It takes little to conceal a weapon.
That's probably true. But it takes more than a little to conceal legally.
I'm in Ohio, right now. I've paid 150 USD for classes necessary for a CCW. I spent months finding a respectable place within reasonable driving distance that offered the needed class outside of work hours. I've watched as my name, home address, license plate, and gun ownership have been forever connected. I've been fingerprinted like a common criminal, and given a series of photographs just to find one that was considered acceptable. The local and adjacent county sheriff's offices remain open only within very limited hours, requiring me to take time off work. The licensing fee itself added another 55 dollars onto the list, and may later have more costs added on if the police feel like running an FBI check. At least, I'll be putting 205 dollars down, more than the price of a six-month membership at a nice range. This is, by the way, to carry a two hundred and fifty dollar gun.
And I haven't gotten the permit, yet, two weeks later. Under state law, it may take up to forty-five days. As I have neither the time, the money, the lawyers, or the inclination to piss off local police, however, they can realistically take as long as they want. Even when I get it, the fun isn't over.
I will have lost any chance in hell of a knock-included warrant. I am required to announce my carry status to any police officer and passengers at a traffic stop. Anyone borrowing my car, including coworkers or relatives, must be told to do the same.
Why am I paying through the nose, giving up some of my fourth amendment protections, and making things so difficult, just to get follow through on a 'privilege' that not only the Ohio Constitution and United States constitution, but also the Ohio Supreme Court, recognize and protect as a right?
Well, legally the places around here are just messy as hell without a permit. Legally speaking, if I go three hours north or three hours west, my choice is a CHL or a pepper spray key-ring. There is no lawful open carry in a vehicle without a permit. While Ohio's preemption law and Supreme Court cases make legal open carry regardless of county or city ordinances, I do not have the time, the money, the lawyers, or the inclination to prove it to the police. For that matter, I'd rather avoid being slammed into walls or provided several new nine millimeter holes.
Socially and privately, many gun shops ban open carry and only permit (announced) concealed carry. Other stores may only actually ban one or the other, but won't think about or recognize CCW while they might panic about open carry. CCW is also less likely to result in termination of employment than open carry near an antigun employer.
And, yes, open carry exposes your tactical choices a good deal more.
Note that it's not to avoid being seen as 'rude' or 'low class'. If that's what something recognized as gentlemanly by our nation's founding fathers is, I'll take the status willingly. It's not like I'm tactful and high class otherwise. It's not about compensation. A piece of paper won't add onto my manhood. It's not about 'mall ninja'. A nickeled Bersa in a MOB holster doesn't get less ridiculous or noobish when it's covered by a shirt. It's not about showing off, or playing vigilante, or any other goofy psychobabble. It's about dealing with a very hard choice in the best manner possible.
Trying to call it something "little", like putting on a coat or untucking a shirt, really ignores the other argument.
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