I’m not a huge fan of open carry. I can go into great detail as to why I don’t think it’s a great idea, by and large, but it’s not necessary. I can say, though, that I get a little tired of defending it after something like Richmond.

Understand, I support the right. I just don’t think it’s a good practice, by and large.

Regardless of my feelings, though, a story out of Michigan caught my eye earlier today. It seems someone decided to open carry to the State of the State address, and some knickers are in a twist.

A group of Upper Peninsula Democrats is urging Republican State Rep. Beau LaFave to apologize for openly carrying a rifle to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s State of the State address last week.

LaFave of Iron Mountain had an AR-style rifle strapped to him in the State Capitol during Whitmer’s address to a joint session of the Legislature.

“As far as I’m concerned, the governor wants my rifle and the Democrats want my seat. Come and take it,” LaFave said.

His response comes after Whitmer joined other politicians in calling for stricter gun control laws.

“There are millions of law-abiding citizens that open carry and her ridiculous gun laws, that are unconstitutional, are not going to happen,” LaFave said.

Jason Chapman, who is co-chairman of the 906 Dems group, disagreed with LaFave’s decision to bring his firearm to the speech. While the 906 Dems support the Second Amendment, they believe that it was in poor taste and done in the spirit of self-promotion instead of protest.

Maybe it was. I honestly don’t care right now.

What I care about is LaFave not apologizing for jack. He doesn’t need to apologize for anything because he did nothing wrong. If he carried a gun against the rules, then hit him for that. If he broke the law, prosecute him. If it’s just people’s precious sensitivities being rustled, then they need to sit back and shut the hell up.

LaFave has a right to carry a firearm as he pleases.  The fact that some people dislike it is completely irrelevant.

To Rep. Beau LaFave, I’d like to personally ask you not to apologize. You’ve done nothing wrong. While, if you asked my opinion beforehand, I’d have likely advised you not to carry the rifle, I’ll advise you now to offer no apologies.

You see, an apology suggests that you did something wrong. It’ll let them feel like you know you acted inappropriately and they’ll use that to embolden their activist allies. They’ll rally the troops around your apology.

So don’t give it. Don’t give them an inch, because just like everywhere else, if you give them even that little bit, they’ll end up taking miles upon miles.

Instead, stay firm in your beliefs and know that a lot of people out here have your back.

I am a little curious, though. I’m curious how many people upset with LaFave right now are screaming on social media how they have Fred Guttenberg’s back.

Hypocritical much?