Open Carry?

As another poster said, opencarry.org is where you want to be. Personally, I do OC, partly as a political statement and partly because it's difficult to conceal a 5" double stack. You get a few stares, a few positive comments and a very rare negative comment. I was asked to leave one establishment by someone who seemed to think guns were illegal. I didn't bother arguing with him; there are plenty of other places competing for my business.

Re the argument that it makes you a target for the BGs, a smart BG will leave you alone and a dumb BG will try to take your gun. Since you can't choose your BG, I consider that argument to be a wash.

Re retention, I'm paranoid about losing my gun regardless of whether or not it's concealed. Therefore, I carry cross-draw in a retention holster. I like cross-draw because it keeps the gun in front of me, in my field of view and between my arms. It's also the most comfortable position, IMO.

Just be absolutely certain what your local laws are; they can change quite a bit from state to state. Ie, AK requires guns to be concealed in restaurants that serve alcohol, and MT requires them to be open. Go figure.
 
Last time I checked OC is still illegal here in Florida. If it wasn't, I wouldn't OC anyway. I wouldn't want criminals to know I have a very desirable $500 piece of metal strapped to my hip.

Also, my limited encounters with Miami law enforcement have failed to inspire confidence, so I'd be concerned about being shot or tased by cops.
 
The state in which I reside allows open carry for those who don't have a CCW license. In fact, we had OC long before we had CCW. I choose to not open carry, unless I'm taking a stroll through the woods [we do have black bears]. It's just my personal choice, and I see nothing wrong with going open...but I do think that there is at least potential to needlessly alarm the gun-ignorant public by doing so. It seems to me that OC tends to scare the sheeple, some of whom may be "on the fence" when it comes to 2nd Amendment issues, and a guy [or gal] openly totin' iron may well push them in the direction of Sarah Brady. In my LE employment, I've only encountered 1 guy doing OC...no problem; it's legal, so I saw no need to say anything to him about it. Anyhow: I see nothing wrong with it, I just don't think it's necessarily wise to do so, legal or not. But that's just me.
 
I'm still on the fence, but would like to know that I could open carry
If I wanted to there are just times when it would make thing much
Easier. Anyone know if its legal in washington state? I know it freaks
People out when you open carry but doesn't everyone think that the guy with
His gun hidden should be the guys law enforcement should be
More concerned about. No one turns there back on a guy with a
Cannon visible on his hip. I would rather know the guys next to me has
A gun it would keep me from cutting in front of him at the check
Out counter of the grocery store. :) not knowing really does not make
One safer. Ignoranced doesn't change the fact that about 1 in 10 people
You pass everyday has a pistol.
 
I've seen a lot of discussion about it here in TX. I have a CHL and carry concealed whenever I'm out of the house ... as for your question, I might try OC once or twice if it's allowed, but I prefer that my gun be concealed, mainly for the element of surprise if I ever need to use it ... IMHO, having it hanging on your hip could tempt the BG to deal with you first, before you have the opportunity to bring it to bear ...
 
If I wanted to there are just times when it would make thing much
Easier.
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If you want easy, just drop a J-frame or Keltec .32 in your pocket. Don't get much easier than that. Many (too many perhaps) do just that.

It's not that big a bother for me to put on my G19 and spare mag (concealed) just to run out to the store myself.
 
I prefer to be discreet, except here where I have some anonymity, in all aspects as it relates to my firearms, style of carry, what I own, and where I store them.

I do this at work too when working "plain clothes" details (different than undercover) even though I don't have to. I feel it's a tactical advantage. Going unnoticed may give you the initiative in certain confrontations.
 
Iowa's new law allows carry, open or concealed, with a permit only. No permit, no carry of any sort.

The open carry clause is helpful. It makes it so I don't have to have my gun completely covered to be compliant which for all my guns is tough due to size. I'm not gonna go slap on a gunfighter rig to carry a Ruger SA but I'm not gonna go outta my way to make sure no part of the gun or holster never shows either.

LK
 
I have no problem with laws that allow for open carry. It's legal in my community--Northern Nevada.

It doesn't, however, fit into my carry philosophy that I be just an unnoticed 'ol geezer that no one pays attention to. I think Clint Smith refers to him as "Gray Man".

