Again in Florida the law to allow open carry is going through the process. Considering the left and right views on guns I'm wondering for those who can open carry;

1) Do you find some or more establishments unwelcoming, this excludes the tree hugging like of Starbucks and such

2) How does the non carrying public view you walking around the streets, do you find people staring or suddenly changing direction

3) Do the less than honest looking individuals take more notice of you

This horse has been beaten to a bloody pulp over and over. So, I'll just make a comment about our recent experience here in Oklahoma.
We now have licensed open carry in Oklahoma after raging arguments on the subject.
A very, very few open carry in town, and some people notice, but hardly anyone remarks on it. There have been a couple of idiots who insisted (even after being asked to leave) on open carrying into prohibited places (like a polling place) to "make a statement" and they are now convicted felons with no carry license and no guns.
Even the merchants who were upset at the prospect of open carry now admit is was practically a non-event.
I don't open carry in town, so all it did for me was de-criminalize accidental exposure of a concealed pistol.

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Science plus Art

This topic has been covered in several notable threads recently. I think at least one of them had to be shut down my the moderator. Personally, even though I can, I don't think open carry is wise in an urban environment. It tends to put people off. You will be and feel all alone. It's just a fact. There are exceptions. I used to see a guy at the bank every Friday evening depositing large sums of cash at the merchant teller. He open carried, and who could blame him? I will open carry in rural areas (hiking, etc.). If anyone notices, they don't seem to care.

I suggest you search for other threads on this. I promise you, there is no shortage of information or opinions.

Wow, hot topic to say the least. You're going to get a lot of opinions, mostly by people who have never done it or have never done it as a private citizen. I will answer your questions as someone who has:

- Actively carried openly for over ten years
- Open carried (daily) during the early days when the cops would handcuff you as a show of force
- Open carried in high crime and active gang areas (Tacoma named most crime infested city in the Pacific Northwest)
- Open carried in crowded areas of various cities (like Pike Place Market in Seattle)
- Open carried in VERY liberal places like Seattle or Bellevue

I have only been asked to leave one or two times in ten years. Starbucks isn't one of the places that has ever asked me to leave. In the OC community I have only heard of someone being asked to leave a few times, and most of those are followed up by the 'owner' of the establishment apologizing for the misguided employee who asked.

The public mostly doesn't notice it. Of the ones that do, few care, fewer will say anything, of the ones that do say something it is overwhelmingly positive. I have had TWO people (in over ten years) object- one was upset because the cops wouldn't come, and the other merely wanted to debate gun ownership (she believed only police should have access to guns. She walked up and began the conv with me, so zero nervousness.)

I have had one incident where I am convinced someone who was planning a crime (although minor) against me turn away when they noticed I was carrying. There isn't any way to determine who has taken 'notice' unless it was as obvious as it was during the one time mentioned here, so this question is somewhat hard to answer. I can say that during my first four or five years of OC when I carried every day, in liberal and high crime areas (I lived in the Stadium District of Tacoma), that I was never targeted by less-than-honest people because I had a gun. There were a few less-than-honest police officers who did so, but after they had to answer to their superiors, it stopped pretty quickly.

So those are my experiences- you may weigh them against the anti-OC crowd's speculation and conjecture as you wish.

Its legal in various areas here,but I rarely do it unless I'm in moose country (those suckers can be testy)

Legal in NC . Never seen it done in 19 years I liked here unless hunting . I started to CC in florida in 1988 an continue on that way .

I'm for both.....CC & OC

The Lady sed, "There's jest something about a tall handsome man that's well heeled."

Of course I ain't one of em..........lol


.

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"IN GOD WE TRUST"

POPCORN we need lots of popcorn!!!

This makes sense to me. From NRA: HB-163 is a bill to allow persons with a Concealed Weapons & Firearms License to carry firearms concealed or openly.BACKGROUND:

This bill will prevent CW license holders from being charged with the crime of violating the "Open Carry" law because a concealed firearm, being legally carried, accidentally or inadvertently became visible to another person.

