Open Carry?

kanewpadle · Jul 10, 2009

For those that open carry I ask, why? And can I get some decent answers other than "because I can" or "it's legal here".

I admit that I don't know much about open carry. But I do have my opinion about it. I don't see any advantages to open carry. The only disadvantages I see is that everyone knows you have a gun. There is no element of surprise. And the gun could get snatched from your holster. My opinion has been formed by talking to several guys who open carry here where I live. Everyone of them did so because they could and it was legal. They liked it when someone gave them a dirty look. They got a laugh when someone called the police about them and they got rousted. I don't see the point. Us gun lovers have a hard enough time with folks like the Brady Bunch and other gun haters. So why make it worse? Why shove the issue down their throat and give them another reason to come after us? Those open carry guys that I talked to were trying to make up for some shortcoming somewhere else and it was obvious that they did so on purpose. Some of them were just too lazy to conceal or learn to conceal a gun let alone learn to draw from concealment.

I would appreciate your views on the subject but let's keep it civil. Just remember that this is just my opinion. I don't think it's right. If you disagree then tell me why. Maybe I'll learn something.

I asked this on another forum and the thread was locked in a matter of minutes. I guess they don't know how to behave.

I thank you for your input.

happygeek · Jul 10, 2009

Good God, here we go again. I'm a pretty new member here, but this has to be the 6th or 7th CC vs OC thread I've seen since joining.

This is worse than the Mac vs PC threads on computer forums ...

Mags · Jul 10, 2009

I was thinking the same thing happygeek but kanewpadle is a pretty new member himself I think I'll just see how this one ends up.

Rockwell1 · Jul 10, 2009

Troll post if I ever read one.

I think I'll just see how this one ends up.

It's gonna end up like all the rest of them. We're going to hear:

1. The police will harass you.
2. Your doing it to draw attention to yourself & piss off antis.
3. The bad guys will shoot you first/ take your gun (this will be stated with no corroborating evidence despite repeated requests for such)
4. All the antis will join the Brady Bunch and get laws banning open carry passed.

or those that open carry I ask, why? And can I get some decent answers other than "because I can" or "it's legal here".

How about I don't have to justify my decision to exercise an enumerated constitutional (State as well as Federal) right to you.

rmodel65 · Jul 10, 2009

for one Open Carry technically cant be banned(yes i know some states do) and when the RTKBA is being referred to OC is the right, while a court considers CC something that can be denied.

traditionally an honest man would openly carry and a dishonest man would hide his weapon, also the act of OC puts the general public on alert that you are armed so they can avoid you if they choose to do so.

Pack · Jul 10, 2009

We're trying to get open carry here in South Carolina, for two reasons:

1) It's damn hot. Often for days on end. I live just outside Columbia, and the only thing between this place and Hell in July/August is a screen door.

2) We'd like to make sure that the law is written so as to confer the option, from one moment to the next, to carry concealed or open. Apparently, there have been and may still be places and instances in which the following problem arose: a) I decide, upon leaving my house in the morning, to carry concealed in accordance with the local laws, etc. b) during the course of the day, my jacket flaps up, shirt untucks, etc., and I am now potentially open carrying for a split second in violation of the (concealed) carry laws or - worse yet, even where open carry is allowed - "brandishing".

The permissive option to transition from open to concealed carry and back again at will would, I firmly believe, make the carrying of a firearm for personal defense both more common among the population at large and more accepted by the portion of the populaton that, as a rule, would likely never do so.

CajunBass · Jul 10, 2009

I'm too lazy to put on a cover garment. How's that?

zoom6zoom · Jul 10, 2009

The only disadvantages I see is that everyone knows you have a gun.

I don't consider this a disadvantage.

youngda9 · Jul 10, 2009

It is discussed ad nauseum here....read until you're sick if it.

http://opencarry.mywowbb.com/forum6/

HKUSP45C · Jul 10, 2009

runrabbitrun · Jul 10, 2009

Well open carry is good for the gun too.
Sometimes a gun needs to just get out and get some fresh air and socialize with other guns.
If they were dogs, I guess they'd sniff each others butts too. :evil:

Seriously, the Brady Bunch must be really losing ground.
Looking for any 'soft spot', trying to get support to draft more unconstitutional legislation.

As you Brady's can see. WE ARE fighting back.
Many have been complacent way too long.
But we WILL get some of this stuff over turned.

