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

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LookAtYou said:
This post is not intended to bash open carry/open carriers, call for open carry to be outlawed, or anything of that sort. Again, it's ultimately my personal perspective and how I think about/see open carry.
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....yet, it is the same "I am right and others are wrong" BS we see in all of these OC vs CWC threads. Strangely, we haven't had one of these threads for a while....they used to be much more commonplace. Outcome is always the same. They quickly get closed. I respect the right of everyone here to express their opinion. Kinda what these types of forums are all about. What I don't respect is the subtle condescension used in attempt to make some folks and their "way" superior, by pointing out all the self perceived/assumed fails of the "other way". I live in the next to last state in the Union to allow CWC, yet OC was always legal. There was only one legal way to carry a weapon for SD up until November of 2011. Was is stupid and foolish then too? These types of threads are just a quest for others to affirm, similar to caliber wars and gun manufacturers bashing. Is similar to the old S&W bashing years ago when they first started using MIM parts. Statements like "I won't trust my life on plastic parts!". Until everyone else starting using them too. Now, there's nuttin' but crickets. Is open carrying any different than owning a "Black Rifle"? Again, opinion. How about how many rounds in a magazine, or even carried as a reload? "Oh my, you don't still carry a revolver with only 5 rounds for SD, do you"? Here are all my reasons for carrying a double stack!"

Sorry, don't intend to bash...just MHO.
slowr1der said:
I say this as someone who chooses to carry concealed the majority of the time.

Your opinion is simply wrong. It's just feelings with nothing to back them up. It's exactly the same argument anti-gunners use against all forms of carry. It makes them uncomfortable, therefore they don't think anyone should do it. I've been hearing this exact same argument for 15+ years and no one has over been able to cite any sources that show proof of it making you a target, higher chances of your gun being taken, etc. In fact the only news story I've seen during that time about an OCer other than being hassled by the police for no reason was when one successfully stopped a robbery years ago in VA.

Frankly, the last thing the gun community needs is another fudd spreading this nonsense. Especially on a forum that anti-gunners can reference to use against us. I'm supportive of people exercising their constitutional right in any form they'd like to.
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....and of this I agree, other than the author's opinion is wrong. It is his opinion and without factual evidence, it can't be right or wrong, just an opinion.
 
md7 said:
I’m for people having the choice to open or conceal carry.

I choose concealed.
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Well said!

I choose too ... not only concealed carry, but that I'd rather be judged by a jury of 12 than have my casket carried by 6 of family and friends!
 
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Different strokes for different folks; and different times and different environments.

I've open carried now for over a half century. Not always and not everywhere but rather judiciously. And over that half century it has never been an issue, no one has called the cops, no one has run away, in fact only a very very few people have noticed and even fewer have commented. I don't carry open or concealed where it is illegal or even simply unwanted. I don't wear any shirts with guns logos or have stickers on my car. Usually if open carrying it will be in a leather custom holster (cept when it's a holster meant to be seen and interestingly in those cases I've had comments on the holster but not about the gun) in a neutral color and in many if not most cases with additional retention.

I don't use a cell phone or wear ear buds or carry a pad while moving and I do watch my surroundings and avoid going into most stores and restaurants unless necessary.
 
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In North Carolina OC is legal, but I don't see it much.
Especially in the city.
I did it a time or two...

It is kind of like those couple of days where I wore a Burger King crown around town all day just for the heck of it. People will treat you differently, and not always in the way you might expect (or welcome).

I couldn't be mad; I elected to wear the crown and had therefore "signed up" for whatever.



One pretty big difference, I have to say - nobody is going to snatch your BK crown off your head and end your life with it... 😐
 
Permitless open carry is legal here in Virginia. It's good that we have that option. Yet, I never see anyone actually open carrying.

By open carrying, you're making yourself into a prime target for the robbers, mass shooters, etc. You're the first person that they would shoot. So, this puts you at a great tactical disadvantage.

