Today I saw a driver wearing a pistol....

retired police officers are allowed to carry.

 

Wow, so much wrong with this post, I don't even know where to begin.

First, despite what the 2nd amendment says, the Supreme Court has ruled that self defense is covered under the scope of the 2nd amendment. The fact is that under the last major ruling from the supreme court on guns, every law abiding citizen should be able to carry a gun with them pretty much anywhere for the purpose of self defense. The states would be able to limit that to only concealed, only open, whatever, but you should be able to carry. That being said, some of the circuit courts are intentionally misinterpreting the ruling, so yes, you will be arrested for carrying in some states.

Second, all states allow the use of lethal self defense in situations where it is reasonable. Try to kill me, and I can kill you in self defense, in any state. If I can legally have a gun in that state, then I can use it as such. Some states may have a somewhat stricter idea of what constitutes a threat to your life, but no states allow lethal force against someone who, say, just shoves you out of their way, and all states allow it to defend your own life. So there is always a valid reason to carry a gun. You don't have to be going to a shooting range.

 

What's a constitution? I mean I've heard of it but is it true it exists?

 

Right, that's exactly what I said, it needs to be reasonable. You have no legal right to shoot an unarmed person. Your life has to be in danger before you shoot. This is where America keeps getting this wrong, like the genius that shot at the kids that stole tools from a Home Depot, putting anyone else walking in that parking lot at risk. You're not allowed to shoot someone that's running away, you're not allowed to shoot an unarmed person, you're not allowed to shoot someone just because he's in your face demanding your wallet... Yet, day after day, some genius just wants to shoot everything.

The DC vs Heller case said it was ok for self defense IN THE HOME. Driving down I-40 in an 18 wheeler, isn't exactly in your home.

You're not driving down that highway carrying a gun because you're planning on not having to shoot it. You're armed for a reason, and this is where you leave the protection of that amendment. If your intention is to fire that gun at a person, depending on the state, you're screwed. There's a very fine line between what is and isn't legal with weapons. Once that gun leaves your house, it's bound by the local carry laws, it's no longer a form of home defense, because it's not at home.

 

You can shoot an unarmed person. In many states you can shoot someone who breaks into your home. Also what if a 5 ft 90 lb woman is getting raped or attacked by a 6 ft 6. 300 lb man, does she not have the right to shoot him?

 

Guns in the home was the issued to be decided by the case, but if you read the decision, you will find that it applies outside the home as well. That's the "and bear" part of the amendment.

You arm yourself because you anticipate the possibility of having to use lethal force to defend yourself, an action which is constitutionally protected and legal in all 50 states.

There's just that issue of a number of states thumbing their noses at the constitution and the SC decisions upholding it.

 

What we have the right to do:
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/keep

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/bear

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/arms

...and what the government SHALL NOT do:
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/infringe

Doesn't get much simpler than that.

 

And if you violate state laws, and get caught, you can expect to pay the consequences, no matter what the constitution says.

 

Today I was a driver wearing a pistol .

 

One area of interest here would be reserve officers/deputies. It would be possible to argue that as compensated time depending on the specifics of the relationship between the department and the individual.

It's easier to access open carry than concealed. It would usually be up to the individual LEO to decide that, but I'd imagine most would not conceal.