just have bad luck..but i think it's a good idea to carry one in the open..cause police do a good job but sometimes they just take too long

[FuchsTone66]

i can bet the reason that the cops are 'arresting' people is that its basically saying "i don't trust the police to protect my life". its a slap to their face...too bad. in 911 calls, most of the time its to either report a murder or to take a report. we have to protect ourselves. by law, the police do NOT have to put themselves in harms way to protect your life. i live in utah and we have one of the lowest crime rates around.