Why I don't Open Carry

I just picked up a Sig P229R last week. I think I'm going to order a Safariland ALS paddle holster so I can open carry her while I'm in Gettysburg in May.

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I open carried my Glock 30S in one of those holsters when I went to Gettysburg last Fall. Again, no cops called, no tourists freaking out, no gun grab attempts, but I did have a friendly gentleman from Louisiana come up to me and ask about open carrying. He said he wished they were allowed to carry like that in Louisiana, especially during the summer when it's really hot.
 
In Iowa, it's a permit to carry. We don't have to conceal. I typically carry in an IWB holster, but often have my shirt tucked behind the holster. Not one person has ever noticed that I was carrying a gun. The deep IWB hides it well, and most people just aren't that observant. I only carry in an OWB holster when I'm heading to the gun range.
 
TNDave said:
I am not against open carry and I see people doing it. Our permits are "carry" not "concealed carry" so open carry is legal. I was once told by a prosecutor that the reason our state law was written as it was was so that gun carriers would not have to worry if their gun printed or became inadvertently exposed. He said in some states with concealed carry, if your gun is visible at all it is a violation and you can lose your permit. They are sticklers for "concealed". That would be a problem. He claimed gun carriers in those states live in fear of someone spotting their gun and calling the police. Therefore, our law was written so that if your gun is visible it was OK. It wasn't really the intent of the law for everyone to "open carry". That makes sense to me.
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It is bothersome that a 10+ year vet that shot competitively for many years has to waste time & money to get "trained " by someone that may very well have far less firearms investment, yet I dare not have a pistol in my camper or vehicle w/o the permit. You don't need to tell a 71 yr old that all isn't logical or fair but isn't there a better way?

I "get" the legal aspect of exposing the weapon but have witnessed those who expose their weapons for what appear to be more ego related reasons. While I'm not particularly thin skinned nor so conservative that I'm bothered by the notion it does raise some flags as to if they carry for the right reason.
E.G.: We were recently seated at a window near the restaurant entrance as a young couple were about to come in. He stopped to expose his weapon and generally fluffed himself (ala chicken leaves the coop:):)) before grabbing the door for his friend.
Sort of a "see it to know & understand thing" but grabbed me as a pompous entrance reminiscent of Gunsmoke on TV & the gunslinger walks into the bar.
Is this the sort of person I need protecting me? This post opens the door of over reaction but as a trained & certified counselor and certified gun guy, I have my questions too...;)

I just don't see the sorting process for CWC as reassuring event as to keep millions of the right people ready to act via weapon. The best e.g. of my larger concern with CWC is to simply look at who's driving a car, riding a MC, etc. and look at how they behave with that privilege! Running a red light in today's society is so common I have gotten to the point of never driving into a green light quickly again. Pull in front is also common and expected.
Many of those "drivers"? are the same folks we give CWC permits to after a short course and a few bucks- it honestly scares me.
 
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keith44spl said:
One of our dispatchers related this to me one time;

Caller; There was a man carrying a gun here at the 7-11!!!
Dispatch; What's the man doing with the gun?

Caller; He's got it in a holster on his belt!
Dispatch; Is the man flourishing the gun, waving it around?

Caller; No, he came in and bought a bottle of Pepto-Bismol and got in his truck and drove away!
Dispatch; So, the man didn't try to rob the store or threaten anyone?

Caller; No, he just paid for the Pepto-Bismol and left....
Dispatch; Madam, you do know this is a 911 line and for emergences'.......

.

Commonsense comes at a premium now'n'days it seems. ;):D



.
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Common sense is an uncommon virtue indeed.
 
well..............................

It would seem there are still folks that would question and maybe even limit ones 2nd amendment rights...... that... I guess is their 1st amendment right to do so. How one views a person is subjective in the very least.... "Gunsmoke" or.... not. I still and will always support a man/womans right to choose what is best for them. I refuse to live in fear on what some , presume, may be a lack of training for someone they do not know. I have been using firearms since I was a young lad. Former Marine.... I truly look forward to the day I can choose to conceal IMG_0010.jpg or open carry as I see fit IMG_0022.jpg
 
kantuck said:
Sort of a "see it to know & understand thing" but grabbed me as a pompous entrance reminiscent of Gunsmoke on TV & the gunslinger walks into the bar.
Is this the sort of person I need protecting me?
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No?!?

Good catch. The last thing we need are pompous (allegedly) people being able to carry guns. These types of people should only be allowed to perform every other function in life, but carry a firearm.

I do hope that you informed this gentleman that if something were to happen, and assistance was required by you or someone in your party, that he should not waste his time, as you have higher standards for protection services.

:rolleyes:
 
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kantuck said:
It is bothersome that a 10+ year vet that shot competitively for many years has to waste time & money to get "trained " by someone that may very well have far less firearms investment, yet I dare not have a pistol in my camper or vehicle w/o the permit. You don't need to tell a 71 yr old that all isn't logical or fair but isn't there a better way?

