How scary is open carry?

[Kind of Blued]

So I have a question I've never heard addressed considering open carry...

Say I have a permit to carry concealed (which I don't but will soon), and live in an area where I can legally carry openly (which I do).

Do I have to "pick one or the other" or do printing and, essentially, not worrying if the gun is totally concealed simply become a pair of moot points in my area?

Does it have to be "Concealed means concealed" as well as "Open means open"? What if someone were to open-carry (legally, without a CCW permit) but put on a light jacket that they left unzipped? I assume it would be at the discretion of the LEO who had a problem with it as to whether it was "reasonably visible" or however they may word the law?

 

[wheelgunslinger]

You need to read the letter of your local laws and understand them fully to answer that question. The letter of the law is what is enforceable and is what any legal action taken will be based upon, should you violate it.

The difference can be as small as your t-shirt falling over the grip of the weapon with the remainder in the holster exposed.

 

[JeremySmith]

I could carry open here in Indiana, but have my concealed carry. Anything I can do to be less noticable, I do. Why draw extra attention to yourself if you don't need to? If it concealed wasn't an option here, my opinion would be different.

 

[longwatch]

So I have a question I've never heard addressed considering open carry...

Say I have a permit to carry concealed (which I don't but will soon), and live in an area where I can legally carry openly (which I do).

Do I have to "pick one or the other" or do printing and, essentially, not worrying if the gun is totally concealed simply become a pair of moot points in my area?

Does it have to be "Concealed means concealed" as well as "Open means open"? What if someone were to open-carry (legally, without a CCW permit) but put on a light jacket that they left unzipped? I assume it would be at the discretion of the LEO who had a problem with it as to whether it was "reasonably visible" or however they may word the law?

Well it depends on states laws, but here in Virginia it doesn't matter, except in a brandishing situtation. Showing your gun to purposefully intimidate someone. But if your gun is printing, or the wind blows your coat open, or you just want to take your coat off, because open carry is legal you are fine. This makes OC valuable to the CCer and the more people OC, minor exposures become less of a problem for the CCer.

 

[zxcvbob]

I don't see the point in open carry beyond "because I can". I will take the element of surprise over knowing what the baddies will immediately go for if they get on top of me. They already attack the cops who have the equivalent of the bat belt on them while wearing a badge - what makes a noticeable pistol on a civilian so special?

(cops are civilians too)

OC by ordinary citizens desensitizes the sheeple a bit. It also reminds the bad guys that guns are out there; they see a gun on your hip, how many *other* guns are out there too and are concealed? I see both of these as good things.

I don't carry a gun; I don't want the responsibility, and I don't want to have to ask the govt "please" and be fingerprinted to exercise a right. Open carry requires a permit here same as concealed. If I ever do need to carry a gun for protection, I'll just carry it concealed w/o the required permit. (I'm well aware of the several contradictions in all this. I'm complicated. )

I usually carry a Gerber EZout knife, but I don't have it with me today.

 

[Nakedshoplifter]

I open carry all the time. If not every day, at least 3-4 times a week. In the winter my coat normaly covers my firearm, so summertime is when my OC'ong really ramps up. I live in Virginia, where OC is not only legal, it is practically ignored by the common citizen. The cops are well aware of it's legality although a few Virginians have recieved some harassment over it. I recommend using a holster with retention, dressing respectfully, and keeping a good sense of your suroundings.

 

[CAPTAIN MIKE]

Depends Entirely on You, the Law & the Circumstances

I open carry from time to time but mostly carry concealed. However, it's my opinion that when you Open Carry, you should consider yourself some kind of Goodwill Ambassador. That is if you look scruffy and low-life and carry a firearm you will likely be considered a threat. If you dress nicely and convey a good attitude of a law-abiding citizen just doing his or her thing and minding your own business, you should be fine.

I'd advise knowing what the local ordinances or state law say about Open Carry. Also see www.OpenCarry.org

 

[au1776]

Awesome, I live my life business-casual, so hopefully that'll help if I ever decide to OC.

 

[NG VI]

Does anyone know about how OC relates to in-car wear? I think in Maine we can't have a firearm that is loaded or readily loaded unless it is unaccessible to the driver or anyone else in the passenger compartment, but how does this affect OC while driving?

 

[mrmeval]

Points at signature which I'll duplicate for posterity

"I put up with stupid, ignorant, deadly LICENSED people on a daily basis. I DRIVE TO WORK." --mrmeval

 

[ptmmatssc]

True, but a good Appearance does help a lot.

