Honest to goodness open -carry.

Ok..

Does open carry really exist on an everyday practical level? I mean.... an honest to goodness open carry state... when one can simply go to Starbucks or Panera Bread without drawing much attention.

Is there a state...with a major city that allows this?

I'm not talking about in the middle of the woods, hunting, fishing, etc.

Is there a major city in the U.S. where this is actually practiced...so that it is perfectly normal to see people armed with a pistol.

So here's my criteria: major city, open carry, accepted by the general public

JesseL will be along with his picture of carrying a SA revolver openly any minute, your answer is "yes, in some western states / cities"

I believe both Vermont and Wisconsin allow open carry.

A lot of states 'allow' open carry, JTQ. The TheProf's question, which is intriguing, is whether open carry is common and accepted anywhere. I suspect the answer is yes, but since I live in a non-open carry state, I can't say for certain.

In the outlying areas of large cities here in Texas it's not uncommon for ranchers to wear their sidearms into local business - and as long as they are known members of the community local law enforcement has no issues with it. Strangers are liable to be stopped and talked to, however.

In the outlying areas of large cities here in Texas it's not uncommon for ranchers to wear their sidearms into local business

I sure wouldn't want to try it where I live. But I'm probably just too close to Dallas for it to be acceptable.

Would the Richmond/Fredericksburg (Va) I-95 corridor count? I open carry quite a bit and have never had anyone, not law enforcement, little old lady, soccer mom, storekeeper, McDonalds clerk, nobody ever make a negative comment. The WORST thing anyone has ever said was "Did you know your pistol is cocked?" After I explained about a 1911, he said "Oh...learn something new every day." and went back to pumping his gas. The only other comments, and they're rare are along the lines of "Nice gun...A Colt?" "Can I do that too?"...and so on. No, I've never been asked "Are you cop." or "Why do you carry that thing."

Is it "normal?" I don't know. I admit I've only seen a few other people doing it, but nobody seemed to be paying them much mind either.

Michigan is an open carry state, I moved to MI on a wim from Cali Dec. 91after my stint in the Marine Corps. To this day I have never seen anyone open carry outside the confines or their property, I have a CPL and the proplem for the folks that would open carry that do not have a CPL is the law that dictates how firearms are to be transported in a vehicle ( unloaded, magazines unloaded, firearm stored separate from ammunition )

Sure.....although I would hardly call them "major cities", they are the biggest ones in New Hampshire.

-Concord (the capital)
-Manchester
-Nashua

I think the only limiting factor of your criteria as it relates to NH is that even though it is perfectly legal to do so, not many people actually open carry.....opting more often than not to conceal. It does happen though, on a daily basis all over this great state.
Me? I live in the boonies :) On patrol I cover just shy of 100 sq./mi. by my lonesome with a town population of about 1,100 people. *cricket chirp*

Seems as though it's very common in Maine. Either people are really bad at concealed carry or they are open carrying. It's hard to tell in most cases, it's so friggin' cold here we wear a lot of clothing for most of the year.

I've never carried openly, not my style. But I was at a grocery store and had my shirt get stuck over the handle of my revolver. The man behind me made eye contact and just patted his hip. I got the clue and thanked him. It was pretty clear to me he also was carrying. Since I've gotten my CCW permit I've started noticing more and more people who clearly have guns on them. I think it's more common around here than most would think and people just never notice the full size 1911 on the guy's hip at the gas pump. They're either okay with it, or so afraid and uneducated on guns their mind doesn't even recognize it for what it is.

To be pretty frank, you'd get more trouble wearing a Yankees hat vs. a loaded 1911 in Central Maine.

Last night, I had dinner with some friends at a very popular and very crowded burger spot in Arlington, VA (anyone from Virginia probably knows which one I'm talking about.) At least one member of the party was carrying, a Kahr P9 in an uncovered IWB holster. No one noticed or cared. This is an urban area just across the river from Washington DC.

-C

Phoenix Arizona...very common here. See people open carry at the grocery store, wal mart etc etc.

Colorado is an open carry state, with rights enshrined in the state constitution. However, the county of Denver, and a few other older cities/towns have charters older than the state constitution, and so have won court battles to disallow open carry there. I live outside of Denver and open carry whenever I go to Walmart late at night. I open carried a lot around the Boulder area before getting my CC and never drew any negative attention. Got confused as an off duty cop a few times, but no one freaked, even in hippie-town.

When I visit my folks in Phoenix, and my brother in Prescott AZ I see open carry quite a bit.

Tennessee, from border to border and all municipalties. Some city parks are still no carry/open carry.

Mike

Las Cruces, New Mexico

I suppose that it depends on how you define "normal." Open carry is relatively uncommon, even in the states where it is most accepted. North Carolina is an open carry state, but I rarely see it. It would not likely cause people to freak out though...not even in Charlotte.

Before AZ became a concealed carry without a permit, my husband open-carried wherever we went, as long as being armed was not prohibited. We don't live in a huge city, but it's big enough. No one ever gave us a hard time. The most we would get was people asking what my husband was carrying.

I still get double takes when OC'ing in the Louisville area, so I don't do it very often. If people would just leave me the heck alone about it, I'd OC every day.

