Open Carry: What are your thoughts?

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It would not be all that difficult to lay on wait for someone open carrying to pass by and get knocked unconscious by a criminal and have their weapon taken or worse.
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For several years, there was a group of prisoners in Pelican Bay that taught convicts how to take police officer's guns. It goes without saying that police officers generally carry in more secure holsters and have training in retention, while most civilians do not.
 
In an urban area I don't think it's a good idea at all. The bad guys don't open carry and where I live, Northern VA in the DC Metro area, too many of them wouldn't view it as a deterrent and would probably be more likely to take you out first before they do anything else since you'd be an obvious and immediate threat to what they're about to do...or put the idea into their head that I've got a better firearm and they'd like to acquire it. Nobody around here wears a sign that says "Armed Crimminal", so I don't feel the need to advertise myself as an armed citizen and threat to the bad guy. Around here I think it might lead to an escalation that might be avoided otherwise.
Then throw in multiple local law enforcment agencies...and all the various federal police forces and it become a major pain in the --- to deal with.
 
I OC a lot in warm weather.Couple months ago I was in a WaWa buying some rolls for dinner and someone called the police because I had an exposed handgun. On my walk home, our township's finest caught up to say hello. He said someone called about a "man with a gun". After a short conversation, I told the LEO, next time I'll be wearing my 4506. That should really freak them out. He just laughed and said, " have a good day".
That was only my 2nd encounter with LE in the 5 or so years I've been OCing. I pick my times and places to conceal or open carry. If I head to Philadelphia, I conceal carry. Most anywhere else I'm comfortable open carrying.
I have found that the general public very seldom even notices my holstered firearm.
 
I've been in Law Enforcement for 34+ years. I carry all the time. These are just my opinions. First, I carry concealed because to open carry, I can off-duty, I risk alarming those who happen to be overly sensitive to seeing a gun. Yeah, I really know that it's a Right but why cause a general alarm if I don't have to. Secondly, by showing some bad guy that I am armed I give up a lot of advantages that I really want to use to prevent some bad guy's ambition to commit a crime. I have been in several situations where I thought something bad was going to happen but luckily didn't. I was able to put myself in a position to where I has a great advantage over the guy just because he didn't know I'm an armed off duty Deputy. Once, I'm very sure something was about to happen but the BG made eye contact with me and folded. He just knew that something was about to be very bad for him. I really had a good position on him and I guess it was just his lucky day. Yelling "Surprise Peace Officer', is fun as all get out too. :D
 
IMO, it depends on where you're at. Here in southern Az, open carry is pretty well accepted. It's not at all unusual to see someone carrying a gun during a trip to town. Not unusual not to, either, but it happens.

I carry openly at times, and conceal others. Just depends on where I'm going, what I'm doing, and maybe my mood that day. It's been my experience that concealed carry, while offering some advantages, is less comfortable for me than open carry. For that reason, I prefer open carry if it's acceptable with what I'm doing and where I'm going.

I try to avoid attracting attention to myself pretty much always. That said, open carry in Wally-Mart here, according to legend, apparently gets the door greeters excited. By putting on a leather vest (perfectly normal here in close proximity to Tombstone, and goes well with the western dress I prefer) I avoid the door-greeters scorn.

Two blocks away, at Fry's supermarket or Ace Hardware, open carry won't even attract a second glance.

I agree with those who say to use common sense (which sometimes isn't all that common). If I'm going into a bank, it's concealed. Common sense would dictate that action.

If in doubt, it's no big deal to conceal a firearm; at least not to me. Open carry is far more comfortable, however, and I do OC a large part of the time. It has nothing to do with politics, and nothing to do with playing big shot. I carried this way for years before concealed carry came back into legal methods of carry in most states, and I still do it today.

Concealed carry only allows me more flexibility, and the ability to carry in areas where I might have hesitated before.

Daryl
 
Yelling "Surprise Peace Officer', is fun as all get out too.
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Yeah, ain't it though? Especially when they get that Aw S#@t! look on their face. :D:D:D

I go along with Shotgun693 100%, for the reasons he cited. While I respect the fact that we have a right to carry openly, there are a number of people out there that are genuinely frightened by the sight of a gun, and I don't wish to cause alarm or fear in those people. Nor do I wish to cause my brother officers the additional work of checking on me when they get a "Man With A Gun" call. Plus, as Shotgun politely pointed out, it's simply tactical stupidity. :rolleyes:
 
Since recent case law has proven Ct. to be an open carry state (for the time being) I have open carried only twice and both times were short trips. But I have modified my concealment requirements so that now more often than not, I am printing to an educated observer. Its nice to be able to just wear a regular shirt and a belt holster as opposed to a iwb, or a big baggy jacket. Its a nice compromise. Im not oc-ing, but im not completely concealing either.
 
I think it's fine for those who prefer open carry.

Myself, I like to conceal the fact that I'm armed.
 
In a state where open carry, concealed carry and legal machine guns are pretty normal, I've never seen anyone open carry except out in the woods. Of course you see a lot of poorly concealed handguns.
 
