Why I don't Open Carry

I'm with you, Pisgah.

Given a choice, I will always carry concealed for self defense. The reason is purely tactical. If I am in a life-or-death situation, I want every possible advantage, and the element of surprise is a huge one. Yes, a visible gun may deter an attack, but it also may get you a preemptive bullet in the head before you are even aware of the danger.

I'm with you, Pisgah. Walk softly but conceal the big stick.
 
There has been in Michigan in the past month several challenges by open-carry advocates taking their weapons into public schools. The hue and cry from the school boards has catapulted the issue into the media and the boards are reconsidering their policies for such an activity.

The Ann Arbor school board has now drafted a new policy that prohibits the open carry or concealed carry of any weapon. I believe several other districts that were challenged by the open carry advocates are also drafting new policies.

The open carry challenge, while altruistic, was poorly executed, in my opinion. The fact that weapons were toted onto school grounds is a flash point that will only inflame anti-gun rhetoric and hardens the viewpoint of those who are suspicious of open-carry intentions.

Ann Arbor for many, many years has been a center for a political viewpoint that is hardly nation wide.
 
Once again, I'm amazed at the people who think it's o.k. For a law enforcement officer to exaggerate a threat to the point of deadly force.
Aiming a gun at anyone is pretty serious business, and an officer with the responsibility of protecting the rights of citizens ought to be a bit more circumspect, and at least keep his mouth shut while making an arrest rather than getting into a debate with a man whom he's accused of being crazy. I figure his attorney will probably bring this to his attention.
Having spent a fair bit of time in a country where the police (whom I admittedly work with) cannot be trusted, I'd hope that here in the U.S.A.- whether baited or not-- the officer does his duty and knows what it is.
Probably the last thing that would keep me from open carrying is the knowledge that an officer would hand me a golden opportunity to sue for millions.
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Reggie Dunlop View Post
OC if you are an ignoramus.
CC if you want to protect our 2A.
You do realize that concealed carry is a privilege granted to you by the state.....right? So your concealed carry privilege protects our right to open carry?

"Your intellect is dizzying"

You prove my point.
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Reggie Dunlop View Post
OC if you are an ignoramus.
CC if you want to protect our 2A.
You do realize that concealed carry is a privilege granted to you by the state.....right? So your concealed carry privilege protects our right to open carry?

"Your intellect is dizzying"

You prove my point.
Agree or disagree, I have at least presented an argument. So far the best you've been able to come up with is to insult to a lot of people in this forum. Is the best you have? :confused:
 
The cop in that video sure was cordial. So were the assemblers. He obviously agreed with their politics which played into their discourse.

But just WHAT was the purpose of the AR slung over his chest? They're holding up signs about Obama and Ron Paul. Why the rifle?

While I generally don't see the point of OC'ing a handgun, a rifle is just beyond stupid. Other than "because I can", why is he doing it?

And why were they videoing the cop at all? If it was just a friendly chat why the need to video it?

As for the other video, that guy was obviously one of those you tube clowns looking to get stopped. Quoted every line from the OC Fanatic handbook. Was the cop unprofessional? I guess a little. So how much is the innocent citizen looking to shake down the government for? Walking around in cammo with a drop leg holster on. What a tool.

Right after Newtown, some moron decided to "educate" the public by walking into a JC Penny with an AR and a handgun on his leg. Screw all the people who felt alarmed, right?

I guess I just don't get how people have the time for such behavior.
 
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But just WHAT was the purpose of the AR slung over his chest? They're holding up signs about Obama and Ron Paul. Why the rifle?

While I generally don't see the point of OC'ing a handgun, a rifle is just beyond stupid. Other than "because I can", why is he doing it?
My educated guess... Since OC of a Rifle IS permitted, it made for a good 'prop' for legalizing OC of a Handgun too.
Why slung over the chest? Nobody driving by would see it if it were slung across his back and he/they didn't want to 'hold' it as if they were brandishing.

And why were they videoing the cop at all? If it was just a friendly chat why the need to video it?
Again... My Guess... They possibly thought that the engagement with the cop was going to be confrontational and originally wanted to have video proof of what transpired. That obviously did not happen, but the resulting video proved to be just as useful in showing a Positive engagement with LE.