Another few 'sensible gun laws' posters stated (in another thread) that nothing can be done, it's just the way it is.
They follow blindly anything the .gov shoves down their throats. True sheeple IMO.
Those people are WRONG and NO... we are not all just sitting here bitching about it on forums as you assume.

Mod's you might as well lock this down and refer these nice gun grabbers to all the other threads on this subject.

turbojohn41 · Jul 10, 2009

I have no choice in my backwards state.

GojuBrian · Jul 10, 2009

Still trying to get OC in Arkansas. I'd OC all the time and I wouldn't waste my time justifying it to anyone. :neener:

GaSheepDog · Jul 10, 2009

If the OP was doing research - "have posted this on other forums", then would it not be easier to just SEARCH?? Oh wait, maybe he was just a lazy researcher. Well, that can't be because he went through the trouble of posting it on other forums. So what does that leave? TROLL.

General Geoff · Jul 10, 2009

or those that open carry I ask, why? And can I get some decent answers other than "because I can" or "it's legal here".

No need to worry about concealment; faster draw; can carry a full size sidearm much more easily; more professional appearence (tucked-in shirt); finally, I don't need a permit or license to carry openly on foot in Pennsylvania (outside of Philadelphia).

The only disadvantages I see is that everyone knows you have a gun.

I am not a ninja. I am not a slave, either. There is no shame in everyone knowing you are armed.

Yo Mama · Jul 10, 2009

Troll post if I ever read one.

Ha! Man, people on here are much quicker to resort to calling each other trolls than ever before. The OP was asking a question, and you insult them? Brand new here, and you want to run them off? I see nothing inflamitory in the message or question.

You owe the OP an appology.

If the OP was doing research - "have posted this on other forums", then would it not be easier to just SEARCH?? Oh wait, maybe he was just a lazy researcher. Well, that can't be because he went through the trouble of posting it on other forums. So what does that leave? TROLL.

Man oh man! Another appology needed. You have 33 posts here, and go around calling others names? Against the highroad IMO. Maybe they are new, and don't know how to search yet. Maybe in their mind it was a different circumstance. It isn't your job to moderate is it? Maybe you should watch the language.

dirt_j00 · Jul 10, 2009

We should all hide our guns under pieces of cloth.

NavyLCDR · Jul 10, 2009

1. I would rather that a BG see my gun and know that I am a hardened target an move on to an easier target. I would rather deter a crime rather than defend myself against one. MOST, not all, but MOST BG's are looking to make a quick and easy few bucks with the least chance of getting caught. Choosing a target that they know is armed is not conducive to achieving that goal.

2. There have been one or two reported cases in the last few years where an OC'er was shot during a big crime being committed. There have been even fewer VERIFIED cases of an OC'er getting his gun stolen. The vast majority of cases where an OC'er gets his gun taken by a BG is because the OC'er was doing something shady themselves. We don't know how many times your ordinary BG sees a gun and moves on, because what is the BG going to do? Come up and say, Man, you got lucky, I saw your gun so I am not going to roll you today? The idea that an OC'er is going to get shot or get their gun stolen just is not supported by facts.

3. I like to take the opportunity to be able to educate less informed folks that a law abiding citizen having the means available to protect themselves at hand is acceptable and in fact should be the norm. I point out to them, "Is there anything right now that is keeping me from shooting you if that was my intention?" When they answer, "No, I guess not." I then ask them, "Do you think that right now I happen to have a better chance at not getting shot by you, if that was your intent." "Well, I suppose so, because you have a gun."

4. I point out to them that I care about myself and care about those around me enough to display the fact that I will protect them from harm if I need to and to send the message to those that might be thinking about doing them harm that I won't let that happen with one helluva big fight.

5. I will take the opportunity, if need be, to educate law enforcement officers who would choose to harass me for my lawful behavior. This is one way to send the message to LEO that it is NOT acceptable to bother law abiding citizens with requests for ID and such just because they get a call about a person engaging in perfectly legal behavior. They can respond to the call, see me carrying my gun while engaging in perfectly legal behavior such as eating in a restaurant, shopping in a store, and then leave - they did what they are supposed to do - investigate a call. What they SHOULD do is follow up with the caller - not bother the MWAG. Tell the caller that they observed nothing that would be considered reasonable suspicion and they would appreciate it if the caller sees the same circumstances again to not bother the police with calls about perfectly legal behavior. What is ILLEGAL for them to do is to formally detain me and investigate the legally of my possession of my firearm - they have no reasonable suspicion that I am not legal to possess my firearm.