Those who open carry just "to make a statement" are making a big mistake. If their aim is to "desensitize" the public and make carrying "normal," their action will have the exact opposite effect. People around here will become more sensitized to guns, and not in a good way. The soccer moms just don't want to see guns flaunted in public.

So, I agree with most of what the OP is saying.
 
AlexanderA said:
Permitless open carry is legal here in Virginia. It's good that we have that option. Yet, I never see anyone actually open carrying.

By open carrying, you're making yourself into a prime target for the robbers, mass shooters, etc. You're the first person that they would shoot. So, this puts you at a great tactical disadvantage.

Those who open carry just "to make a statement" are making a big mistake. If their aim is to "desensitize" the public and make carrying "normal," their action will have the exact opposite effect. People around here will become more sensitized to guns, and not in a good way. The soccer moms just don't want to see guns flaunted in public.

So, I agree with most of what the OP is saying.
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Strange, mass shooters avoid cops since cops are known to be armed. The same applies to open carry. Criminals don't target known harden targets.
 
LookAtYou said:
**It is wise for people to NOT know that you're carrying. It is wiser not to open carry.**
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Thanks for sharing your thoughts. You bring up valid concerns and make some good points. Anyone carrying a weapon in public should think about these things. In my opinion, it seems to me that you could be uncomfortable carrying any weapon in public - openly or concealed. Not a put down. Carrying a weapon in public is not for everyone.

Carrying concealed is only that until someone notices. When that happens you are just open carry with a coat on, or whatever. I routinely scan people for print-through or other tell-tale signs that someone is packing heat. I'm not the only one. Thus my opinion of "concealed carry" is that it is really just an extension of open carry. I'd say that after considering all the pluses and minuses and everything on your list, then if any of it is still a problem one probably should do a little soul-searching. Carrying a weapon in public may not be a good fit for you.
 
Beck said:
Handgun retention was impressed on us.
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I taught weapons retention and take away techniques as part of our firearms program when I was an LEO. My request for additional training time was not well received by leadership at first. But once I showed them video footage of criminals in a prison exercise yard teaching each other how to disarm police officers, they changed their minds.

I am sure there are some circumstances where open carry is socially acceptable. But that doesn’t change the fact that it is not your gun, you just brought it to the fight.
 
Miami_JBT said:
That's an issue with police mindset and culture. As a former cop and field training officer. I can attest that the biggest issue with law enforcement at the moment is an "us vs them" mindset plus a "only we should have guns and the bill of rights gets in the way of doing our jobs" mindset. I perosnally witnessed those two mindsets in fellow LEOs when I wore the badge.
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I have been a Texas law enforcement officer since 1987 and am still going strong. Looks like you worked in the wrong state.
 
Miami_JBT said:
In FL, police would harass you and some would arrest you.
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I lived in FL. from 03/95 to 05/08 in Jax, Clermont, Orlando, Ocala and never experienced any Police harassment while CC'ing.
My standard dress was a bathing suit with the liner removed, a tee shirt and a fanny back for my stuff.

My fellow workers once harassed me about my fanny pack, calling it a "sissy sack"/tourist badge/etc., not at work but out in public.
My response was where else can I carry my gun was met with an awkward silence and the subject was changed.
Sorry to hear things have changed, I'm hoping it's just a Miami thing...
jmo,
.
 
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GEM said:
FYI: https://www.activeresponsetraining.net/friends-dont-let-friends-open-carry

www.activeresponsetraining.net

The Perils of Open Carry

Written by: Greg Ellifritz As of today, every state in the USA has some type of provision to allow citizens obtain a permit to carry a concealed handgun while engaged in lawful activity. In
www.activeresponsetraining.net www.activeresponsetraining.net

Same old arguments and posts. Not for me. When you open carry in a crowded subway, standing butt to front- let me know.
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Here's something relevant linked in that article:
https://www.usacarry.com/open-carrier-robbed-of-his-gun-at-gunpoint/
.
 
Open carry only serves to frighten the antigunners, and result in someone calling the cops. And if it's for self protection you've lost the element of surprise when confronted with a bad guy who might get the drop on you and disarm you. Keeping your carry gun concealed may allow you at some point to use it to save your life, or a loved one's life.
 
