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

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I'm trying to think of a way to respond to this. It's a generic open carry thread. Doesn't present any new information. Doesn't draw any new conclusions. Doesn't present any new Solutions.

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I don't open carry. I don't care if you do or not. Have a nice day
 
Open carry has been legal in Kentucky since long before I was born but I’ve never done it. Open carry draws attention. I don’t like attention.

My opinion on open carry is like Bill Clinton’s claimed position on abortion: it should be “safe, legal, and rare.”
 
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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I disagree. Would you not agree that open carry can make you a higher priority target to criminals in certain instances, due to the fact that you're clearly/VISIBLY armed? Like a mass shooter situation, or gun theft? Even a mass shooter may not want his own life to be taken, and very well may eliminate someone else in preservation of their own life.

What is “simply wrong” and/or “just feelings” about my opinion that open carry is much less covert than concealed carry? And, that can potentially be a disadvantage for said open carrier.

Also, I would definitely consider myself not to be a "fudd".

Here is a video about some guy taking an open carriers gun, and it wasn't because the carrier was committing a crime. Would this have happened if he was concealed carrying? “Just feelings”?

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Tilos said:
So when I'm CC'ing, I bend over to get something from a bottom shelf in the supermarket and my gun pokes out from under my shirt tail, have I switched to open carry?
I'm hoping my plumber's butt distracts anyone looking and they don't see my gun.

I lot here worry about "printing" when conceal carrying...not me.
A cop or another cc'er may see the printing but I don't believe the average dirt bag would even notice.
jmo,
.
Click to expand...
Will the "average dirt bag" notice? Maybe, maybe not. Willing to take the risk?

Here's a video about an officer who was printing (even though title says open carrying), and consequently gets robbed of his gun.

m.youtube.com

Open Carrying Officer Has His Gun Stolen From Him

Baker Targets brought us today’s video of Open Carrying Officer Has His Gun Stolen From Him. https://get-asp.com/bakertargets is my go-to source for targets ...
m.youtube.com m.youtube.com
 
General Geoff said:
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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That ""exhausting amount of situational awareness I have to maintain whenever in close proximity to others"" is also present in CC'ing for me.
I have trained with my wife to watch our "6" when out and about and we avoid crowds.
We avoid remote parking lots and I have her follow me (if I'm armed) to watch our "6" and have access to my 3 o'clock CC.
But there is only so much we can do, with the best being going the other way when something looks sketchy.
That, and Idaho is a no permit needed to CC or OC state and bad guys know and respect this.
jmo,
.
 
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buck460XVR said:
....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.

....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.
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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."

I disagree that the content of my post is "BS". I did not go into creating this thread with the intentions of proving how right I am, or how wrong open carriers are for choosing to open carry, or anything like that. Just simply sharing my personal perspective.
 
Miami_JBT said:
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.
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Criminals don't target "known harden targets"? Ever?

m.youtube.com

Open Carrying Officer Has His Gun Stolen From Him

Baker Targets brought us today’s video of Open Carrying Officer Has His Gun Stolen From Him. https://get-asp.com/bakertargets is my go-to source for targets ...
m.youtube.com m.youtube.com
 
GreenWolf said:
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.
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I'm very comfortable with properly concealed carrying wherever I legally can. By properly, one part meaning not printing. I view one of the advantages of concealed carry is that other people will have no clue you're carrying (unless you inform them).
 
LookAtYou said:
Criminals don't target "known harden targets"? Ever?

m.youtube.com

Open Carrying Officer Has His Gun Stolen From Him

Baker Targets brought us today’s video of Open Carrying Officer Has His Gun Stolen From Him. https://get-asp.com/bakertargets is my go-to source for targets ...
m.youtube.com m.youtube.com
Click to expand...
You have one incident as an example.. out of how many millions of legal gun owners in the US? Hundreds of thousands of people open carry daily. You argument is the same as the antigunners when it comes to 30rd magazines or an AR-15.

Again, an inalienable right. Feelings don't Trump rights.
 
LookAtYou said:
I'm very comfortable with properly concealed carrying wherever I legally can. By properly, one part meaning not printing. I view one of the advantages of concealed carry is that other people will have no clue you're carrying (unless you inform them).
Click to expand...
After you decide you have properly concealed there will be someone who studies you/follows you around and determines you are "printing" in some way you are not a where of.

