Comments show necessity of events like Vermilion's

Today, December 20, from 12:00 to 2:00, there will be an Open Carry Shopping Day in the Harbour Town historic district of Vermilion, OH.

The Cleveland Plain Dealer's Question of the Day for December 16 asked:

What do you think of the "Vermilion Open Carry Shopping Day" event?

Open Carry "Defense' Walks have always been about showing the absurdity of a state law and Supreme Court which bans concealed carry by trained citizens under the notion that it would be dangerous, while at the same time allowing open carry with no restrictions.

Judging from some of these Clevelanders' answers, the 'Defense' Walks are still a much-needed educational tool.

UPDATE: Sadly, judging from this Cleveland Plain Dealer op-ed, some people will never learn.

Click on the "Read More..." link below for more.

Question on the Day

What do you think of the 'Vermilion Open Carry Shopping Day' event?

12/17/03

"I believe we should all be carrying handguns out in the open, considering
our safety forces are being depleted." - Cleveland

"I think it's a stupid idea! We're not even allowed to carry an open beer
can around in a store, let alone a gun." - Cleveland

"Openly carrying weapons on shopping day: I think bringing a large group
of inexperienced, untrained individuals carrying weapons in the same
location would create the possibility of endangering lives, not to mention
being mugged, possibly by muggers with their own weapons. I think that's a
bad idea. Somebody should surely give this a second thought." - Garfield
Heights

"Nothing says Christmas like a handgun." - Cleveland

"This is utterly ridiculous! I mean, all someone has to do is bump into
someone the wrong way, and before you know, you got a murder." - Cleveland

"Get used to it, because pretty soon, it's going to be the norm." -
Cleveland

"Just when you think you've heard it all, someone comes up with a crazy
idea like this!" - North Royalton

"If Taft vetoes the gun bill, it'd be the first sensible thing he's done
since he took office. I hope he does." - Lorain

"I think it's a fantastic idea! Thieves are especially prevalent during
the holiday season. A citizen who is carrying a holstered gun is sending a
not-so-subtle message to every thief and every lowlife that says, 'Don't
even think about it!' " - Cleveland

"Oh, my God! We have gone insane! And what a time of year to express this
violence. We need peace on Earth, and I don't think it'll come through
guns. It hasn't yet." - Shaker Heights

"I support it. It shows how ridiculous it is to not have a concealed-carry
law like the rest of the United States. I plan on attending and packing my
9 mm." - Euclid

"All too soon, Americans will be firing their NRA cowboy toys in the
streets just as they do in Iraq. The NRA controls the White House." -
Brecksville

Related Story:
Gun Control Extremists Advocate Open Carry?!?