I did it. Open carried for the first time.
- Thread starter ISCS Yoda
- Start date
I’ve never open carried (OC) and don’t plan to, even though it’s legal here. While I support others who OC it makes me uncomfortable, I just don’t want to draw attention to myself or give up the element of surprise concealment offers.
Last edited:
I don’t support others that don’t use common sense with any firearm or mode of carry. There is nothing wrong with open carry in rural areas where it’s not even noticed. I don’t think anyone had come out against that. Out in the real world there are people against gun ownership and there are those scared of guns. It only makes sense to me idiots that carry open in public areas should be brought under control before they cause public to start after laws to take away our right to carry. Now I try to talk to these idiots and ask them why they want to open carry. According to prescribed use of SD firearm the threat is going to have to precede you pulling a gun.
Do they seriously think they are going to pull a high noon with a bad guy?
Second point is I don’t trust idiots like this to have good judgement in situations where there are lots of innocent people. Are they going to start a fire fight in a crowd? I don’t care what their perceived reasoning is, in most cases I would call for mental exam. The trouble is this can be misused by the authorities too. That’s where we are at on this. The idiots keep up their little “ look at me I got a gun trips” and we will all pay for it in the end. I find that people who normally would let minor things go, are more likely to want to argue when they have a gun. Remember gun don’t come out until, you have reason to fear for your life.
Do they seriously think they are going to pull a high noon with a bad guy?
Second point is I don’t trust idiots like this to have good judgement in situations where there are lots of innocent people. Are they going to start a fire fight in a crowd? I don’t care what their perceived reasoning is, in most cases I would call for mental exam. The trouble is this can be misused by the authorities too. That’s where we are at on this. The idiots keep up their little “ look at me I got a gun trips” and we will all pay for it in the end. I find that people who normally would let minor things go, are more likely to want to argue when they have a gun. Remember gun don’t come out until, you have reason to fear for your life.
I've said it many times before, I don't open carry primarily because it's been my direct personal experience that it makes you a target.
I also don't open carry because sooner or later some random idiot is going to get the idea that the fact that I'm open carrying gives him a license to get in my life and express his opinion (for or against) on my decision open carry.
I don't start random conversations with people I don't know and I find it extremely annoying when people I don't know start random conversations with me. I think the world would be a much better place if people would just mind their own business.
I also don't open carry because sooner or later some random idiot is going to get the idea that the fact that I'm open carrying gives him a license to get in my life and express his opinion (for or against) on my decision open carry.
I don't start random conversations with people I don't know and I find it extremely annoying when people I don't know start random conversations with me. I think the world would be a much better place if people would just mind their own business.
Honestly everyone should open carry if its lawfull in their area. Take pride in your rights. Before they get removed administratively when you have done nothing wrong.
I completely agree, and seldom wear shirts (T or polo) with any kind of emblem or logo simply because I'm not desperate for conversation with folks I don't know. Bumper stickers same-same.
03hemi
Member
- Joined
- Jan 27, 2014
- Messages
- 3,485
- Reaction score
- 6,793
Has never happened anywhere.
Complete strangers who want to get into a conversation of what you carry or what they carry are some kind of nut. The Stranger that wants to argue about gun rights is also a nut. I don’t want to talk to either one. At the shows, ranges, ect the people that constantly are talking about shooting people are also nuts. When you stop and think about it we have a lot of nuts. The ones with guns are suppose to be on our side. It’s always the nuts that the media seeks out to put on TV news, to insure public gets a good look at the Gun Nut. These people are not gun nuts. They are nuts with guns. Just as dangerous to real gun community as the anti gunner.
^^^^Very astute observation.
There is nothing wrong with being neighborly and talking with a stranger. It is those that seem to avoid conversation that make me nervous. And of course those that ask too many prying questions are suspicious also.
Rosewood
Rosewood
Last edited:
Echo40
Member
- Joined
- Sep 25, 2017
- Messages
- 4,040
- Reaction score
- 7,866
I'll never understand the persistent belief that open carry will somehow attract anti-gunners to you. I open carried for awhile until I had gotten a License to Concealed Carry, and nobody ever bothered me. In fact, if anything they gave me a wide berth. Now granted, it probably helps that my physical appearance is intimidating or otherwise downright frightening towards the cowardly lot who characteristically fear firearms and would prefer to leave the safety of themselves and their loved ones in the hands of others, but still, I very much doubt that those same people would be any less cowardly when approaching an armed individual.
Honestly, I know people have a nasty habit of contradicting themselves with their words, but behavioral patterns tend to be far more consistent, ergo those who fear firearms and distrust those who carry them aren't generally the sort who will aggressively approach and berate those who carry firearms because they tend to believe that gunowners in general are trigger-happy maniacs. Ask me how I know this.
Furthermore, while it is possible that open carry could potentially make you a priority target should you be present during a crime in progress, it's equally as likely to prevent a crime from being committed in your presence. Most criminals are opportunists who look for an easy target so that they can get what they want quickly, then get away easily without a struggle, and they don't want to sound the alarm with a gunshot which is bound to result in someone calling the police or otherwise attracting police who may already be somewhere nearby, ergo they're more likely to avoid committing a crime while there are folks with guns around, and should someone walk in during a crime in progress, they're more likely to order you to drop your weapon or put your hands up than they are to shoot you outright and risk signaling the authorities.
