Some questions for those who carry openly

[Pointedstick]

Without getting into the politics of open carry vs concealed carry or any of that stuff, I have some honest questions for open carriers.

Gun free zones. Do you find that this is a real issue? I know in cities, it's especially hard not to accidentally enter a GFSZ, but do police care? Is the law actually enforced? Or do you mostly carry in rural areas where it's not a problem?

Guns at work. How many of you are able to carry at work? For those who are not, do you carry before and after, or on weekends? Or do you work from home or own your own businesses so it doesn't matter?

 

[AKPastor]

I carry both ways. I don't run into much trouble with OC, but then Alaska is a very gun friendly place. There are very few places state law prohibits carrying. There are very few businesses that prohibit carry on their premises. So I have not had any trouble. All the police my friends have had encounters with have been very hospitable.

As for work, yes I do carry at work and work related activities. As my user name indicates, I am a pastor and I even carry on Sundays, etc. Several other men do as well.

 

[jhco50]

I live about 20' from the playground of an elementary school. I carry all of the time and have had no problems in Colorado Springs. I go by the school (on the street, in my truck) all of the time.

I haven't worked in about 3 years and finally retired. In my type of work, I don't think they would have appreciated carrying to work.

 

[JohnBiltz]

The range I shoot at is across the street from a school. Guys lugging guns in all day with a lot of police classes going on. I've been told there has never been a prosecution on that law because it probably will not survive judicial appeals. Not sure how true that is but it seems to be ignored in Arizona.

 

[smallbore]

I live in a small rural town and open carry around the house, the neighborhood, and sometimes in town. Never had any issues w/local pd. As for work, my place of employment has a 'no weapons' policy and lots of postings all over the place. I park in the main (other business shared) lot and utilize a lock box to secure my firearm while at work. I cc before/after work.

 

[danprkr]

Sadly no open carry in my state. Wish TX would allow it.

 

[Babarsac]

I work for a defense contractor and our building is a big no-no to bring guns into. On the flip side it has secured access and armed guards so I feel a wee bit better. On the weekends I may take the metro into DC so guns are again a huge no-no. In this case I travel with a group of people and I know which parts of town to not go into.

Of course anytime I know I'm going to be staying south of the Potomac River my J-frame comes along for the ride.

Haven't done the open carry yet...may need a new toy for that

 

[Superlite27]

Some information on your location would be helpful to those offering advice.

Where I live: What's a gun free zone?

Carry at work: I do not carry at work, as it would be impractical, but I lock my firearm, in my vehicle and dis/re arm coming and going.

As I am unaware of where you are located, I can't be very helpful about what OC'ing in your particular area would be like. Therefore, I can only offer advice from my perspective.

I live near St. Louis Missouri. Unlike the rest of the nation, Missouri's concealed laws are pre-empted by the state, but open carry is not. This means that municipalities cannot regulate CCW, but ordinances against OC are allowed. What this does is create a patchwork of the state when it comes to open carrying a firearm.

You can be perfectly legal to open carry, but cross the street into another municipality, and you become a criminal.

The majority of Missouri is perfectly legal. Only a few municipalities have ordinances against it. These few are mostly in urban areas. As an open carrier, several friends and I have researched the local laws and discovered which areas have ordinances against OC. I have OC'ed in the urban areas of St. Louis with a close eye on my location and have never had a problem other than repetitively being asked, "Are you a police officer?" enough times for it to become a nuisance. I have even been standing in line at Starbucks in Olivette (near Ladue, a very liberal suburb of St. Louis) and overheard a Frontenac police officer standing behind me tell the man behind him, "Oh yeah. Carrying it like that is perfectly legal." I assume he was talking about my openly carried firearm. It is rare to encounter officers that are fully knowledgeable about OC law, but they do exist.

So, it depends on your location. I've read horror stories about folks getting harrassed in areas you would think OC would be easily accepted. I've often heard folks remark that they are surprised that I've never been seriously harrassed when I've carried openly in some of the places I do.

The best advice I can offer is to be 100% completely sure of the law where you choose to OC. The law is the law. Make sure you are 100% within it, and you should have no worries. Will you be harrassed? Depends on where you are at and how the local cops will react. As long as you are within the law, it would require them to break it in order to arrest you. Take all the crap folks say about "It may be legal, but that doesn't mean it's a good idea!" and throw it out the window. Since when has voluntarily participating in the expression of your God given civil rights not a good idea? Seems to me that volunteering to forfeit your rights because they can potentially make others uncomfortable is the idea that isn't very good.

