where do you carry open or concealed

[ISCS Yoda]

I carry a gun everywhere, all the time, unless it's illegal to do so. Usually it's a J-frame hidden in a pocket but sometimes I carry one, or even a bigger gun, IWB or as a belt gun, depending on seasons and clothing. At home I carry a derringer in my robe: I rarely walk around even at home unarmed. Certainly not if I step outside, not for any reason - and I live in a very safe neighborhood in Dallas, Texas. Another gun is available in my car or truck.

Texas allows concealed handguns in all motor vehicles so even without a CHL folks are good in their cars, trucks, vans, boats, etc. I've had a CHL almost since they were available but I have admitted before I have had a handgun in my vehicles since 1980 (they were NOT technically legal at that time, except under certain, rare exceptions) and I carried one on my person since 1987 or so - again, I freely admit I decided it was better to do so without the benefit of law until we got CHLs. BUT I DO NOT ADVISE IT. I'm just naturally a rebel so I admit doing it but it's not something to be done casually, especially in this day and age, I don't care where you live. If you do it and you could have had a CHL then you're making a VERY big mistake.

I never carry openly unless I am hunting or on someone's property who not only allows it but expects me to do it. It's just asking for comments and annoyances.

***GRJ***

 

[ISCS Yoda]

Sidebar - notice what I said at the outset - UNLESS IT'S ILLEGAL TO DO SO. I've "grown" since my misspent youth....

***GRJ***

 

[ISCS Yoda]

Originally Posted by 11e40 View Post
while open carry is not allowed in texas, i would not anyway because the bad guy's will take you out first. you being a threat to their bad behavoir. my two cents worth.

what!!!!!! i thought texas everyone carried and open carried. or concealed. the entire state this entire time i thought was like a requirement to open carry from birth. ............

have i been wrong this entire time

Yep, you were wrong.

The old Texas law banned all carry with exceptions and the exceptions technically allowed open carry, like hunting, on your own property, etc. But nobody did it; not like Arizona - it was not done in Texas since the Old West days (which might have been into the 1920s or 1930s in some places; that I can't say). Sorry to burst your bubble!

***GRJ***

 

[Hodgin]

Tn allows both open and concealed carry. I haven't had my permit but for a couple of months but I don't plan to open carry anywhere other than the range. Can't see the advantage.

Another reason I wouldn't open carry has to do with my view of public perceptions about carry. I'm not sure about this but I think if a significant number of people started carrying openly more stores, restaurants, etc... would adopt a no firearms policy.

 

[PastureOfMuppets]

If you can open carry and want to open carry... open carry. That whole "they will take you out first" thing is... well, meh.

Taking your gun? Make sure it's a retention holster.

If you can legally open carry and want to, it's your right. Screw other people - how else will people get used to the sight of guns? It's the only way to change public perceptions.

 

[fallhunter]

This is interesting.

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk 2

 

[Smitty357]

Well i live in a State where we have open carry (without a license), but we also have conceal carry with the proper license.

What i have learned through the years is very simple.

"Out of sight means out of mind".

With the exception of both my State and Federal laws. If u see me, u can bet i'm carrying (a few). It doesnt matter if im out in public or im outside doing yard work.

 

[MSG Glenn]

It's legal to open carry in WI but I don't. I'm not saying I never will but I don't like to be the first target of a deranged shooter nor do I want to advertise the fact that I'm armed. One of the side benefits of being in an open carry state is that if you happen to print inadvertently or your handgun peeks out now & then it's not against the law.

 

[ISCS Yoda]

If you can open carry and want to open carry... open carry. That whole "they will take you out first" thing is... well, meh.

You might be correct about that, emphasis on "might". The problem is as much about the impact on "other folks" as well as any bad guys.

