Why I don't Open Carry

I conceal carry when discretion is called for,

I also like to open carry a times.

As Dolly Pardon once said, "If ya got it...Flaunt it!" ;):D





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Situational awareness is my 'tactical' advantage in all weathers ;):D


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Well you helped me decide. I'm making a matching holster and ranger belt for myself and I was undecided on what color to dye it. That black with silver looks good.
 
I stopped open carrying a couple of years ago. I don’t object to it it’s just not my thing.

The only concern I have with open carry is when people that are open carrying long guns unsling them for a photo op. I think that’s probably an unsafe act but I would have the same objection if you unholstered a handgun in public.

Even so, if an individual engages in that behavior then that individual should be held accountable not the entire class of open carriers.

I don’t want to be a prick about this but most of the objections that I see to open carry in this thread and others like it appear to be emotionally driven with no hard data to back them up. They’re not any different than the stuff that Moms demanding attention is posting.
 
"I don’t want to be a prick about this but most of the objections that I see to open carry in this thread and others like it appear to be emotionally driven with no hard data to back them up. They’re not any different than the stuff that Moms demanding attention is posting"

The only "hard data" I have is my experience with open carriers around here. As stated above, nothing but attitude. The wrong attitude. I don't want to be in the same class as them or be associated with them in any way. They don't represent gun owners very well. They don't represent me.
 
The only "hard data" I have is my experience with open carriers around here. As stated above, nothing but attitude. The wrong attitude.

With.all due respect, that's actually NOT hard data it's avery subjective opinion.
 
Those who refer to being stopped by police as "hassled" are part of the problem, although they will never admit it. A cop is either responding to a call of a man with a gun or just conducting a basic investigation when they approach a man with a gun. If your response is civil and cooperative, the stop is over in seconds and you go on your way. A cop is doing his duty to protect ALL citizens when he stops and questions these people. Rather than just respond with "morning officer. I guess somebody called you about my gun. As you know, it is legal and I'm just excercising the option to carry this way. Sorry for your time being wasted. Have a nice day", they start with the "you're hassling me, facist".

But that's not what the OC guy wants. Check out all the YouTube videos of these idiots. They are seeking out a confrontation. "I don't need to give you my name". "I don't have to answer your questions". They're reading chapter and. Verse from the OC fanatic handbook. We've had people on here complain about being stopped while riding a motorcycle with an AK strapped to their back!

Before Jared Holmes walked into the theater and started to shoot, he was breaking no law. His rifles were slung over his chest. If a cop tried to stop and question him, would that be a "hassle"?

Open Carry is legal in my state. I see it maybe 3-4 times a year. And when I DO see it, the people doing it all have that "mall ninja, this is my right and I don't care if you like it" look. Last year, I started a thread about an obviously mentally retarded man walking into Home Depot with a 1911 and two spare magazines on his hip in open display. His companion, I guess his mother, had to talk to the clerk because this grown man was excitedly looking at the riding mowers like my 7 year old son does.

OC Pioneers claim they are "educating". Even they don't believe that. Theyre not gonna change my mind, a gun owner and NRA member for over 25 years. You think they're gonna change the mind of either the hard core anti-gunner, or even the generally neutral? Unless there's a mass shooting, most people don't think about guns too much. Walking around Home Depot with a displayed weapon isn't gonna make that neutral person more pro-gun.

Ironically, these "crusaders" are the anti-gunners best friend. If they can make me cringe, what do they do to someone who doesn't own guns?

They don't speak for me and I do not want to be included in their ranks.
 
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Open carry has been legal in AZ since forever. So is CC. A license exists but is not required. I like that just fine, hope it never changes. Recently I've noticed a lot more OC individuals out and about. No big deal to me, but I do have to wonder what motivates these folks. This is Arizona, your cool Glock isn't impressing anybody. Somehow I suspect that quite a few of them are inexperienced, and it's probably a good thing the world can see that they are armed. No offense meant, as I said; I like our freedoms just fine.
 
Citizens knowing the law is not a problem.
Police not knowing the law is a problem.

Citizens recording being stopped by police is not a problem.
Police stopping citizens at gunpoint or otherwise and detaining them while the are obeying the law is a problem.

Some see the solution is for citizens to hide under the bed.
Others see the solution differently, and they are winning in Texas.

God bless those who are willing to stand up for their rights.
 
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Open Carry in public schools

There has been in Michigan in the past month several challenges by open-carry advocates taking their weapons into public schools. The hue and cry from the school boards has catapulted the issue into the media and the boards are reconsidering their policies for such an activity.

