Open Carry

[oldman45]

I live in PA and as long as you're not a prohibited person you can open carry except in a city of the first class(Population over 100,000) unless you have a LTCF. That's right, PA does not issue a Conceal Carry Weapons License. We have a License to Carry a Firearm which LEO's ALWAYS confuse with a CCW's.

Also, Private property owners have the final say whether or not you can open carry on/in their property.

A big problem with OC'ing is that you need a LTCF to have your weapon on you when in/on a motor vehicle. In addition you cannot transport a firearm in a vehicle unless you are going to and from your property, FFL and range. That is another reason to have a LTCF in PA.

FYI...I have not OC'd yet but there is a HUGE movement in PA of OC'rs and it's catching on.

In fact PA resident Mark Fiorino made national news when he was taken into custody at gun point by PPD for OC'ing.

The audio is on youtube just do a search, in youtube, of Mark Fiorino.

Best Regards,

Kobsw

The law in Louisiana is much different. A person can carry openly onto private property but has to have permission to carry concealed on private property. If I go to interview someone inside their own home, I have to get permission to enter if I am carrying concealed but carrying openly, I can just walk in. The only exception is if I am sent to the residence to serve paper and then I can walk in, if need be. BUT I have found it best to not go inside a home when serving paper.

Also I can carry openly at a parade but not concealed. There are several other places where open carry is approved but not concealed carry.

As to someone being arrested for open carry, you will generally find there was a primary reason for the arrest and the open carry was secondary to the stop. The thing about such tales of arrest always have some untold facts that changes the picture. Not always but most of the time.

 

[Roy599]

Open carry wasn't too unusual years ago (30-50) and hardly raised an eyebrow. Today it can get you charged with "going to the terror of the public". That's how much our society has changed. Best all around option is concealed carry and even then, never let anyone see it unless or until you must use it.

 

[biggs357]

it's all in how you carry your gun,how you carry your self.

1)western rigs and uncle mikes soft holsters that have stuff hanging off them don't sit well.

2) don't act all nervous and tense,people will react according to how you act.

3)dress nicer if your going to open carry.Sunday afternoon church let out and to the store i went(walmart).I had all three kids with me along with a Glock 22 in a Miami classic shoulder rig,no one seemed to pay any attention.Now i don't often carry open but i didn't have time to change out of my shirt and tie and i wasn't going past the store by 4 miles and then back again.I acted as if i had no gun on and went about racing my kids up and down the isles making them laugh.

4)don't act intimidating and more often than not no one will be intimidated by you.

 

[oldman45]

The last time I carried openly in Arizona was around 1960, when I was still in college. A friend and I were going pistol shooting, and I found myself short of cash. I had my Ruger .22 pistol strapped on, and walked into a bank to cash a check. At that time, Arizona did not have a concealed carry provision, but open carry was legal statewide (and still is). No eyebrows were raised, and there was no panic.

I would not do that today. With the passage of concealed carry (and now Constitutional carry), open carry not only sends a "challenge" message, it invites gun-snatching and targeting by the bad guys. If I have to pull a gun in self-defense, I want it to be a surprise. That's the element that could save your life in a pucker situation.

John

John, how often have you been attacked or have someone try to get your openly carried gun? Have you ever read or heard of it happening?

I can give examples of people being shot, many times not the ccw holder, when someone tries to get to a concealed weapon. I can also give examples of people arrested for concealed carry when open carry would have been legal. This is moreso due to being where concealed carry is not allowed where as open carry is like banks, private residences, parades and such.

The way a person carries is a matter of personal choice. But urban myths about gun grabs are just myths.

Yet motion attracts attention. A person trying to reach inside their shirt will often be noticed by a hold up artist more than a person quickly recovering a gun carried openly.

The myth that criminals look for guns is also a myth. A recent incident in Shreveport LA proves that. A man walked into a service station. In order to get to the counter, he had to walk in past a marked police patrol unit parked by the door, step past the uniformed officer and up to the counter. The man pulled his concealed handgun and proceeded to hold up the attendant. The officer pulled his gun and took the man into custody. Later, the perp said he was so intent on getting money, he only noticed there were no customers inside and did not pay attention to the patrol car or the officer inside.

 

[SFCE7]

Arizona is a Constitution Carry state which means we carry concealed without CCW, although my CCW will be active.

Our open carry, well been doing this as long as I have lived here for the past 52 years except my time in the Army and with the DoD. Arizona has been an OC since and before they became a state in 1912.

 

[vista461]

John, how often have you been attacked or have someone try to get your openly carried gun? Have you ever read or heard of it happening?

YouTube - ‪Guy with the gun robbed of his gun, because he had one. Was the robber afraid? Don't think so.‬‏
Happened here in WI.

 

[MotorCityGun]

Which emphasizes the importance of what grandma taught us gurls:

Keep your gown down

...and yer' knees crossed or together.

 

[MotorCityGun]

Don't know if there's registration of firearms in Michigan, but if any other guns show up under your ownership, the police/sheriffs could come a-knocking and confiscate ALL your firearms.

Yup, you have to register your new or used gun/pistol within 10 days of purchasing it with your local PD. Don't ask me if I like it, because I don't, but thems the rules here in MI.

For the OP, I highly suggest that you study and become very familiar with this site: MSP - Firearms

 

[PALADIN85020]

John, how often have you been attacked or have someone try to get your openly carried gun? Have you ever read or heard of it happening?

No one has ever tried to get my openly carried gun, because, as I said before, I haven't done that since about 1960 when AZ did not have a concealed carry-permitting law.

The link below answers your second question.

