Open carry is legal in Missouri, and the victim in this incident had every right to be carrying his AR-15. But this is one of the reasons why I don’t open carry. In my opinion, it puts a target on your back.

A Missouri man was legally carrying an AR-15 while shopping at Wellston Food Market on May 27, 2022. But as he walked out of the grocery store, he was caught off guard. Another man held a pistol to the back of his head and demanded his AR-15. He also stole his jacket. The victim then went to his car, retrieved another firearm, and shot at the suspect.

A shootout between the two men ensued, and the suspect was hit multiple times. Two innocent bystanders were also struck by gunfire but had non-life-threatening injuries. The victim retrieved his AR-15 and left the scene. The police also reported that another man shot the suspect.

When the police arrived on the scene, they found the suspect with multiple gunshot wounds and transported him to the hospital. He was last reported to be in critical condition. He was also charged with armed criminal action, first-degree robbery, and two counts each of unlawful use of a weapon and unlawful possession of a firearm.

I do support open carry and think it should be legal. I just don’t open carry myself. I’d rather keep my firearm concealed, so I don’t draw the attention of someone planning to do bad things. And this is a perfect example of what can happen. Had he not been carrying a rifle over his shoulder, would the victim have been robbed? I’m not putting the blame on the victim. It’s just that there was a chance this all could have been avoided had he just been carrying concealed.

Read the original story: Man Open Carrying an AR-15 Get’s Robbed at Gunpoint; Shootout Ensues