Willie Nelson said it best:

Pancho was a bandit boy, his horse was fast as polished steel
He wore his gun outside his pants
For all the honest world to feel

When you wear a gun openly, let's assume legally, everyone who sees it "feels" it. It makes a statement and, even to the "honest" folks, it's not always a good statement. Okay, sure, we'd all like to cure the non-gun world of the inherent dislike of even "knowing" that there are guns around but that's not happening any time soon. So, as a rule, an openly carried gun disturbs and distracts everyone. As noted, out of sight is out of mind, and that's much preferred these days.

Taking your gun? Make sure it's a retention holster.

That's good advice, but beyond the scope of this partially hijacked thread methinks.

If you can legally open carry and want to, it's your right. Screw other people - how else will people get used to the sight of guns? It's the only way to change public perceptions.

I would argue that it's not the only way to change public perception and, if it is the ONLY way, perhaps it's not worthwhile to use that way. "Screwing" everyone else to exercise your right is generally bad procedure, whether it's carrying guns, or speaking whatever comes into your mind, or writing whatever you feel like. So, okay, you have the "right to do it" - that doesn't make it "right to do it".

Jus' sayin'........

***GRJ***

 

[littleriver1]

Va. is both open and cc. I cc everywhere and no one knows and I like it that way. Some times my wife will ask me if I'm carrying. Both my wife and daughter have said they feel better knowing I am carrying. My daughter came home from the mall and said she saw a woman carrying a big gun on her hip. She said her and her friends were ok with it. She doesn't tell her friends I am carrying. I don't think people are looking around wondering who is carrying and who isn't. I also think the general public feels good knowing we are around and close by.

 

[hangnoose]

CHANGING PEOPLES FEELING/PERCEPTIONS

People with a fear or dislike of guns may have a legitimate reason. they, a son, daughter, parent, friend could have been a victim of crime, murder, suicide by a gun. I doubt somebody open carrying is gonna do anything but upset them. it could be someones Mom. having antis view us as less selfish and more sensitive to their feelings would help our cause.

 

[harrym]

I open carry when I'm walking my dog along the river [outside city limits]. Never know when we'll be assaulted by a bad squirrel or cottontail. Seriously, I carry more for snakes than anything else. But there is a local commando that open carries all the time. I saw him get into a confrontation with the lady owner of a local restaurant who told him to leave his gun in his vehicle if he wanted to be served. He lost. She was big enough that she didn't need a gun.

 

[Bkreutz]

Washington is a open and concealed carry state. I carry concealed when I'm out and about but when I get home I take my concealment garment off (usually a shirt over a t-shirt) and carry it open around the house and in the shop. If I have to go outside to get a UPS package (or something similar) I will usually put my shirt back on just to avoid making someone uncomfortable even though it is legal.

 

[Hodgin]

Although I don't plan to open carry it's nice to live in a state that allows both conceal and open. When I'm carrying my 9c sometimes it prints with certain clothing.

 

[SmurfHunter]

No open carry in FL

 

[shouldazagged]

If you can legally open carry and want to, it's your right. Screw other people - how else will people get used to the sight of guns? It's the only way to change public perceptions.

Kind of wish I hadn't read that. I think it would have just about exactly the opposite effect. If everybody did it, maybe? That just ain't going to happen, at least not in my limited remaining lifetime.

I've owned guns for over sixty years and carried concealed since it became legal here. I'm very firmly pro-Second (and First) Amendment. I also feel more comfortable being discreet and unobtrusive, if only because it keeps the *******s guessing.

I have a number of rights which I exercise with restraint if at all. Purely my choice. I think of it as being a responsible citizen who doesn't unduly and deliberately upset his neighbors.

Of course, I do wear shorts a lot...

 

[Black_Sheep]

Minnesota is an open carry state but the only time I do so is out in the field. Otherwise, I feel that open carry among the general public draws the wrong kind of attention. There is something to be said for flying under the radar.

My 2¢ worth...

