Had to go to Texas for a funeral yesterday. My J-frame was adequately concealed as long as I wore my jacket. (It was a graveside service, and it was in the 50's and windy.) My leather jacket was too heavy and hot once we got to the restaurant. Had to move stuff around to stay concealed. Texas needs open carry.

ECS

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CPT, Armor (Ret)
Luke 22:36

I disagree.

Our fair state already has too many "hey look at me" wannabe Ninjas wandering around. We don't need to add to their ranks.

Open carry in populated areas is just asking for trouble and attention, no matter where you live.

Sorry you were inconvenienced by your hot and heavy leather jacket...

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FBINA, 204th Session

Around here you have 2 things. Either someone will freak out and call the cops saying that there is a man with a gun. Or you get rolled on by a dozen gang bangers. Either way it's easier to conceal

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk

The ONLY times I can see Open Carry is of you own acres of your own property and are walking or riding it. The other is of you are actively Hunting. As far as waltzing through town with a firearm strapped on - those days are over as there are way too many who who have been conditioned to freak out at the sight of a weapon. IMHO concealed is the only way to go - and not for nothing , I do not want to tell a future attacker that I am armed - I want the surprise factor.

A j-frame is very, very easy to conceal IWB. Did you consider that option?

Be safe.

Those Texas people are living in the past compared to Georgia... about an hour in the past, to be precise.

the original point and click interface, by Smith & Wesson

I don't do IWB. My attendance was last-minute, so I didn't dig out my pocket holster. Didn't feel like wearing my uniform and duty belt, either. So, sue me.

ECS

Sent from my little slice of Heaven.

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CPT, Armor (Ret)
Luke 22:36

I believe open carry should be a city law, anyway. Sure you shouldn't be open carrying down main street in Dallas, but there are plenty of other low population no crime rate areas in Texas.

But hey, at least you weren't in Chicago

the original point and click interface, by Smith & Wesson

I open carry in Tulsa and Oklahoma City, even downtown. What makes Dallas so special? Cities shouldn't be able to make their own firearms laws in any case. Laws throughout a state should be uniform to prevent catching law-abiding citizens in a patchwork of conflicting regulations.

ECS

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CPT, Armor (Ret)
Luke 22:36

You have a problem up there with police officers "...get[ting] rolled on by a dozen gang bangers?" As for "...someone...freak[ing] out and call[ing] the cops saying that there is a man with a gun...," our police and dispatchers were trained to ask just a couple of questions: 1. What is he doing? 2. Is it in a holster? (A requirement of state law.) If the "...man with a gun..." isn't waving the gun around, isn't drunk, isn't yelling or screaming at people or no one in particular, and is carrying the gun in a holster, the dispatchers tell the caller that what the man is doing is legal. So far, it's been a non-issue, even according to the newspapers that whined about concealed carry to start with.

ECS

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CPT, Armor (Ret)
Luke 22:36

Actually yes. has happened more than once. Rob the Dunkin Donuts, hide in corner and wait for police to show up. Cop walks by and takes a 357 to the back of the head. But generally speaking when they see uniforms they go away. A guy in anything else is not a cop.

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk

Those "...freak out..." individuals need to be educated.

Yeah, that's why all the police carry concealed...

ECS

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CPT, Armor (Ret)
Luke 22:36

I simply said a city name. I'm in favor of open carry. I also live in Georgia. I understand a lot of voters are located in the city and that's where a lot of gun related issues are. In Atlanta, shooting an air rifle in your backyard could have cops knocking on your door, but in the farmlands shooting a 500 Magnum in your back yard is normal during the daytime. I think there is a different type of people inside the city and out in the middle of nowhere. So, for high population areas I conceal, for low population areas or in the woods or hunting I open carry.

But that's just me and my thoughts based from Georgia. I'm sure Tulsa and Kansas city is full of people that are a lot different from the people of Atlanta

the original point and click interface, by Smith & Wesson

That hasn't been our experience in Oklahoma nor in any other location where open carry is the law.