According to our attorneys, allowing license holders to carry openly is the only way to truly keep them from being arrested and/or prosecuted for violating the open carry ban if firearms are accidentally and unintentionally exposed.

IT IS UNFORTUNATELY TRUE that anytime you are carrying a concealed firearm you are in danger of being charged with a crime and treated like a criminal if your firearm accidentally becomes exposed to the sight of another person and law enforcement is called.

I actually hope it passes, simply to show the anti gun loud mouths who think Florida will suddenly become Dodge City, that they are wrong. I have visited an OC state, and even open carried some while I was there. Almost nobody there open carried, even though no permit was required. I will continue to CC even if it passes, and I suspect the vast majority will as well.

I know some plain cloths guys who obviously open carry and never give it a thought. When I see one I usually assume, LEO and discretely check out what he's carrying and that's about it. No big deal and this is NJ.

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Back to back World War Champs.

I have no arguement with OC. I don't normally OC but when I do it has all been positive. I am not out to make a statement nor confront anyone. If someone wants to take issue with it I just say "it's the law" that allows me to carry a firearm.

KS now has open and concealed carry without a permit ( constitutional carry ). A permit is available for those who travel to states with reciprocal agreements with KS. Personally I do not like open carry except by peace officers displaying badges, but it is the law and I will abide by it.

I live in southwest Tn. (NOT Memphis). I have kin and friends scattered all across the midsouth and southeast. Mostly Mississippi and Tennessee. With my TN. CC permit I can carry either way anywhere I might go. I don't ever fly, and too lazy to go anywhere more than a day's drive. I carry open on my hip 90% of the time and just pull out my shirt tail when I think there might be sensitive people around, which is rare, because I don't frequent those type places much. I was raised on revolvers and that big handle in a mid-rise thumb break holster is not as intimidating as a 27 round cap. squared off chunk of plastic semi-auto. I keep myself up to date on gun laws in mine and other states with Wikipedia, "gun laws by state". They keep their info updated very well. Just be your lovable self and don't act like Rambo and no one pays any attention. Pretty relaxed all around down here. Only real problems we do have is gangs, drugs and the regular low-life scum that is all around, but that is the reason we need to be armed and not have to live in fear. Man!, almost got really starting to rant again. I don't mean to knock anyone's preference in firearms, I just like mine I'm used to. Peace everyone. I just wish I could type faster.

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Just a shooter

Well, here you would have to say, "It's the lack of a law". This is the heartburn I have with the way Texas did it and FL is proposing to do it. Don't write yet another law legalizing open carry, but get rid of the laws that prohibit it.

WA Constitution Article I Section 24: The right of the individual citizen to bear arms in defense of himself, or the state, shall not be impaired...
If they outlaw open carry, they'd have to allow concealed without a permit or its associated fees.

No problem with open or concealed carry.

Just puts me on high alert when I see how some people carry, openly.

* The "fatiques or bdu's in walmart and I'm not in the service
or in law enforcement" guy.

* The "loose fitting holster" guy - gun moving all around.

* The "hand on my grip" all the time guy

* The "I wish a mother bleeper would say something to me
wrong" guy

OC or CC Florida is a breath of fresh air compared to NY Downstate, and NYC is the worse. I wouldn't cross the city line without two firearms ........

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ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ

If you carry openly then don't dress like Rambo in public places. If you are attired with a little class, you do not appear threatening. If you are trying to make a statement for OC, it is not helpful to look like an evil moron looking for trouble; however, it does make a statement about you. I am all for CC and OC but a little discretion in public goes a long way in making the 2nd Amendment crowd look more responsible. Help us by using good judgment in your daily carry... and be safe.

Like this infamous duo:

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-jwk-
US Army '72-'95

I'm not a big fan of open carry (OC) but to each their own. I prefer to quietly go my own way so conceal my weapon all the time. The few times I've seen someone OC it draws little attention sometimes, other times police are notified and respond. I don't need the hassle, even with retired LEO credentials.

