It's not OK to be homophobic, but we need to cater to the hoplophobes...henceforth, CC shall now be referred to as "closet carry" :laugh:
Guns, Gays & PrideFest: An Expression of Freedom Or A Recipe For Disaster? | Seattle Gay Scene | Your Daily Gay In Seattle
Update at 9:51am: Egan Orion, president of PrideFest issued this statement:
So, I sent Ms. Orion an email:
Pridefest,
I am disappointed to read your response to "Liberty With Pride":
"since we’ve rented the Center for our exclusive use that day (on behalf of the community), know that anybody who open carries at the event will be peacefully asked to leave the festival grounds."
I openly carry a handgun in a holster every day when I am in public for the protection of myself and my family. One of the added benefits of open carry vs. concealed is that it presents an image to the public that it should be normal for a person to have the desire and the means available to protect themselves and their loved ones from crime. Also, to legally conceal the handgun one must obtain the government's permission in the form of a Concealed Pistol License (which I do possess). Having to obtain the government's permission to engage in an activity is no longer exercising a free right to do something - it is engaging in a licensed privilege.
I am disappointing because I would assume one of your organization's goals is to encourage acceptance of the LBGT community as normal. Yet, in order to support your efforts at encouraging acceptance you would require me to not only hide part of my normal, daily attire but also to forgo my 2nd Amendment right to bear arms. I can't help but consider that to be pretty hypocritical. The peoples' 2nd Amendment rights are no less important than your right to not be judged based upon sexual orientation.
I would hope that you will reconsider your stance on the presence of lawfully and peacefully armed participants in your festivals.
Very Respectfully,
John H....
Stanwood, WA
Guns, Gays & PrideFest: An Expression of Freedom Or A Recipe For Disaster? | Seattle Gay Scene | Your Daily Gay In Seattle
Update at 9:51am: Egan Orion, president of PrideFest issued this statement:
Seattle PrideFest is a big proponent of individual freedoms, but we can’t support an open-carry gun rally on the busiest day in Downtown Seattle and the Seattle Center throughout the entire year, where a collision of people, alcohol, and religious protesters bring excitement and tension to our City streets. With the expected Supreme Court decision on same-sex marriage, this will likely be a busier year than most, and will bring out more protesters. Adding an open carry rally to this incendiary mix is irresponsible and detracts from the LGBTQ focus of the day’s events. We are reviewing the matter with Seattle Center and our board of directors, but since we’ve rented the Center for our exclusive use that day (on behalf of the community), know that anybody who open carries at the event will be peacefully asked to leave the festival grounds.
So, I sent Ms. Orion an email:
Pridefest,
I am disappointed to read your response to "Liberty With Pride":
"since we’ve rented the Center for our exclusive use that day (on behalf of the community), know that anybody who open carries at the event will be peacefully asked to leave the festival grounds."
I openly carry a handgun in a holster every day when I am in public for the protection of myself and my family. One of the added benefits of open carry vs. concealed is that it presents an image to the public that it should be normal for a person to have the desire and the means available to protect themselves and their loved ones from crime. Also, to legally conceal the handgun one must obtain the government's permission in the form of a Concealed Pistol License (which I do possess). Having to obtain the government's permission to engage in an activity is no longer exercising a free right to do something - it is engaging in a licensed privilege.
I am disappointing because I would assume one of your organization's goals is to encourage acceptance of the LBGT community as normal. Yet, in order to support your efforts at encouraging acceptance you would require me to not only hide part of my normal, daily attire but also to forgo my 2nd Amendment right to bear arms. I can't help but consider that to be pretty hypocritical. The peoples' 2nd Amendment rights are no less important than your right to not be judged based upon sexual orientation.
I would hope that you will reconsider your stance on the presence of lawfully and peacefully armed participants in your festivals.
Very Respectfully,
John H....
Stanwood, WA