Open Carry

[photoman]

Open carry is one of those divisive issues that is better left alone. Some like it. Some don't. One side is not going to convince the other and vice versa.

The beauty of living in a (somewhat) free country is that we can all have different opinions and behave accordingly without fear of retribution.

 

[CS9CCW]

Notice I said "I think most people OC ...", since when do I need methodology to have an opinion?


Bob, you state: "I OC, and I don't do it to draw attention to the fact I can, but more to the point that anyone who can legally carry a gun can. I use it as an opportunity to educate those who ask."

Same difference.

 

[cmort666]

Open carry is one of those divisive issues that is better left alone. Some like it. Some don't. One side is not going to convince the other and vice versa.

The beauty of living in a (somewhat) free country is that we can all have different opinions and behave accordingly without fear of retribution.

I don't open carry... that's it, I just don't open carry. I don't feel the need to denigrate those who do. I find it common for people who don't open carry to insult and belittle those who do.

 

[cmort666]

Notice I said "I think most people OC ...", since when do I need methodology to have an opinion?

"I think that most people who vehemently criticize open carry are members of the Revolutionary Communist Party."

A baseless opinion is just that, baseless, and hardly worth expressing.

 

[flop-shank]

Open carry is one of those divisive issues that is better left alone. Some like it. Some don't. One side is not going to convince the other and vice versa.

The beauty of living in a (somewhat) free country is that we can all have different opinions and behave accordingly without fear of retribution.

OC can be a devisive issue, but there are always new people coming to this site and those who are undecided, so I think it's important that the debate takes place so long as we're civil about it.

 

[Zilmo]

If people want to OC, that's fine. It is not what I choose to do. What bothers me the most is being told that I MUST support OC, or I don't believe or support 2A rights. All I can say to that is "bite me".

 

[mkk41]

I don't open carry... that's it, I just don't open carry. I don't feel the need to denigrate those who do. I find it common for people who don't open carry to insult and belittle those who do.

And vice-versa. The tone at the PA site I posted is if ya don't openly carry every where, every day , yer a wuss.

 

[cmort666]

And vice-versa. The tone at the PA site I posted is if ya don't openly carry every where, every day , yer a wuss.

If you're talking about PAFOA, I haven't seen that. There may be one or two people like that, but it sure isn't the "tone". Rather, what I've seen is one or two people personally attack the woman whose LTCF was wrongfully revoked by that sheriff. I've seen the same one or two people harass her on OCDO. One of them is a full blown misogynist.

 

[Srigs]

If it is legal to open carry, then it is legal to open carry. Beyond that, each person needs to make up their own mind.

I OCed today at an OC breakfast with one of our local MN forums. It is always fun to see what people are carrying and in what. I OC carried to my car and on home. When I went out later in the day it was concealed.

Another major benefit is I don't have to worry about my permit being pulled because my carry garment came up over my gun by accident. That is very good feature of our law and I like it.

 

[Spotteddog]

That's what I meant earlier, when I said the legislature in my state (Wa.) thought O/C AND C/C important enough to have both be stipulated. Quite likely for exactly the reasons Srig's described.

 

[DeadAye]

Meanwhile back to the OP's ?...
Tennessee also allows OC if you have a permit.

After putting it off for years (I don't like to rush into ANYTHING ) I took the required class, and passed , yesterday. Monday I'm off to the state of TN guys to get fingerprinted and do the rest of the paperwork.
BTW : Between the class and the money that TN gets it costs aprox $200 to get a permit here.

 

[K-Mart85]

In my state, The peoples republic of Wisconsin, our only way to carry is OC thanks to our Governor who has vetoed 2 bills passed by the legislature for CC. Ive OC'd once and the only reason was I was going to pick up a friend in a bad part of town. Once we do get a CCW law on the books I'll definetly get my permit. OC just doesnt feel comfortable to me.

 

[Spotteddog]

85,
I'd predict that you folks behind the cheddar curtain, will attain legal CCW status long before your brethren to the south? You'll note I said "legal" CCW! Because everyone with the sense that God gave a parking meter south of you, packs whether it's legal or not!

 

[thejestersgate]

On the topic of open carry being a deterrent, I will elaborate on my thoughts. Since no two life and death situations are the exact same, a visible weapon may or may not be a deterrent to a devious act. Take this example, My girlfriend and I are walking to the grocery market around dusk. The road there is usually frequented by thugs and vandals. Naturally, I open carry on this trip to tell would be attackers that I am ready to strike if needed. A good analogy would be a coiled up snake, alert and ready to strike. This is a good deterrent to unarmed bullies who could attack and mug a helpless couple. Open carrying in this position is beneficial because carrying concealed, I wouldn't be conveying a message and could more likely become victimized.

On the other hand...

If I am in a store that is getting robbed and for some reason don't have my wits about me. I might become the victim of a preemptive strike. However, I usually scan peoples faces looking for potential threats. The eyes can tell alot. Just my two cents!

 

[therevjay]

Where I live "open carry" is legal, but stupid. If your out in the woods, fine, if you stop in a small store, (out in the country) fine.

If you go walking around a shopping mall in a major city, your stupid! I don't care if it's legal, it's stupid. Some people it frightens, others (me included) it antagonizes. Who the hell do you think you are? Zorro maybe? Are you trying to impress someone? Do you just want to be hassled by police, so you can blather about your rights, and make a scene?

OK I'm done.

 

[The Big D]

On the topic of open carry being a deterrent, I will elaborate on my thoughts. Since no two life and death situations are the exact same, a visible weapon may or may not be a deterrent to a devious act. Take this example, My girlfriend and I are walking to the grocery market around dusk. The road there is usually frequented by thugs and vandals. Naturally, I open carry on this trip to tell would be attackers that I am ready to strike if needed. A good analogy would be a coiled up snake, alert and ready to strike. This is a good deterrent to unarmed bullies who could attack and mug a helpless couple. Open carrying in this position is beneficial because carrying concealed, I wouldn't be conveying a message and could more likely become victimized.

On the other hand...

If I am in a store that is getting robbed and for some reason don't have my wits about me. I might become the victim of a preemptive strike. However, I usually scan peoples faces looking for potential threats. The eyes can tell alot. Just my two cents!

Hmmm, wondering why you would walk, at dusk, and with your girlfriend, anywhere that is "frequented by thugs and vandals?"

Be safe.

 

[Capt Steve]

I live just north Tucson. Open carry is legal here in Arizona but you see it rarely. Most of the folks here are from somewhere else. Probably somewhere where they are not used to seeing firearms openly carried displayed. I have witnessed the reactions of the general public when someone exercises his right to open carry. It is not pretty. The whispering, discreet pointing and generally freak out mode commences as soon as the gun is spotted and ripples through the crowd.

I chose to carry concealed, legally, because I do not want to call attention to myself and or freak out/antagonize the non gun folks. This is my choice. If you want to OC and it is legal where you reside, so be it but don't be surprised if you do more damage to 2A than good. The bozo with an AR15 at the Obama rally comes to mind. Just because you can do something doesn't necessarily mean it is a god idea.

 

[Bob R]

Who the hell do you think you are? Zorro maybe?

Well, according to another in this thread we are "cowboys" if we choose to OC.

Why would someone's mode of carry "antagonize" you? How is it impacting your day to day life?

bob

 

[230therapy]

Did anyone see the nutcase carrying the AR-15 around near where Obama was speaking? That has sort of been the "image" of the open carry debate lately, at least in much of the mainstream media.

You mean the racist black man in a nice pants and shirt?

 

[ladder13]

I find it common for people who don't open carry to insult and belittle those who do.

I find just the opposite.