Would the Richmond/Fredericksburg (Va) I-95 corridor count? I open carry quite a bit and have never had anyone, not law enforcement, little old lady, soccer mom, storekeeper, McDonalds clerk, nobody ever make a negative comment.

Not quite that area, but I did have an Olive Oyl lookalike give me grief when I stood in line at a gas station in Front Royal. She was so nervous her smile made her look like the Cheshire Cat.

I guess to answer the original question, probably Phoenix.

Common in AZ though I haven't seen anyone personally in my many trips to Phoenix, my GF swears it's as common as coyotes.

I've seen it in Colorado Springs and Pueblo, CO.

While Pennsylvania is an open carry state because of the fact there are no laws prohibiting open carry there are many in the local police departments who don't know the laws or are intentionally harassing people because they don't like guns. (in the Northeast of PA) I don't open carry because it's just not worth the hassle!!! I know it's my right but I'm getting too old to fight the good fight any more.

Isn't a major city, or even something resembling a suburb of a major city, in the entire state, so I don't know. I like to think the summer people think it is quaint, the rare one that even notices anyway.

Virginia has been mentioned several times. I guess it depends on where you are as to how common it is. I have seen it several times out and about but I would not say it is common. Now if you go to an Open Carry luncheon or dinner then it is going to be very common. As in the large majority of people will be carrying. I occassionally OC but most times I CC. I have never had anyone stop me or question me when OC'ing.

You can in Kentucky. I have on occasion, but usually carry concealed. Depends on what I am doing and my attire.

The photo is downtown Seattle. If you don't recognize the guy in the middle, he is Rob McKenna, the Attorney General of Washington State; I hope to be our next governor.

http://forum.opencarry.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=5015&d=1295544687

More Seattle Washington. You can't swing a dead cat without hitting a true liberal; and although the dead cat might get you attention from the animal rights folks, the sidearm is just another accoutrement. Thanks to the pioneers who stood up and risked harassment and possible false arrest, WA is a zero drama state for the most part.

http://img.geocaching.com/user/56e17073-8db4-4c0e-8ede-442ccd938f62.jpg

http://www.topohiker.com/news/newspics/Utilikilt03a.png

Yep. I've even open carried at SEA-TAC airport in full view of security when waiting for daughter to arrive on a flight with no problems at all.

Sadly, a lot of the "drama" associated with open carry comes from "pro-2A" folks who have allowed some of the anti-gun groups' propaganda to seep into their thinking.

born and raised in indianapolis (14th largest city in USA?)...got a few looks, but i think that was probably because i was in my mid-20s

i currently live in charlotte (18th largest...according to wikipedia). i have never gotten any strange stares or had any problems.

Colorado is an open carry state. I live in the mountains and there are a large number of citizens carrying openly out here. Just don't let your jacket slide down over the gun if you don't have a CCW permit, however.

I have open carried in Tennessee, but I try not too... no funny looks. Cops compliment my pistol.

Another nod for Tennessee. I've seen it all over the state from Memphis to the Smokies. Born and raised in Memphis and saw it rather frequently. I've since moved to middle TN to a much more rural county, though my city has a population of around 38,000. See it all the time now. It's no big deal around here. I have a feeling my experience is fairly common to the south east. I've got several friends in Mississippi and it's about the same down there when I visit.

O/C isn't really common here in the Mpls MN area, but I O/C quite a bit and have had no issues except once in the gunshop where I was lectured about the downside of O/C by another customer. I basically ignored him and went about my business buying my reloading supplies.

O/C isn't really common here in the Mpls MN area, but I O/C quite a bit and have had no issues except once in the gunshop where I was lectured about the downside of O/C by another customer. I basically ignored him and went about my business buying my reloading supplies.

I know this is off topic but I HAVE to know what the guy thought the downside of O/C is.

I know this is off topic but I HAVE to know what the guy thought the downside of O/C is.


Oh, please let's not that this thread down that road! Just search for ANY thread here with the phrase "open carry" in it and you'll see all of the repeated negatives that us gun guys believe arise with open carry. There are several threads every month where we have this argument. Shouldn't be hard to find one (or ten).

Just search for ANY thread here with the phrase "open carry" in it

I was going to suggest "element of surprise" myself.... :D

No major or big cities in Wyoming, but here in Gillette, "Open Carry" is common and not a big deal.
Ernie

To be pretty frank, you'd get more trouble wearing a Yankees hat vs. a loaded 1911 in Central Maine.

Yeah, you go wearing a Yankees hat and you had better be carrying!

I find that from time to time, in the cold (Not bitter cold weather) my jacket will sometimes ride up on the butt or something of that nature.

No one says anything in Maine though, outside of Portland. I have never OC'd in Portland.

I've seen a few folks here in Northwest Georgia O/C'ing, but my circle of CCW friends pretty much carries concealed all the time, except on the 4th of July :D

FWIW, The banner regarding Wyoming is in regards to unlicensed concealed carry. We are already an open carry state. As far as open carry being "normal"...I suppose that depends on how you determine normal. I would say no, it is not considered mainstream or normal as long as it attracts undue attention. All of the LEOs I know would much prefer people carry concealed.