Question: What is the Gunslinger Law?
Answer: The "Gunslinger Law" often refers to the law of "open carry." This means that you can walk around with your pistol in hand, showing everyone you mean business. The name comes from the way it was once used. A gunslinger often faced off against an aggressor in a time when
everyone carried a gun. If you were known to carry a gun and somebody shot at you, you were darn well within your rights to shoot him back. "Open carry" came along when guns became unacceptable to just wear around in civilized society but folks still wanted to protect themselves.
You are darn tootin this guy knows the meaning of "open carry"
Because you are showing everyone how manly you are, this law also means that you can shoot anyone provided you can prove he or she was going to do equal or worse harm to you. You openly displayed your gun, and the other guy had knowledge that you could shoot him if he tried something.
She was reaching for the gun in the basket, Officer, I swear!
This is also the reason a lot of public places have policies up saying no firearms. Every version of this law is different, especially about when and where you can display your weapon and how and when you can shoot someone. A lot of states, counties and cities have this law still on the books, so schools and libraries have to say you can not have guns on their property. When you see this policy and wonder who would do that, look around you. Chances are, you see someone who would and who is legally able to do so.
"I ever tell you about the time I shot some dude?"
As I said before, open carry is different in different places. Almost every level of government has in it the ability for a public citizen to gain a "concealed carry" licence, which means you can have a gun hidden away on you. The "open carry," though, is a bit of a grey area. Some read it as you have to tell someone you have a gun; others say it has to be in hand. Even a holster can be counted as concealed.
Shooting someone while "open" is also a bit in the grey. Most say if the other guy has a gun and you have a gun, and they were gonna shoot you, blammo, self defense, no worries. Still there are those cases that spring up like an episode of Law & Order where a dude shoots someone cause the defendant said the ventilated guy had a gun. They may not get off scott free unless they can prove the guy exercising with daisies wanted them dead. Cases where someone was shot in the back can also get complicated. Because you scared off the bad guy with your openly carried gun, you do not get to shoot him as he runs away. The courts often think the maniac running from a gun is no longer a threat. Ruins a Thrusday night.
Another law simular to this is the "Castle Law," not to be confused with the "Firefly Law" that also stars Nathan Fillion.
Who wants to bet there's a gun under that scarf?
Built off "a man's home is his castle," anyone in your house who you do not want in your house is able to become a piece of modern art by way of shotgun. Texas is an extreme example of this. You can have a gun anywhere in your house and if someone comes in, boom. No questions. Less formal states claim that you have to show that the person meant you harm and was on your property without your permission, so no shooting the maid because she wanted to vacuum at 3am.
Other states, like Mississippi, extend the "Castle Law" to vehicles as well. So if someone threatens you in your car, or more likely your pickup, you can pull a gun from under the seat and see how many holes a human body really needs. If you get stopped and the gun in your car is legal, the police can take it for a while just to see how legal it is, but with the right papers you can have Ole Bessie back and ready to take out car-jackers before it is time to go clubbing. Oh, and they can take you, too, if you do not tell them about it. This is why gun racks are popular. They are a simple way to say, "That's just what I decided to show you."
References:
Handgun Laws
