Concealed or Open Carry

[jmorris]

This is a common belief, but I've never seen any verifiable, credible evidence to support it.

It’s like driving, if you follow every traffic law, setting the example for others, they in turn obey all of them as well.

Try going the speed limit next time you are on the interstate and you can see first hand the results.

Ok that was a poor example.

I do find it interesting that the OP’s decision to open carry is based on perceptions of the general public. My perception when I see someone at the store openly carrying, is that person is tactically at a disadvantage when compared to me.

Not unlike the person yelling out “I have a gun”, when someone breaks into their home. One hopes the tactic provides positive results because of it does not, you now gave away your location and escalated the perceived threat facing the intruder.

 

[Corpral_Agarn]

Concealed.

this is my preference as well

 

[jdc1244]

To me, one disadvantage of open carry is that in the event of an incident – such as an active shooter – those around you might expect you to ‘do something.’

 

[JeffG]

If you are going to open carry you need weapons retention training and a security holster. It’s just that simple.

^^^ This.

 

[Spats McGee]

Open carry only out on a farm. Concealed everywhere else.

 

[jmorris]

To me, one disadvantage of open carry is that in the event of an incident – such as an active shooter – those around you might expect you to ‘do something.’

That would be much, much better than to be the very first one, shot in the back of the head, because you were visibly the most likely to foil their plan….

 

[Shawn Dodson]

Not unlike the person yelling out “I have a gun”, when someone breaks into their home. One hopes the tactic provides positive results because of it does not, you now gave away your location and escalated the perceived threat facing the intruder.

I advise my students to holler the verbal challenge "Who's there?!" if they have reason to believe an unusual noise they heard might be a home intruder in another part of the house. I believe it's important to quickly identify friend from foe. Every incident in which a family member was mistaken as a home intruder and shot could've been prevented by a simple verbal challenge.

 

[Rexster]

Preferred? Well, living in humid, often-hot SE Texas, where multiple layers of clothing are annoying, much of the year, I am going to “prefer” the comfort of open carry. The norms, customs, and practicalities of handgun carry, however, prompt me to put up with the hassle and discomfort of concealment. I do not like being the center of anyone’s attention, for whatever reason. So, normally, I conceal my weapons, because I prefer privacy, and keeping a low profile.

 

[GEM]

Lived in Texas also, so a moisture wicking t-shirt and a big ol' floppy light weight cover shirt worked just fine. All the OC people I saw in TX looked like, to be blunt, untrained idiots. The hot weather reasoning is just silly.

 

[45CalPal]

I edited the OP, but others may not start at the beginning. So I will add the edit here as well. When I said I open carry, the picture below is what i meant. i did not mean that Ih have some gauty huge bulky uncle mikes polyester holster completly exposed hanging on my hip. I guess this method clasifies as a little of both. As it's an OWB but I wear long shirts all the time so its always hidden, not to mention the belly band holster I prefer to use is always got it tight to my body. So it's really a combination of the two options. I have about 4 of these bands,this was for the Taurus 45 Millenium (non pro model)

I would never be this stupid...

 

[webrx]

CC when I can, OC when CC is not an option or there is a reason to not CC - aka woods walk in bear country, etc.

d

 

[Kleanbore]

As it's an OWB but I wear long shirts all the time so its always hidden, ....

Then that is not open carry.

This one started off on the wrong path.

 

[Frank Ettin]

This is a common belief, but I've never seen any verifiable, credible evidence to support it.

...we don't typically see any sort of surveys or polls in the national mainstream media about the concept of concealed vs. open carry either -- so how would we come up with evidence to support that oft-mentioned notion about open carry?....

Beats me.

But, a lack of data does not validate an opinion not supported with [the non-existent] data. A lack of data doesn't make your favorite default position true. If we don't have data all we know is that we don't know.