Me, too.

ECS

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CPT, Armor (Ret)
Luke 22:36

I would prefer to carry concealed; anyone out there looking for a victim has to worry about making a bad choice.

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Persevera Deoque Confide

There are several western states (Utah, Nevada, Arizona) that allow open carry and you occasionally see people open carrying. But I agree with casualoffender, I want a BG looking at me to not know what I can do to him. If he sees that I am armed he can devise a scheme to neutralize that.

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"Sacramento" Bruce Conklin

If he sees I'm armed he can find an easier victim. There's thousands of other people. How many bad guys attack LEO?

the original point and click interface, by Smith & Wesson

I'd say that the OP was "upset" because he had to make a change in his equipment because he couldn't open carry. The tone of your post hints that you knew that before you entered the state. I don't live in Texas but you have my apologies for being inconvenienced. The laws of each state are the responsibility of the citizens of that state and should be observed by all within that state. If that is inconvenient so be it.

If you think Texas is backward for not allowing open carry how would you like to live in a state that that doesn't restrict open carry but allows any dinky little government entity in the state to regulate it? I live in a city that doesn't allow open carry but I can drive two blocks west and that city does.Live with that for a while.

By the way when I'm on my own property NO ONE tells me how I can carry a gun.

Just my two cents worth.

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Quando omni flunkus moritati.

Even though I wouldnt do it, I'm not totally against open carry. I just personally feel more comfortable with mine concealed.

When They're off duty, They do.
You seem to be confusing 'Armed Citizen' with On-Duty/Uniformed LEOs. Which were you?
Sorry to read about your inconvenience.

The only reason I would want open carry is to protect me in case I accidentally exposed my gun that is supposed to be concealed.

I live in a state that allows open carry. I have friends who only carry this way. Here's an PA opened carry story.
My friend was in line at a Turkey Hill to pay for his gas. He was open carrying a full size 1911. There was a couple from out of state in front of him and a state trooper behind him.
The couple sees his gun and they start to talk to each other. They get very antimated. The women then says to the trooper, "OFFICER, THAT MAN HAS A GUN!" The trooper smiles at my friend and says "he sure does". End of encounter.
I mostly carry concealed, but it's nice to live in a place that gives you the option to open carry if you want to.

I'm a Texan. We don't need to catch up to anybody, Mr. Elm Creek Smith. Most Texans prefer concealed carry and we are quite happy with the law the way it is.

Next time plan ahead. Check the laws and check the weather report.

The J-frame is very easy to carry in a front pants pocket with a cheap Uncle Mike's #3 holster. You could have made the switch very easily.

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USAF, 69-92
Vietnam, 72-73

If I'm carrying Open, they already know they're about to make a bad choice.

Probably easier to find another person, don't you think?

The important thing is to support our right to carry. Then do whatever you feel more comfortable with or appropriate for the situation. If open is taken away, concealed could be next.

All of them! Are you sure? Of course not. Everyone has different preferences and laws can vary. Around here I see a number carrying Open when off duty.

Protect you from what? There IS medication for being paranoid you know.

Amen! That's what I say. We should be able to carry either way, then you decide what's right for you.

WOW! I must have missed that survey. Did it say how many percent preferred concealed carry?

Maybe we should all just support our right to CARRY, period. Then you decide which way is right for you.

The point is, I'm telling the OP don't criticize another state's laws as an excuse for his lack of planning and preparation. Rude, at the very least.

In Texas, open carry is pushed by some. But most (no survey, but come down here and ask around and you'll see) are comfortable with concealed. Especially since the law was recently tweaked to eliminate problems with inadvertent exposure.

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USAF, 69-92
Vietnam, 72-73

I live in Texas also and would only carry concealed also. Been in Texas since 82. Best state ever IMO. Just had to throw that in

Sorry... I thought we were discussing In Texas... Not GA

I have lived in Texas all my life and I don't think we need an open carry law. I am happy with concealed carry laws we have here.

