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

I voted no. Here in Florida you aren't allowed to carry openly so no choice anyway. When I lived in Tennessee open carry is legal there with a permit and saw a few people carrying open but I never did. I'm too old and grouchy to be hassled by a LEO that some nervous Nellie called on me because they didn't know that it was legal to open carry. Tactically it makes no sense to me, why make myself the first target of a nut case that figures I need to be taken out before he can start shooting everyone else. How many of you remember the post some time back on this forum showing a video of a legal carry guy being tackled by a fool that saw his firearm and believed he was stopping a mass shooting. I don't have enough years left in me to subject myself to that kind of annoyance.

No, for two main reasons:

1. I prefer people NOT to know I'm carrying. Regardless of who it is, I'm of the opinion that it's none of their business whether I am or not, and likewise it's none of their business even if they DO know I'm carrying.

2. I don't have a holster I consider suitable for open carry.

I voted yes because I answered the question literally as it was asked.

I am comfortable open carrying however I would never do it unless I had no other choice.

I back open carry 100%, but I prefer concealed carry.

I do not open carry when there is no reason to do so and I can as easily concealed carry. When hunting or outdoors I would likely open carry, when going about my daily life I would concealed carry. One is not at the exclusion of the other and I have no point to make. Oh, when I ride my bicycle, I tend to open carry and in that situation, while I tend to have spent oodles of time and money reducing the weight of my machine (and myself), a Kimber 1911 in .45ACP, a nice, shiny one that gets the attention of rednecks with poor intent, is a weight indulgence I allow myself. Bank fishing as well, seems quite a few nar'do'wells hang about such places and at 66 yo I am increasingly less inclined to run and donate them my fishing gear.

I voted "sometimes." I carried openly in PA on occasion, mostly when out in the field/woods, but sometimes when shopping in my small town. That was more than five years ago. I haven't open carried in TX since it was made legal. It has seemed odd to me that open carry is more natural in PA than TX.

Today, I'd think twice about open carrying no matter where I am. Hiking, woods and fields, more likely, but not as certain as I once was. Always armed where legal, though.

I have no problem carrying open in the woods, desert and when camping. I do not care for it in public. I would explain further but why rehash what has been said numerous times.

Steve S. said:

I would suggest that open carry in a public arena is an advertisement of “power and control”, nothing more.

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That aint what I think when I see it.

Support the right to do it-absolutely. Practice it myself? No. Not unless I’m on a ranch somewhere.

Sometimes...
Out in the woods or on the farm.
Never in town

Yes if legal and with proper holster,level 2 or so,absolutely yes.

Barry the Bear said:

Sometimes... I open carry at church along with several other parishioners, I will open carry in my small town sometimes as well, I will not however go to any large left leaning town with it showing.

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+1
In Texas we have what we call a BBQ Gun. Some might call it a Church Gun. You'd never be caught at a social event with a dirty, scratched up pistol in a cheap holster. You carry your BBQ Gun in your nicest, tooled leather holster. Just like you polish up your boots before you go to church.

I don't do it unless I am in a state where OC is legal but CC does not recognize my state. Take Virginia about 10 years ago, it did/does not (haven't looked it up or been back) recognize my IN permit but OC is legal. I carried an LCP in a black nylon slide holster owb at 1 o'clock. My black chunky cell phone rode on my black belt at 2 o'clock. My big black camera hung around my neck and fell against my belt buckle. The LCP was OC, but it was very Where's Waldo picking it out at a glance

I have no reason to OC. I only appreciate OC in my state inasmuch as there is no draconian laws where my concealed piece slips into view and causes me to break the law.

I have had a couple customers come in tha OC in my store. I didn't mind or feel threatened. However, one wore a polymer pistol in a 6 dollar nylon holster that looked like it was about to fall off. No retention and he didn't strike me as a guy who really knew how to use it. The other was an old guy with a custom Bonds rig. Looked to be a 3" barrel and be of the .45 colt/.410 variety. It was nice but well worn. With 2 colt and 2 .410 shells riding in the loops on the side. He only had a couple shots, but i bet he could use it. Honestly, I was glad he OCed it because it was a pretty cool little blaster set up.