For those of you who wish to be the center of attention, even to the point of making political statements, then go ahead. I've been armed around friends and acquaintances for over 15 years, and they have not the slightest clue. I'm going to keep it that way.

If having all eyes on you in restaurants, convenience stores, walking down the street, etc. is your bag, then I can live with that---thanks for making me even less noticeable.:cool:
 
I open carry on my property but as soon as I leave it I throw on a coat or a long shirt when I leave, We have OC/CCW in Virginia, so I don't worry if it prints, but then most people in my area are used to seeing guns, I just don't like to advertise.
 
it's perfectly legal to open carry in NC, but I think it's silly.
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Check out the statute, "going armed to the terror of the public". OC in NC is very dangerous out in the general public. You could walk down a street, minding your own business, with a gun on your hip. Eat lunch, buy things, drop off your cleaning, etc. All is well, no problem. You turn a corner & some bedwetter sees you. She shouts "he's got a gun!". People panic, you are under arrest. The statute is very subjective. I have only OC in public twice. A jobsite involving a copper theft, 2 of them in fact. BAD neighborhood with thugs all around. I OC'd there but had owner's permission, generally didn't leave the yard or go to anyone else's house. I did have to park on the street some & carried no further than that.

I sometimes see store owners OC. They are relatively safe, their property & no one has to shop there that's offended. I used to see fishermen OC around lakes & rivers, haven't seen that in a long time now. Hunters sometimes OC in the woods.

I think OC is a good thing, along with CC. Each should do as he thinks best. But at this time, don't try to carry OC in general public here. TROUBLE.
 
"gattop" is pretty silly, and completely up to the officer to determine if you are arrested or not. i live about 10 minutes from downtown raleigh (glenwood/nc state area) and a few people i associate with have been stopped because they were legally open carrying. now in order for the charge to actually stick, you must be considered a danger/threat to yourself and/or others, but its a thin line that id never want to cross. CC is the way for me.
 
Alabama

theres an OC movement here in AL,
but once you get in a vehicle you must have permit.
Cant OC on horseback.
Cant OC on a bicycle.
Can be asked to leave the premises, disturbance, refusal = trespassing.
BG would consider you first threat.

So, FWIW, i guess its fine if you want to walk everywhere you go.
Not to mention, IMO, it might cause a sense of Commando-Mode-On.

I'd rather stick with covert OPs. When your weak, appear strong, when your strong, appear weak.
 
Always carry, never tell.
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I generally agree. That jobsite where I OC'd was my only exception. There, I wanted it known I was armed. Carried crossdraw, where not all that obvious to a casual passerby, but OBVIOUS to someone approaching to bum money or shoot the bull.
 
Re-Read the post from ncpatriot

Legal is legal, but do you want people screaming "gun" when you carry?

I heard a good story from a buddy at the store he works at. He was pulled over for a taillight on the way back from a training session he did.

He has a PTC. Open or Concealed in our state. He put his hands on the door in plain site for the Officer and told the Officer he had a concealed handgun. They dispatched another squad to handle the situation.

He was not obligated to let the officer know about the gun in our state. He was just trying to be a "good citizen".

I personally would not open carry. You never know what wimpy person will be freightened and start yelling.

I don't know your laws, but good luck if you open carry. Maybe that will change with public opinion. Just remember the current President won on trying to get more gun control.
 
Just remember the current President won on trying to get more gun control.
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Actually, he won on many factors. His past support for gun control was very, very far down the list. In fact, he practically fell all over himself voicing his "support" for the 2nd Amendment on the campaign trail in 2008.

That said, this whole shebang is taking place in "tactics and training." To that end, I'd like to suggest that if you plan on carrying openly, you really, really, really need to have a secure holster, and you need to get some training in weapon retention.

No, I can't cite a case in which a civilian's gun was lifted from him, but would you really want to be the first?
 
Although the press here wants to make it sound as if every joe will be carrying openly now that we have the "shall issue" law in effect, it's been the law for years. Our's has been a permit to carry, not just carry concealed. I don't carry openly and have seen only a couple of people do so over the years. I, like an earlier post, would rather not have to explain or discuss the merits of exercising my rights to a nervous nellie or a discombobulated liberal.
 
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