Have you seen it? Open carry

[Smoke]

As I mentioned previously, I see OC pretty frequently. I started a
conversation with a guy about his 1911 in a Walmart several years ago and he almost pulled it out for Show and Tell in the Produce aisle. I learned my lesson and never commented again.

What baffles me the most is when I see someone in the locker room at the Gym making sure everyone in the room sees their OC then stashing it in the stupid Particle Board locker. Im waiting for one to get stolen.

I already said I mind my own business regarding OC, but I want to throw out a question to the folks here.

You're going about your business, not bothering anyone and some random person you've never seen before starts questioning the wisdom of your choice. Are you going to consider his arguments or suggest he FO&MYOB?

 

[RobertJ.]

Are you going to consider his arguments or suggest he FO&MYOB?

My guess is that most people will respond with the latter. People (especially these days!) do not like to be confronted with reality. That's why I just keep my mouth shut.

 

[oldiegoldie]

i live in ranch country, where the Big Horn Basin butts up against the mountains. it isn't unusual to see a rancher, cowboy or ranch lady open carrying. nobody seems to mind.

 

[shil]

You MUST open-carry to intimidate the moms and toddlers at the market. They're dangerous!

 

[RobertJ.]

Yeah, we Americans are really good at picking and choosing which laws and regulations we want to obey...our national motto is "You can't make ME do that!"...

I'll bet there are some mall patrons in Indiana who are glad someone chose to ignore those signs...

 

[heeter3]

I've lived in Az for awhile now and have really only seen it 3 times a guy driving a motorcycle,another one getting coffee in a gas station and a guy in Lowes.All 3 were younger guys and all carried semi autos.

 

[RobertJ.]

or who ignorantly think concealed carry is safer than open carry

Wait...What??

I'm sorry, I must be missing something...

But, if you believe that, let me pose a question:

You're walking down the street, and from nowhere appear two thugs. One points his gun at you and tells you they're going to take your gun.

Question: What's your next move?

If you choose not to answer, it's okay. I've been asking this question for years and have never gotten an answer.

 

[rosewood]

Wait...What??

I'm sorry, I must be missing something...

But, if you believe that, let me pose a question:

You're walking down the street, and from nowhere appear two thugs. One points his gun at you and tells you they're going to take your gun.

Question: What's your next move?

If you choose not to answer, it's okay. I've been asking this question for years and have never gotten an answer.

Ok, I'll bite. I don't know. I will have to be in that situation to see what I will do. Problem is, if you give it up, they may shoot you anyway.

However, I hope to never be put in that situation, I conceal mine and hopefully those perps won't know I am carrying to start with.

Rosewood

 

[johngalt]

Wait...What??

I'm sorry, I must be missing something...

But, if you believe that, let me pose a question:

You're walking down the street, and from nowhere appear two thugs. One points his gun at you and tells you they're going to take your gun.

Question: What's your next move?

If you choose not to answer, it's okay. I've been asking this question for years and have never gotten an answer.

You're walking down the street, carrying concealed, and from nowhere appear two thugs. One points his gun at you and tells you they're going to take your life.

Question: What's your next move?

 

[old tanker]

...If you choose not to answer, it's okay. I've been asking this question for years and have never gotten an answer.

Better questions.

If his plan was to kill me wouldn't he have already done it?

If I comply with his demands is he going to kill me anyway?

If my odds are someplace between slim and none, I am choosing slim.

Like someone trying to force you into a car at gunpoint in a parking lot. Whatever they have planned will be a lot easier for them to do once they get you somewhere else. May as well put up the best fight you can, right here, right now.

 

[steelslaver]

Around here open carry has been legal forever. I saw it more before it got easy to get a permit, after that it became less common. I do not believe I have seen it now that we have permitless concealed carry. Hunting season is a whole different story. Then you might see someone wearing a handgun most anywhere. Taking a belt holster off is a bit of a pain and then your just walking around with a empty holster and everyone knows the gun is laying someplace anyway. No big deal to just leave it on. The cashier at the grocery store or where ever won't even blink.

 

[1911haulic]

Wait...What??

I'm sorry, I must be missing something...

But, if you believe that, let me pose a question:

You're walking down the street, and from nowhere appear two thugs. One points his gun at you and tells you they're going to take your gun.

Question: What's your next move?

If you choose not to answer, it's okay. I've been asking this question for years and have never gotten an answer.

I love these "Keyboard Cowboy" questions. As someone who has lived through two events, I know exactly what I would do and have done it twice, although I was left for dead the first time.

 

[cmj8591]

Wait...What??

I'm sorry, I must be missing something...

But, if you believe that, let me pose a question:

You're walking down the street, and from nowhere appear two thugs. One points his gun at you and tells you they're going to take your gun.

Question: What's your next move?

If you choose not to answer, it's okay. I've been asking this question for years and have never gotten an answer.

In this scenario, it's too late and you're already dead so you might as well roll the dice and go out fighting. You can make up scenarios to make a point about anything but I can tell you, where I work and live there are people who are not impressed with the fact that you are armed or afraid to get killed trying to take a gun away from someone. In fact, if you are in their domain and showing a gun you have become a challenge to them most likely going to have to fight to keep it. The problem is knowing where their domain is, which is sometimes a bit ambiguous. It might be a reason why you don't see a lot of open carry here.

 

[smithman 10]

Next move?

You're walking down the street, carrying concealed, and from nowhere appear two thugs. One points his gun at you and tells you they're going to take your life.

Question: What's your next move?

Start praying.

 

[max503]

Like this?

The very first time I CC'd I got stuck in a check-put line for about 5 minutes in front of a cop. It was around 1 a.m. I felt like that picture.

 

[BRL40]

Last time I saw that was at...Walmart.

People in line probably thought I was nervous because I kept staring at the gun on his hip, but really I couldn't care less if people open carry, I could just tell by the fish scale cocking serrations on the slide that it was a S&W M&P...?

Didn't bother to ask.

 

[Frailer]

I wonder what percentage of concealed carriers simply ignore these signs under the "none o' yer beeswax" principle...

I can only speak for myself, but I completely ignore such signs. In Kentucky if the proprietor of such an establishment notices that I'm carrying (which they won't) they can ask me to leave, at which time I will happily comply.

As to the original question, as others have mentioned the vast majority of open carriers I see are carrying a polymer semiautomatic in an unstructured nylon holster.

 

[RobertJ.]

I love these "Keyboard Cowboy" questions. As someone who has lived through two events, I know exactly what I would do and have done it twice, although I was left for dead the first time.

First, let me say I'm glad you're still alive!

Second, my question was aimed at those who choose to open carry, not those who are paid to. I should have been more specific.

But "keyboard cowboy"? I'm sorry, but I consider my question to be perfectly valid for anyone who chooses to open carry.

Every one of us, whether we OC or CC, need to consider all the "what ifs".

 

[RobertJ.]

Better questions.

If his plan was to kill me wouldn't he have already done it?

If I comply with his demands is he going to kill me anyway?

No, in my scenario his plan is to take your gun, and kill you if you resist. Your choice: give him your gun or die.

I'm simply asking those who choose to open carry if they've ever thought about this.

And I would say that these days it's more of a possibility than ever before.

 

[RobertJ.]

You're walking down the street, carrying concealed, and from nowhere appear two thugs. One points his gun at you and tells you they're going to take your life.

Question: What's your next move?

This means they've targeted me for some reason other than my gun. And they probably shouldn't have warned me.

My next move? Well, hopefully, muscle memory will kick in, and I'll do what I've practiced for the last thirty years.