Why I don't Open Carry

[Iggy]

Well... almost. Last week, I visited a business in Pierce Co. Even though I was wearing a thick sweatshirt, and carrying IWB, the proprietor somehow detected that I was carrying. He freaked! Screamed at me to leave, and he picked up his cell, presumably to call LE. I left the establishment. That was it. Some people are just reeeeeeeeealy sensitive about this carrying stuff.

Pierce CO.? Dang, Colofornia is gittin' closer to Wyoming all the time. Hate to see that.

Got lots of CO greenies commuting up to Wyoming to work. They best leave their attitudes at the state line.

 

[BC38]

...At one time you could expect the full shake-down and a free handcuff fitting for open carry. The law never forbid open carry, so what changed if the law didn't? We carried openly! We made the police departments and the general public aware that a holstered gun wasn't illegal and wasn't a threat. Some departments had to be threatened with lawsuits, and some paid settlements for doing what they knew they shouldn't be doing (hassling OCers). Now we have very few, if any, law enforcement stops for open carry or inadvertent exposure of concealed carry.

So if you're against open carry because you don't want a "hassle" with the police, carry openly enough to affect change. The change will benefit your concealed carry too.

Excellent points. It's called conditioning. The left - with the help of their minions in Hollyweird - have conditioned the general populace to believe that anyone with a gun is a bad guy and someone to be feared.

Carrying openly can reverse that by conditioning them to realize that guns in the hands of good guys - even regular citizens - are a good thing. I don't advocate walking through the mall with an AR strapped to your back, but walking down the street minding your own business with a holstered pistol helps the soccer mommies to understand that guns in the hands of responsible adults are not something to be feared.

 

[ChattanoogaPhil]

At one time you could expect the full shake-down and a free handcuff fitting for open carry. The law never forbid open carry, so what changed if the law didn't? We carried openly! We made the police departments and the general public aware that a holstered gun wasn't illegal and wasn't a threat. Some departments had to be threatened with lawsuits, and some paid settlements for doing what they knew they shouldn't be doing (hassling OCers). Now we have very few, if any, law enforcement stops for open carry or inadvertent exposure of concealed carry.

There'a been a lot of YouTube confrontations to see the last couple years. Probably the most illustrative was the one in Grand Rapids where an officer came out of the car with his gun drawn and pointed at a guy because he was walking down the sidewalk with a holstered handgun. That was a year or two ago. There was supposed to be a federal lawsuit afterward. Certainly a lot of confusion with the police and the law.

I'm seeing less YouTube vids about it and more pro open carry and Constitutional carry laws being written. So I guess the message that OC need not be a terrifying event is getting through.

 

[ChiefStealth]

Pierce CO.? Dang, Colofornia is gittin' closer to Wyoming all the time. Hate to see that.

Got lots of CO greenies commuting up to Wyoming to work. They best leave their attitudes at the state line.

I should have been more precise. That's Pierce Co. as in Pierce County, Washington, State of

 

[Mcwsky09]

Why can't there be more than one element of surprise in any given encounter?
I would think the bad guys don't expect armed resistance else they would be far less likely to attack in the first place. And whose to say that you are the focus of the attack? In a store or a restaurant etc, they might expect no resistance from the employee but that doesn't mean they wouldn't be surprised by a customer drawing on them.
I believe it was clarified in Ohio recently that printing and accidental exposure of concealed carry is not a violation. I don't understand why it ever was given that open carry has been legal for some time. So I dont undertand the difference between open carry and what effective amounts to unintentional open carry.

 

[Iggy]

I should have been more precise. That's Pierce Co. as in Pierce County, Washington, State of

Whew!! Pierce CO. is only about 30 miles from the Wyoming border. You had me worried.

 

[CH4]

I saw a guy last Sat. open carrying a black auto (probably plastic) in a cloth holster. I thought that if he had any pride at all he would keep that outfit concealed. Larry

Yep, some have no shame.

 

[Kanewpadle]

To each his own. I will never open carry unless in the outdoors.

I choose to be unnoticeable. What I do or don't do is nobodies business but mine. I don't care about educating those who hate guns. And yes there is a definite tactical advantage to carrying concealed as well as the element of surprise. There are many documented cases where a crime has been deterred simply by producing a firearm.

 

[arjay]

Under the radar,always [emoji41]

 

[tops]

I don't understand the OC when hunting, fishing, hiking, etc. I always conceal when in the woods, fields and working around the farm because it keeps a lot of sticks, leaves, etc. away from my gun and holster. Larry

 

[keith44spl]

I conceal carry when discretion is called for,

I also like to open carry a times.

As Dolly Pardon once said, "If ya got it...Flaunt it!"





