as I was having lunch with my grand kids today I saw a guy carrying a revolver in what appeared to be a left hand IWB holster clipped to the right front pocket of his jeans. it was flopping around every step he took. did not look all that secure to me. my granddaughter asked me if I had a holster like that. I said I did and I had it on at the time but in the proper place. just an interesting observation. we have always had open carry in TN and in the 17 years I have been back home I may have seen half a dozen people open carrying. lee

Must be a Tennessee thing Lee.

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Randy
Provenance nerd

This got me to thinking and as near as I can remember, just about ever person I've ever seen open carrying had some sort of cheap, junk holster. Kinda makes you wonder, don't it?

Could be his twin is a southpaw and it was his day to carry the gun.

Last summer I was in Home Depot picking up a few things and I saw a guy doing a "slow stroll" down the aisle while open carrying a revolver in a uncle mikes type of holster. What caught my eye was that he had the holster barely down inside his waist and not clipped or fastened to his person in any way!
It looked like it would fall out at any second.
Anyone desiring to could have snatched the gun AND holster from him before he could do anything.

He didn't appear to be looking for any merchandise either so I pegged him as another person just out to say "look at me - I have a gun".

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Stay protected my friends.

He probably jest got one head light as well.......



.

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"IN GOD WE TRUST"

Colorado is an open carry state as well. Most of what I have come across is the fancy .45 show off Wilson Combat and Kimber dressed up grips and fancy leather. Just showing off.

I will NEVER open carry. It gives away your tactical advantage and puts the target on your back for the bad guy. I think that many who do open carry are just showing off.

Yes, I think so too. KS has open carry and has for quite a while, in all that time I have seen exactly 2 people open carrying, and one may have been a plain clothes officer without his jacket on.

I see people open carry all the time at WalMart. No one cares or pays them any attention. But we can in Tennessee with a permit.

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Endeavor To Persevere

Remember though, if it weren't for Tennessee, there might not be a Texas!

I am constantly amazed.At how many so called 2nd amendment supporters.Are actually anti gun do y'all self hate or is it just everybody who does not do exactly as you.

I could write some nasty things about a minority of OC individuals that's likely to get me banned.

Early on in law enforcement, I came to realize that carrying a gun for a living did not begin and end with the gun. As a firearms instructor, I came to realize that we carried a self defense system made up of the gun, extra ammo, a means of carrying that extra ammo, a holster, belt and a means of concealment yet with ready access. The system is only as good as its weakest link. As the OP observed, too many people carry guns with the subconscious belief that they will never have to use it.

Open carry if you choose or where legal but you must guard against a sudden, high-speed disarming attempt. Within the past year, I recall at least one forcible disarming in which the OC individual was slain with his own firearm. The gun should be reasonably secure and, in my opinion, OC rigs should have some sort of retention device.

Incidentally, I witnessed at least a dozen imitation leather dress belts come apart at the buckle during handgun retention exercises. The belt is the third most important thing after the gun and holster.

Grannie allis toll me to wear my Sunday best when I wuz goin out in public. Larry

I don't think that I could, or would, at this point, want to open carry, but, all of you critical observers take a minute, and try to remember how many of those open carry folks, that you observed, were being robbed, or molested? Food for thought? My study of history, shows a very polite, self reliant public when the public goes armed, and are not relying on a loud mouth, and "Uncle Sugar" that is not required to protect anyone. I have however found, back in history, entire groups of unarmed people being eradicated, by Their governments. Now after the public is disarmed, a single, or a couple of "nuts", can always acquire illegal weapons, and use them on a public, not able to legally protect themselves. Do you trust our Government with your family's, and your lives? Food for thought?
Chubbo

I carry concealed mostly, but on the few occasions I open-carry it's in a Bianchi Cyclone 111.......just thought you might be interested.

Don

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Laus Deo! <><

This is one of my big reasons against open carry, you have fools who just want to show off and carry for the sake of it. If you're going to carry a firearm, let alone openly, know your equipment and how it functions. That goes for your holster as well. Firearms aren't an accessory.

