Why open carry?

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davinci

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I'm a concealed carry license holder. From my understanding, in all but a handful of states there is a way to get a Concealed Carry license. This makes me wonder, why would anyone Open Carry a pistol if you could conceal it?

In my head, I see no pro's to Open Carry a firearm in public except for getting America more accepting that guns aren't just for bad guys. That's about all I see as a good reason to Open Carry, but I think that fact can be proven more effectively with statistics.

As cons, I see that it would make an Open carrier a target for a bad guy because you are an obvious threat to them getting away with the crime. Also, it may strike some folks that you want to be a hero if trouble comes up or that you're ready to start a gunfight if the occasion arises...at least that's what it strikes me as.

Like I said, I'm a CC holder. I've honestly thought about it many times myself, and I wouldn't even draw on a fella who wanted my wallet at gunpoint. He can pull the trigger a lot faster than I can draw and fire, no way around that...and my wallet isn't worth getting shot over. If he KNEW that I had a gun, he 1) may decide not to rob me or 2) decide that I have a shinier gun than him and mug me from behind or simply shoot me and take my pistol. After all, good guns are expensive to legal folks, and very expensive to felonious folks. I've read an article recently about a thug who killed a man because he had a propane torch and HVAC supplies in his pickup that he was going to use to make crack pipes with.

Please be respectful. These are MY thoughts and opinions and I'm not trying to invite disrespectful controversy, only opinions and thoughts of your own as to why or why not Open Carry a sidearm in public places.
 
In my head, I see no pro's to Open Carry a firearm in public except for getting America more accepting that guns aren't just for bad guys.
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Or police officers, security guards, or anyone else who man "professionally" carry a sidearm. Isn't that reason alone worth it?
 
Because it's a pain in the butt to keep worrying "Is it covered? Is it showing?" To heck with it. I just leave it uncovered. I've got a CHP for those days when it is half covered.
 
I carry concealed...but not open yet. It is legal to open carry in PA.
I do agree the most valuable aspect of open carry is the cultural...meaning exposing folks that not all non-LEO gun carriers are BGs or gang bangers.
Of course, the other advantage is one can carry a larger handgun without worrying if it's printing. One disadvantage is you lose a tactical advantage...the BG knows who his first target is.

The biggest problem I see with OC is how one handles situations in which folks are intimidated. Good chance to educate someone...also a good chance to get arrested by an LEO not up to speed with the laws. No matter if you're ultimately released...getting arrested by a nervous cop (or cops) won't be a happy experience!

I live pretty close to the PA/MD line. When I decide to OC, it'll not be too close to MD. I know most of them would be frightened.

I do commend those folks who OC regularly though. In fact, the Lancaster, PA newspaper did an article on a man who regularly OC'd.
 
I have a permit and both cc as well as oc . I have had times that I oc where people will stop me and ask questions. I use that as a good time to inform and maybe enlighten others about responsible firearms ownership and the advantages of such . I seem to remember that people many years ago open carried all the time and it didn't make them "targets" . Today , the people that tend to target those that oc are law enforcement , not criminals , and for different reasons. If open carry made people such targets , then why are more cops not getting their weapons taken from them? Goes along with the " a criminal will just take your gun from you and use it on you " .
 
I open carry for comfort and convenience. The hand-wringers will tell you that the criminals are going to target you because of your firearm, only they will not be able to cite a single time it has ever happened.

The truth of the matter is that criminals are cowards. If they see your pistol they will go look for easier pickings. Would you, as a good citizen, intentionally walk into a situation where it is likely you’d be engaged by a person with a firearm? No, of course not. They don’t want to die any more than you do.
 
"The hand-wringers will tell you that the criminals are going to target you because of your firearm, only they will not be able to cite a single time it has ever happened."
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True...I can't recall any such incident. However, there is a pretty distinct possibility of that happening...and, I'm not going to draw down over the $5-$10 I normally carry in my wallet.
Frankly, in my area...I'd be more concerned about getting busted by the cops (even if it's a bad bust..and, don't go there about suing the pants off them. The odds are it'll be tossed out as frivolous). I just don't know if I want the potential hassles.

It also depends on how urban your area is. I'm fairly rural, but do most my shopping in a more suburban area.

