Open vs. Concealed carry?

How do you carry?

  • Open

    Votes: 4 2.6%

  • Concealed

    Votes: 94 61.4%

  • Depends

    Votes: 38 24.8%

  • Don't Carry

    Votes: 17 11.1%
  • Total voters
    153
OC and CC are both legal in my state - CC requires you to have a LTCF (License to carry firearms), and any type of vehicle carry in the passenger compartment requires a LTCF. I have my license, and I conceal during most of the week for work. I'm in and out of customer sites a lot, and I prefer not to spook my clients. On the weekends, I carry as I feel is suited for the occasion - sometimes loosely concealing my PT140, sometimes strapping my XD40 on my hip with no cover whatsoever. I tend to avoid OCing all the time, but I will OC to places that I plan to frequent in the future. I've made a few friends, sparked a few conversations, spoken with the occasional LEO, and had the chance to educate a few night shift convenience store clerks about their right to protect themselves in this state. I've never had a negative encounter while open carrying, but then again I don't do it to make a statement. Its more for comfort than anything else. Plus, once my regular store clerks have seen my weapon, and had the chance to ask me about it, I won't have to worry about them calling 911 if I print on a bad day.

I've got no reason to show it off and no reason to hide it. Its just there.
 
Keltyke
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Yeah I have seen quite a few folks around here open carry, especially when out riding in the mountains.

Personally I'm still waiting for my CCP, so I really don't carry on me unless I'm open in the woods on legal land to do so. Although my bud who teaches the CCP class said he had never seen that "terror" law optioned, you never know if someone's going to throw a fit that you have a sidearm on you...
 
In Ohio, we have the option to choose. You don't often see folks open carrying, but some do and I've done it myself without getting more than the occasional double take from the "nervous nellies". More often than not though, discretion prevails and it's kept well hidden.

On a side note, can anyone recommend a good OWB holster for a P3AT? I'm dying to OC this thing.
 
rsgraebert said:
On a side note, can anyone recommend a good OWB holster for a P3AT? I'm dying to OC this thing.
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K&D You could try the Mini-Defender from K&D. I've been waiting a long time for my new holster from them, but I like their stuff.
 
I CC in town and on the trail. If I go deep enough on the trail where I need my .41 Mag for bigger critters, I'll open carry.

Information is power. I prefer around town not to give extra information to others whether I am carrying or not.
 
Only because that is the only legal way off my property. I'd rather not worry about being covered all the time in public. Open carry should be the norm in my opinion.
 
It depends. If I'm in out in public it's concealed, always. No open carry here in TX, but even if we could and the times I've been in states where I could I still don't.

If I'm on my property, in my house, out in the driveway, etc. It's open carry. I personally feel that the best place for my firearm when I'm in the house is on my side. It's the easiest to get to and I don't have to worry about any of the kids that live with me getting it.
 
Open carry or concealed?

It just kinda makes sense to me to concealed carry if at all possible in public. I have some friends that would practically freak out if they saw a gun in public (especially on my hip :D ), and secondly, if someone comes in the store I'm in, intending to rob the place, him seeing the gun might just make me the first target of elimination. Count on him not asking politely for the gun. ;)
 
I live in WA, which is technically an open carry state. The law system as it is is not terribly clear about the standard, and open carry just brings up too many questions in my area.

Additionally, concealed carry gives you a tactical advantage, in that only you know it is there until the SHTF.

Better to be the phantom armed citizen. The goal of course is to protect your life, not make yourself a target by open carrying. IMO.

BTW: I support open carry rights, but I think it is not always the smartest play.
 
I was thinking about this aspect. If you carry in an urban setting, have you gotten training in handgun retention and associated H2H techinques? Police do as they have significant number of incidents where they are shot with their own gun.
 
Glenn E. Meyer said:
I was thinking about this aspect. If you carry in an urban setting, have you gotten training in handgun retention and associated H2H techinques? Police do as they have significant number of incidents where they are shot with their own gun.
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Probably not as much as I should, being a responsible gun owner. Although I do find that proper gear does help prevent someone else from nabbing your gun a fair bit.

I'm from a mostly suburban area though, not lost in the crowded streets of a metropolis, so we usually get a bit of space between each other.
 
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