Don, you're doing it wrong. You're supposed to use a nylon sausage sack with the attached pouch in front. You know, for your "extra clip".

CQB27, I am proud to say I grew up just a few miles from Davey's last home before he went to Texas. that was in Rutherford, TN. this is where he was a congressman. still have a lot of his decendents around here. lee

... so the Alamo only had Davy Crocket present, astounding kill ratio even if I do say so myself.

Baloney..............

I wonder there old son, does my rig pass your muster or am I just show'n off...

Technically this bountiful, sovereign and graceful land and its industrious folk were and still would be Texas and Texans respectively under theoretical, but never meaningful, Mexican rule.

Well, I disagree with some of what has been said. If'n yer workin' outdoors and common sense suggests a firearm, you take one. Carryin' a long gun ties up one hand and tires you out over a day. Havin' a sidearm on yer hip makes a lot more sense if yer adoin' actual work. I know, the police types define work as standin' around in a group, BS'n. I mean actually pick'n stuff up and movin' it around, or hammerin' on things, etc. No, you can use yer sidearm as the hammer. It doesn't fit my style. I see nothin' wrong with a farmer or rancher with a gun on his hip. It makes a lot more sense than havin' it concealed under his dress jacket when the temps are above 90, or 100. Do as you please, but don't leave out common sense.

When I was young and even more stupid, there was this little party my daddy threw out in the hay field. He called it "hay'n" and his trusty little revolver was on his side. Plainly visible to anyone within maybe 100 feet. I shore would like to see you disarm'n experts walk up to him and take that thing away. I kind of think you'd better have an excuse fer bein' in his field and approachin' us. Even if we were in the barn and you appeard out of now where, you'd be what we'd call a trusspasser, and he'd be thinkin' about usin' the revolver on you before you could get very close.

Back when huntin' bunnies and tree rats seemed like a good idea, I'd often haul a 22 pistol on my side. Not sure why, just seemed to make some sense to me. I've even shot a few stupid tree rats with it. Back in those days, concealed was forbidden. Hardly anyone but our huntin' party saw us. Course if we got done and headed into town, we'd put all the guns, including the rifles, shotguns, and handguns in the trunk. Anyone with any sense at all figured we had guns, but why else would be be dressed with canvas clothes and have a big ole license pinned to our backs?

To me, that was open carry. Part of what they say is true. If yer up to no good, shoot the guy with an exposed gun first. But that's done with city slickers. I did have an exposed handgun one time. In a bank no less. On payday I'd rush home. If I came through the door yell'n, old spot my dalmatian would run in circles and bounce of the walls. He knew darn good and well what was up. So I'd change clothes or at least shoes and get him all roped up. Then with my carry piece under a jacket, and my paycheck in my pocket, we'd head out. From the house, it was at least 2 miles. A guy doin' a forced march can cover that in about 30 to 40 minutes. So we went into the bank and got in the slaughter line. We'd move up a step or two, and I'd tell him to sit. He knew the drill. And when he did, I'd pet him and tell him he was a good-boy. We knew the tellers and the guard. On this one day, I'd bent down a few times and petted my pooch. That day the guard walked over and very quietly said "your carry piece is showing". So I straightened out my jacket and we went on through the like without other incident. I'd guess no one cared one hoot. The tellers even had suckers for the kids and milk bones for the various dogs that came along. Nice friendly place it was. Let that cover concealed carry in a bank and unplanned exposure. If'n you're not tryin' to make a fuss, no one cares.

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Dick Burg

My state has had conceal carry for years an then came back and pasted an open carry law. The state (MS) constitution already allowed it but the proponents stated it "cleared the issue for enforcement"

Me personal I never open carry unless working on my farm or during hunting season. I think those people referened give all of use a bad image

open carry is legal in new mex with no permit.
i'm about the only one around here who does, n that's just during snake season.
most people just carry in their car, as concealed in a car is legal with no permit.
open is still a novelty in texas, so people are making a big deal of it.
here, it's always been legal so most don't bother with it.