So, I suppose the next question is, of you guys who OC, where do you do it? A city...large town...rural area?
 
summed up nicely already, if it is a choice then choose to exercise it, no better way to educate the public on the values of firearms and marksmanship than to expose them to guns on a regular basis.

the more your gun is seen the more exposure guns will have in general, and that is always good. :)
 
In the southern end of Arizona a BG doesn't have just 1 honest citizen to deal with, The Mac donalds down the street from us that I run up to for lunch has at least 10-15 citizens with sidearms in plain view generally everytime I'm in there, as far as cops and false arrests etc.. well the sight of sidearms in holsters is so common they don't even think twice bout it the ones who get the extra attention are the ones with the extra bulge, belt pulled to one side etc...

bout 10 years ago we had a couple cops ambushed by gang bamgers visiting from Calif. they killed one officer and had the other pinned down under his cruiser it was 3 armed civilians who bailed him outa the bad spot......

around this end of Arizona the sight of openly carried guns is as common as women wearin blouses....... and when an officer makes a traffic stop he already knows theres a very good chance the occupants are armed... they don't get excited or nervous etc...

the badguys will usually look for the easier target that doesn't appear to be armed around here as the other aspect of everyone carryin is that most of the BGs know that individual also most likally gets alot of practice as well........ I get comments alot from folks bout how clearly my handguns have been used ALOT as the steel guns have very little finish on the back of the grips the Polymere XDs have handall jrs and the finish wore off the grip safty and the slide from regular use...... now a brand new shiny gun usually tells em its owned by someone who doesn't use it much odds are 50/50 on bein able to take em.........

Bad news if they guess wrong and I just happened to have bought a new gun :D the most important aspect is how ya carry yourself... if your not payin attention to your surroundings are walkin around lookin at your toes etc... well then yea ya are labeling yourself as a target regardless of concealed or open carried and ya will be a prime target.........

I've walked into businesses and had someone whom I know was scoutin the place just leave when they notice me lookin at em, I have alota friends on both sides of the fence lawful and outlaws that was how we kept from gettin cleaned out when I lived in town, we used to run a business that specialized in cleaning out drug infested and gang infested mobile home parks etc... our first step was to make sure everyone understood we were serious as we'd roll through with 7-8 repo wreckers the day the contract was signed and tow every un-registered, disabled vehicle 2 men per truck both armed one would watch while the other hooked up the vehicle etc.. the next step was to start legal proceedings to evict all over due renters as soon as the court order came through mobile home totors rolled in and removed the houses..... no pad locking doors etc... its simply gone....

I got a reputation for not backin down and most respected that, a few are still servin prison terms who didn't, myself and all my guys made alota friends in that world who helped educate us about exactly what was going through a BGs mind............ the biggest thing the guy is looking for is the target who is not looking him in the face, the one who is busy with kids rather than surroundings, and don't make the mistake of thinkin cops are the only ones trained to spot a CW crooks dwell on learning what to look for because you as his target are confident that it can't be spotted...... he is going to pin your strong hand as he places a weapon into your ribs........ hopefully it won't be your own gun.... the person who is alert to surroundings isn't going to allow him the opportunity to act, your also more apt to be ready to draw and fire as soon as ya spot a threat while the threat must keep his intentions and weapons concealed until the moment he is going to act........ if your alert to whats going on and have an openly carried sidearm in a quality holster ya can rest your hand close to it without acting like John wayne giving you a huge edge over the BG who is already nerouse and worried etc... if your gun is concealed ya will have to either risk the clothing slowing ya down or giveaway that ya are armed..........

I really love those folks who in an effort to totally conceal a weapon place it so far outa sight that they themselves don't have ready access to it....... ya'll aren't a threat to the BG ya will however giveaway the fact your carryin with your body language etc.. while ya try and decide the best way to get that glock outa your underwear alertin the BG that ya most likally have a weapon he could sell......

And BTW stolen guns are CHEAP to those who can't buy legally not more expensive...... I used to get offers all the time to buy some really nice guns at 1/4 their retail value for used I always know they are hot and just politely pass ..........
 
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I'm a concealed carry permit holder and I'm an advocate for open carry; the reason being is that I carry a shotgun in a rifle rack in my truck and I just oftentimes don't feel like carrying my 44 S&W 29 around in a holster because the thing does get heavy. It's not a question to me as to whether or not I'm seen carrying; I think open carry is a deterrent, per se; but I know it may unnerve your average civilian so I keep my pistol concealed.

On the other hand, I want any and every potential attacker and law enforcement officer that I may encounter to know that I'm armed, so the tag on my truck reads GUNLUVR; this is in addition to having my windows tinted down to 2% tint, which is almost impossible to see into, as well as the various NRA stickers, etc.
 
Unremarkable

One of our goals -- to borrow a phrase from Oleg -- is to make the keeping and bearing of arms so commonplace as to be unremarkable.

"Nice shoes. Who makes your holster? Goes well with your tie."

"Hi, I'm Sally and I'll be your waitress. Oh, it's you, Mr. Franklin -- I almost didn't recognize you with that new pistol. That's a Kimber, right?"

"And so I was talking with Sandy's teacher yesterday, and she says she's just plain tired of trying to carry a revolver, and she's switching to a Millennium Pro."

