How do I properly OPEN CARRY in Ohio?

[S&W-M&P9]

So I dont have my CCW yet and I would love to be able to carry. I have been reading about open carry laws in Ohio but there is a lot of contradicting stuff on the net...

From what I have read it seems I can legally open carry a loaded weapon in public and unloaded while in the car. Does this sound right?

If someone could tell me what I need to know about this it would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks
Dustin

 

[Lost Lake]

Well you can try.

But I am willing to bet that if you strap a loaded 9" .44 Magnum to your hip and start sauntering down main street Johnny Funwrecker will be on you in a heartbeat. First they'll think you're nuts, then when you cry Second Amendment they'll say you are disturbing the peace and cannot carry a weapon in public if it disturbs those around you. I can see their point.

Best to keep it in your pocket. License or not, if you need it you'll have it. Better to be judged by 12 than carried by six they say.

 

[Charles]

If somebody sees it, then you are openly carrying.

 

[tbury]

If the law allows you can carry in plain sight; but with all the cell phones calling 911, expect some interesting discussions with the local LEOs. KY has a law which prevents local govmts. from banning what the state makes legal. However, I do not think open carry in most cities and towns would be worth the hassle. CCW with out a permit might cause you to lose the right to get one, if you get caught. Justified self-defense would probably not protect you from a weapons charge. JMHO

 

[S&W-M&P9]

That is what I figured. Its crazy we can be punished for nothing...

 

[MotorCityGun]

Dustin, just because it may be "legal" to open carry in OH, doesn't mean that it's the sensible thing to do. Unless you are a LEO or work in (armed) security, IMHO, the "negatives"/disadvantages (of open carry) far outweigh the "positives". Especially now, in the wake of the Tucson massacre, the public will be highly sensitized to the sight of a gun.

 

[Steve_NEPhila]

What you are looking for is here:
OpenCarry.org - State Information For Ohio

Opencarry.org has info for all states in the the Union concerning open carry. They also do a good job listing the statutes so that you can read them for yourself if you so choose.

Do not let the naysayers get you down, there is nothing wrong with Open Carry. There is no "tactical disadvantage" and the police harass licensed people who carry concealed as well. As for "disorderly conduct" or "disturbing the peace" (which usually means that the police do not like you and cannot charge you with anything else) read your local statutes concerning them. There is very specific language for those types of crimes and openly carrying a firearm (when legal) is neither of those offenses.

I open carry sometimes, and conceal most of the time. I fully support open carry as there is no need to hide our firearms all of the time. Inside of the firearm enthusiast community there are many many people who are adamantly against open carry, just like there are people that do not care for "assault weapons" yet cherish their "deer rifles." This kind of splintering is foolish and unexamined. Carry openly if you wish, and be confident. (after spending time reading the law and knowing what you can and cannot do)

In closing, never surrender your fifth amendment right to keep your mouth shut when being questioned by the police. For a lecture on that topic, watch this video here:
YouTube - Don't Talk to Cops, Part 1

Remember, police can ask you anything they want and you do not have to answer any of it. If you refuse to answer their questions, you will be better off for it.

 

[cmort666]

Well you can try.

But I am willing to bet that if you strap a loaded 9" .44 Magnum to your hip and start sauntering down main street Johnny Funwrecker will be on you in a heartbeat. First they'll think you're nuts, then when you cry Second Amendment they'll say you are disturbing the peace and cannot carry a weapon in public if it disturbs those around you. I can see their point.

Best to keep it in your pocket. License or not, if you need it you'll have it. Better to be judged by 12 than carried by six they say.

It doesn't matter what law enforcement thinks. it's legal, PERIOD. Carry a voice recorder if you're concerned about improper law enforcement contacts.

You've advised the OP to commit a crime by carrying concealed without a CHL. To the best of my knowledge, that violates the terms of service here.

 

[Krull]

I'd say you're gonna have some fun if you try,I've done it in the backwoods of WV and didn't get any hassle-but I was out in the country so didn't expect any problems.