YouTube - ‪Guy with the gun robbed of his gun, because he had one. Was the robber afraid? Don't think so.‬‏

John

 

[TienLungTaoist]

personally I would really like conceal carry in Florida for only one reason. So I can carry when I go fishing, Hiking, to the local parks, and am working on cars (hobby) or out in the country side. I wouldnt open carry in the city or in places with crowds. Reason being is that in martial arts I was told to not walk around boasting or showing off your skills, because if someone wants to hurt you they will use a weapon instead of confronting you with their fists. I believe it all depends on the area you live in too. Here in Alachua florida, country side nobody would really care but I wouldnt do it in naples florida.

 

[NKJ nut]

It is a fact that many police officers have been disarmed and shot with their own gun. With that being the case can we expect a bad guy to be so awed by Joe Citizen The Pistol Packer that he would be too fearful to attempt a disarmament?

Also is our weapon retention skills that much better than the police?

 

[Engine 21]

Gotta agree with keeping concealed. Since you aren't a sworn officer on duty it makes no sense to remove the element of surprise and you may make yourself a target to the BG's and they may take care of you first to reduce their risk of carrying out whatever they intended to do.

Yes, I know it may very well be your right to Open Carry and I don't deny you any right, but I don't see many (if any) Leo's choosing to open carry off duty.It maybe by department policy or by choice but I just don't see them - maybe I'm wrong but I would prefer weapons I carry to be concealed. In any event, you can pretty much know who is carrying concealed if your observant. JMO

 

[Bratastic007]

Open Carry is to the Second Amendment what hardcore pornography is to the First Amendment.

I'm glad it's a right that we have as Americans, but personally it just isn't my thing.

 

[Steve in Vermont]

Gotta agree with keeping concealed. Since you aren't a sworn officer on duty it makes no sense to remove the element of surprise and you may make yourself a target to the BG's and they may take care of you first to reduce their risk of carrying out whatever they intended to do.

Yes, I know it may very well be your right to Open Carry and I don't deny you any right, but I don't see many (if any) Leo's choosing to open carry off duty.It maybe by department policy or by choice but I just don't see them - maybe I'm wrong but I would prefer weapons I carry to be concealed. In any event, you can pretty much know who is carrying concealed if your observant. JMO

I've become more aware of others who cc since I started doing the same. What I have noticed is that most of these people are middle age and above and very discrete about carrying. It also says to me that they, like me, have made a decision to be proactive in protecting ourselves and family. While many people might find this threatening, I find it comforting.

 

[TienLungTaoist]

This is like preaching to the quire but have you ever been to a gun show or range and felt threatened? Personally I feel quite safe in such places. So far I have not met one CWP holder that I would feel is irresponsible and a threat. Most of the ones I have met are quite cool tempered and peaceful. Some people I personally know have been a little loose in control and actually became more humble and tame once learning the responsibility of carrying a gun. Concealed or open carry "is all good".

 

[NKJ nut]

This is like preaching to the quire but have you ever been to a gun show or range and felt threatened? Personally I feel quite safe in such places. So far I have not met one CWP holder that I would feel is irresponsible and a threat. Most of the ones I have met are quite cool tempered and peaceful. Some people I personally know have been a little loose in control and actually became more humble and tame once learning the responsibility of carrying a gun. Concealed or open carry "is all good".

I don't go to many ranges but the gun handling habits of some of the gun show crowd scares me. I see all these fingers on triggers and deadly weapons treated as mere merchandise. In fifteen years of selling at gunshows I have been in eight shows where a gun "went off" as they say because some dimwit honked on the trigger.

Sorry, but just because someone could find their way into a gun show or get a carry permit doesn't mean they are safe with guns.

 

[Knightrider03m]

I doubt if most adults are observant enough to even notice someone open carrying unless that person has a flashy rig or is acting nervous. I’m a people watcher and most people seem to go through life oblivious to what is going on around them.

The times that I've done it, I get more little kids (12 or younger) come up to me and ask me about my weapon. Hell, I was talking to a woman (I was standing up and she was sitting down) for a few minutes until she notice that I had a weapon on my hip.

 

[Kanewpadle]

It is a fact that many police officers have been disarmed and shot with their own gun. With that being the case can we expect a bad guy to be so awed by Joe Citizen The Pistol Packer that he would be too fearful to attempt a disarmament?

Also is our weapon retention skills that much better than the police?

True enough. And we don't have radios to call for back up. No long gun in the car. No partner. No dog. And no body armor.

The element of surprise is everything.

If you've practiced your draw from concealment like everyone should, it ain't much slower than open carry.

After that, shooting on the move and bullet placement is all that matters.

So open carry MIGHT give me an few miliseconds more time.

It's not enough of an advantage to go through the trouble of open carry.

 

[TienLungTaoist]

I don't go to many ranges but the gun handling habits of some of the gun show crowd scares me. I see all these fingers on triggers and deadly weapons treated as mere merchandise. In fifteen years of selling at gunshows I have been in eight shows where a gun "went off" as they say because some dimwit honked on the trigger.

Sorry, but just because someone could find their way into a gun show or get a carry permit doesn't mean they are safe with guns.

Agreed, Im sure you've seen more gunshows and ranges than me.

 

[oldman45]

It is a fact that many police officers have been disarmed and shot with their own gun. With that being the case can we expect a bad guy to be so awed by Joe Citizen The Pistol Packer that he would be too fearful to attempt a disarmament?

Also is our weapon retention skills that much better than the police?

Any alert gun carrying person will not allow someone to take their gun just as a rookie officer will put up a fight over his gun. I am not going to sit idley by while someone pulls MY gun out of my holster just as I would not let someone stick their hands in my pockets. Seasoned officers become complacent and let their guard down. Then we have the fact that some people want to control the scene of a crime and do not want police officers as witnesses or arresting them.

I still say, show me a single instance where a citizen openly carrying lost his gun.