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susie

Check google for a list of defenders. I counted Tenn 22, Ky 17, Texas 13. Those 13 Texans had a couple of hundred of people from all over the world helping them. Larry

And a washing machine on his porch

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Retired Career Security Guard

Before all our Texan brothers get all upset. Yes the Alamo defenders died as Texans.But they came from everwhere.Tennessee is rightly proud of our sons who went to Texas .They went not just to the Alamo,but all over Texas.Sam Houston "Please remove your hats"learned his fighting skills under Andy Jackson as a Tennessean and he certainly showed Santa Ana a thing or two.Tennessee and Texas have always had a special relationship.Let us all be proud of it. I apologize for the thread drift.

There are so many facets to this issue it's hard to address them all in one post. I personally choose not to opencarry but support the rights of those who choose to do so.

I don't think it makes other people nervous because most of the time they don't even seem aware of it. I know this doesn't count as data but every time I point out an open carrier to my wife she isn't even aware until I do.

Sure there are idiots that open carry and I fully support taking their right to do so based on their specific behavior if they do something stupid while open carrying but I don't want to see the majority punished for the actions of a few.

Does open carry make you a target? Sure it does sometimes but sometimes just being there makes you a target.

All in all unless you can show me statistically significant numbers of open carriers being robbed for their guns or causing legitimate public disturbances I'm going to come down on the side of personal freedom

There really is no such thing as compromise with an anti. If they ever succeed in banning open carry they will focus all their resources on concealed carry They will not rest until no private citizen had the right to bear arms

Listen, and understand! That Grabber is out there! It can't be bargained with. It can't be reasoned with It doesn't feel pity, or remorse, or fear. And it absolutely.will.not .stop. until you are disarmed
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Retired Career Security Guard

Now it's interesting, I went up to my hunting buddy's cabin to help him build a shed for his equipment and 4 wheelers.
I open carried the whole time while I was there and no one cares.
But we were in the boondocks next to a National Forest.
In the city, I don't do it.

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Only difference Fool/Mule-ears

It doesn't matter to me where someone else carries their gun. Their gun, their business.
I'm only concerned with mine.
As far as giving a "bad name" by open carrying, unless said person is being foolish or careless doing so, the "bad name" problem lies within the head of the person that thinks so.
Just my take on it.

David Crockett was an open carry advocate forever. Ditto on being a neighbor of his descendants. Crockett County is named for him.

PS: Walt Disney named him Davey; there is no known instance of his being called Davey prior to Disney, but we West Tennesseans all knew that.

I think you might have taken my comment a bit too seriously. I don't think DC was the only person there (or the only Tennessean), and to your point, that's why I said "might". It was all in jest.

And a T.V.______Sitting on top of his broken T.V.

I thought Open carry would make me no difference before it was passed.
I always carry concealed except at home, or inside my vehicle. With all
the new refugees coming in and criminal illegals i decided that i need to
be able to draw faster especially from inside my vehicle. I also decided
that i needed more than just two revolvers so now a revolver is backup
and my Glock 45 cal is primary. Now i am thinking about maybe getting
one more Glock 45 so i would have twins.

I see from reading this thread I must be the only person that conceals when working around the homestead and wandering the woods and fields. I either use a shoulder holster under my shirt or my shirt tail out over a belt holster. It keeps a lot of dirt and trash out of my gun and holster and especially when running a chain saw. Larry

You're right. I spent my LE career in NM and prior to CCW being passed in 2004 (?), while open carry was legal per State law some cities had laws against it so it was often confusing to people. When Albuquerque passed an ordinance denying CCW it was challenged and the State Supreme Court finally ruled that State Law Preempted all local laws.

Don't know if open carry is any more common but as late as the early 90's when my daughters were in high school it was still quite common to see rifles and shotguns in pickup racks parked in the HS parking lot.

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Support your Police, & NRA

In jest it was taken.

Texas was just beginning and we all know their were exceptional patriots from all over that helped her defeat Mexico and become the Great State of Texas.

... no offence was taken nor directed on the flip side.