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Old Cop
LEO (Ret.)

not a fan of OC. even if i could, i wouldn't. they tried it here in FL way back, lasted i think 2 weeks. in FL they issue "concealed weapons licenses", so i will continue to carry concealed. to much attention heaped on said OC. the only time i want anyone to know i'm carrying, is i have a muzzle pointed at 'em...

How bout those states with conceal carry but you can't print.
Now that is just plain nuts....

Open Carry

Perception = Hysterical rantings of doom
Reality = Yawn

OK got the point,
over beaten subject
over rated hype

Me personally I would opt not to OC, just didn't know how it was looked upon else where

Before this gets out of hand, Mods please lock

I think I remember something about that... There was a law passed about OC and CC definitions I think that defined as to just where you could carry period. The law, as passed, allowed for open carry ANYWHERE, even into places that prohibited guns period! It took about the 2 week time period you mentioned for the law to be amended!! This was about 12-15 years ago.....

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Music/Sports/Beer fan

+1
yep, what he said.
All the handwringing and blood in the street types are finding out that its a non-issue. Pretty much the same as in 1996 when CC became law.

Without wading through all the responses as this topic is a regular: it is my observation that open carry will attract the least attention in areas where the general public is long accustomed to guns. In areas full of tourists and blue state transplants such as Florida, you can expect some flak, even people summoning the police. An inaccurate call to the police, such as "man with gun," is sure to bring out the cavalry. Be sure you know how to properly interact with police when challenged.

You can even expect open hostility. This is a bit of an oxymoron as why would you attract the negative attention of an unknown armed person if you really fear the sight of his gun or what he might do with it?

I agree with Federali. I spent my career in NJ. Any gun you detected required a follow up. It was usually a careless LEO. No civilian carry. Even now in PA I am only comfortable with concealed carry. The neighbors look at you funny otherwise. Also, the element of surprise gives a tactical advantage. I'll keep mine concealed.

Seattle is a top tourist destination for people from around the country and around the world. Open carry causes no flak. A police response would go thusly:
Officer: Sir, may I speak to you?
OCer: Am I being detained?
Officer: No
OCer: Have a nice day officer.

Do you know how I know this? Because I have done exactly that on several occasions. Now I have to ask; When or where did you observe flak and police response?

Well, it hasn't happened in over ten years, so I'm thinking you're quite wrong.

They tried to pass open carry in Florida a few years ago.
It didn't pass, but a watered down bill did that decriminalizes
inadvertent display of a firearm. For example if you reach for
something and your shirt rides up, or if a wind blows your shirt
back and displays your gun, it is no longer an offense.

Stu

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NRA Benefactor/Cert Instructor

what? Just me and my brother....

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- The Federalist #46 -

I am having physical theropy on my right foot so figured no need to leave my EC in the Jeep. Well first and second sessions went well then she was standing behind me and started checking my right hip and bulled my shirt up and everyone there seen it. Thankfully nothing was said but it could have been a problem.. If the OC law passes it would not have been a problem. That is the only reason I want OC. Don

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USN Retired/VN VET
M&P X5

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Keep on Chooglin'

OC has been legal here for a long time, but I rarely see anyone do it.

The more I think about it, I really do hope it passes in Fl. While I still wont OC as I feel it is a disadvantage tactically, I do see a possible up side. Perhaps this is an opportunity to repair the damage to our image that has been done by the likes of the two yahoos in the previous posts. I know that relatively few people will OC on a regular basis, but if those who do make the effort to portray a positive image, it will go a long way to change the misconceptions of non gun owners. We will never change the anti-gun crowd. But if OC'ers are seen helping old ladies cross the road instead of provoking confrontations with the police, we might sway some of the middle of the road types to our side.

I like Jerry!! Thanks for posting this!!!

One of the nations top pistoleros and with a common sense message.

In my own city a couple of months ago an open carrier went into the bathroom at a local walmart. A dirtbag already had been eyeballing the guy and followed him into the bathroom where he knocked the open carry guy down and stole his gun. And that's not the only such incident here locally. Carrying open just draws too much attention and you loose any tactical advantage.

To each his own, but I've been carrying concealed for over 30 years and have had no negative incidents because no one knows I'm armed except those that know me.

