Open or Concealed

Status
Not open for further replies.
I live in an urban/suburban area. Open carrying would be pointlessly aggravating/frightening to many people. Why would I do that?

In the woods, different matter. At pistol matches, different matter (obviously). But at Kroger's or Home Depot? Why?
 
OC; frighteningly easy ....

If you live in a open carry state or community try it 1 day.
Just one day.
You'll see for yourself how little or at all the carrying of a holstered firearm makes in your daily life.
As posted, unless you live in a high risk area or have ninjas or street gangs following you around 24-07, :rolleyes: , you won't scare anyone or cause a panic.
If you decide to carry CCW for personal reasons or prefer to surprise a crook that's fine, but I wouldn't buy the "open carry makes people scared".
If a shopper, restaurant patron or by stander is upset, tell them it's legal & you do not intend to harm anyone.
 
Rusty, I have talked to numerous, numerous people who ARE, in fact, scared when they see OC, and have asked me about it (as their designated gun-nut friend). You can find this fear reasonable or not, but the fear definitely exists.
 
Arkansas may or may not be an open carry state at the moment. It has not traditionally been one, but a legislative change a couple of years ago opened the door to the argument that it might now be. I'm not in a position to be the test case.

That said, I live in an urban area and I carry concealed an overwhelming majority of the time. There are a few minor exceptions, like if I'm on the road, I'll take off my jacket in the car. I typically put it back on before entering a store, like when I gas up. Out in the woods, I might OC, but I don't go there very often.
 
I try to keep it concealed in public because it makes my life easier in the long run. I do open carry sometimes though.
 
I do not like to advertise the fact that I carry a firearm. I have several reasons for that.

I live in an open carry state. Nonetheless, my CCW was recently "made" in a store. Whether my shirt tail was too short or I was printing, I do not know.

Th incident apparently caused quite a stir among store employees, with one young person in particular becoming quite unnerved. The fact that it is known among several of them that my presence stopped a robbery in the store several years ago helped settle the issue.

I have bought more long-tail shirts. I find OWB carry more comfortable than IWB, and I think reholstering may be a little safer, too.

I have never seen anyone carrying openly here except at ranges, nor does anyone I know think it is a good idea.
 
RustyShackelford said:
If you live in a open carry state or community try it 1 day.
Just one day.
You'll see for yourself how little or at all the carrying of a holstered firearm makes in your daily life.
As posted, unless you live in a high risk area or have ninjas or street gangs following you around 24-07, :rolleyes: , you won't scare anyone or cause a panic.
If you decide to carry CCW for personal reasons or prefer to surprise a crook that's fine, but I wouldn't buy the "open carry makes people scared".
If a shopper, restaurant patron or by stander is upset, tell them it's legal & you do not intend to harm anyone.
Click to expand...

You assume much.
I can't even open carry on my own lawn without freaking out a few of my neighbors.
I have one neighbor that will pee himself if you so much as mention firearms. According to him "he's been shot before so he doesn't trust them."
He has told the police who were called to respond to HIS problem dogs that he's afraid for his life because I started carrying in my own yard after being charged multiple times by his unleashed dogs...in my own yard.

Concealed for me
 
Last edited:
As they say "it depends". I sometimes OC around the local area this time of year (tourist season) to desensitize the majority of the non locals as I go about my local business. When away from home especially, I CC to keep my profile as low as possible against the throngs of people around me. When I OC a BBQ type of 45 Colt (usually a high polished SS Ruger Blackhawk with Stag grips and gold accents) is my preferred tool of choice.:D I usually do not get much notice as it is however unless I encounter somebody from NJ it seems.
 
Tennessee's handgun carry permit allows either open or concealed carry. If open were more common I might consider it, with a retention holster. But no one does, so I don't.
 
On my own acreage? Open or concealed depending. Generally open.

Out in public? Concealed. Always.
 
No way would I open carry.
We have no idea how people will react (dialing 911?), but maybe some people can predict this, and also see behind themselves and around blind corners.

Watch the Youtube video of the guy who inserted his handgun for Legal Concealed Carry, while getting out of his car in a WalMart parking lot. He had no idea that he was noticed. Maybe this was a 'once in a million event'.

The man with the CCW permit never saw the would-be muscular hero (assuming that the CCW holder was a criminal) stalking him into the entrance until it was too late, on the ground in a dangerous headlock as two or three guys tried to grab his gun.
He's lucky if he required no neck or spinal therapy.
 