"Will those boarding Flight 1320 please double check to make sure their loaded ammo is all frangible. Repeat, frangible ammo is required on this flight. Replacement ammo can be purchased at the kiosk just before the gates. Thank you for your cooperation."
​

Unremarkable.

Open carry? Why sure. Why not?
 
I would open carry, seeing as I'm 20, one year shy of being able to get the state CCDW permit. But, I feel the eyes of the world upon me. But, I still OC'd my 9mm down to the end of the holler and back earlier.
 
A ?? on retention...........

I'm not a "they will take it from you" gang---but you know you're a good guy---the bad guy will try what he can---for all of you the open carry-----OFTEN----how do you handle weapons retention and level 1-2-3 etc - or do you at all??
 
Never had anyone try to take my weapon away from me, and only one person ever even comment on it (at a Wachovia bank in Catasauqua). *shrug*


I have had a few unscrupulous characters begin to approach me, get a bug-eyed look while staring at my midsection area, and briskly walk the other way.
 
I have been carrying concealed 79 hours a week for the past two years, last month I've started open carrying about 80% of the time, there are places that I carry concealed, not because I am required to do so but because I feel it a good idea. Even in Walmart in Boise I haven't had a single problem, people have been far more friendly.

I carry in a level 2 retention holster most the time but do also open carry in my normal CCW holster, awareness of where people are, and what they are doing is the most important thing. The bad guy not knowing you have a firearm on your hip does you no good if he takes you down with a punch you didn't see coming.

I considered the reasons I wanted to open carry carefully and decided I didn't have a good reason not to open carry other than other people being offended.

I have open carried to Babies R Us, Walmart, Target, Home Depot, Lowes, Star Bucks, Burlington Coat Factory, Cabelas, Fred Meyers, mini storage, an auto parts store and almost every other local store and have yet to have a single problem. An employee at Burlington Coat Factory asked me help her to move an item to a higher shelf.
 
I guess I'm from the old school. I've never understood why anyone would conceal carry when open carry was legal.

Davinci and I must be about 180 degrees apart on this subject.

I travel in some very rough neighborhoods from time to time. I've had obvious gang-bangers eye-ball my truck then suddenly turn and beat feet when they realise I have a large (generally a 1911 or a Ruger Blackhawk) pistol in the holster on my hip.

Most BG's IMHO are at heart moral and physical cowards. They're not going to intentionally go head to head with someone they think may be able to hurt them.

Of course, here in AZ, it's not usually going to draw more than a second look (because they're curious to see what you're packing) from most folks, even in Phoenix.
 
Out for a stroll this evening with my wife and baby, someone noticed my open carried Blackhawk .41 Mag. He just smiled, nodded, and said "There's a safe family".
 
I guess I'm from the old school. I've never understood why anyone would conceal carry when open carry was legal.
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Maybe 'cause you live in a state that gets awfully hot?

Let me tell you about heat and Texas. People often become dehydrated walking across a parking lot to their car. We have more water fountains than people. After about four minutes in mid-August heat, your eyes start to boil. Sweat comes off you in buckets. That's why we have high humidity. Your lungs feel like you've been breathing in napalm. You're not. That's the breeze.

And that's the truth.... more or less. In other words, it gets really hot here, and carrying concealed usually involves an extra garment to do the concealing. Extra clothes are nice in winter. Not in summer.
 
Why shouldnt free people have the right? I have to put up with all manner of things I dont care for...pushed in my face by special interests.
 
Ah, t'would be be a great thing if open carry could again become unremarkable, such as it was for the first century and half or so of our country's existence. I like Arfin's vision, yet I fear the national spirit, such as it is, has devolved to such a low point where too many have lost the understanding of what it means to be able to defend themselves and their own families ... nothing new there, we've flogged that dead horse unmercifully.

At any rate, I disagree somewhat with these statements:
The truth of the matter is that criminals are cowards.
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Most BG's IMHO are at heart moral and physical cowards. They're not going to intentionally go head to head with someone they think may be able to hurt them.
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There's a new breed of bad guy out there, folks, and if you don't understand this, you have truly not been paying attention. Many of our young gangbangers have been in more firefights that most law enforcement officers, and they will go head to head even if they know their target may be armed. Then you've got the legions of dangerous mentally ill offenders out there who simply don't know and don't care. And I've personally seen what a hardcore tweaker on a five-day meth binge can do when out of his mind.

Your pretty Nighthawk Talon in its sharkskin-trimmed Mitch Rosen rig won't make everyone back away ...

Mainsail: I take it you haven't tried open carry in Pike Place or Hilltop in Tacoma? I'd kinda like to know if you've been able to carry openly anywhere this side of the Cascades ....
 
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