 

[PastureOfMuppets]

I would argue that it's not the only way to change public perception and, if it is the ONLY way, perhaps it's not worthwhile to use that way. "Screwing" everyone else to exercise your right is generally bad procedure, whether it's carrying guns, or speaking whatever comes into your mind, or writing whatever you feel like. So, okay, you have the "right to do it" - that doesn't make it "right to do it".

Jus' sayin'........

***GRJ***

Well, screwing might have been a poorly chosen term at 3 am.

On the other hand, isn't it tiring doing something perfectly legal and morally acceptable and being judged negatively over it?

Yes, concealed is preferable from a "tactical" (I am sick of that word being beaten into the ground) point of view. On occasions, socially as well. No arguments from me. But if someone can legally open carry and wants to? Why the hell not.

Want to open carry in a state where it's legal? Unfortunately you will have to mentally say "screw them" at some point, because some people just aren't going to react well and you are going to have to deal with it having already made the choice.

Took a while for folks to get used to black folks riding at the front of the bus, but things weren't going to change if they had the right to sit at the front but didn't in case it offended some white folks.

I'm not talking about "making a statement", that is not very clever. No one wants to see someone showing off a firearm, that will make anyone jittery. I'm saying, it's a choice of preference not to be put off by people who are irrationally fearful or judgemental.

 

[PastureOfMuppets]

Kind of wish I hadn't read that. I think it would have just about exactly the opposite effect. If everybody did it, maybe? That just ain't going to happen, at least not in my limited remaining lifetime.

I've owned guns for over sixty years and carried concealed since it became legal here. I'm very firmly pro-Second (and First) Amendment. I also feel more comfortable being discreet and unobtrusive, if only because it keeps the *******s guessing.

I have a number of rights which I exercise with restraint if at all. Purely my choice. I think of it as being a responsible citizen who doesn't unduly and deliberately upset his neighbors.

Of course, I do wear shorts a lot...

I want to respond to you directly because you objected respectfully and with well made points.

I honestly don't think it would take a lot. But it's an opinion and I have been wrong before.

I would rather roll concealed, but I am me. You are you, he is him and my next door neighbor is who he is. I'm not offended by someone open carrying, so if he wants to roll openly for comfort and convenience... I'm not going to tell him otherwise. Just fair warning what to expect.

 

[32_d3gr33s]

I open carry everywhere i legally can. I very rarely conceal carry. To all the people who say that open carrying is going to attract attention or scare people... Have you done it? Give it a try and tell me about all of the people that have no clue. I carry my m&p in a very visible Serpa holster, and i have had no one make any sort of negative comment toward me EVER! I do get a lot of comments about how people are going to stay near me, or feel safer, or want to learn more about it.

"you will be the target"... Tell me 1 instance where a person with a visible gun was shot first? Most crimes are intended to be an "easy score." You really think someone running into the gas station trying to steal 50 bucks really wants to kill someone? No. majority of the time they will move on if they see someone who is going to fight back.. place a shotgun behind the counter at every store or restaurant and openly share its there, i doubt it gets robbed... just sayin.

"You lose tactical advantage" In a self defense situation, you are always already in a role of reacting. If you are needing an advantage over shooting someone, most likely you are not in a self defense situation and you shouldnt be shooting someone in the first place. Now say you are... having your gun tucked in behind a shirt or deep in a pocket or on your ankle seem much more like a disadvantage to me. Grabbing it from out in the open saves precious milliseconds, milliseconds that could potentially be extra rounds you fired, meaning the difference between life or death.

You saying that because its a right, we shouldnt exercise it because its the "wrong time" or could "scare people", or should do it another way.. How do you suggest we protect our second amendment rights? By doing what the general public likes? by hiding in the shadows? No way. Im going to make it public that I support my 2nd amendment rights. That im not an easy target. That I am here to protect myself, my family, and those around me if the time comes...

Why do police officers open carry? maybe we should start having them conceal too... it might scare people if they see their guns..

Besides, it much more comfortable.. try it!