It is not a Tennessee thing, or anti-2nd Amendment thing. It is a clownshoes thing. Most of the OC I have seen is by buffoons, using cheap, shoddy gear that just screams "dumb narcissist", just like the situation described by the OP. The person described is at best a slob. Far too many of the OC types convey a poor impression to the general public, a group that is overtly hostile to us. I have seen nice gear with BBQ guns, but it is not common. Most of the serious shooters and fighters I know (i.e., people who avoid ARFCOM) have the same views.

I will never forget the call to which I was sent that came from some whiny crybaby (I knew from the start that this was a whiny crybaby, because the area code in the call was 360; like 206, 253, and 425, almost everyone with such an area code with whom I have dealt professionally is a whiny crybaby and a pain in the gluteal muscles). He was all bent out out of shape over someone OC in a grocery store. He could not describe any misconduct, he was just scared and uncomfortable and thought there out to be a law as a result. Yes, he is a worthless piece of excrement whose opinion is not worth the carbon dioxide he expelled in giving it, BUT: there are a lot of people like him. They HATE us and are just looking for an excuse to screw with us. OC makes us a lot of enemies in some settings and locales. Contrary to the claims of advocates, I have seen nothing that tells me that the practice de-sensitizes the antis or even the undecided to the sight of armed citizens.

I want to get left alone. I do not want some idiot to give me a lot of grief, or make some B(ogu)S call to LE because they have an agenda and want to make a scene, cause us problems, etc. They are out there, and they are common. It is a tactic advocated by these antis. Most of the time they are skirting the law about making a false statement to LE, so they will not get charged.

There is a time and place for OC - I get it. Some places, it will be common. In a rural area, working outside, I just might. People whose carry piece is accidentally exposed should not be at risk of being charged - that is just stupid. I get it. The idiot descried in the OP? Heck no.

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NHI, 10-8.

He must be a "Spencer" fan from Criminal Minds.

Agreed. It's mission accomplished when you mention to an acquaintance that you're a gunny person after they spout some gungrabber tripe, and their jaw hits the floor. It's been my experience that that's the only way you can really convert someone.

Shell, you are missing the point.

It's one of those things where they say - "with friends like that who needs enemies?"

We have anti's all around looking for ways to upstage or embarrass us, or lately, to get us to "explain ourselves."

Responsible gun owners pay the price when some fool acts like a jackass, just because he can, when he exercises his various constitutional rights for dubious reasons.

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Tony

We've had open carry in Oklahoma for a while now. Where I live, it's still pretty rare to see anyone openly packing a gun other than a cop. But, a few people do avail themselves of the opportunity.

I almost missed this one in line next to me at the local Walmart a couple weeks ago...

Hard to tell if that's a Man or Woman. WAL-MART

I have noticed that most people I see open carrying, carry in a cheap looking nylon holster or a plastic tactical looking rig.

Although I did see a lady carrying a commander in a leather belt slide today at Walmart yesterday.

Reminded me of a joke:
That's the ugliest man I've every seen.
That's not a man, it's a woman.
Then that's the ugliest woman I've ever seen.
Larry

just so you know, my holsters are pretty nice. good leather well fitted to the gun.
they cost more than some guns.

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susie

Yep. Saw a girl carry an M&P Shield with pink grip panels in what had to be an Airsoft holster. Gun flopped around as she walked.

I open carry sometimes. Really don't care what anyone else thinks about it, if it makes people uncomfortable, too bad. There is alot of **** going on these days that makes me uncomfortable, but I'm a middle aged white man so nobody cares. Most people probably don't think twice about it since I'm a clean cut and well dressed person. However, I have started to conceal more and more since I had what I was 95% sure was a setup to try and grab my piece in the grocery store. I think it's wiser to conceal, but I'm not going to lie, I carry openly sometimes just to be a dick. I'm always aware of people nearby when I do, and there is nothing quite like a handgun on someone's hip to make someone think twice about acting like a fool.

She's an older woman getting groceries and didn't ask to have her picture posted on the Internet for some jack wagon to critique her. Have some class.