Open Carry

[federali]

OC Vs. Non-OC

I once caught considerable flak for an off-the-cuff comment I made regarding OC in a previous thread. Thus, I'll try to be polite and civil.

It might help to refresh our recollection as to just what elements tend to separate the winners from the losers in armed confrontations, in order of importance: Mindset, judgment, tactics, marksmanship, firearm. It's in the third element where advocates of OC are making a potentially fatal error by giving up the element of surprise by advertising the presence of a firearm. As at least one other has said here, once a thug "makes" you, you are relatively easy to defeat.

Regarding OC, you will ultimately do what you feel is best for you but if you study the hundreds of incidents resulting in an officer fatality, marksmanship or caliber is seldom a factor in an officer's death. Post incident analysis consistently shows that the death resulted from omissions in the first three elements.

 

[American1776]

I open carry 98 percent of the time. I'm in Pennsylvania. I typically carry in leather pancake holsters with level 2 retention. I am a short-hair, clean shaven, tucked in shirt type.

1) Over the years, I've been asked the 'cover up' only once. I did so, and will not return to that restaurant again. Otherwise, I've never had a problem at all the other places I routinely go. Grocery store, haircuts, retail shops, restaurants, fast-food places, even playgrounds with my family and county parks---never asked to leave. I have, however, gotten MANY positive remarks.

2) What you carry determines to some extent how much people notice. My 4 inch revolvers get more attention than my Walther PPK. That said, still, 90 percent of people are too wrapped up in their own little bubble to notice the .357 or .41 mag on my hip. Of the ones that do notice, they usually look and then go back to their own lives. Of those who notice and say something, almost all comments are either supportive or out of curiosity about carry or guns in general.

3. There was at least one occasion in my life now where I am certain that my openly carried pistol (holstered) prevented an unpleasant confrontation with 'thugs'. It happened while on vacation in another (Open carry friendly) state. The 4 thugs approaching my family at a gas station suddenly had a change of mind and travel direction when they noticed the holstered H&K P7 on my side. I didn't have to say anything, or clear leather. Had I been concealing, things very much would have ended differently.

In my experience, Open carry is NOT a big deal. People don't run and scream, most don't even notice, and it is much more comfortable way of carrying a large gun.

 

[ladder13]

This happened in my County a couple of years ago. I have no desire to open carry, but it will prevent this from happening.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pns3_Peke30

Very professional.

No downside there being cooperative.

 

[American1776]

I must say this, with the most polite respect to all those who don't like OC:

I've noticed now that everyone who is against OC are always folks who DO NOT OC. Anti-OCers, who don't OC, repeat the same platitudes about 'cops being called', 'hostile confrontations', 'scaring old people and children', and 'wanting to surprise the attacker'. Sometimes, Anti-OCers just attack the character of all OCers by accusing them of being 'rambos' or 'drama queens'.

Then, I read the posts by folks who ACTUALLY Open carry, and they all mirror my own experience: It makes not a darned bit of difference 99 percent of the time.

All the anti-OCers are folks who never OCed. I have yet to find someone who was once an OCer, and then became anti-OC. I suspect the reason is because people who actually OC understand how much of a non-issue it is in reality.

Just my three cents.

 

[CajunBass]

Again in Florida the law to allow open carry is going through the process. Considering the left and right views on guns I'm wondering for those who can open carry;

1) Do you find some or more establishments unwelcoming, this excludes the tree hugging like of Starbucks and such.

Nope. Never had anyone pay much attention to it one way or the other.

2) How does the non carrying public view you walking around the streets, do you find people staring or suddenly changing direction

Nope. I had a few people ask questions, like "Can I do that too?", or "Do I need a permit to do that?" but otherwise, not that I noticed.

3) Do the less than honest looking individuals take more notice of you

I don't know what a "less than honest looking" person looks like. I guess I don't run in the right circles.