New gun owner with OC/CCW questions and concerns

F

Freezebyte

Moderator
Greetings all, I'm a new addition to the gun world and anxious to learn as much as I can about my weapon, rights and freedom as a US citizen. I'll cut to the chase, i've been thinking about a firearm for some time and decided to go for it this Christmas. Needless to say, Santa was VERY good to me this, so I decided to up my original purchase of a .22lr Browning Buckmark camper to a more versatile Springfield XD(m) 9mm. I feel I made the right choice and I can't wait to get to the range with my friend and start practicing with it!

I"ve just recently started researching the concealed weapon and open carry laws in Montana and I was surprised to find our laws pretty lenient towards carrying guns in such a way. Being born and raised in Montana, I've never seen anyone besides police carry an open firearm at their sides. I can't help but think what it would be like if I tried to do the same, excersing my rights and freedom.

Below is our state laws
http://opencarry.org/mt.html

I'm also have some trouble interpreting the state law in whats lawful and whats not so i've got the following questions/concerns

A: Exactly what do I say to folks if I ever carry an open firearm in a general store like Wal-Mart? How do I back up my rights and freedom? What situation/places should I NEVER carry an open gun to prevent public panic and/or a police call about me?

B: What reasons/situations can I be arrested onsite for carrying an open weapon, regardless of my rights/laws?

C: If im afraid about what people will say/react to a firearm at my side, I hate to upset people let alone start an argument. Should I even attempt to carry out my rights/freedom as a US armed citizen for this reason alone?

D: Exactly what are the differences in OC vs CCW laws and regulation? When would I want to OC and when would I want to CCW? If am lawfully able to OC, why should I bother with getting a permit for CCW?

Thanks for any incite or advice for a noobie to the gun world
 
Open carry is also allowed here in Arizona. But I think one should be circumspect about where one takes the weapon openly. Consider the actual potential for needing a firearm where you go. Why cause a confrontation in Walmart, and possibly find yourself on the evening news, just to carry a pistol somewhere. I have seen people do that here, but I restrict the places where I carry openly. Consider leaving the pistol in your automobile when you go into stores, unless it is legally concealed.
 
I see folks OC here in the Phoenix area quite often.

There's two types, typically.

1. The calm, "I'm going about my day and how are you doing?" fella usually with a tastefully made and subdued holster on his hip holding his weapon of choice.

2. The brash, "I'm carrying my gun and you can't do anything about it!" guy that has either the cheapest poor-fitting nylon holster imagineable and the gun awkwardly canted due to the lack of support, or the tactical thigh holster. He's just out to be seen, usually.
 
A. You do not say anything. You go about your normal business. If they ask you to leave you do not back up anything. You just leave. It is private property and they can have you arrested for criminal trespassing and if you are armed (in most states) it may become felonious armed trespass.

B. Most common reasons for arrest will be trespass or disturbing the peace if you make a fuss.

C. Open carry is very likely to cause issues. If you are afraid of these issues arising conceal your gun.

D. If you want to avoid a lot of headache I would get the permit.
 
In my home state of Indiana, bot OC and CC are legal with a permit. Most police departments here, and I think rightfully so, discourage OC. IMHO it simply draws a lot of unnecesarry, and often unwanted, attention. Consider the following: You get into a dispute over a parking place at Wal-Mart while openly carrying. The guy you get into the dispute with sees your gun and, just to make trouble for you, calls the police and says that you threatened him with a firearm. The guy then proceeds to give the police an exact description of the gun you're carrying. While the guy wouldn't have any actual proof, it's certainly not a situation I'd want to find myself in.
 
i have a permit waiting for me to pickup in eastern montana. it was very simple to get once you have all the paperwork. had my certified birth certificate, passport for good measure, mt drivers license, a printed copy of hunters safety from the education tab on the fish and game web site, and a check for $55. i got finger printed and photographed. pretty simple process.
 
Freezebyte, . . . I think most folks on this forum ascribe to the concept that the best gunfight is the one we avoided.

Same goes for carrying. The best altercation you can be in is the one that never happened, . . . period.

Yes, . . . we do have the right, . . . to OC in many states, . . . as well as CCW in many others, . . . but why cause a fight?

I OC in Ohio, . . . if I'm picking berries out in the boonies or something, . . . but Herr Coleman (Kommandant Mayor of Columbus) would just love to see me packing my Super Blackhawk down North High street so he could have me arrested for inducing panic.

In Columbus, . . . CCW, . . . with the emphasis on concealed, . . . OC only when it is prudent and has less of a chance to be "offensive" to the "chip on their shoulder, anti-gun" crowd.

May God bless,
Dwight
 
I open carry everywhere legal in Washington state and never had a problem. I also open carry everywhere legal while traveling state to state. I have had one negative comment in a year and that was from a concealed carrier who informed me that I shouldn't carry open and that his was concealed. (I almost said, well, it's not concealed now, because I know about it... but chose just to ignore his comment). I have had one question from a Walmart "security" person, just asked if I was LEO, and I said, No, just Joe Shopper and that was it. All other interactions with the public have been positive.

For me the key is to get a holster that holds the gun securely tight against your body and a visible retention strap (thumb break) tends to help calm the sheeple. I also have my CPL so if I want to wear a coat I just don't worry about whether the gun is visible or not. To me, adjusting my dress or my life's habits to either conceal or expose my carry gun is just counterproductive.
 
IMHO it simply draws a lot of unnecesarry, and often unwanted, attention. Consider the following: You get into a dispute over a parking place at Wal-Mart while openly carrying. The guy you get into the dispute with sees your gun and, just to make trouble for you, calls the police and says that you threatened him with a firearm.
Click to expand...

I'm sorry, but I must disagree...vehemently. Let me say first that OC is not (yet) legal where I live, but we are working on that. Now as to your sceranio: I have not been in a "dispute over a parking place" in my adult life, but I have been a CHL holder (and a legal pistol carrier) for about five years now. If someone wanted a spot more than I did, that would be that, whether I was OCing or CHLing.

If you are a responsible gun owner, you are not going to let a parking spot become a "blood in the streets" episode. That is Brady BS. Has not happened, will not happen.
 
orionengnr

You are failing to look at all the potential aspects of this scenario. You might pull into a space without even knowing someone else had seen it and laid claim to it, in their mind, from across the lot. Someone might come after you for something you do not even know you have done. Having a gun visible on your hip makes unreasonable people take other, less scrupulous people take actions other than physical confrontation to enact their weird version of justice.
 
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