Open carried yesterday with observations

[Ogandydancer]

My Grandmother was full of wisdom and, I mean real wisdom (of course when we were younger we couldn't understand it), anyway she always said that the way you dress and portray yourself is the way you will be seen and the class of people you associate with is the way you will be classed. As the older I get the more and more I see exactly what she meant.

Anyway in my original post I neglected to mention that the precious person I had seen was rather plainly dressed not in camo or not sloppy and when I went in I was dressed for church (Wednesday Night).
Anyway there has been a lot of good and constructive comments made on this thus far.

 

[ChattanoogaPhil]

"Why try to intimidate!?"

This question often arises in the pro/anti open carry debate.

Intimidation is in the eye of the beholder.
Why are you intimidated by an open carrying individual while I am not?

I'm not either, but some gun owners do suffer anxiety at the mere sight of a gun being carried by someone not wearing a uniform. Of course they don't take responsibility or even recognize their malady, but rather lash out at others and blame them for the pain they suffer from their own irrational fears...

If I can't see the gun being carried it can't hurt me, right?

Hoplophobia. NRA ought to fund therapy for it.

 

[CajunBass]

I used to open carry from time to time. Usually just a short run into a 7-11 or some such place when I was too lazy to grab a cover garment. Nobody ever panicked. I stood in line behind all the lottery ticket buyers, just like anyone else. There were times I wished they would panic and get out of my way. I don't do it much anymore, because a J-frame is easier to carry concealed than it is to carry openly.

I'm old. I'm fat. I've got a beard. About half the time I've got "clown hair" sticking out from under a camo NRA ball cap. My usual uniform is blue jeans, and a gray T-shirt, or in cold weather a gray sweat shirt. I can get, and have a concealed handgun permit. No tattoos though. So I hope I pass muster with this crowd.

 

[old bear]

I just happen to believe that open carry, in many cases, is unnecessary and many times is a needless display of the don’t mess with me attitude.

Sadly those of us who enjoy the various shooting sports don’t enjoy a stellar reputation with the public at large. When Mr. /Mrs. Citizen does notice some unkempt stereotypical “mouth breathing redneck open carrying it just reinforces their beliefs, all gun owners are of the same ilk.

Now as for attire and the comments about wanting to send a message don’t fook with me and it would be best if you crossed the street to avoid me, remember clothes don’t make the man. What’s important is the attitude, or as Mr. Keith once opined it’s “the look.”

 

[GatorFarmer]

As far as appearances go, I am constantly dismayed by the widespread adoption of the barbarian custom of wearing pants rather than a proper toga.

Open carry usually means, cant get a concealed permit.

In Wyoming, and other Constitutional carry states, it is not necessary to have a permit to carry, concealed or otherwise.

 

[keith44spl]

Old Bear,

Most folks expect or are not surprised to see yours truly carrying a sidearm.


Is this the look?

The "What did you jest ask me???" expression.

 

[Art Doc]

BearBio- I'm fat. Does that mean I lose my Second Amendment rights?

Since you seem to think you are in charge of making these decisions, please provide a detailed description of what the required appearance is to exercise one's Constitutional rights.

 

[Muss Muggins]

I just happen to believe that open carry, in many cases, is unnecessary and many times is a needless display of the don’t mess with me attitude.

Sadly those of us who enjoy the various shooting sports don’t enjoy a stellar reputation with the public at large. When Mr. /Mrs. Citizen does notice some unkempt stereotypical “mouth breathing redneck open carrying it just reinforces their beliefs, all gun owners are of the same ilk.

Now as for attire and the comments about wanting to send a message don’t fook with me and it would be best if you crossed the street to avoid me, remember clothes don’t make the man. What’s important is the attitude, or as Mr. Keith once opined it’s “the look.”

You have misread what I wrote. I said I liked it. I didn't state it was intended, and I also didn't state why I think it occurs. I also don't conduct surveys to find out why. It happens. I like it. I'm fine with it.

 

[LoboGunLeather]

Whether open carry is legal or prohibited those doing so will always draw attention to themselves in modern America, and it is only a matter of time before someone makes the panicked "man with a gun" call. How many times will that happen before some young cop misreads or misunderstands the situation, overreacts, or otherwise escalates matters to a serious confrontation? I don't want to find out.

I remember one hot summer day when I pulled into a self-service gas station, got out of the truck with exposed holstered handgun, paid at the pump by credit card, filled up my tank, and drove away. A mile or two down the road I was pulled over by a sheriff's deputy responding to a "man with a gun" call. If not for my retirement badge and ID I probably would have been prone on the pavement at gun point before the conversation started.

Like so many other things in life, just because you can doesn't always mean that you should.

 

[Art Doc]

"Open Carry" sure divides us. My thoughts.

Some say they prefer concealed for maintaining the element of surprise. They say revealing the gun makes you the first target. They have a point.

Some say open carry allows the fastest access to a holstered handgun and speed counts. They say the sight of numerous people going armed may scare off criminals. They have a point.

A common argument against open carry is that some people are frightened by the sight of a gun. This is certainly true. But maybe...just maybe...if open carry became commonplace these people would lose their fear over time. Perhaps open carry could be a way to eliminate the "guns are evil" mentality some have.