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James
On the Llano Estacado

If you honestly don't see any difference between a uniformed police officer carrying his sidearm in a duty rig along with his radio, taser, pepper spray, baton, body armor, camera and everything else cops carry these days and a private citizen carrying his handgun on his hip, you've got bigger issues than how best to carry concealed.

Your "that's why all police carry concealed" attempted comparison is ludicrous because there is no comparison.

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Steve
NJ State Trooper (rtd)

While I strongly support open carry being legal, I have never, and will never refer to it as a good decision*** (outdoor activities excepted). I am sad that we do not have the liberty to do so, but I do believe that mainly the "show-offs" would carry openly given the choice.... I also believe that these folks may learn the value of discretion a bit quicker than they otherwise would have.

I do know that open carry taxes an already overburdened police force, and we can go round and round about cops who harass carriers, but I think any responsible LEO would check up on a person open carrying... this takes their limited time away from the real work, which they seem to never have a lack of....

Its a true double edged sword.... I feel like a politician typing this LOL....


***insert "if concealed carry is a viable option"

One can have their license revoked if a concealed gun is exposed.
You might have known that, but couldn't pass up an opportunity to be a wise guy.

I recently met a retired LEO that privately helps new recruits (and vets, I suppose) qualify with their duty guns. He told me that he uses their time on the range together to teach them the gun laws of PA, as most of them aren't up to snuff on them. It sounds like a lack of training on a subject that is going to become more frequent in the coming years.

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Because of the metric system?

Was gonna add my $0.02, but why bother? There's no getting thru to either side in this always contentious debate.

Last session of the Legislature this was changed so that an accidental exposure of a gun like your shirt riding up is not a violation.

Cool, thanks for the update.
Of course there will always be a debate as to what is accidental, but that is a step in the right direction.

Thanks for not adding your $0.02

Not a fan of O/C for general daily use, for some of the reasons raised above, but I hardly see a reason to criminalize it in the way I understand some states to do. If you are legal to carry, what practical difference does it make whether you leave your jacket on or off?

My 2c, for what that's worth.

He's just venting.
NH allows open carry but I rarely see it.
My pet peeve is I just noted that TX and NH do not have reciprocity.
I'd like to see a universal carry among the states. We almost had it.
Yiogo

I hate open carry, unless it is a peace officer with a badge displayed. Open carry in our state does not require the background check and safety class, with range, that our concealed carry permits do. Open carry scares the hell out of citizens. When they allow it statewide they should change the concealed carry permit, to a carry permit, and require the same things a concealed carry permit now requires to carry openly. I see no reason why a citizen needs to carry a firearm openly, except on their own property. This opinion is tainted, if you will, from 30 years of dealing with armed criminals. I spoke with the president of the KS State Rifle Assn. about this. They are trying to move toward full constitutional carry. I told her my personal opinion, but I also told her whatever the law is, I will support it. It's what I do. The thing that concerns me is the inequity of the present situation. Concealed carry should be allowed without a permit, as open carry is. Or they both should require a permit. It is not fair the way it is.

I am a proud Texan, I carry concealed and was a CC instructor.... that said there should be no government interference in how a free man/woman carries their choice of firearm in our country. The supreme law of the land, our Constitution, is plain in that right. We have allowed the politicians and the sheep decide what is and is not proper. If anyone wants to open carry that should be their right and no one should tell them differently. As long as we carry......

What IS the difference? Just asking because I wear most of that on my duty belt at work. (We don't carry tasers or cameras.) And, as a private citizen, I generally open carry.

Really? Not all police officers carried in the open in the past, especially back east, to avoid disturbing the citizenry. Now, all you have to do is figure out why uniformed police officers generally open carry these days.

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CPT, Armor (Ret)
Luke 22:36

"..., the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed."

The right isn't there for you to like or not.

ECS

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CPT, Armor (Ret)
Luke 22:36

Sorry for your loss, also for being inconvienced.
Good topic, good vent.
Hope you have/had a safe trip home.
"Hook 'em"