Hmmmm , book....cover ?

I seem to remember Ted Bundy being a nice clean cut kinda guy .

For that matter , aren't the majority of politicians clean cut to ?

For me , I'm an "actions' kinda guy . Eyeing my property , acting squirrelly , and verbal comments are more a concern to me than tattoos and piercings .

Clean cut does not equal clean living .

 

[Ragnar Danneskjold]

In Michigan, OC is legal. I have my CPL as well. One does not have to choose one or the other. One can, for instance, carry on a OWB holster with a unbuttoned button-down shirt. If the shirt is covering the weapon, it's concealed, if not it's open. I know that Michigan state law does stipulate that if you are open carrying, any covering of your pistol, no matter how accidental or due to inclement weather, is considered concealed carry and you must have a license. So if you're open carrying and your tucked-in shirt becomes untucked and falls over the pistol, you are now concealed carrying whether you know it or not, and you need a license.


I personally like to carrying with an OWB with either a jacket or a button down shirt half/way concealing my weapon. I don't like making a big scene about my weapon being visible, but I also don't like going out of my way to make it concealed. With a CPL and legal OP, i can just do what's comfortable and either way it's legal.

 

[Zedicus]

Hmmmm , book....cover ?

I seem to remember Ted Bundy being a nice clean cut kinda guy .

For that matter , aren't the majority of politicians clean cut to ?

For me , I'm an "actions' kinda guy . Eyeing my property , acting squirrelly , and verbal comments are more a concern to me than tattoos and piercings .

Clean cut does not equal clean living .

True, But Anyone who OC's is effectively an Ambassador of the Gun Community to the Sheeple, if you were a Jittery Anti, which would make the better Impression, a Punk/Emo/Goth OC'ng, Or someone with a clean cut and respectable appearance?

True, your Appearance "Shouldn't Matter" but it does to many who may be potential new Gun Owners/2A Supporters.

It's the same as with Job Interviews, which will the employer Hire for a $100K/yr+ Job?

 

[Zedicus]

I've seen comments carrying on your hip. Has anyone had strange reactions to shoulder holsters?

No stranger than the reactions you would get from OWB Carry, except more tendency to be mistook for FBI/LEO.

 

[jimbob86]

Target, btw is a safety free zone as well. None of the Assets Protection people are armed, and none of the management are armed. No employee is so much as allowed to bring a gun in the parking lot. I look for them to post the no gun signs soon.

Anybody else see the irony in a Store named TARGET making itself a Gun Free Zone?

 

[Superpsy]

I don't see a problem with open carrying. I've done it a couple of times...just something to get used to I guess.

I lurk over at www.opencarry.org

Those guys are awesome. =)

 

[zoom6zoom]

Well, stop lurking, and come out in the "open".

Gotta add that I've never had any issues OC'ing in Targets in VA.

 

[ETCss Phil McCrackin]

The last time I drove with my family from my "house" in WA state to my "home" in TX, I OC'd in every state between here and TX with no issues. I OC'd even in the states with recipro. with my WA CCL because in the car I prefer my 1911 in a crossdraw holster which is a pain to cover. No issues perhaps save one.. In a Cracker Barrel in Colorado Springs, a woman, looking a bit concerned, asked me, "Are you a policeman?". Now, being dressed in a polo shirt, khaki shorts, and a quality leather belt and holster, I guess that was reasonable. Not having the time to debate the ethics of and laws concerning OC, I replied "No maam, I work for the government." Which has been true for 13 years now. She accepted the answer and we both carried on smartly.

 

[GeezerwithGuns]

Scary? I guess my answer is "no" to that question.

I live in Colorado where OC is mostly legal (outside of Denver at least). I also have a CCW permit. During warm weather I often OC because of the "comfort factor." When I OC, I do take into account where I'm going. I've never had a problem. It does get a second glance once in a while though.

CCW:BHP........



OC: Colt MkIII..........

 

[jjduller1946]

Shooters,

I live in Northern Virginia - fast becoming a hotbed of liberal touchy feely thought.

After reading this thread I decided to carry my SP 101 357 Ruger during my afternoon chores. I wore a vest but did not conceal the weapon. I have a Conceal Carry permit so I was covered in case an over zealous officer of the law asked.