In my opinion, no matter what your position, if you support freedom and liberty, if you support the right to keep and bear arms, I think you must support Open carry. Even if you do not choose to do it.

 

[BAM-BAM]

Page 2

Round and around we go....... where will these threads go ?

At least one "Open Carry" thread get started every week ...... I don't think anyone has ever convinces anyone of anything.............

but always fun to read...but I'm putting on weight do to all the popcorn!

 

[Bat Guano]

As nearly as I can figure, I just celebrated 18,750 days, plus or minus, of CCW. Absent barbarian hordes coming over the walls, I see no point to OC.

But as far as public awareness goes, you could probably walk around with something belt fed all day long and pass unnoticed.

 

[Fishslayer]

Intimidation is in the eye of the beholder.
Why are you intimidated by an open carrying individual while I am not?

I went to school in Phoenix back in the '90s & got a job working graveyards at the local CircleK. Dunno about "intimidated" but seeing everybody OC was definitely "different."

After a couple weeks I got pretty used to it.

 

[Old TexMex]

Agree w/Saxon pig.
.........
The concealment of a weapon can be interpreted as the behavior of someone with mischief in mind. Why hide it?!

Yes, concealed is concealed is concealed, but the accidental exposure or printing will alarm the hopolophobe, too.

However, if I wear my firearm openly, I'm not sneaking up on anyone.
I carried concealed because that was the law, if I wanted to be armed. Now I have a choice. One less restriction on my personal, responsible behavior.

Our culture is able to accept virtually any kind of behavior (good or bad) with exposure to it. Just consider acceptable standards in dress, language etc.

People lose their fear with familiarity. Hiding doesn't promote familiarity. If the clean cut, "normal" lookin folks carried openly, the semi-robot populace would stop being surprised, shocked and fearful. It would become old news (as it has in many of the near 40 states that accept open carry) and some moviestars latest hairstyle or divorce would be back at the center of the American attention.

Additionally, I'd like to see just how high (or low) the general population really cares or thinks about it....you know, other than on gun forums.

 

[Hellraiser]

What difference does it make to me... I could not care any less for how anybody else carries. Me... I open-carry because of the places I go... every other cut-throat attendee open-carries. Most all of us... 'ceptin' the night-ladies... we all go heavily armed. Quite a few don't have permits... 'cause they're felons.

If I was to show up at one of my favorite pool rooms on Beale Street Memphis or 8th Ave Nashville... without my pistolas... folks would think I was absolutely crazy... or tryin' to commit suicide. Be like askin' for trouble. There's an old sayin'... "An armed society is a polite society". It's true where I frequent.

 

[Farmer17]

I don't know what its like in other states but Oklahoma just started allowing open carry a few years ago. That means for the last 100 years or so the majority of registered voters of the state didn't want it. Some people act like its their right and they take it for granted but they forget that the majority of registered voters can take that right away. I don't want to lose the ability to open carry even though I don't, but that's why I feel its important to project a good image for those that do open carry. You don't have to be wearing pleated slacks and a starched dress shirt but if you look like a thug, and you open carry, that doesn't portray a good image to the rest of society and the people that use their ability at the voting polls. Please don't ask me what a thug looks like, if you don't know try to figure it out on your own.

 

[chaparrito]

If the typical OC'er seems to be "one item of apparel short of the people of Walmart", it's because he IS TPoWM. I see more OCers in Walmart than anywhere else and to a man, each looks like some iteration of survivalist-druggie-chip on the shoulder disreputable type.
I guess it's good to know for certain that they're carrying and not have to wonder!

 

[Hellraiser]

Although I don't go to Walmart... or many other dept stores... my understandin' is that people that do often make observations 'bout others at Walmart. Cause they fit right in.

 

[BearBio]

BearBio- I'm fat. Does that mean I lose my Second Amendment rights?

Since you seem to think you are in charge of making these decisions, please provide a detailed description of what the required appearance is to exercise one's Constitutional rights.

Don't put words in my mouth!

If you actually read what I said, I was advocating that people THINK and actually use some discretionary thought before deliberately antagonizing people.

"I just happen to believe that open carry, in many cases, is unnecessary and many times is a needless display of the don’t mess with me attitude.

Sadly those of us who enjoy the various shooting sports don’t enjoy a stellar reputation with the public at large. When Mr. /Mrs. Citizen does notice some unkempt stereotypical “mouth breathing redneck open carrying it just reinforces their beliefs, all gun owners are of the same ilk.

Now as for attire and the comments about wanting to send a message don’t fook with me and it would be best if you crossed the street to avoid me, remember clothes don’t make the man. What’s important is the attitude, or as Mr. Keith once opined it’s “the look.” "

VERY WELL put, Old Bear! As always (as I was taught in my defense and security classes), situational awareness is number one!

Why do you have a chip on your shoulder and want to go around pi__ing people off?

 

[Rule3]

It makes no difference if you are carrying a gun or not.

Unfortunately people are prone to stereotype others that do not fit their "norm" of what they should be.

Happens all the time, happens due to characteristics we can not mention here.. Happens in job interviews. If you go in looking like a slob and another is neat and dressed with jacket and tie, who has the better impression??

No open carry here but there are certain individuals(or groups) I would certainly stay clear of even though I am CC. Might be the nicest person in the world but appearance does scare people off regardless.