I voted "Sometimes" as I open carry when hunting. But even then I may still have my EDC tucked away. I conceal carry when in public as I prefer not to disclose my hand to the bad guy.

George Dickel said:

I voted no. Here in Florida you aren't allowed to carry openly so no choice anyway. When I lived in Tennessee open carry is legal there with a permit and saw a few people carrying open but I never did. I'm too old and grouchy to be hassled by a LEO that some nervous Nellie called on me because they didn't know that it was legal to open carry. Tactically it makes no sense to me, why make myself the first target of a nut case that figures I need to be taken out before he can start shooting everyone else. How many of you remember the post some time back on this forum showing a video of a legal carry guy being tackled by a fool that saw his firearm and believed he was stopping a mass shooting. I don't have enough years left in me to subject myself to that kind of annoyance.

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Yes, you can - while hunting, fishing and camping

Well, we made it to three pages.

I don't have any use for open carry but I support your right to make your own decision. When I see people open carrying I ignore it unless I'm at work and it's a job requirement.

I stand by what I said in my "Nonsense" post, IMO entirely too many people open carry at you (to quote Tamara Keel) and those are the folks that are going to get the practice banned.

Unless it's a job requirement I don't open carry ever. I think it causes more problems than it solves and it is my direct personal experience that it makes you a target. It's also been my experience (as a security guard) that it gives customers a wonderful excuse to talk smack to you.

I open carry when able. It's such a freeing experience and so much more comfortable. I cannot conceal OWB. I'm short and not a big guy, so concealing OWB is near impossible here in the southern heat. When I went to Alaska, (first time to an open carry state) it was so refreshing to be able to open carry everywhere I went.

If more people did and more states allowed it, it would become a non issue. People have gotten used to having to conceal a firearm from the general public for some reason. Just feeds the "guns are bad" attitude if you ask me. An openly carried gun does not make me uncomfortable at all.

Why open carry when you can carry concealed. If you don't have the option to ccw, and you can carry open. Yes. But depending on where ya live. You may be in for police always checking you out because someone called in a gun complaint.

Like others, I support having the option to carry in whatever way you're comfortable. It's legal where I live, but I never open carry. I try to be as inconspicuous and low key as possible when I'm in public. Always feels like the folks wearing the cargo pants with the drop holster and the 5" Buck knife are seeking attention. Especially if you add on the wraparound shades inside Walmart.

dodo bird said:

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

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Even hiking leaves a lot of room for concealed carry.
My only open carry time is on a tractor or when hunting. In both situations I have a rifle so concealed carry is moot.

I voted "sometimes". I am reminded of that quote from the Robin Williams movie Club Paradise: "It's better to conceal than to reveal". As other respondents have stated and I tend to agree with; when open carrying in a suburban/urban environment you tend to attract attention to yourself and can make yourself target number 1 if an incident were to arise. However, when I am out hunting/hiking and wearing winter clothing I wear my handgun on a duty belt outside my jacket for ease of access. I will say I would never denigrate another person if they were open carrying in said urban/suburban environment; you have that right.

I live in an open carry / constitutional concealed carry state and a I work in a neighboring state that is also open carry / constitutional concealed carry. My concerns with open carry are:
1. man with a gun calls and unwanted attention / police interaction
2. someone attempting to grab my piece
3. being targeted for theft

But I've found a way to gain all the convenience of open carry and the benefits of concealed carry.... I carry an LCP in a Sneaky Pete with an Apple sticker on it.

Easy on, easy off, very quick single handed access and I've never, ever had anyone so much as look twice at me.

The only draw back is that this really works best with a mouse gun, as it approximates the footprint of an over-sized cell phone. Any bigger and they look pretty dorky.

Funny thing is that I've never once seen anyone else carrying with one.... so SHHHHH.. let's keep it a secret.