Open carry where legal

In Texas only concealed carry license holders (LTC) can carry open. May sound weird, but keep in mind LTC holders have been through the 8 hours of classroom training on legalities.

Open carry became legal in 2016 and I have yet to see anyone open carrying.

I see one person OC in Walmart or other grocery stores like once every 6 months to a year, but it's not common or normal around here even though it's legal for the time being. No one ever says anything to them from what I seen, but I'm sure most citizens (gun owners and non gun owners) including business Walmart, Kroger, and others who haven't outright banned OC yet usually frown upon and feel negatively about it. Most prefer concealed...

The only time I've OC in my lifetime is when I'm at the range or a private event with like-minded people (like a gun rally or other event). I have no desire to OC otherwise. I don't like the attention (people notice even if they don't say anything to you personally) or standing out in a crowd.

I conceal carry everywhere legal.
If one open carries not only at select stores, but also around anti-gun relative (if applicable), restaurants, basically everywhere - thats consistent.
If one only open carries at select stores, but not around the anti-gun relative or at restaurants ect... thats inconsistent.
If inconsistent why? If its about rights, exercise it everywhere. Making a statement? Do it everywhere. Comfort? Again, everywhere.
Its likely that some of the inconsistent open carry folks may be thinking "I can do what I want". No, not if you have to pick & choose.

On rare occasions I open carry. Always for my own convenience, never to make any kind of "statement"
I nearly always have a handgun when hunting and it is not usually concealed when I stop for coffee, gas going to and from.
Sometimes it is just plain hot and I take off the shirt that covers my OWB holster. Not many people notice, I like to think it is my chiseled good looks and piercing blue eyes that draw their attention.

CDW4ME said:

I conceal carry everywhere legal.
If one open carries not only at select stores, but also around anti-gun relative (if applicable), restaurants, basically everywhere - thats consistent.
If one only open carries at select stores, but not around the anti-gun relative or at restaurants ect... thats inconsistent.
If inconsistent why? If its about rights, exercise it everywhere. Making a statement? Do it everywhere. Comfort? Again, everywhere.
Its likely that some of the inconsistent open carry folks may be thinking "I can do what I want". No, not if you have to pick & choose.

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Sometimes it's not about consistency, but rather being considerate of others irregardless if it's within our rights or not. The 1st amendment gives me the right to use curse words, but I do not do so around children, my family members who I know would have a problem with it, at work, at a restaurant, ect... Just speaking for myself and why I might OC in some situations and at some venues, but not others..

I do but it’s never been illegal to open carry on my own land or when participating in any of the shooting sports.

As far as being in public, that too is legal in my State but I consider people with malintent not knowing I am armed as being an advantage.

Rather be an armed sheep than a wolf shot in the back..?

I don’t mind people who do though, I figure they make my odds that much better if the worst ever happens.

Open carry has been legal KY since before I was born. I've never done it (not counting carrying a rifle/shotgun in the woods) except for maybe a a couple of times stopping for gas when I hadn't taken off my pistol after a hike.

Open carry is like wearing a sign that says "shoot me first" in my opinion.

I predict the typical pro and con arguments. Let's not insult each other (which usually happens) and leads to a close. The arguments are well known. I will be surprised if something new comes up.

I only open carry in New York when I have a hunting license on my back, which is the only time it is legal here. With two unrestricted concealed weapon permits, it is not something I need or really want to do. I have actually stopped carrying period, since there are so many restricted places that I may want to go.

Bob

Never in public. Seems to me it screams " shoot me first".
I OC on the farm.......more for comfort and convenience than any other reason.

Here's a question, I ask for fun. Let's say the Supreme Court wipes out gun carry restrictions ( never happen) - would you open carry in the crowded NYC subway. I used to work and school in such. Face to face, butt to butt. What do you think? Or do you only OC where there is little risk, as I did in the empty Hill country lands of TX, while hunting?

I would not open carry anywhere in NYC. Too many anti-gun people as well as both on duty, off duty and undercover police. I do not want to make anyone nervous and now a days I feel safe pretty much anywhere in Manhattan even late night / early morning except maybe Central Park and the Way Upper East Side, neither places where I need to do.

Bob

Here's a question, I ask for fun. Let's say the Supreme Court wipes out gun carry restrictions ( never happen) - would you open carry in the crowded NYC subway.

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No. Only time I was in NYC I was driving myself, never made it to the subway and haven’t taken public transportation since the last time I rode in a school bus, in any State. Unarmed in both instances.

I support open carry, but I wouldn't. I prefer concealed carry for myself, but that's my choice. The people who want to open carry, I support them.

GEM said:

Here's a question, I ask for fun. Let's say the Supreme Court wipes out gun carry restrictions ( never happen) - would you open carry in the crowded NYC subway. I used to work and school in such. Face to face, butt to butt. What do you think? Or do you only OC where there is little risk, as I did in the empty Hill country lands of TX, while hunting?

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Little risk or where it's appropriate. If I lived in a small rural town or the like where it was common or not out of the ordinary (as seems to be the case with the OP), I'd probably OC all the time as it's the most convenient and comfortable mode of carry IMHO...

Different folks from different parts of the country, that have different laws, different cultures, different populations, different crime rates, so on and so forth are going to have their own vocal personal opinion on the subject that they're going to project onto others without taking the aforementioned into account...

Reinz said:

In Texas only concealed carry license holders (LTC) can carry open. May sound weird, but keep in mind LTC holders have been through the 8 hours of classroom training on legalities.

Open carry became legal in 2016 and I have yet to see anyone open carrying.

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I really thought when they opened up Open Carry here in TX I would see everyone and their brother strapped up... but, no, not really. I see someone open carry maybe once every 6 months.

Here in urban north Dallas, open carry is still a bit of a novelty... and I don't like to draw attention to myself.

I've only opened carried once, on a backwoods fishing trip in the smokies when I didn't have a better way to give me fast access to a firearm while wearing a daypack with a waist strap while fishing in knee to waist deep water. I've since remedied that and always conceal carry now.

While I don’t, I am 110% for the right to.

I have a question for those that do open carry. Other than draw time, what is the perceived advantage that makes you want to open carry?

Is it “it’s my right.”, “don’t mess with me buddy.” Or something else?

I only open carry in the woods where there are no people and it is legal to do so.

I would not open carry in general public even if I had the option. But that's just a personal preference.

Open carry without a license is legal in Virginia. I'm OK with that. But if too many people start open carrying, particularly in urban areas, this right is going to disappear quickly. The political makeup of the state is such that gun rights are on the knife edge. My advice is, if you want to keep your guns, don't flaunt them!

I am in PA where open carry is legal, and it is common in some parts of the State. It is not common in SE PA where I reside. I carry concealed most of the time. I do it IWB and OWB depending on seasonal temperatures and clothing. However I always open carry when I am hiking in PA’s state parks and forests. We have a fair share of rattle and copperhead snakes in those areas, and we have black bears. I carry bear spray for the bears, and I use a long hiking pole for moving the snakes if need be. So the real reason I carry is because I have concerns about two legged animals, and I am not talking apes. There have been mugging since the places I hike. So I telegraph the message that I have a gun by wearing it in plain sight.

So, I feel the need to post some analyses of open carry.
https://www.activeresponsetraining.net/the-perils-of-open-carry
https://www.activeresponsetraining.net/friends-dont-let-friends-open-carry
https://activeselfprotection.com/this-is-why-you-must-have-retention-on-an-open-carry-firearm/

Again, we will see the dichotomy between rural and urban settings.

I live in a rural area and see more OC closer to the big city than out here.