Poll. Open Carry. Are You Comfortable Openly Carrying In Legal States?

I voted sometimes. Personally, I'm comfortable with open carry, but I chose to conceal 99% of the time, as I feel that's the most prudent choice.

I voted no. I know someone will come along and say hiking which is fine. Otherwise it just draws unwanted attention.

I was totally against it when it was voted on locally, I felt I went through a background check and people who carried openly didn't, but then a deputy friend told me he practices a lot to shave fractions of seconds off his reaction times and if anything went wrong the open carry people would be priority targets and that would give me seconds to prepare. I still don't like the site of open carry in public, in the woods or trails it doesn't bother me. Some people go overboard and carry double AR pistols or double chest rigs with no cover

I went with sometimes, in the outback I'm good with it. I don't like it in built up areas, don't care if others do it but I prefer to not draw the attention to myself.

In Texas, you still have to get your LTC before you can legally open carry a handgun. I just like the fact that, in the event that I accidentally show a bit, I'm okay. FWIW, open carry is getting more and more common in my neck of the woods.

home/property/woods yes, town no.

Discomfort is not the reason I would ever decline to carry openly. It is not physically discomforting nor is it somehow mentally discomforting because of any supposition about what other people think. So yes, I am comfortable openly carrying, not just sometimes when people will get the "right impression," but all the time. However, I do not practice open carry for a reason other than discomfort. I can give three reasons:

1st: it's tactically disadvantageous
2nd: most of the time I do not want the attention of witnesses for any reason
3rd: there are times when I do want the attention of witnesses and attention to the firearm is counterproductive to my purpose

My choice to carry concealed never has to do with comfort level. If I ever do carry openly, it is because it is compelled by law in that state where the state's AG believes it to be unlawful for me to carry concealed and would prosecute me for it.

Sometimes. Which means when I can expect no one has a good reason to come within about 10 feet of me. Otherwise, no.

No. I prefer to have bad people guessing. Also, not having to spend as much time watching my six. Or 4:30

Generally speaking I'm not a fan of doing it. It is legal here and enough people do it that it doesn't normally cause a problem. And under rare situations I may. I may be driving home from a hunt, or hiking trip where I've been open carrying and just leave it on when stopped to pump gas or go in a store. But I often cringe when I see others do it. I think the image we give to the public is important. If you're going to open carry then dress and act like a responsible gun owner, not a crack head. Too many of those I see carrying openly don't project that positive image.

Public perception might be much more important regarding our gun rights than simply doing what I can legally do.

>> It's Not "all about me", or even a tiny fraction of "it".

Let’s keep in mind how much the mainstream media has a strong motivation to distort every image, even from a peaceful context. in a news segment.

Recent events in WI and Portland give them more reason, or more “viewer bait”, to try to accuse anybody of being a “Potential” vigilante etc.

While I think it should be perfectly legal, and I don't feel uncomfortable around those who do open carry, it isn't for me.
I prefer no one to know I'm armed, or at least keep it to where only those close to me know.

Of course, I'm talking about being out and about in town.
When I'm in the woods of course I carry OWB, and in the open. No worries there.

I do not feel that anyone needs to know that I am carrying while doing my day to day business.

IJ1981 said:

There is always strong opinions about the pros and cons of the practice.

What are your thoughts, THR, in the world we live in now?

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I voted "Oh, Gee! Yet another open carry thread."

I give it 2 pages

Sometimes. In the smaller towns, I open carry all the time. Most others do too. But in the bigger towns and cities, it’s concealed. More gun friendly folk in smaller towns.

I open carry often on private property and at shooting matches, quite comfortably.

I don’t show my hand to others playing cards though, if my intentions are to win.

I am all for the right to carry openly, just think it’s a bad idea from an advantage standpoint. The extra tenth or two in draw time, is a more than fair trade for potential threats to not know what cards I am holding.

I am fine openly carrying, only if me, my boy, myself, my wife and I are the only two legged critters around.
Out in the public? Yeah no, I don’t open carry

It's legal to open carry where I live. I've never really thought about open carry. The civil unrest plaguing many large cities has not manifested here, just some comparatively minor protests that seem to have died down.

I think those who believe concealed carry offers the possibility of surprise, and avoids making one an immediate target have a very good point .... but then having the weapon immediately available could also be useful.

If something started up here I might start open carrying in some circumstances. Maybe not ALL cases. My first thought would be to avoid the .... active places and see how things went. Actually LOOKING for trouble is stupid.

The downside is when you run into something you couldn't see coming.

As things are now I don't open carry. I suspect at first I'd be a little self conscious if I started.

Don't want to attract attention ,
don't want to make those around me in public uncomfortable ,
don't want to be a bad guy's target ...

No.

I might open carry when I'm out in the woods.
Otherwise, I don't want anyone to know that I'm armed.

Steve S. said:

“This ain’t Dodge City. And you ain’t Bill Hickok.”

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Bill Hickok wasn't Bill Hickok

I’ve deleted nonsense, one last chance.

I voted sometimes but have to ad that open carry for me is seldom. Some of the reasons for that is Minnesota folks are not accustom to seeing open carry. Therefore I would be talking to a lot of police officers as they would receive
calls. I am in a wheel chair making open carry very noticeable (think chest carry). That would compromise my safety as it would quickly be noticed by any BG . My choice is in a belly band holster where my light weight firearm is tucked under my shirt and near a spot where a shoulder holster would position it at high chest level.