Why I Think Open Carry Isn't Wiser than Concealed Carry (In Most Instances/For Most People)

[JohnKSa]

I didn't get that record.... that was a different meeting.

Well, if someone said that, that was absurd in the extreme to say. Even if they believe it, it's absolutely not the same thing. The advantages and disadvantages of open carry as a tactic have nothing to do with victim-blaming.

 

[LookAtYou]

Different tools for different jobs. Open Carry has its place and is an effective deterrent. My wife for example works in commercial real estate as an agent. She conceal carrys as required by law. But at the later hours, when she's leaving a property, it isn't unusual for a vagabond to size her up and approach her in a parking lot.

Open carry would act as a deterrent and tell said vagabond, "I'm armed, I'm not worth your time, go elsewhere."

Instead, since by law, her rights are restricted. She instead has to deal said vagabonds, she has to get defensive, become assertive, etc...

But if she could open carry, it would be vastly different. Much like nature. The rattlesnake rattles to warn others of, "don't mess with me, I'll kill you."

She's drawn once from concealed and other times have had to get in defensive posture and become very aggressive. Open carry would have prevented that.

It tells criminals to move along. As we saw during the "Summer of Love" when riots were happening across the country. Home owners and business owners stood their ground, defended their livelihoods, and did it by openly carrying. You had business owners stand on their roofs and in parking lots, openly carrying. You had home owners face down mobs who wanted to bum rush their house, and stopped it because they were openly carrying.

Politically, open carry is a very valuable tool. It allows the public to exercise their First Amendment rights to protect their Second Amendment rights. When you get a group of gun owners, openly carrying, it sends a strong political message to lawmakers and gun grabbers. It says, "we aren't afraid. We're proud, we're loud, we will not be silenced."

In TX, open carry protests laid the foundation for their constitutional carry, NFA nullification law, and Second Amendment protection act.

When I travel to GA and AL, I open carry all the time. No one bats an eye. Women, kids, cops, etc... no one cares. 45 states have open carry.

it doesn't hurt tourism in those states. TX, TN, GA, AL, NM, AZ, etc.... they all have open carry and their tourism related industries are perfectly fine. It does not scare people away. It doesn't shock folks. It is simply part of life.

In FL, it is a crime to open carry. As such, a number of people simply don't carry at all because of the ban. Spend a day in FL during summer and try to conceal something that isn't a Ruger LCP without melting. The need to keep concealed and not print limits the options out there.

Some folks don't carry micro-compacts because they don't like the recoil, others simply can't afford another gun. In the end, the hassle of trying to keep things concealed makes it a bother and some just say, "screw this, it is a pain in the butt to try to conceal a GLOCK 19 in this heat. I'll just leave it in the car/home."

As for you claiming your post isn't to bash, admonish, curtail, etc folks who open carry. You're wrong that.

Your post is what fuels gun grabbers. Your post is no different than folks who say things like, "I'm pro-gun, I'm for folks owning a Winchester 30-30 for deer hunting. But those dirty ARs with those icky 30rd mags need to be banned. And carrying handguns? Heck no! No one needs to carry a handgun!"

I fight anti-gun lawmakers for a living. It is my job. Prior to that I was a cop and I saw the abuses that otherwise law-abiding gun owners went through in FL. And I'm telling you from personal and professional experience. Your post and attitude helps fuel the gun grabbers and helps them continue to violate the people's Second Amendment rights.

It is real simple when it comes to dealing with other folks.

Does it pick my pocket or kick my shin? Does it hurt kids? Does it infringe on my rights or others? No? Then why make it an issue? You don't like open carry? Fine. Don't do it. Stop trying to force your mindset on others.

Your actions, and more importantly, your mindset doesn't help the cause. It doesn't preserve freedom. It doesn't help secure the Second Amendment for future generations.

Please stop making things political, period. This thread is not about politics, and/or the politics of open carry. You seem to be the main commenter going off subject and resorting to politics.

So, for the third time, to help steer you back on topic, I'll ask this.

Q: So to stay on topic, I'll ask you this, do you see any cons to being a visibly armed individual in public? Aka, open carrying. "Public" includes, well, potentially all sorts of people. Men, women, teenagers, children, thief's, thugs, confrontational/rowdy/testy people, criminals, etc.



Or maybe you don't see any cons to open carrying? Not tactically, socially, emotionally, etc.? No increased risks when compared to proper/effective (no-printing) concealed carry, aka not being visibly armed, yet still armed.

Again, please actually answer.

 

[Ironicaintit]

I dont OC because i feel it's tactically foolish.

I see people openly carrying pretty often, and i gotta tell ya... their situational awareness was shaky at best.

But for some, it may be their best option for a myriad of reasons, and id certainly never begrudge them that.... but i may again sneak up behind them and tap them on their side to let them know theyve slipped.

 

[Jeff White]

If you are going to open carry you owe it to yourself and society to train in weapon retention. Concealed carriers need to train too but it’s essential that the open carrier knows how to protect against a weapon snatch.

I have seen way to many open carriers when visiting my son in Indiana and crossing the river into Missouri carrying a handgun in a holster with no retention device at all. I doubt they have any formal training in defending against a gun grab given the lack of situational awareness they display. I’ve yet to see an open carrier walking in a crowded area with his elbow over the butt of his weapon to protect it from a grab attempt.

 

[Kleanbore]

If you are going to open carry you owe it to yourself and society to train in weapon retention

Yes indeed.

Of course, a blow to the back of the head will gate such training.

 

[Old Dog]

You just happen to be at a store when a mass shooter enters with a rifle, and notices some guy open carrying? Guess who's likely to be a higher priority target? Think these scenarios are unrealistic? You sure? Are you in the USA like I am? Do you watch the news?

Must have missed the evening news that day...

I might be wrong, but I don't recall saying in this thread that open carry isn't wise, but rather that (in my opinion) it isn't wiser than concealed carry, in most instances/for the majority of people. I also have never concluded that "all of those who open-carry just are NOT smart, tactical, and have not considered the myriad of disadvantages to open carry." That is projecting what you think I've concluded, onto me.

Nah, not needing to "project" anything...

**It is wise for people to NOT know that you're carrying. It is wiser not to open carry.**

) It likely eliminates the element of surprise/covertness. It shows your “hand”. I’d think many/most people who are tactically minded realize the significance of the element of surprise, whether it's being used to help you, or used against you. It gives potential attackers a heads up. They KNOW you're armed, the placement of your gun, when your back is turned....

You created an argument and then attempted to demonstrate your opinion was superior to anything contrary. There's other terms for that...

 

[The Night Rider]

I have two very important points to make.


1. I don't open carry, ever.

2. I don't care what you do.

Have a wonderful day.

 

[Kleanbore]

I think that should do it.