Bridgeport: Gun-Toting Subway Customer Gets Into Open-Carry Dispute With Police

If it were any other city in CT, I might have a different response. But of all the cities, Bridgeport is pretty much the only one that has a good case for open carry. Many parts of the city are not safe, and I can see why someone would feel a need to exercise that right. Sort of a big sign that says "don't fuck with me" in a place where people are commonly fucked with. Granted not all parts of Bridgeport are bad but I certainly don't feel very safe in that city.

In a town like Greenwich, Darien, Wilton, Westport, it's a different story. Those towns are notoriously safe. Chances of getting robbed or even hassled on the streets there are nearly zero. Open carry in those towns doesn't make sense and only serves to frighten the public. But since we can't have individual gun laws for each town, we have to accept laws which cover the state. I would be happy with either scenario:

A. Accept that open carry is legal and instruct the police to oblige the law.

B. Clean-up Bridgeport (and all other high-crime cities/neighborhoods) in Connecticut and ban all open carry.

Since B. ain't happening, we should learn to live with A. Personally, I think open carry is not smart in this state in any city. Regardless of crime rates. If it's such a bad place that you feel a need to open carry, then your first priority should be to GTFO of that city.

Best defense: No be there.

All that said, I hate these open carry nut jobs who frighten the public unnecessarily. Next time just show the police your permit, order your footlong, and go on your way. It's not a big deal. If police are checking you out, it's usually for a good reason. In this case, it's because he's open carrying in a place where open carry is not common. It's out of place. Police should check it out. Check the permit, make sure he's not nuts, and then go on their way. If people can't handle that then they are shitty citizens.

/r/Connecticut Thread Link - eater.com