Open Carry (OC) @ Walmart Today

[Old cop]

Went to Walmart today for some range ammo and saw two guys OC. Both were younger than me (most are these days) and one was packing a Glock while the other was a Springfield .40 compact. I talked w/the guy packing the Springfield and he said no one paid much attention to him as he walked through the store and I followed the other guy for awhile and no one seemed to pay much attention to him either. I live in an area where this is somewhat unusual and normally gets the OC person a visit from law enforcement, although perfectly legal. Maybe things are changing around here?

 

[cptrick3]

I think if I could OC, I would still CC. (OC is OK in Oregon, but not in Portland)

 

[SAFireman]

It has been a 'non-issue' here in my part of the woods.....I don't go to Wal-Mart as a matter of principle however, so I may be missing something?

 

[Pisgah]

The only real advantage I see in open carry being allowed is that if my concealed gun should be inadvertently revealed I won't be breaking any laws.

 

[moxie]

Don't know where you are, but here in Texas country, just like in San Antonio, it's a non-issue. OC has been legal since Jan. 1st and I've yet to see anyone doing it.

BTW, out here, if you don't use Walmart you might starve.

 

[ISCS Yoda]

I avoid Wal-Mart, too, but in this neck of the woods there are plenty of other options. And, last night, carrying concealed as always, it was windy and it occurred to me that my vest might blow back to reveal my gun and then I laughed and thought to myself, "Self, you need to get used to the idea that open carry is legal in case you do it by accident."

 

[StakeOut]

I saw my 1st open carry a in Cedar Park TX few days ago.Twas a young guy on a Harley.

I'm not a big fan of open carry or guns on campuses.

The local news had a piece on the people open carrying in Austin at SXSW before the presidents arrival last week.

 

[Ole Joe Clark]

Witnessed open carry at Walmart and several other places and have yet to see any uproar about it. Not a big deal here.

 

[Bat99]

In the Dallas area, I've not seen any OC, at least until this past week. We were in a resturant and leaving. I past a guy sitting at a table that had a shoulder holster rig on. As he was dressed in slacks and a dress shirt my first thought was LE, but if he had a badge, it wasn't showing. I can't say that anyone else noticed.

 

[Old cop]

I have nothing against OC (it's been legal in VA for decades) but it's not something I would do, don't like to draw attention to myself.

 

[gen3guy]

Legal since day one in AZ. I see it occasionally in grocery stores and banks. More common in rural areas.

 

[epj]

Printing or inadvertent showing has never been a big issue in this jurisdiction, but with OC now being legal I worry even less about this sort of thing. I will probably never really OC, but I worry a lot less about really deeply concealing my gun.

 

[TexasArmed]

I conceal carry too but in my vehicle i now open carry inside the vehicle.
It takes longer to draw in a vehicle from a concealed carry than from carrying openly.
Going through a fast food drive or bank drive through sometimes the
worker may notice. It has solved the problem i always seem to have
worrying about whether i would have difficulty accessing the gun under
a shirt or coat while driving. I figure if i have an attempted carjacking
I can reach the gun faster that way. Before i exit my vehicle, i pull my
shirt over both my handguns.

 

[SilentKnight]

I have only seen one OC in a store in my area. He was in hunting camo and looked like he was just coming out of the field. No issue. I figure that its not all so terrible to have OC guys around, if faced by "thinking" criminals, guys that OC will be taken down first in a gun fight so the bad guys concentrate on eliminating the visible threat. Gives the CC guy a chance. Otherwise, a "thinking" criminal, seeing OC guys, might decide to leave and find another place that isn't a "hard" target or decide it isn't worth the risk and cease and desist. That is an even better outcome. It won't make much difference with the drugged, insane, fanatical or moron criminals. I would not choose to OC except while in the field hunting. No sense in giving up an advantage.

 

[Buford57]

I live in a state with no open carry. While visiting my brother in an open carry state I asked him what kind of reaction to expect when we took a break from hunting to visit Gander Mountain. He said folks might stop and ask me about my gun or holster. Refreshing.

 

[ImprovedModel56Fan]

I have nothing against OC (it's been legal in VA for decades) but it's not something I would do, don't like to draw attention to myself.

Same here. I prefer the places where it is legal, but sometimes I can't have everything, as you can see from my location.

 

[shotgun693]

I open carry a lot while out and about. It's way more comfortable to carry that way or is for me. If I'm about to go in some place where the sight of a gun MIGHT upset people, like to go see my Mother in the nursing home, I take my gun out of the holster and stick it inside of my shirt. BTW, I just started doing this. No problems so far.

 

[wsr]

I think if I could OC, I would still CC.

Oregon is a OC state. OC or CC makes no difference to me but if you carry you should know the laws

 

[SMSgt]

I think if I could OC, I would still CC.

Post number two. That didn't take long.

 

[Smoke]

I'm not a big fan of ....... guns on campuses.

I'm curious as to why. Concealed carry on state college campuses in Colorado has been legal since we joined the Union with ZERO issues.

if faced by "thinking" criminals, guys that OC will be taken down first in a gun fight so the bad guys concentrate on eliminating the visible threat.

I presume you can present documentation to back up this assertion?