Would YOU Open Carry???
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Desertscout1
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I open carry about 18 hours a day, 365 days year. When I feel the need to carry concealed, I do. But it's not often. It's not a big deal in my neck of the woods. Hundreds, maybe thousands of people OC in several western states. Some of you look at it as flaunting your gun but it is simply a way of life here and most don't notice. I have at LEAST 40-50 customers that OC in my store and probably 10 times that many that carry concealed.
i have open carried, I can't say I was comfortable doing it. It draws a lot more attention to me, a lot of questions about legality, and cops wanting to run a background check on me and my pistol a lot. On the positive side it's about $400 cheaper to open carry and I don't have to renew every four years.
Ain't Kansas grand!
Ain't Kansas grand!
You know what, Stagger Lee & Ted White, you're just like the "go along to get along" Black folks who spent decades quietly sitting in the back of the bus and using the back door. You're like the disgruntled Black folks who denounced civil rights activists as "uppity."
Open carry is REQUIRED BY LAW in all but two states ... unless you get permission from the government to do otherwise. Open carry is REQUIRED BY LAW in Virginia, even if you have a permission slip, in most restaurants. Open carry in Ohio is precisely what forced the legislature to reform that state's abusive concealed carry licensing system. Open carry was specifically referenced in the Heller majority opinion (pp. 39, 40, 41, 57).
So, Stagger Lee & TedWhite, you're certainly entitled to your imaginary notions about other people's motivations, and entitled to vomit them forth here, but don't expect any of the people you insult - people who are actively working to vindicate your rights - to respect you for it.
Open carry is REQUIRED BY LAW in all but two states ... unless you get permission from the government to do otherwise. Open carry is REQUIRED BY LAW in Virginia, even if you have a permission slip, in most restaurants. Open carry in Ohio is precisely what forced the legislature to reform that state's abusive concealed carry licensing system. Open carry was specifically referenced in the Heller majority opinion (pp. 39, 40, 41, 57).
So, Stagger Lee & TedWhite, you're certainly entitled to your imaginary notions about other people's motivations, and entitled to vomit them forth here, but don't expect any of the people you insult - people who are actively working to vindicate your rights - to respect you for it.
Open carry when I am out and about doing things and it is -20 is not a matter of "look at me, exercising my rights" it is a matter of what is the best method of carry for that day and those conditions. When concealed carry is a better choice I carry concealed.
When I retire from the Coast Guard and move inland it will be to places like New Mexico or Arizona where open carry is not an issue.
When I retire from the Coast Guard and move inland it will be to places like New Mexico or Arizona where open carry is not an issue.
As with anything else there`s a time and place for everything therefore I voted "depends". I`ve only open carried a few times in my life but you can bet if my pants are on I`m carrying(the few times I open carried was cause pants were`nt on
) IMHO judging someone badly for open carry is as bad as an anti-gunner judging someone who carries period. It is our 2nd amendment right.
) IMHO judging someone badly for open carry is as bad as an anti-gunner judging someone who carries period. It is our 2nd amendment right.Now that I have my permit I tend to conceal.
Before I had one I would OC from time to time, but I live in Blacksburg Virginia, and a couple of Aprils ago OC became a little less acceptable around here.
I don't carry my Kel-tec everywhere I go, but the only place I don't take my Cold Steel knife is the courthouse. (Please no Knife to a Gunfight jokes)
In anycase I pretty much OC only when away from town, but I'd prefer that the option to do so remained an option.
And FYI, Tombstone wasn't the only western town that forbid the carrying of guns in the town.
Before I had one I would OC from time to time, but I live in Blacksburg Virginia, and a couple of Aprils ago OC became a little less acceptable around here.
I don't carry my Kel-tec everywhere I go, but the only place I don't take my Cold Steel knife is the courthouse. (Please no Knife to a Gunfight jokes)
In anycase I pretty much OC only when away from town, but I'd prefer that the option to do so remained an option.
And FYI, Tombstone wasn't the only western town that forbid the carrying of guns in the town.
Wildalaska
Moderator
There are plenty of folks here besides Stagger and Ted who feel the same way
WildthisisanolddebatehoweverAlaska ™
Desertscout1
New member
There are plenty that don't too.
Playboypenguin
Moderator
But from my experiences, I would bet there are way more that do agree with him.
Seems like most people, even on gun boards, that say they would open carry would only do so in certain circumstances...such as hiking, camping, etc. It can also make sense if you live somewhere off the beaten path or in a ranching community where wldlife is still abundant, but if you feel so threatened just going to town that you need to carry openly to warn off two legged predators then you might want to see someone about that.
Desertscout1
New member
My first impression of many of these posts is that they are just plain idiotic and totally presumptuous. But I guess it's because some here think they really know what everyone else thinks and some others are simply afraid of what people MIGHT think. Still others probably live in places where wearing a gun alarms people and makes them look at you. Pity.
If I lived in one of those places, I would move.
If I lived in one of those places, I would move.
What is the difference between what you said and how I modified your statement? I (my opinion only) think most of us who choose to open carry do it because it is more convenient. If people open carry only do so because they want to look like a bad ass or be intimidating why are there those goofy looking concealed carry badges all over the place? Are you telling me that somebody who carries concealed and flashes a badge like that isn't going for the same effect?
Playboypenguin
Moderator
There is a huge psychological difference. Carrying concealed is not a display. Carrying openly is chest thumping. It is being so afraid that you are spurred in preventative measures before a threat even presents itself.
Playboypenguin
Moderator
No, my original post clarified the circumstances. I clearly stated there are times and circumstances where it is justified...but daily activity in a metropolitan area is generally not going to fall into that category.
the_pragmaticist
New member
I suppose I just can't see why it's not applicable to daily routines. We're largely of the opinion that possession of weapons is a good thing in this community, so why should they be hidden? Frankly, I don't mind the fact that a visible weapon has a chance to prevent an altercation before it even happens. Is that really paranoia? I'd really rather the pistol do its job from the holster than in my hand.
There are of course arguments from both sides of the fence as to whether a visible weapon has a better chance of causing or preventing issues across the board. When I try to think like a criminal though, and ask myself if a citizen who is comfortably wearing a pistol would make a -good- target or a -bad- target, I invariably come to the conclusion that at least someone who doesn't appear to be armed might not be.
There are of course arguments from both sides of the fence as to whether a visible weapon has a better chance of causing or preventing issues across the board. When I try to think like a criminal though, and ask myself if a citizen who is comfortably wearing a pistol would make a -good- target or a -bad- target, I invariably come to the conclusion that at least someone who doesn't appear to be armed might not be.
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