It's time for gun owners to come out of the closet.

Many of us own guns to protect ourselves and those around us from criminals. Yet too many of us hide this fact by carrying handguns concealed.

"Open carry" is a growing movement across the country among gun owners who choose to carry openly, both as a deterrent to crime and to educate people in their communities.

In Manchester, most open-carry activists live in Ward 5, near where Officer Michael Briggs was killed. These are people who, by carrying their firearms in plain sight, make the statement that they are willing to risk their lives to ensure that violent criminals will not kill a police officer or anyone else.

People who choose to carry their firearms openly deserve our thanks. Those gun owners among us who still carry concealed, or do not carry, should consider carrying openly. You can find more information on open carry at opencarry.org.

MICHAEL HAMPTON

Manchester