open carry

[Semi-jacketed]

Thank you, ronc0011; it's always good to learn from the voice of experience as opposed to those in ivory towers spouting what they think is the truth born of a false premise. My past career choices have allowed me to see and "work with" the criminal elements as well. It isn't desperation that causes people to be criminals, it is their individual choice. I've interacted with and observed many a desperate and poor person, and very few of them choose to commit criminal acts upon another person for their personal benefit. A tiny fraction of people living below the poverty level actually commit a crime of robbery, theft, burglary, fraud, battery or assault. If it were a significant fraction in the least, we wouldn't have a working society at all. In fact, most fraud I've investigated comes from the middle class that had a comfortable financial life, but simply wanted more and the larceny in their heart, selfishness and lack of regard for another person caused them to commit a crime. Rich or poor the motivation is the same-- I want what I want, and I don't care who I have to hurt to have it.

But back to open carry, those same criminals are looking for a victim, not a fight. If the person appears to be able to take care of themselves, or raise such a stink to cause problems, then they are usually passed over unless some tactical error (usually in the form of inexperience) is made.

 

[Sparky33]

the reason to get open carry is so that when you ccw if you print or your shirt comes up when you reach for something, you cant get charged with brandishing.

 

[JohnKSa]

the reason to get open carry is so that when you ccw if you print or your shirt comes up when you reach for something, you cant get charged with brandishing

There is no brandishing law in TX. There are two offenses that are related to displaying weapons and NEITHER of them would result in charges being filed because of an accidental failure to conceal.

The first law has to do with displaying a weapon in a manner calculated to cause alarm. Clearly that would not apply to your shirt riding up accidentally.

The other is INTENTIONALLY failing to conceal by a CHL holder.

 

[.300H&H]

It's kinda like going to a beach. If it's a nude beach, everybody's gonna stare at you and make you feel weird if you're the only one wearing clothes. Likewise if it's not a nude beach, and you show up naked - well, people are going to look at you funny too.<or worse>


In the 19th Century, it was kinda like a nude beach ie. everybody carried openly, and you might be feeling kinda vulnerable and odd in some places if you didn't do it too. Nowadays, it's just the reverse. Go with the flow.


Also consider the odds of things. How likely is it that someone will bump their car into your car, and when you go out to investigate, they start ranting and prove themselves to be a nut. Now if you're openly carrying a gun, they might even make a nasty false allegation about it. Hmmmmm...what's the liklihood of some situation like that unfolding compared to the liklihood of needing your open carry gun to save the day. I'd say that there's lots of the former situations, and only an extremely rare chance of the latter. Concealed - is the way to go. Life's a beach.

 

[hkg3]

Spend some time in Arizona, open-carry is NOT a big deal at all.

It’s not too uncommon to see people OC. The only real annoying thing is sometimes someone will come up to you and want to talk about your gun.

The closest I’ve ever come to being bothered by a LEO is when one walked by me at a restaurant; he paused slightly, glanced at my .45 and continued walking.