Stopped at H&R Tax office to give our guy there some paperwork
Stopped at the local Dicks Sporting Goods store,
Stopped at Wal-Mart
Got a hair cut

The only eyeballing I got was at the hair place. It was more curiousity than hostility.

For what it is worth...

 

[teknoid]

OC is pretty ho-hum where I live. Nobody cares, or seems to notice. When I first moved here, I was checking out a cute woman at the local cracker barrel. Not because of her looks, but the nice leather she was sporting. From her smile, I figured she was laughing at the old fart perving on her. When I asked where she got the holster, we had a nice conversation.

The only looks you get around here are at places by the interstate. Tourists, y'know.

 

[wideym]

My first experince with open carry was Anchorage Alaska. As a young private in the Army at my first duty station(1988), Anchorage was as far away from Arkansas as you could get. While checking out downtown I was amazed to see a few people walking around with pistols. One looked like a 49er just in from panning for gold with a hogleg strapped around his waist. Most looked like a combination of city folks and LL Bean models. But nobody gave them a second glance, except me and the other tourists.

Now I have a CCW permit and carry everyday, but I still prefer open carry when I travel to open carry states.

 

[TallPine]

why bother having a system in place that infringes on the rights of the righteous when it does nothing to keep arms out of the hands of the wicked?

I don't have a good answer to that question, and I suspect nobody else does either


I've open carried some in Billings, and I can't say nobody noticed, but I never had any problems from it. I open carry lot around my land and the neighborhood in the warmer months. Open or concealed really depends on the weather and what I'm wearing that day.

Oh, and about appearance ... IMO fitting in is more important than dressing "nice." For instance, around here you would be very suspicious wearing a suit (lawyer or undertaker ? ). But blue jean, boots, flannel or t-shirt, and a baseball cap would fit right in

 

[jeepinbanditrider]

Sometimes I open carry around here in NC. We had a problem with coyotes around here targetting dogs and at least one old person so when I walk the dog I tend to take something along. When I been to the range I sometimes still have a weapon on me and a few other occassions in open carry. Not many people even notice and no one ever asked a question.

You just have to stay away from schools due to not being allowed within a certain distance armed and a few other places.

actually NC does not have any rule regarding schools other than you cant carry on campus... there is no distance rule...

but OC is generally frowned upon due to this little diddy called "going armed to the terror of the people"


Quote:
By common law in North Carolina, it is unlawful for a person to arm
himself/herself with any unusual and dangerous weapon, for the purpose of terrifying others, and go about on public highways in a manner to cause terror to others. The N.C. Supreme Court states that any gun is an unusual and dangerous weapon for purposes of this offense. Therefore, persons are cautioned as to the areas they frequent with firearms

and i have heard of people getting hit with this simply for loading guns into their car in their driveway

This is a common MYTH reguarding this section of NC COMMON LAW. You have to be meeting a SPECIFIC set of critera in order to be charged with "going armed to the terror of the people." Simply open carrying a firearm in a holster IS NOT grounds for arrest.

Going Armed to the Terror of the Public

This is a common law offense (272 N.C. 535; 32 N.C. App 495).

A person guilty of this offense

(1) arms himself or herself with unusual and dangerous weapons (firearm)

(2) for the purpose of terrifying others

(3) and goes about on public highways

(4) in a manner to cause terror to others.

You have to be violating ALL four of those at the same time to be charge with this offense and even then it's doubful it will stick. From my understanding this was enacted back in the 50's or when some KKK guys loaded up in the back of a pickup and went around terrorizing the minorities in the area.

Also IRC the last time anyone was charged with this was back in the early 90s or something like that not sure if he was convicted though.

and i have heard of people getting hit with this simply for loading guns into their car in their driveway

Never heard or seen any proof of anything like this.

I have been OCing in Onslow county for the better part of 2 and a half years and this county isn't exactly known for being firearm friendly. Never really had any serious encounters of anykind.

www.opencarry.org is a good resource for anyone interested in OCing in their area. They have subforums for all 50 states.

 

[beretta92d]

Does anyone know about how OC relates to in-car wear? I think in Maine we can't have a firearm that is loaded or readily loaded unless it is unaccessible to the driver or anyone else in the passenger compartment, but how does this affect OC while driving?

i found this at opencarry.org about having a loaded gun in a car(in maine)

Maine is a traditional open carry state. It is perfectly legal and acceptable to carry a firearm openly. However, you may only carry a loaded handgun in a vehicle, openly or concealed, if you have a Maine permit.

that's how it is here in N.H. too...