In town I just got my CCW and don't give it a second thought,much easier on a person that way

 

[MotorCityGun]

Even though it may sound like I'm one of the "naysayers (trying to) get you down", all I'm trying to do is provide a pragmatic point of view to the open carry topic. Also, I'm not making any judgements about whether it is "right or wrong" to open carry. As long as it's legal, go ahead and carry open if you want. But be prepared to suffer the potential consequences even if you think/know you're "right".

Also, Steve's (unsupported) statement about police "harass(ing) licensed people who carry concealed as well" just doesn't hold water for me. According to his "logic", since the police are "harrasing" those who ccw, this should be further justification/reason to carry openly. Maybe if you ask Steve when and where he open carries, and why he CCW's "most of the time", this may provide more insight for you decide whether you want to open carry.

 

[cmort666]

So I dont have my CCW yet and I would love to be able to carry. I have been reading about open carry laws in Ohio but there is a lot of contradicting stuff on the net.

Visit Ohioans for Concealed Carry, Open Carry Forum and get all of your questions answered.

1. In general, you may open carry anywhere where it would be legal to carry concealed. If there are exceptions, I can't think of any off the top of my head.
2. Do NOT carry in a vehicle. You need a CHL.
3. Do NOT carry in a flap holster. There's too much ambiguity about whether that's "concealment".
4. Don't worry about local laws. There AREN'T any local gun laws in Ohio. That was just backed up by the Ohio Supreme Court when it slapped Cleveland down over it's unlawful registration requirement and "assault weapon" ban.
5. Carry and use a voice recorder in all law enforcement contacts. Ohio is a one party consent state for recording. As long as you're a party to the conversation, you have the right to record. I DON'T open carry and still carry a voice recorder.

If I'm not mistaken, several people are planning open carry events in the near future.

 

[walnutred]

CMORT666 has pegged it pretty close. It was police harassment of open carriers that went a long way towards getting CCW passed in Ohio. I'd encourage you to get your CCW because the whole automobile thing is still illogical in Ohio.

I normally CCW but occasionally OC. Some people recommend that you practice OC in someplace like Wally World. It's easy to blend into a crowd there. I suspect that for new open carriers what initially attracts police attention is the fact that they seem nervous. Then they see that you are carrying a firearm. For even some of the experienced, gun savvy police officers here those two factors combined are likely to peak their interest.

 

[cmort666]

CMORT666 has pegged it pretty close. It was police harassment of open carriers that went a long way towards getting CCW passed in Ohio.

Actually, it's MUCH more INTERESTING than that!

The antis, including Voinovich and the OSHP fought legal concealed carry tooth and nail. Then came an Ohio Supreme Court decision (as I recall) that said that there was no need for concealed carry, because OPEN carry was protected by the Ohio Constitution. To the horror of anti-concealed carry fanatics who pushed this line of "reasoning", people actually began carrying openly. Rather than have pretty much anybody open carry WITHOUT any kind of credential, concealed carry was passed, despite the opposition of the OSHP. But the decision remains, reinforced by interpretation of the Attorney General's office.

The anti-gunners in the Republican AND Democrat parties shot themselves in BOTH feet. The gun control movement in Ohio has been circling the bowl ever since.

 

[DaveB57]

Dustin...just get the permit. Open carry is still an option afterwards.

 

[cmort666]

Dustin...just get the permit. Open carry is still an option afterwards.

The advantage of open carrying WITH a CHL is that you never have to worry about using a military flap holster, or your shirt momentarily covering the butt of your gun, etc.

 

[Lost Lake]

It doesn't matter what law enforcement thinks. it's legal, PERIOD. Carry a voice recorder if you're concerned about improper law enforcement contacts.

You've advised the OP to commit a crime by carrying concealed without a CHL. To the best of my knowledge, that violates the terms of service here.

Wow Ouch!

I don't want anyone to break the law, but if the fella is determined to carry a weapon I think he'll end up in the back of a squad car if he displays it. But hey, everyone can make their own decision.