I "get" the legal aspect of exposing the weapon but have witnessed those who expose their weapons for what appear to be more ego related reasons. While I'm not particularly thin skinned nor so conservative that I'm bothered by the notion it does raise some flags as to if they carry for the right reason.
E.G.: We were recently seated at a window near the restaurant entrance as a young couple were about to come in. He stopped to expose his weapon and generally fluffed himself (ala chicken leaves the coop:):)) before grabbing the door for his friend.
Sort of a "see it to know & understand thing" but grabbed me as a pompous entrance reminiscent of Gunsmoke on TV & the gunslinger walks into the bar.
Is this the sort of person I need protecting me? This post opens the door of over reaction but as a trained & certified counselor and certified gun guy, I have my questions too...;)

I just don't see the sorting process for CWC as reassuring event as to keep millions of the right people ready to act via weapon. The best e.g. of my larger concern with CWC is to simply look at who's driving a car, riding a MC, etc. and look at how they behave with that privilege! Running a red light in today's society is so common I have gotten to the point of never driving into a green light quickly again. Pull in front is also common and expected.
Many of those "drivers"? are the same folks we give CWC permits to after a short course and a few bucks- it honestly scares me.
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Whilst among the thraling crowds...... I expect the public ;):D

Not everyone conforms,


.

.
 
Philadelphia Patriot said:
I open carried to my truck (I park a block down the street because the street I live on is very busy), to my gun shop, and to get gas. Nobody noticed and those that did seemed like they didn't care. No cops were called, nobody attempted to steal my firearm, and nobody seemed offended.

I think I'm doing it wrong?
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You must be...... I remember the days when "Filthydelphia" wouldn't even recognize ...... any other Pennsylvania carry permits.
 
The idiot that recorded this song is wasting the time of the police who have better things to do. He's trying to make a statement but is giving our community a bad name, making us look like a bunch of trigger happy nut cases.
 
kantuck said:
I just don't see the sorting process for CWC as reassuring event as to keep millions of the right people ready to act via weapon. The best e.g. of my larger concern with CWC is to simply look at who's driving a car, riding a MC, etc. and look at how they behave with that privilege! Running a red light in today's society is so common I have gotten to the point of never driving into a green light quickly again. Pull in front is also common and expected.
Many of those "drivers"? are the same folks we give CWC permits to after a short course and a few bucks- it honestly scares me.
Click to expand...


People who leave the toilet seat up, or go to the 12 items or less checkout line with 30 items are the real ones I'm worried about. :D
 
DevilDog72 said:
It would seem there are still folks that would question and maybe even limit ones 2nd amendment rights...... that... I guess is their 1st amendment right to do so. How one views a person is subjective in the very least.... "Gunsmoke" or.... not. I still and will always support a man/womans right to choose what is best for them. I refuse to live in fear on what some , presume, may be a lack of training for someone they do not know. I have been using firearms since I was a young lad. Former Marine.... I truly look forward to the day I can choose to conceal View attachment 192412 or open carry as I see fit View attachment 192413
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Dear Devil Dog, please note that I was describing what is popularly called in our society as a "peacock". I never said that the peacock was the person that wasn't trained. I did say that the training and general process is not such as to make people the firearms protector many would like to think they might have become- all in a few hours. It's just not the same to say the training is insufficient to make someone firearms proficient in a few hours as you've compared to me making presumptions about "others lack of training". I was saying the training is lacking for it's intended purpose which often includes persons w/o your particular background. Don't make it personal if it doesn't fit you!
Further, anyone that knows me would tell you that I'm about as far as one can get from being a worrywart that might be found. My ego doesn't need me to say this but- I have been around the block, indeed.
I'm a life member of the NRA & know the 2nd amendment as a law for us all and I do in fact, still feel that there are many who have guns and permits that should not. I suggested the same for many drivers amongst us that abuse that privilege too.
I shot on a rifle team beginning in the 5th grade. FWIW, that was at a time when no one protected their hearing and the start of the end of my own hearing.
Your being a Marine and having been around weapons for many years doesn't speak for some of the other idiots that have a carry permit that should not.
In my mind the "right to bear arms" is much like the "right to drive" and not all deserve it. In the military a misfit gets rejected, why not more of the people that have the "short course" to becoming my protector?
I do draw a (personal opinion) line between carrying a firearm all the time, concealed or not vs. the right to own and use them for hunting,targets,pleasure and self defense.
I've been accused of being subjective and that's what opinions are made of.
I "did people for a living" so , yes I expect all people to act exactly the same, sure, no doubt about it.
Are you serious! I do reserve the right to get a laugh over some of them though.
 
