Open Carry

[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.

 

[lgjhn]

OC is legal in Louisiana except for the certain larger urban areas. I live way out in the bayou and open carry out here all the time, usually with snake shot in the gun...one almost has to out here. However, I've been known to do it when going to the ATM machine after being strong-armed by two punks one day. On one occasion after that strong-arm incident, I had a small elderly lady walk in on me at the ATM, saw my gun, quickly raised her shaking hands and said; "take it all, please just don't shoot me!" The poor soul was scared spitless. I said I was one of the "good guys" and immediately left. After thinking about it, I kinda felt bad for her and realized how OC can, as a minimum, make people very uneasy or at the worse; scare em into doing some really stupid things. To avoid all that hassle, I just stick in my pants pocket or IWB nowadays when going somewhere public. However, I did walk into the tractor parts store the other day and forgot I had it on....got some strange looks and couldn't figure out why till I got back to my shop and realized I had been OCing my gun...yeah, I know....don't remind me...LOL