The Ann Arbor school board has now drafted a new policy that prohibits the open carry or concealed carry of any weapon. I believe several other districts that were challenged by the open carry advocates are also drafting new policies.

The open carry challenge, while altruistic, was poorly executed, in my opinion. The fact that weapons were toted onto school grounds is a flash point that will only inflame anti-gun rhetoric and hardens the viewpoint of those who are suspicious of open-carry intentions.
 
I personally support open carry where the law allows.

I support concealed carry where the law allows.

I support one's right to choose, how he or she wishes to carry a self defense firearm.

What I don't like is the in-tolerance of one camp toward the other.

Do whatever you like and at least try to do it well.


That is all...For today.


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OC if you are an ignoramus.
CC if you want to protect our 2A.
You do realize that concealed carry is a privilege granted to you by the state.....right? So your concealed carry privilege protects our right to open carry?

"Your intellect is dizzying"
 
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A cop is either responding to a call of a man with a gun or just conducting a basic investigation when they approach a man with a gun. If your response is civil and cooperative, the stop is over in seconds and you go on your way.
I was stopped several times for open carry. "Am I being detained?" If no, a polite "Have a nice day officer" is sufficient. Is that civil enough for you? As an officer you're aware that you cannot detain a citizen for lawful activity, investigation notwithstanding. Since I'm under no obligation to discuss lawful activity, I would choose not to. I'm never rude about it, and never offensive.

Check out all the YouTube videos of these idiots.
Uh, you realize that if the video was like I describe above, nobody would watch it. I can find even more videos of concealed carry clowns walking into jewelery stores and convenience stores and robbing them; that doesn't mean all concealed carriers are robbers.

Ironically, these "crusaders" are the anti-gunners best friend. If they can make me cringe, what do they do to someone who doesn't own guns?
We'll have to agree to disagree. Historically the greatest threat to gun rights is divisiveness within the gun community. It sounds like you're all for gun rights, as long as it's your gun rights. Other people's gun rights make you cringe. If you're uncomfortable with civil rights, and prefer, as an officer of the law, to dictate when, where, and how a citizen may lawfully exercise their rights, you are living in the wrong country.

....I do not want to be included in their ranks.
You don't have to be; the choice is all yours. It's called freedom. Try not to be frightened by it.
 
No big deal to me, but I do have to wonder what motivates these folks.
It's not always about whatever you may imagine it's about. When OC was legal but unrecognized, our motivation was education. Those days are pretty much over here now, and (speaking for myself only) my motivation has changed. Now I carry in a way that matches my idealism; that a holstered handgun is as normal and regular as the wear of a watch or any other lawful thing.

Since OC is and has been both legal and recognized in AZ, I doubt 'enlightenment' is a huge motivator there anymore.

My motivation is to carry a handgun I shoot well as comfortably as I can. Sometimes that means openly, sometimes it means concealed, but at all times it is in alignment with my idealism.
 
"Attitude" is a two way street.

Notice in this vid the police are friendly with zero indication of hassling anyone. In return, the folks OCing are cheerful, friendly and having good chat with authorities.

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q1G1IscWi58[/ame]

In this video (including audio of call in), a man is walking down the street with a holstered handgun. The officer gets out of his car with gun drawn pointing at the man, hollering to get on the ground. Listen to his attitude, suggesting the man could be insane, terrorist, and mocking him for thinking he needs to carry a gun for self defense.

Mocking someone for having a gun for self defense.... That attitude applies to all of us who carry a gun, open or concealed.

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wLmrTENZwDA[/ame]

Of course there are many vids of OCers with horrible attitudes, but authorities play a role too.
 
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"Attitude" is a two way street.

Notice in this vid the police are friendly with zero indication of hassling anyone. In return, the folks OCing are cheerful, friendly and having good chat with authorities.
I remember when that video first came out. One couldn't ask for a better interaction between LEO and group of assemblers.

If that video is not being used as an educational tool for this type of call, it should be. There's probably a few agencies who'd like to Clone that cop. :)
 
Conceal Carry is my choice

While it's legal here in N.C. to either open carry or conceal carry (if not in an area where handguns are banned ie POST OFFICE,COURT HOUSE etc.), my choice has always been to conceal carry. I don't need to flaunt I'm a gun owner, or pro gun rights. I carry it because there're a lot of BG's out there and I intend to be able to defend myself and my family if need arises.
 
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