My wife, who has finally come around to the defensive aspect of firearms, loves the idea of OC and will start as soon as she finds a good holster. She will be getting her CCP soon but in the mean time, it's going to be OC.

I'm not a fan of OC and can count on one hand how many times I've done it. Perhaps one the wife starts I'll give it a try but I doubt I'll like it.
 
Some people make a big deal out of going out and about while OC. They like to go where they will get noticed , upset people , have the police called , get all defensive and belligerant with the cops for violating their rights , and brag about it on thier OC forums. Some also believe that if you don't OC , you are in fact anti-gun rights. They think they're crusaders educating the public. :rolleyes:

I call 'em OPEN CARRY CLOWNS!
 
I could open carry at my gas station, but i think i give away my advantage by doing so, I would rather no one knows, besides you guys:)
 
Concealed carry in public and either open or concealed carry on private property. I don't have any problem with either of them. I do prefer concealed carry for the surprise advantage. Open carry tends to have a speed advantage.

There are just too many people in this country scared to death of guns and people that have them. If they don't see them they have no problems with fear. On the other hand, I would like to see lots of people open carrying guns just so it becomes a normal thing to see every where. That would reduce the fear factor and people in general would tend to be more polite to each other.
 
I am maybe overly concerned about printing or flashing when I cc, so I wish Texas had OC or a provision to cover print or flash as FL does. As for actually open carrying, I personally am not interested in doing it,but it would not bother me if other RESPONSIBLE people did in a manner that did not frighten the general public. Public opinion is important whether you give a rat's ass what others think or not. Freedoms must be protected and the right public opinion goes a long way toward protecting gun owners rights.
 
My biggest concern about open carry is that someone who is OC can be targeted for what they are OCing. Especially if they are not completly aware of there surrondings. I just wouldnt want another gun getting into the hands of a criminal.

Im glad we have good people in this world. I pray all of you, yes i mean all of you, stay safe and never get put in harms way. :)
 
i personally think that having open carry laws are a good thing as others have said, i just dont think it can hurt having a law that allows you more freedom. that being said living in nc where there is open carry i dont like having my gun showing unless im out in the woods just as others have stated because the attention would be unwanted
 
I prefer Conceal Carry, but with the addition of : if your gun becomes visible at some point, it is not a violation. Example: Open carry under shirt on a windy day. Keep shirt buttoned, but the wind can blow so strong as the print is easily seen. Or if you are in a public bathroom and your pistol grip is seen, etc.
Technically, these are violation. I go through great pains not to show my gun, but the laws are very strict in that you could lose your license for your gun being seen by accident.
That being said, I have no problems with open carry. I might even ask what kind of gun you have on.
 
Today 11:07 AM
mkk41 Some people make a big deal out of going out and about while OC. They like to go where they will get noticed , upset people , have the police called , get all defensive and belligerant with the cops for violating their rights , and brag about it on thier OC forums. Some also believe that if you don't OC , you are in fact anti-gun rights. They think they're crusaders educating the public.

I call 'em OPEN CARRY CLOWNS!
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So well said mkk41!

I can never envision me personally liking open carry. I don't want anyone to ever know that I have a pistol on me.
Plus, when others see someone open carrying, what must they think? Show-off? Mall-cop wanna be? I knew a kid (early 20's) who liked to open carry or flash when he did carry "concealed". He always wanted to be a police officer but couldn't get by the psychologicals. I'm not kidding either.
 
Concealed carry in public and either open or concealed carry on private property. I don't have any problem with either of them. I do prefer concealed carry for the surprise advantage. Open carry tends to have a speed advantage.

There are just too many people in this country scared to death of guns and people that have them. If they don't see them they have no problems with fear. On the other hand, I would like to see lots of people open carrying guns just so it becomes a normal thing to see every where. That would reduce the fear factor and people in general would tend to be more polite to each other.
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Well put, Dave! Right now, I'm probably OCing about 25% of the time and CCing the rest. Generally, I OC on my own property and around the immediate neighborhood while on foot. In my truck, it's CC when going just about anywhere. I've educated many in the neighborhood about this state's lack of laws on OC, and am surprised how many people actually didn't know. The GCA of 1968 seems to have had a dramatic impact on folks here and many don't even yet know about shall issue. Some are afraid of guns and think laws will protect them.
 
Some people make a big deal out of going out and about while OC. They like to go where they will get noticed , upset people , have the police called , get all defensive and belligerant with the cops for violating their rights , and brag about it on thier OC forums. Some also believe that if you don't OC , you are in fact anti-gun rights.
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You pretty much summed it up, except that you failed to mention how they love to tape and post their manufactured "encounters" on the internet.

Before anyone protests that I'm stereotyping, I know I am. But the most vocal and visible element of that crowd is the one turning all the rest into a grim caricature. They're also affecting all of us who choose to show a little consideration and discretion.

I've really tried hard not to hate open carry, but the people practicing it make that very difficult.
 
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