I guess I just don't get how people have the time for such behavior.
I don't get some of the antics either... Oh well.
 
Originally Posted by Reggie Dunlop View Post
OC if you are an ignoramus.
CC if you want to protect our 2A.

Oh, really?

Originally Posted by Donn View Post
Don't know about that. I do know I've never met an O/C type that didn't have an attitude.

I's got a attitude...Jest ask around ;):D




South of the Red River...


North of the Red,


North or South, East er West...I got the same attitude, 7 days a week. :D


.

Oh, I forgot....I really want to sport this'n OC, with a lit'l attitude ;):D


 
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Detained, handcuffed and arrested. Ooooops... all charges dropped.

Citizens knowing the law is not a problem.
Police not knowing the law is a problem.

Citizens recording being stopped by police is not a problem.
Police stopping citizens at gunpoint or otherwise and detaining them while the are obeying the law is a problem.
 
most of the objections that I see to open carry in this thread and others like it appear to be emotionally driven.....

Difference between OC and CC of a handgun is whether someone has his shirt tucked in or not.

The objection to OC is largely driven by irrational fear at the sight of a gun being carried by someone not wearing a uniform. Very good article posted here a year or so ago explaining hoplophobia including gun owners suffering from it.
 
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Why I don't Open Carry,

I don't open carry to make a show,
I don't open carry to cause chaos among the masses,
I don't open carry to intimidate others,
I don't open carry to support a cause,

I do open carry when I feel like it, at times.



Difference between OC and CC of a handgun is whether someone has his shirt tucked in or not.

The objection to OC is largely driven by irrational fear at the sight of a gun being carried by someone not wearing a uniform. Very good article posted here a year or so ago explaining hoplophobia including gun owners suffering from it.


Just the very thought that someone would not be ashamed of their inalienable right to do as they please....

Seems to jest causes the complete loss of bowel control in some folks. :rolleyes:

Please put me in the 'I'm not ashamed' camp sir. ;):D:




.

parody in progress ;)
 
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Open carry results in: "shoot me first"

I don't have a problem with people carrying openly although doing so clearly makes a lot of other folks (including some gun owners) uneasy. I carry a gun for my protection and see only a tactical disadvantage in open carry: if you're in a store and armed robbers come in and they see you open carrying you are most definitely going to be shot and be shot first. I think there's a big advantage to the element of surprise and you don't have that with open carry. Yes, crooks seeing an armed person present may delay their committing a crime but what's even more of a deterrent in my opinion is crooks thinking armed people are present but not knowing who they are. If I had a store I would post signs stating: "concealed carry welcome here."
 
The cop in that video sure was cordial. So were the assemblers.

And that's the point.

Had the officer approached the group with a chip on his shoulder and attitude that all OC are idiots with attitudes, stupid, morons....

.... you can bet the encounter would have gone much differently.


If everytime you meet someone OC they respond with an "attitude" like "you're hassling me, facist", it might be just a reflection.
 
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Open carry results in: "shoot me first"
I don't have a problem with people carrying openly although doing so clearly makes a lot of other folks (including some gun owners) uneasy. I carry a gun for my protection and see only a tactical disadvantage in open carry: if you're in a store and armed robbers come in and they see you open carrying you are most definitely going to be shot and be shot first. I think there's a big advantage to the element of surprise and you don't have that with open carry. Yes, crooks seeing an armed person present may delay their committing a crime but what's even more of a deterrent in my opinion is crooks thinking armed people are present but not knowing who they are. If I had a store I would post signs stating: "concealed carry welcome here."


In forty years of carrying a sidearm...I have not found this to be an issue.

If it were, OSHA would require CC for all employees of agencies, ya'd think eh...

I'm not feelin it on CC being all that 'tactical'...Situational awareness is our first defense at all times.

But that's just me talking here...Folks ought to carry the way they find most comforting.

OC or CC, just being prepared is the key...Cause as the ol sayin goes,
"When seconds count, we (the police) are just minutes away!"

And we'll bring the chalk, the police line tape and start the investigation.


.
 
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