6. It just plain easier. I don't have to adjust my wardrobe to conceal my gun. I do have a CPL. If I want to wear a jacket that covers the gun, I wear the jacket. If I want to wear a T-Shirt because it is hot, I wear a T-Shirt. I just don't have to worry about it.

7. BTW, for what it is worth, the "element of surprise" has always been used, militarily, as an offensive tactic. A visible show of deterrent force is used, militarily, as the defensive tactic of choice.

runrabbitrun · Jul 10, 2009

Awesome post NavyLT.

Oro · Jul 10, 2009

can I get some decent answers other than "because I can" or "it's legal here".

I was all prepared to write a thoughtful post and be intelligent about it, but I think NavyLT covered it. So I'll just sit back and reiterate:

6. It just plain easier. I don't have to adjust my wardrobe to conceal my gun. I do have a CPL. If I want to wear a jacket that covers the gun, I wear the jacket. If I want to wear a T-Shirt because it is hot, I wear a T-Shirt. I just don't have to worry about it.

And add that this point = safer. When you are really faced with an imminent threat and you don't fumble an extra few seconds for your gun, that equals safety as well as comfort. Who here is against safety as an element of carry? I am, as well as FEEL, safer with my gun ready to draw instead of digging into a pack, shirt, coat, pocket, etc. to try to grab it. This isn't "theoretical" as I know this is true. I've been in the wilderness in several bear encounters where I've wanted to reach or "cover" my gun and it's just plain obvious that not frackin' with cover is faster and therefore safer.

Plus in the other 99.9% of the time you carry it, it's more comfortable. Point over and decided in favor of open carry.

His point #7 is also well worth thinking twice about - I've used that point in argument before, too. Is a deterrent effective if it's secret or hidden? ***? Would the Cold War have been won if we kept our nuclear capabilities secret? Why do you think there were all those films in the '60s laying out how far and fast the B-52 could fly? Because the Air Force felt telling the Commie's about our abilities was wise? Frack no, it's about deterrence. We sent out memos on this subject to the media. This is just common sense. NavyLT made the point clearly, for the n-th time in 50 years. How many times does the obvious need to be repeated?

Ok, enough said, I'm off to the Mt. Baker National Forest to go deter bears with my .44. What a pretty day it is heer in the PNW!

Deltaboy1984 · Jul 10, 2009

I am working and praying for OC here in Texas.

Rockwell1 · Jul 10, 2009

Ha! Man, people on here are much quicker to resort to calling each other trolls than ever before. The OP was asking a question, and you insult them? Brand new here, and you want to run them off? I see nothing inflamitory in the message or question.

You owe the OP an appology.

No, I don’t. Read his Opening post, he walked in here looking for a fight. He hit every single one of these in one paragraph

It's gonna end up like all the rest of them. We're going to hear:

1. The police will harass you.
2. You’re doing it to draw attention to yourself & piss off antis.
3. The bad guys will shoot you first/ take your gun (this will be stated with no corroborating evidence despite repeated requests for such)
4. All the antis will join the Brady Bunch and get laws banning open carry passed.

And threw in OC’rs do so to compensate for some shortcoming.

Isn’t the definition of “troll’ someone who signs onto a board with the intent of causing trouble?

Yo Mama · Jul 10, 2009

Negative. I just read through it a few more times even. The questions were phrased in terms of people the OP spoke with and information they were told. It's not their fault it was faulty information, nor does the OP appear to have this belief themselves. They don't fit the definition of a troll.

I feel on this forum we need to counteract this, and give good information instead of kicking them back to the folks that are giving lies and mistruths.

Rockwell1 · Jul 10, 2009

We'll just have to agree to disagree

NavyLCDR · Jul 10, 2009

Ok, enough said, I'm off to the Mt. Baker National Forest to go deter bears with my .44. What a pretty day it is here in the PNW!

Did you hear about the two guys hiking in the woods? One was OCing. The other asked what it was and what it was for. He said, it's a .22, I am carrying it for bears. The second guy said, "How do you hope to stop a bear with a .22?" First guy says, "I don't need to stop the bear. I only need to stop you!"

Open Carry?

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