Wierd open-carry experience

[IAhunter]

The only time I open carry is when I am not planning on going into stores, or other businesses. I live in a rural setting and I do open carry to and from the range and work (LEO), hiking, scouting for big game, hunting predators, or other time spent outdoors. I do carry a cover shirt in the vehicle in case I need to go into a gas station, etc. For the most part, open carry in populated areas is not for me. That's a tactical decision.

That said, I have nothing against folks that do open carry in public. I see folks open carrying in Walmart, grocery/drug stores, etc., and it doesn't bother me much, unless they look really shady, which is seldom. One thing I don't like to see is their sidearm in one of those super cheap nylon gun show holsters that look as though the gun could fall out at any time.

I believe that a 12" long fixed blade knife worn on a belt is just ridiculous, unless you are sticking pigs on a regular basis or you are in a combat zone. There is a young guy in my neighborhood that wears two big Bowie knives on his belt while walking his dogs with his wife and their child in a stroller. I just want to tell him he should go buy a gun to protect himself and his family.

Just my .02

 

[American1776]

I open carry in my area (NEPA) 9 out of 10 times. I've been doing it for almost a decade.

Most times, nobody says a thing. Many people don't even notice. Recently I've been getting some positive feedback. I get strangers or employees of the establishment come up and tell me they feel safer seeing me armed.

I can count on one hand the number of truly negative encounters I've had over almost a decade. And I live in an area where visitors from NJ often visit.

 

[Smoke]

IBTL - I'll put my money on 20 posts.

Well it ain't gonna be 15

 

[Smoke]

I choose not to open carry

I have my reasons

However, I fully support your right to make your own decision on open carry.

Y'all enjoy your thread

 

[Walkingwolf]

I agree - at least in public anyway

Where are they supposed to open carry, in the closet?

 

[Walkingwolf]

Recently, my wife and I were shopping in a discount eyeglass store. The place was quite busy. A black man and his family into the store to buy some glasses. The man and his wife were open carrying semi autos in belt holsters. The people in the store looked, as did the employees. Of course my wife and I did as well. Other than the people taking notice, there was no incident whatsoever. The man and his wife made their purchase and left. My wife and I are retired police sergeants and commented to each other that these people were quite an anomaly and must have really had big nads.

In this society it seems it takes nads to be an individual.

 

[nachogrande]

LOVE CHILD OF ZORRO & INDIANA JONES.

While in a Mom & Pop gun store 2 youts come in open carrying big hog legs, BIG Bowie knives & 1 had a bull whip. Couldn't quite figure out the bull whip part.

 

[swsig]

The OP did not say what form of beach attire his holster was attached to. If he was wearing a Speedo, that would explain everything.

 

[wingriderz]

This is exactly why I do not open carry. That and me shirtless would scare the be-jesus out of them!!

I hope he wasn't in. A speed o that could have caused a panic too

 

[Mike0251]

I recall many years ago when my shooting buddy and I were having breakfast at the small restaurant by the access road to Gunsite, which is near Sedona, a major tourist point in Arizona. Virtually the whole class of 32 were in the restaurant. All of us were open carrying, almost all .45 automatics. Nobody cared, UNTIL a tourist couple, 60-somthing, probably from CA judging by their "accents" came in. They got about half way across the restaurant and then "Marcia" said to "John", "MY GOD, EVERYBODY IN HERE IS CARRYNG A GUN." They left. We laughed our butts off.

Slightly adrift of the theme here but this made my laugh so much. Identical situation but no guns, well not those type of guns. Beach in Negril with the wife, many gals topless including the wife and this allowed. A mid 40's couple came strolling out to the beach and another OH MY GOD moment. Their topless here! We're leaving now. Must of been the 38's some of the gals were packing. Amazing world we live in.

 

[misswired]

I wear mine on a dog chain around the neck....looped through the trigger gaurd.

All the Walmart shoppers and buggies part the way.

 

[Walkingwolf]

I wear mine on a dog chain around the neck....looped through the trigger gaurd.

All the Walmart shoppers and buggies part the way.

I duct tape mine to my forehead, that way they look at the gun instead of my extremely ugly face.

 

[SATX]

I don't want anyone to know I'm armed, there is no reason for it. I also do not want to give the loony left any more reason to cry over a gun.

 

[Smoke]

1. I'm amazed that this thread is still open.

2. I know I said I wasn't getting in it butttt.........
If you must open carry please don't walk around with your $3000 Nighthawk custom in a $6.00 Uncle Mike's nylon holster.

True story bro

 

[Mistered]

with your $3000 Nighthawk custom in a $6.00 Uncle Mike's nylon holster.

Or your moderately priced Kimber or Colt in one of those semi-hard black plastic things - I have two friends who have damaged the finish on their guns due to them.

 

[Mistered]

Where are they supposed to open carry, in the closet?

I was agreeing with the OP on this part:

I think most people who open carry do so just to show off, or seem tough.

I agree with the 'most' part but not all. I have seen some OC in a conservative, benign manner but for many it's nothing more than an addition to an already overstated presence.

 

[raylan007]

Really?

I was in Michigan a couple days ago when at the end of the stone jetty, I decided to leave as the mayflies were biting rampantly and I was without my shirt. Well, 98% of the people at this public beach are from Illinois and have never seen anyone open-carrying I imagine. Anyway, as I got up to leave a dozen people or so turned around and started to run away from me and my holstered pistol. I walk faster than they can run on the huge granite slabs that make up the jetty. I have trans-versed them many times over several decades. As I walked by each one of them I was amazed at how afraid they were for absolutely nothing. The Democrats are constantly instilling lies, fear and mass-hysteria in them and it is getting totally ridiculous.

Sounds like you may have gotten the reaction you were looking for IMHO.

 

[Kid Shileen]

I don't wear an IWB because they are uncomfortable to me. I Carry OWB and try to conceal with a shirt or a jacket. If my firearm is exposed it's generally no big deal. Swim trunks and no shirt open carry;just weird IMO.

 

[ImprovedModel56Fan]

Weird is not criminal, usually, especially these days. However, where does a sane person draw the line? I stereotype and profile all the time, to the extent of my limited abilities, and I am not upset that other people will often do the same. Guns and state of undress are only part of the picture, but they are pretty big items to anyone with even half the sense God gave a white-faced cow.

Live with it.

 

[TomkinsSP]

I FULLY SUPPORT A CITIZENS LEGAL RIGHT TO OC.

I don't because I THINK CC keeps the bad guys guessing.

But, posts #1 and #16 give me a new valid appriciaton for OC. Tourist repellant.