Carrying guns in public: Rights come with responsibilities

Last week, Florida’s new open carry gun law went into effect. For some, that’s a victory for individual rights. For others, it’s a cause for worry, especially for parents whose kids may become frightened when they’re standing in line to order chicken nuggets and spot a sidearm on a stranger’s hip.

Yes, the law permits you to openly carry a firearm. No, it doesn’t mean you should forget that you live in a community — not the set of an old Western movie anticipating the next duel.

Think of your neighbors & law enforcement

Our neighbors come in all stripes. Some grew up around firearms and feel comfortable seeing them in public, especially those raised in rural communities in Marion County or elsewhere.

Others may never have handled a gun and only know them through headlines about the steady stream of mass shootings and violence plaguing America. Some may have been victims of gun violence themselves, or have lost loved ones to it, and the sight of an openly displayed weapon could cause unnecessary pain and emotional distress.

To them, the sight of a pistol is not reassuring — it’s frightening. If you strap one on before heading to the grocery store, know that the mom in the checkout line or the retiree grabbing milk — including veterans for whom a gun sighting could trigger PTSD — may interpret your action as a threat. And maybe think twice about how other drivers might perceive the aggressiveness of your driving before mounting a rifle or shotgun in the back window of your pickup, as was common years ago.

Law enforcement officers also face an added layer of risk. When they arrive on a scene where multiple people are openly carrying, they must instantly determine who is a threat and who is not. That split-second calculation, made in a tense and fast-moving situation, can increase the danger for both officers and civilians.

Kids don’t parse Second Amendment debates. They just see a gun and wonder if they’re safe. One of our own kids, raised around firearms, put it plainly: “If I walk into a Walmart tomorrow and I see a guy carrying an AR-15, my first thought is not that they’re there just in case of an emergency. My brain is automatically telling me that they ARE the emergency.” That kind of instinctive fear can’t be ignored.

Think of local businesses

The law also puts small business owners in an awkward spot. Legally, they can restrict open carry on their premises. But how easy is it for the manager at a place that caters to kids to walk up to a parent with a visible firearm and ask them to leave?

We all recall episodes during the COVID-19 pandemic when business owners and employees who asked customers to wear masks were harassed or threatened for simply enforcing the rules. Imagine how those encounters could play out when the subject isn’t masks but firearms.

Responsibility means anticipating risks

Open carry comes with great responsibility. Firearms are not just visible to law-abiding neighbors — they’re also visible to those struggling with mental illness.

We’ve reported on how this can go wrong. If someone in mental distress can make a grab for a law enforcement officer’s holstered weapon or the keys to a patrol car, civilians need to understand that risk when openly carrying in public spaces with people whose stability is unknown.

Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd recently urged caution in a social media post.

“Some people think, well, if I’m carrying a firearm, I’ll announce my presence and my intentions,” he said. “You don’t scare real bad guys by carrying a firearm in a holster or slinging an AR-15 over your shoulder.” He warned that a “real bad guy” can take your firearm and use it against you.

A policy point

Current law seeks to curtail gun violence by restricting access for felons and people diagnosed with mental illness. But common sense should tell us there’s no way to know at a glance if the person walking down the street is a convicted felon or is dealing with mental illness.

The right to openly carry a deadly weapon in public comes with the responsibility to exercise judgment. Ask yourself: Is this the time and place? Do I need my weapon at the youth baseball game, or am I making the umpire’s calls harder than they already are?

The Gazette editorial board is not advocating for surrendering your rights. But we are here to remind you that rights, responsibilities and relationships with your neighbors go hand in hand.

As Florida enters this new era of open carry, let’s proceed with care. The freedoms we exercise can either strengthen our bonds with neighbors or fray them.