Last edited:
In Public = concealed
Hunting = open

I see no reason to promote even the possibility of public discord. I carry for protection; not to make a political statement. We all have our personal realities and that's mine; others are welcome to their personal realities.
 
I live in FL, it's hot pretty much year around and I carry a full size 9mm or .45 year around concealed with no issues at all.
 
open carry; law ....

If open carry is legal where you live what another person or citizen says or does has no bearing on you.
If they have fear or are concerned then let them deal with it.
The local LE officers can not arrest you. :confused:
It's not disorderly conduct or disturbing the peace if you didn't do anything or cause any uproar.
These posts about not OCing because you'll make someone upset or because another person doesn't understand the law is unfounded. :rolleyes:

If you choose to CC a handgun because you want to be discreet or feel you need to maintain a low profile, that's fine but openly carrying a gun isn't going to bring the SWAT team, fire dept & national guard to where you go around.
 
OC is legal here but I never open carry living in a large urban area. Many people go into a panic attach if they see a weapon on you. It is nice not being a target in anybody's eyes. I can carry on a conversation with an anti knowing he has no idea that I'm carrying.

Also a bad guy would not see me as the first target he or she has to take out. Bottom line whatever floats your boat.
 
Open carry is legal in Indiana but I rarely do it. My preferred method is OWB concealed under a shirt or jacket. I recently picked up a Kimber Micro to deep conceal in the pocket, vest etc..

That's why I am really getting to like the micro pistols that are being manuf. today. You can pretty much cary them anyplace, anytime and just about anywhere on your body.:)
 
open carry is way more comfy. i get to wear my tanker holster which is the most pleasant way to carry without it bothering you.
 
Anyone else think it's funny how comfortable everyone is with open carry in the wilderness...you know, with meth labs and addicts...where no one can hear you scream? Tactically, you should be far warier of being all alone with an armed stranger in the woods than in the city where there at least might be a camera or policeman officer. ;) While it's safer than you'd think, certain stretches of the Appalachian Trail are not without muggings, rapes, and attacks of their own.

Predators wear camouflage; poisonous prey wear bright colors (I promise that's the last animal metaphor for the day). If you're truly in the wild by yourself, I'd think you would want a long arm of some sort (or some bear spray to go with the hogleg)

TCB
 
I agree with Kleanbore #31 and Ignition Override #39, and others.
I don't want to scare a little old lady (or other such), and I don't think I'll scare away the thugs with OC. I think the perp would more likely be trying the figure out how to get my gun, money, car, wife, life, etc.
I want to be able to protect myself, and not advertise I'm armed.
Nor do I choose to confront a LEO, to prove I can do so legally.
 
Last edited:
If I'm in the woods or the range, I'll open carry. If I'm out and about in public, I'll conceal carry. Location is a very important factor in how I choose to carry. Both open and concealed have their pros and cons.

Open carry pros (IMHO): Quicker, smoother and allows for a more efficient draw. More comfortable, especially if you want to have a wider choice of carrying options (Larger frames, larger calibers, heavier profiles).

Open carry cons (IMHO): Potential to become a target to criminals. Someone might call the police on you and that could turn out to become a tedious and annoying situation. Easier to get caught or snagged on some sort of object.

Concealed carry pros (IMHO): Harder for criminals to make you a target, especially if you're carrying a small gun. You won't draw too much attention from the average Joe.

Concealed carry cons (IMHO): More uncomfortable than open carry. Longer and more difficult draw and presentation. Concealed carry adds extra draw strokes. You are limited to the size, caliber and designs of guns compared to open carry choices. Concealed carry holster designs don't offer as many retention features and choices as open carry holsters. (Open carry holsters can have level 2 to 3 retention options, whereas most concealed holsters are pretty much level 1 holsters)

Of course there are many options available to accommodate either or, but if you truly are a person who carries religiously, you have to be able to carry both ways.
 
Prefer concealed, all things being equal. I understand both sides of the argument.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

S
  • Locked
why is conceal carry permit for 21 and older
2 3
Replies
57
Views
2K
Davek1977
D
mesinge2
  • Locked
Open Carry?
Replies
3
Views
611
mesinge2
mesinge2
T
  • Locked
Is this open carry or concealed?
Replies
17
Views
1K
glockman19
G
R
  • Locked
Backpacking Yellowstone with a gun: open or concealed carry?
2 3
Replies
61
Views
10K
TexasRifleman
T
T
  • Locked
Two tier Carry Permit System
2
Replies
32
Views
2K
stuckinsocal
S
Back
Top