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Mbr; LEAA,KSRA,M.C.League

I don't get this response at all. Don't see the downside in being cooperative with the police. Cops get called and they have a duty to investigate. Consider this: suppose open carry was legal in Oregon. Until the shooter fired his first shots, the cops would have no right to stop and question him.

I guess I don't look at cops as the enemy. I don't OC even though I could. But if I did and a cop approached me, I would be friendly and at least answer a few questions so the cop could gauge my behavior.
As for it passing or not, I don't care either way. Many posters here (including me) live in OC areas and barely see it. I'm sure Florida will be the same. Except for the guys who do it purposely to call attention to themselves.

This happened in my County a couple of years ago. I have no desire to open carry, but it will prevent this from happening.

I once caught considerable flak for an off-the-cuff comment I made regarding OC in a previous thread. Thus, I'll try to be polite and civil.

It might help to refresh our recollection as to just what elements tend to separate the winners from the losers in armed confrontations, in order of importance: Mindset, judgment, tactics, marksmanship, firearm. It's in the third element where advocates of OC are making a potentially fatal error by giving up the element of surprise by advertising the presence of a firearm. As at least one other has said here, once a thug "makes" you, you are relatively easy to defeat.

Regarding OC, you will ultimately do what you feel is best for you but if you study the hundreds of incidents resulting in an officer fatality, marksmanship or caliber is seldom a factor in an officer's death. Post incident analysis consistently shows that the death resulted from omissions in the first three elements.

I open carry 98 percent of the time. I'm in Pennsylvania. I typically carry in leather pancake holsters with level 2 retention. I am a short-hair, clean shaven, tucked in shirt type.

1) Over the years, I've been asked the 'cover up' only once. I did so, and will not return to that restaurant again. Otherwise, I've never had a problem at all the other places I routinely go. Grocery store, haircuts, retail shops, restaurants, fast-food places, even playgrounds with my family and county parks---never asked to leave. I have, however, gotten MANY positive remarks.

2) What you carry determines to some extent how much people notice. My 4 inch revolvers get more attention than my Walther PPK. That said, still, 90 percent of people are too wrapped up in their own little bubble to notice the .357 or .41 mag on my hip. Of the ones that do notice, they usually look and then go back to their own lives. Of those who notice and say something, almost all comments are either supportive or out of curiosity about carry or guns in general.

3. There was at least one occasion in my life now where I am certain that my openly carried pistol (holstered) prevented an unpleasant confrontation with 'thugs'. It happened while on vacation in another (Open carry friendly) state. The 4 thugs approaching my family at a gas station suddenly had a change of mind and travel direction when they noticed the holstered H&K P7 on my side. I didn't have to say anything, or clear leather. Had I been concealing, things very much would have ended differently.

In my experience, Open carry is NOT a big deal. People don't run and scream, most don't even notice, and it is much more comfortable way of carrying a large gun.

Very professional.

No downside there being cooperative.

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Sure you did

I must say this, with the most polite respect to all those who don't like OC:

I've noticed now that everyone who is against OC are always folks who DO NOT OC. Anti-OCers, who don't OC, repeat the same platitudes about 'cops being called', 'hostile confrontations', 'scaring old people and children', and 'wanting to surprise the attacker'. Sometimes, Anti-OCers just attack the character of all OCers by accusing them of being 'rambos' or 'drama queens'.

Then, I read the posts by folks who ACTUALLY Open carry, and they all mirror my own experience: It makes not a darned bit of difference 99 percent of the time.

All the anti-OCers are folks who never OCed. I have yet to find someone who was once an OCer, and then became anti-OC. I suspect the reason is because people who actually OC understand how much of a non-issue it is in reality.

Just my three cents.

Nope. Never had anyone pay much attention to it one way or the other.

Nope. I had a few people ask questions, like "Can I do that too?", or "Do I need a permit to do that?" but otherwise, not that I noticed.

I don't know what a "less than honest looking" person looks like. I guess I don't run in the right circles.

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John 3:16 .