 

[essayons21]

I used to open carry regularly as activism. Now I open carry depending on weather and comfort.

If you choose to OC, you must know federal, state, and local laws well, better than the area Law Enforcement. It also doesn't hurt to carry around a copy of the relevant statutes. Always be aware of your surroundings and avoid gun-free zones.

Unlike many folks who regularly OC in rural areas, I carry in a medium sized city. My only "incident" was when I was carrying in a mall that was not posted, and the mall cops decided to call the local PD to have them present before asking me to leave. Needless to say, haven't been back, and that particular mall is struggling to stay afloat.

I don't OC at work. Its not really the time or place.

Funny story, my old job was in a gun-free zone by federal law. However, the small agency I worked for shared the compound with the field office of a large Federal law enforcement agency. We were the only people who occupied the property, and the chief in charge of the federal agency, who was also responsible for controlling the site access and security encouraged us to carry. An interesting dilemma, and I won't disclose which choice I made.

 

[SigP229R]

N.C. is an open carry state, however I do not do it because of all the excitement it would cause. About the only places you will see O.C. is in hunting supply stores close to public hunting areas. Otherwise in areas like Charlotte, Winston Salem High point Greensboro,etc, there would probably be too much chatter and excitement and probably even have the police called on you, so to avoid all this I simply do not O.C.

 

[Mark J]

Comfort

I carry guns for a living and I say first be comfortable with yourself. Smile and just be genuine, rarely do people care if you carry a gun if it looks and feels natural to you. Most times they are happy you are there, they feel protected and cared for. I live with guns and ammo strapped to me 13 hours a day, so it is just part a of life for me. I love people and I want them kept safe, some one has to do it.

 

[A.H. Fox]

OC where legal and CCW just about everywhere else.

 

[NavyLCDR]

Gun free zones. Do you find that this is a real issue? I know in cities, it's especially hard not to accidentally enter a GFSZ, but do police care? Is the law actually enforced? Or do you mostly carry in rural areas where it's not a problem?

WA state gun free zones are easy, so not a concern on my part. I would advise anyone who carries a gun, espeially open carries, to know the statutory gun free zones anyway, that's pretty much common sense. Yes, police do care here and the law is enforced (except for the 1000' ft school Federal gun free zone, but WA has it's own school law.) I open carry everywhere permitted by law.

Guns at work. How many of you are able to carry at work? For those who are not, do you carry before and after, or on weekends? Or do you work from home or own your own businesses so it doesn't matter?

I can't carry in uniform or on base. Other than that, there is a 99% chance I am armed when outside my house and 90% chance I am open carrying.

OC where legal and CCW just about everywhere else.

SHHHH...... ^^^^ that's supposed to be a secret! It's not concealed anymore if everyone knows about it!

 

[AK103K]

PA Open Carriers

A question for PA open carriers. Do you unload your gun when you get into your car?

Its always been my understanding that you can only have a loaded handgun in your car if you have a "LTCF".

I myself have never seen the point to open carry, and this would seem to just add to the aggravation.

 

[M2 Carbine]

No open carry in Texas but I'm ready as soon as we get it.

 

[NavyLCDR]

If that has a folding shoulder stock, wouldn't it be legal to open carry it in Texas?

 

[TexasBill]

It looks like it has the standard folding stock but if that's a real MP40 it's a NFA gun and the cops do tend to frown on toting those around.

 

[oldbanjo]

CC has a max length here in SC, I think 12", I guess that's so someone won't carry one of those under their coat.

 

[NavyLCDR]

It looks like it has the standard folding stock but if that's a real MP40 it's a NFA gun and the cops do tend to frown on toting those around.

But is there a law against it? I don't concern myself too much with what legal activities leo frowns upon.

Texas statute:

(5) "Handgun" means any firearm that is designed, made, or adapted to be fired with one hand.

Is the MP40 classified as a handgun?

and

Sec. 46.05. PROHIBITED WEAPONS. (a) A person commits an offense if he intentionally or knowingly possesses, manufactures, transports, repairs, or sells:

(1) an explosive weapon;

(2) a machine gun;

(3) a short-barrel firearm;

(4) a firearm silencer;

(5) a switchblade knife;

(6) knuckles;

(7) armor-piercing ammunition;

(8) a chemical dispensing device; or

(9) a zip gun.