I always find it interesting when people say open carry doesn’t draw attention. When I see somebody open carry, it certainly draws my attention!

I’ve never lived anywhere where open carry is common. I have seen it plenty of times but it’s never been “common”.

I would say a decent percentage of time it is a Hi Point in a Uncle Mikes holster.
 
To the point of threads like this: were you born with innate knowledge of best practices and state law in /everything/? There are at least 10,000 new gun owners a day in the US, and some make it to forums like this looking for knowledge. They may have seen they can get a CCW license but their neighbor carries openly sometimes and question why, why not.

Really tired of those who respond to threads like this with "don't tell me what to do!!!!" when no one is doing that. The OP /explicitly/ said that, so please first remember civility.

Likewise, confused by people who scream at every turn that anything about what they do with their life is no one else's business but take offense that we'd suggest they therefore conceal instead of open carry for /the same reason/.


Anecdotal data to add to the conversation: all but one (1) open carry citizen I have seen in a civilized area has a terrible holster indifferently positioned and mounted. I have seen guns fall out. An annoying number of police I have seen have minimal or no retention holsters! The gun grab (theft of firearm) is a real concern.
 
While anecdotally, I have seen several OC folks in TX and none of them were carrying in a manner that looked professional.

Yep, I OC'ed on private land, hunting in TX. Not relevant to the urban environment.
 
Tilos said:
I lived in FL. from 03/95 to 05/08 in Jax, Clermont, Orlando, Ocala and never experienced any Police harassment while CC'ing.
My standard dress was a bathing suit with the liner removed, a tee shirt and a fanny back for my stuff.

My fellow workers once harassed me about my fanny pack, calling it a "sissy sack"/tourist badge/etc., not at work but out in public.
My response was where else can I carry my gun was met with an awkward silence and the subject was changed.
Sorry to hear things have changed, I'm hoping it's just a Miami thing...
jmo,
.
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As a cop, I was pulled over at gun point when I was off duty, because my t-shirt rode up when I was riding my motorcycle. MDPD told me if it wasn't for having my creds, I'd have been arrested.

In Daytona Beach, a Father was arrested for LEGALLY openly carrying on his own property while trying to protect his daughter from a lose pitbull.

In Columbia County, a blind man who was reporting to jury duty was accosted and arrested because deputies treated his folded seeing eye cane as a firearm.

OPEN CARRY NEEDS TO BE LEGALIZED IN FL TO STOP THE HARASSMENT OF THE LAW ABIDING.
 
mm93 said:
Open carry only serves to frighten the antigunners, and result in someone calling the cops. And if it's for self protection you've lost the element of surprise when confronted with a bad guy who might get the drop on you and disarm you. Keeping your carry gun concealed may allow you at some point to use it to save your life, or a loved one's life.
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I guess Rosa Parks should have just followed the bus driver's directions.

The ownership and carrying of arms is an inalienable right. Simple as that. Same as the First Amendment. Some people say stupid stuff it is their right to say stupid stuff and the public's right to ridicule them for saying stupid stuff.

Just because OC scares the anti-gunners, WHO CARES.

They don't want you to carry or own arms, PERIOD. appeasing them by staying in the closet and hiding ain't gonna win them over.

Stop being afraid and start being loud and proud as a gun owner.
 
Used to open carry back in my early to mid 20s as a political statement in an attempt to "normalize" the presence of private citizens with sidearms. Got kicked out of a few eateries and harassed by the police a few times for my trouble.

I always used a level II retention holster at minimum and dressed business casual when openly carrying.

What eventually got me to stop is not the negative attention or strictly speaking the potential tactical disadvantage itself: it was the exhausting amount of situational awareness I had to maintain whenever I was in close proximity to others. You can never let your guard down or focus all your attention to the task at hand when you're open carrying among the public. It got too stressful and I eventually gave up on it, with the exception of special occasions like 2A rallies and the like.
 
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