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Situational awareness is my 'tactical' advantage in all weathers


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[tops]

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Grannie allis sed "It don't cost but a little more to go first class". Larry

 

[keith44spl]

Grannie allis sed "It don't cost but a little more to go first class". Larry

Larry,

I probably wouldn't open carry the above rig any place
that I would not wear a Rolex watch or a 2.2 carat diamond tie tac


Su Amigo,
Dave

 

[Donn]

Some folks get ideological about open carry, which I understand but don't always agree.

Don't know about that. I do know I've never met an O/C type that didn't have an attitude.

 

[raylan007]

In FL open carry is legal only under certain circumstances.

The problem these days is that the popular media and even the educational system suggests that anyone with a gun, and that guns in general, are something to be feared.

In rural areas seeing folks with shotguns, long guns, and perhaps a sidearm during season is not out of the ordinary. With urban sprawl and suburbs popping up everywhere there's a different class of folks along with it.

There's a huge difference between an average joe carrying around his favorite sidearm, and a thug with a ghetto blaster under a hoodie looking to do wrong. While I rarely if ever open carry, people need to get over it.

I certainly believe in "constitutional carry" as it's what was envisioned, not what is currently encroached as law by liberal freedom hating jerks. We are falling farther from the intent of founding this great nation was all about every day.

Folks have had guns drawn on them by police while out fishing with a sidearm here due to ignorance by bystanders and officers alike. I would not take such abuse lightly.

Look at the AR-15. It was once the gun of fringe lunatics according to the media. Now everyone has one.

Hand guns themselves were the hot topic in the 80's with attempts to ban their sale and manufacture, now concealed carry pistols are best sellers and most states allow some form of carry.

It'll eventually get that way with open carry, I believe. Whether you believe in it or not, the more commonplace open carry becomes, the less a gun on a guys hip is shock to the psyche of those with a sensitive disposition. Folks will eventually learn that a gun on the hip won't cause OK Coral shootouts at the Wally World parking lot, or flood the street with blood like the antis like to spout.

Someday we may be back to asking the neighbor the story of the gun on their hip, instead of all the drama.

It's a bit sad that those in our own gun culture are against freedoms that should have stayed ours. "Gun Control" is a modern solution to a problem there never was.

Ya everyone has a AR15, in your world, another does exists see if you can find it.

 

[ChattanoogaPhil]

It's a bit sad that those in our own gun culture are against freedoms that should have stayed ours. "Gun Control" is a modern solution to a problem there never was.

It's not easy fighting both gun owners and anti-gun zealots on so many issues. That said, the anti-gun zealots and their gun owning accomplices have been taking a whupping across most of America for the past 30 years, and continues.

As far as OC.... It's unfortunate that some gun owners suffer such irrational fear when they see somone on the street carrying a gun who is not wearing a uniform. I understand they are in pain and suggest they seek therapy. Freedom is winning.

 

[keith44spl]

Don't know about that. I do know I've never met an O/C type that didn't have an attitude.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^


Yeah, we're a rare breed for sure, some of the ones I work with....For sure

Bout all of them open carry, and they're about the most confrontational bunch you'll find anywhere.

But you know how those plain clothes detectives are just that....All about that Attitude


I don't always open carry....
But when I do, no ones ever poked any fun at me,

For the record, I don't put up with too awful much guff.


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[ladder13]

It's not easy fighting both gun owners and anti-gun zealots on so many issues. That said, the anti-gun zealots and their gun owning accomplices have been taking a whupping across most of America for the past 30 years, and continues.

As far as OC.... It's unfortunate that some gun owners suffer such irrational fear when they see somone on the street carrying a gun who is not wearing a uniform. I understand they are in pain and suggest they seek therapy. Freedom is winning.

You sure have a way with words, Phil.

 

[Richard Simmons]

The only two issues with OC are the ignorance of the population at large and the lack of or inadequate knowledge of the law by law enforcement. Personally I'm not one to apply my constitutionally protected rights only when it pleases the ill informed.

As noted by other thoughtful members, if more people OC there would be fewer "man with a gun" reports and less hassle all around. As with everything, CC or OC is not a guarantee against being a victim but the choice to do one or the other MUST lie with the individual.

 

[turbo6]

The tactical advantage and fewer hassles make concealed carry a better choice, IMO.

Also where you live plays a big part too. Living in NC people don't even look twice at OCers. When I lived in the Northeast you'd likely be on a receiving end of a police call.

I'd probably never OC anywhere other than my property but if I did a good retention holster would be a must. I see many people carrying in cheap flimsy holsters and I think it's a poor choice.

I was in Walmart a few weeks back and this lady was carrying in this incredibly cheap looking holster that was just bouncing around all over the place...it was like watching a fat guy on a treadmill. I swear it looked like the gun was going to jump out at any moment.