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kantuck said:
I'm a life member of the NRA

In my mind the "right to bear arms" is much like the "right to drive" and not all deserve it.
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Maybe there should be a quiz before allowing anyone to own or carry a gun, eh?

Question 1.

What is the difference between a Constitutionally protected right that specifically states shall not be infringed upon versus a privilege?
 
ChiefStealth said:
Well... almost. Last week, I visited a business in Pierce Co. Even though I was wearing a thick sweatshirt, and carrying IWB, the proprietor somehow detected that I was carrying. He freaked! Screamed at me to leave, and he picked up his cell, presumably to call LE. I left the establishment. That was it. Some people are just reeeeeeeeealy sensitive about this carrying stuff.
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Or maybe it was the "Gun Control Means Using Both Hands" logo on the sweatshirt?


Choice of carry method is related, to an extent, to choice of weapon and like that choice is not always made on a basis others would consider rational. Should I decide to go line dancing with a .22 derringer tucked in my sock, that is my right. It is also my responsibility if the darned thing goes flying across the dance floor.

A family member, whose state allows open carry without a permit and concealed carry with one, recently announced his intention of openly carrying his newly acquired 1911, condition 1 in a Yaqui slide rig around his decidedly liberal tourist community. I advised a more secure holster due to a) his inexperience with carrying at all, b) his inexperience with the firearm design, c) the idiot factor should some moron decide it was clever to try to snatch his gun (trust me, they live among us). All prudential considerations rather than legal. When I next saw him he was carrying his PPK in a thumbsnap OWB rig with a suitable cover garment. I did not ask him why he had made that choice and he has never questioned why I pocket carry a revolver (he doesn't know about the derringer).

Most. if not all of the prudential (rather than legal or constitutional) arguments around this choice are theoretical or based on anecdotal evidence only. After the fact statements of felons are suspect, at best. I tend to weigh a number of considerations in deciding what and how to carry, along with choice of ammo: likely nature of the threat (human, animal, reptile), security and safety of the weapon (dropped and lost/damaged, exposure to the elements, retention in a struggle), accessibility, comfort (I know the saying, but there is such a thing as balance), anticipated activity (some business owners don't care for the constitutional rights of others gouging their furniture).

So if the activity is hiking or fishing in an area frequented by venomous snakes with possible 2 and 4 legged vermin, I will likely opt for open carry of a large caliber revolver loaded with 2 shotshells followed by some Buffalo Bore heavyweight semi-wadcutters in a flap holster.

A night out at a fancy restaurant? 642 or SIG P290 with quality defensive ammo in Galco pocket holster.

Going to help a friend with car trouble at 2AM in a nasty part of town? Call AAA.
 
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I do not carry a sidearm to be anyone's "protector".... I refuse to believe it is ok to dictate what or who may exercise their God given rights as warrantied by the 2nd amendment. I do not, nor will I, expect someone else to protect me or mine. I will, if or when, interject myself in the defense of others if required, that said, the individual citizen is responsible for their own protection and how they obtain that protection is up to them. The 2nd amendment is much more than just self defense. I whole heartedly support the rights of the individual to choose.... even "peacocks"
 
The Element of Surprise

hard nose street cop said:
I agree with you 100% it is having the tactical edge with the element of surprise. That is why when out in public I never set with my back to any door.
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I agree. When I often watched the old "Gunsmoke' programs it gave me the creeps to see Marshal Dhillon hanging out in the saloon with his back to an open door or window. I always like the table and chair with my back to a wall facing the entrances and exits. Of course no one ever tried to shoot Dhillon did they? And he was always OCing.
 
Pisgah said:
Given a choice, I will always carry concealed for self defense. The reason is purely tactical. If I am in a life-or-death situation, I want every possible advantage, and the element of surprise is a huge one. Yes, a visible gun may deter an attack, but it also may get you a preemptive bullet in the head before you are even aware of the danger.
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Yep, a visible gun is equivalent to wearing a sign saying "Shoot me First.
 
Dvan34 said:
I agree. When I often watched the old "Gunsmoke' programs it gave me the creeps to see Marshal Dhillon hanging out in the saloon with his back to an open door or window. I always like the table and chair with my back to a wall facing the entrances and exits. Of course no one ever tried to shoot Dhillon did they? And he was always OCing.
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IIRC, more than a few villains tried to shoot him, and several succeed.
 
keith44spl said:
Now where's 'bout did this take place????


Then'd all that happen :rolleyes:

In forty some odd years....I ain't been shot first nary a time.

Not counting, that one time I was ambush'd and they's missed me ;)


.
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Dang you must be one lucky dude... I can barley get half way down the street OC while walking my dog before the bullets start flying.
 
Each year I wonder how many people are victimized because the criminal DOESN'T see any firearms versus how many people are victimized because the criminal DOES see a firearm?
 
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