This is common sense folks. While it may be LEGAL for you to run through WalMart with an AK47 in your hands, I guarantee you if you do there will be mass screaming and running, you may find a few people that have CCW's on them because they may bring them out, and I think there will be a swat team waiting outside for you.

While I'd LOVE to carry a weapon in Wisconsin the only time I ever have is while hunting. I carry a .357 on my hip and try o ) to shoot deer with it. But I sure don't go walking in the restaurant at lunch time with it still on me!

And yes it's legal for you to stand up and shout whatever you would like to, but it would be very ILLEGAL to yell FIRE! in a crowded theater.

So my stance is this: Exposed weapons look good on uniformed people. The public understands that the weapon is part of their job, and they wear it to conduct their job. Police, security, even a hunter.... they all need a weapon handy to do their work. The guy wearing flip flops and Bermuda shorts walking into the bank carrying a semi-auto AR15 is gonna get cuffed and stuffed. That's the way it is. Legal open carry? Only if it doesn't scare and upset people.

 

[cmort666]

I don't want anyone to break the law, but if the fella is determined to carry a weapon I think he'll end up in the back of a squad car if he displays it. But hey, everyone can make their own decision.

In this state, open carry is legal, PERIOD. It's not reasonable articulable suspicion or probable cause of ANYTHING.

Nobody has to like the law, merely obey it. That goes equally for citizens and LEOs.

Nobody's gotten "shot" for open carrying. The person doing the shooting is going to, at best, do prison time.

 

[walnutred]

I guess I misunderstood the original post Lost Lake. I took it that the poster was talking about carrying a handgun, not a AR or AK. Guess I jumped to conclusions. Thanks for putting me straight.

Fact is though most people are not observant enough to notice a holster unless it is flashy, and well trained police officers know bad guys almost never use a holster anyway.

 

[P&R Fan]

I have had a CCW in Iowa for more than 25 years. We are apparently going to be an open carry state with the new shall issue law, at least that's what I've read. I have carried openly when working uniformed security and I have to admit, I was always very cautious. I didn't have a snatch proof security holster, so I was always cognizant of anyone on my strong side. I think this is one area people don't consider when contemplating open carry. The idiot at the grocery store in line behind you who wants to teach you a lesson. Is your training and self awareness good enough to deal with that, or better yet, prevent it? Most likely not for most people. Then there are the anti-gun folks who want to make points for their side. They could say you were acting in a threatening manner. At the very least you are going to be closely questioned by law enforcement.
I know the arguments about open carry and the fact it is a right in some areas. I think my quarter century carrying a gun gives me at least a modicum of credibility. My view is it is not a real good idea.

 

[cmort666]

I have had a CCW in Iowa for more than 25 years. We are apparently going to be an open carry state with the new shall issue law, at least that's what I've read. I have carried openly when working uniformed security and I have to admit, I was always very cautious. I didn't have a snatch proof security holster, so I was always cognizant of anyone on my strong side. I think this is one area people don't consider when contemplating open carry. The idiot at the grocery store in line behind you who wants to teach you a lesson. Is your training and self awareness good enough to deal with that, or better yet, prevent it? Most likely not for most people. Then there are the anti-gun folks who want to make points for their side. They could say you were acting in a threatening manner. At the very least you are going to be closely questioned by law enforcement.
I know the arguments about open carry and the fact it is a right in some areas. I think my quarter century carrying a gun gives me at least a modicum of credibility. My view is it is not a real good idea.

Actually, I see open carry advocates discussing retention holsters and retention techniques all the time. I would guess that you haven't been a party to these sorts of discussions.

Trying to snatch somebody's gun is assault. You have every legal right to take the appropriate steps to retain possession of it. If somebody gets hurt in the process, shame on them.

I don't carry openly. I don't see anything wrong with it, and don't criticize anyone for doing so. Most of the more vehement criticisms of open carry I've seen have been virtually indistinguishable from those I've gotten for carrying concealed.

Do whatever you like that's legal.