(b) It is a defense to prosecution under this section that the actor's conduct was incidental to the performance of official duty by the armed forces or national guard, a governmental law enforcement agency, or a correctional facility.

(c) It is a defense to prosecution under this section that the actor's possession was pursuant to registration pursuant to the National Firearms Act, as amended.

So, if the MP40 is not designed or altered to be fired with one hand AND the owner has the proper registration and tax stamp, what would be illegal about open carrying it in Texas?

 

[Sauer Grapes]

Ak103K, for PA.

I open carry in Pa. in the warm weather. Nobody panics at the sight of my firearm, in fact I find most people don't even notice I have a firearm. I OC in banks, police depts. and anywhere else I choose.
Municipalities cannot preempt statewide carry laws in Pa. Hell I walked into the state capitol in Harrisgurg for a 2nd amendment rally as did 100s of others.
You may not enter and exit a vehicle or store a firearm in a vehicle unless you have a LTCF. {License to Carry a Firearm}You may strap on your favorite sidearm and exit your house and walk anywhere you want unless said building or property is a prohibited location. ie, schools, private property posted with a NO FIREARMS sign,post offices or any federal building.

BTW, don't try to Open carry a firearm in any malls. You will at the very least, be told to leave the property!

 

[M2 Carbine]

So, if the MP40 is not designed or altered to be fired with one hand AND the owner has the proper registration and tax stamp, what would be illegal about open carrying it in Texas?

It is a legal FA MP40 belonging to a friend.
I doubt that he would ever seriously consider open carrying the gun.



If TX gets OC I doubt that I'd OC all the time but I would OC a lot.

 

[DasFriek]

Ive found out a few things in life over the last few years as i just turned 39 again and the more i stay that age the more i learn.
If you dont act a fool, You can pretty much do alot of things there are laws against that i feel are mainly there to only add extra charges to idiots who blatantly break the law.

For instance, In Ohio its illegal to carry a pocket knife or folder on your belt as its a concealed weapon, And your CCW doesn't cover that either.
I used to think it was a 3" and under was ok with the law, But it turned out after more research i was wrong and any knife on your person is chargeable.

Of course police care about the laws and enforcing them, But if you going about your business as a law abiding citizen they don't give you a second look.
I know since ive had my CCW ive gained a HUGE amount of respect for LEO's as i know i couldn't do their job personally.
And ive also knocked off all the crap i did as am idiot myself in the past and ive been rewarded not with the ability to ccw, But the ability to do it and have no fear of LEO's anymore.

I wont admit to purposely not reading signs or only being able to read signs in Spanish, But if i did in theory id be on my best behavior so i don't get that second look.

 

[dec41971]

The whole federal 1000 feet school compound law is murky at best. I wouldn't imagine it holding up much in court in some specific cases. In a lot of cities with mixed use zoning, you have school right next to commercial and residential high rises with lots of people in them. So anyone in the building can't have one technically? What about the residents who live in those buildings? Does their 2A right seize to exist because they are less than a 1000 feet from the school? Laws are sometimes stupid I think. So which trumps which in that conflict?

 

[Sam1911]

PA Law issues... for Sauer Grapes

Hell I walked into the state capitol in Harrisburg for a 2nd amendment rally as did 100s of others.

The PA State Capitol Police certainly do prohibit carry there.

From Handgunlaw.us:

Per Capitol Police: No weapons, firearms, explosives, knives, mace, pepper spray, or hazardous materials allowed in the Capitol Complex. The Capitol Complex consists of the capitol and associated buildings and grounds.

I have Friends who are there frequently with their firearms and they go through the rear entrance and store their guns in the provided lockers.

If you were inside the Capitol itself with your firearm you were very fortunate not to end up arrested. I'm sure the crowds help, and I'm sure you were not alone, but that is a very risky thing to do. Getting arrested wouldn't help the cause much.

unless said building or property is a prohibited location. ie, schools, private property posted with a NO FIREARMS sign,post offices or any federal building.

Actually, no. NO FIREARMS signs don't mean anything in PA -- except:

§ 465.14. Firearms; Possession With In A Licensed Facility. (Casinos)
(d) Each slot machine licensee shall cause to be posted in a conspicuous location at each entrance to the licensed facility signs that may be easily read stating: The possession by any person of any firearm or handgun within this licensed facility without the express written permission of the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board is prohibited.

So casinos are the only private locations that can post (MUST post) legally binding NO FIREARMS signs.

Of course, as you said, open carrying is problematic as any owner or owners' representative asking you to leave must be obeyed.