In other words, actually getting shot by a criminal just because you happen to have a gun on your belt is highly unlikely because criminals don't want to get slowed down, don't want to get caught, they'd prefer to minimize the severity of the charges against them in case they are caught unless they're already ex-cons, and they most certainly don't want to get into a gunfight in which they could die over the contents of the cash register at the Kwik-E-Mart.
Also, if you're really convinced that the majority of criminals are that trigger-happy, then you should probably be wearing body armor anyway because any criminals who are so jumpy and irrational that they would shot someone on sight just because they happen to be open carrying a firearm, is probably tweaking on narcotics, paranoid, and are just as likely to shoot you for sneezing, scratching an itch, looking at them the wrong way, because they're mistaken the bulge of your wallet in your pocket, or the clip for your phone case on your belt for a gun.
Honestly, I know people have a nasty habit of contradicting themselves with their words, but behavioral patterns tend to be far more consistent, ergo those who fear firearms and distrust those who carry them aren't generally the sort who will aggressively approach and berate those who carry firearms because they tend to believe that gunowners in general are trigger-happy maniacs. Ask me how I know this.
Furthermore, while it is possible that open carry could potentially make you a priority target should you be present during a crime in progress, it's equally as likely to prevent a crime from being committed in your presence. Most criminals are opportunists who look for an easy target so that they can get what they want quickly, then get away easily without a struggle, and they don't want to sound the alarm with a gunshot which is bound to result in someone calling the police or otherwise attracting police who may already be somewhere nearby, ergo they're more likely to avoid committing a crime while there are folks with guns around, and should someone walk in during a crime in progress, they're more likely to order you to drop your weapon or put your hands up than they are to shoot you outright and risk signaling the authorities.
In other words, actually getting shot by a criminal just because you happen to have a gun on your belt is highly unlikely because criminals don't want to get slowed down, don't want to get caught, they'd prefer to minimize the severity of the charges against them in case they are caught unless they're already ex-cons, and they most certainly don't want to get into a gunfight in which they could die over the contents of the cash register at the Kwik-E-Mart.
Also, if you're really convinced that the majority of criminals are that trigger-happy, then you should probably be wearing body armor anyway because any criminals who are so jumpy and irrational that they would shot someone on sight just because they happen to be open carrying a firearm, is probably tweaking on narcotics, paranoid, and are just as likely to shoot you for sneezing, scratching an itch, looking at them the wrong way, because they're mistaken the bulge of your wallet in your pocket, or the clip for your phone case on your belt for a gun.
Art Doc
SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
OK, I have opinions on this topic, too.
I think much of the concern about OC comes from not being comfortable. People who are not used to being around guns may get upset at the sight of somebody wearing one openly. Ideally this reaction dissipates with time as people grow more accustomed.
As far as a criminal taking the gun, I know of that happening once. Maybe it's happened more than that but I suspect it's very rare. How many times have you heard about a criminal pushing right past a uniformed cop waiting in line to rob the store clerk? If crooks don't notice the cop standing there they probably won't notice your gun.
I think the advantages to OC are comfort and access. Trying to wear a gun and keep it concealed sort of sucks. And if it properly hidden, it may not be as readily accessible as we'd like.
Here in Arkansas OC is legal and a permit is not required. I have seen it only a couple of times. I have never done it, myself. Perhaps when I achieve true curmudgeon status. Amazing how you care less and less about things as you get older. I think it would feel odd but I grew up in a state with no CC and didn't get a permit until I moved to another state at nearly 40. The first month or so I felt very odd walking around with a gun under my shirt. It's all what you are used to doing.
I think much of the concern about OC comes from not being comfortable. People who are not used to being around guns may get upset at the sight of somebody wearing one openly. Ideally this reaction dissipates with time as people grow more accustomed.
As far as a criminal taking the gun, I know of that happening once. Maybe it's happened more than that but I suspect it's very rare. How many times have you heard about a criminal pushing right past a uniformed cop waiting in line to rob the store clerk? If crooks don't notice the cop standing there they probably won't notice your gun.
I think the advantages to OC are comfort and access. Trying to wear a gun and keep it concealed sort of sucks. And if it properly hidden, it may not be as readily accessible as we'd like.
Here in Arkansas OC is legal and a permit is not required. I have seen it only a couple of times. I have never done it, myself. Perhaps when I achieve true curmudgeon status. Amazing how you care less and less about things as you get older. I think it would feel odd but I grew up in a state with no CC and didn't get a permit until I moved to another state at nearly 40. The first month or so I felt very odd walking around with a gun under my shirt. It's all what you are used to doing.
Have a buddy that is retired Police. He had a crack head come up to his patrol car and ask him if he wanted to buy some drugs. Didn't even realize it was a cop. Criminals don't always think logically. Had another lady tell him someone stole her drugs and wanted him to do something about it.
He said he learned to check folks that wanted to do a police report, especially if they were sketchy for warrants. Said there is no telling how many he arrested for warrants that way.
Rosewood
He said he learned to check folks that wanted to do a police report, especially if they were sketchy for warrants. Said there is no telling how many he arrested for warrants that way.
Rosewood
Last edited:
When it is a single perp performing a robbery, yeah, him seeing you with a gun may deter the crime. I am betting though if it is a team of robbers that have targeted the bank or the like, they are not going to change their plans because you have a gun, they are going to target you first.
Rosewood
Rosewood
Similar threads