Here's something else to consider, someone you see as printing COULD have a medical device not a gun.
If I'm ever questioned about a "printing" or a bulge (I have not been to date) I would claim it to be a medical device such as a insulin pump, after chastising the questioner for being rude.

In fact there are holsters disguised/marketed as containing a medical device.

holsters disguised as a phone case or medical pouch - Search Shopping

www.bing.com www.bing.com


I don't normally post in ya-but/what-if type threads but that is what this thread has turned into.
jmo,
.
 
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Nice having a choice. Kansas here so both easy enough, although I did get the CC permit. Family in Virginia and Michigan. I conceal carry here.

Lived in Vegas-area Nevada, had a 200-mile drive to work. Up Tuesday, home Friday.

Trip to work started at 0400 with one stop in town so usually left the house open carry. Two reasons: Simply more comfortable for that 200 miles, and rural Nevada is an armed camp anyway. Going home was open carry and no stops in town. Just being comfortable was the decision driver.

Normal running around the Vegas area was almost 100% concealed. Decision driver there was better to keep a low profile. Lots of California moving in and bringing their stupid and crime with them. Lived there 41 years, was glad to get out on retirement.
 
Miami_JBT said:
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.
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Those that are lobbyists and activists for gun rights, such as yourself, should definitely care about what the public thinks of gun owners. (I'm not talking about the opinions of the dyed-in-the-wool antigunners, but about the opinions of the vast numbers of people in the middle, shorthand for whom is "soccer moms.") I can tell you that, at least here in northern Virginia, such people are turned off by the sight of weapons being openly carried (unless the person carrying is uniformed LE). If you open carry just "to make a statement," you risk turning a neutral observer into an antigunner. And then don't be surprised if more antigun laws get enacted. This is just basic public relations.
 
I really don't care or devote any energy to agonizing over how other people carry their guns. I prefer to carry mine concealed. I am all for open carry being legal. That way, if my cover garment should get hiked up in public and expose my gun, I'm not in violation.

We have had legal open carry for a few years now here in SC, but only if you have a concealed weapon permit (we're still not at CC.) I've only seen one person open carrying in public since it was made legal. That was the very first day it was legal and some guy was shopping in Costco with a tricked out 1911 in an outside the belt holster. No one was paying any attention to him. I've never seen it anywhere since.

I frequently pick up on someone "printing", usually to a very slight degree and not usually anything that would be noticed by anyone other than a gun guy who makes it a habit to check for it. Last time I noticed was (again at Costco) some guy in the checkout line. He was wearing a hoody with some kind of big cartoonish "Guns make me happy" meme on the back. Very obviously had something riding on his hip under it. Fat, stupid looking, not very well-groomed and, with that hoody, looking just the way the antis like to characterize us all.
 
So a store for example has some crazed idiot walk in with his guns and begins shooting people. And he sees some person when he first walks in with a gun on their hip. Who do you think he shoots first?
It's simple common sense to not reveal your ace in the hole. But for those of you who choose to wear your carry gun proudly in the open, I hope it serves you before it causes you to be the first target. I'll wear mine concealed.
 
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,
.
Click to expand...
Bear in mind he's not from Florida, he's from Miami.
 
For this, I am pro choice. I think for OC the major impact is emotional. When I see it, I check the others around tosee their faces. Some faces look to say "What an a-hole", usually men, others have true concern on their faces, usually women. Kids see it and telltheir parent, "look...." and usually point.



I translate the emotional reaction to the type of support gets at the voting booth. And for those that say noone even notices, you are wrong, Noone wants to make eye contact with you, that's why YOU don't notice.



Remember, I'm pro choice, whatever that may be for you.
 
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Miami_JBT said:
You have one incident as an example.. out of how many millions of legal gun owners in the US? Hundreds of thousands of people open carry daily. You argument is the same as the antigunners when it comes to 30rd magazines or an AR-15.

Again, an inalienable right. Feelings don't Trump rights.
Click to expand...
Miami_JBT said:
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.
Click to expand...
So, first you seemingly said that mass shooters/criminals avoid cops/open carriers, because they're armed, and therefore are "known harden targets". Basically, anyone who is visibly armed. Yet, when I posted video evidence refuting your claim, you seemingly try to switch to something else?


???

Do you think the officer in that video would've become a gun theft/robbery victim if the criminal wasn't aware he was armed, due to printing?

By the way, what is this "argument" that you perceived I am making?

Did you see the first comment of this thread (by me) saying what this post isn't intended to do? Do you think I'm trying to take away the right to open carry?
 
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