How scary is open carry?

It's not scary in the big cities in AZ, but it's just socially unacceptable.

There's no reason to display a firearm on your person everywhere you go, and you will draw unwanted attention at the non-"hick" locales (pretty much any place of business/socialization in the city besides Walmart). Whether or not the law will get involved, I strongly doubt it, especially since it's legal. But you'd definitely be upsetting a lot of people by carrying a gun on your hip openly. I doubt any of them will call the cops, however, though I could see a scenario where someone calls the police and says they feel "threatened" by your gun, since there is a good chance some hoplophobes will be wherever you are.

I view it like wearing a highly-inflammatory political/religious T-shirt. You'll get a lot of nasty gazes, shocked expressions, and the occasional indifferent person. So unless you think that you *really* need that gun on your person, I'd advise against it. My views may be somewhat skewed though, as I'm rather young, and tend to go to places with a college-adults-aged clientèle, so that's often the people I perceive as likely to throw a fit, and I know they would.

It's legal in Maine, but due to my age and the fact that I never seem to be out of town, plus being unsure about OC with pistol loaded in the car, I figure it's best if I don't.

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be careful fellow Mainiac....

if it's loaded and in your car....you better have your Maine Permit to Carry.

take advantage of Maine's 'Shall Issue' status and get you're permit...it's pretty easy and doesn't cost much...if you've ever been active duty or in the reserves, they'll even wave the training requirement.

fattsgalore said:

Thats pretty much a no go anywhere on the east coast. Some one prove me wrong go ahead i won't argue one bit. If i was to open carry I wouldn't be arrested I would be gunned down like a dog. Thats not a joke at all.
Police don't play around here.

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PA is an open carry state, and quite a few of us exercise the right without being shot, arrested, or even spoken to. In fact, with the PAFOA gaining strength and people getting to know one another, we are having open carry events. One of the next ones on the calendar is a show of support of one of the members who lost his permit to CC on very dubious grounds. We're all going to the courthouse for his hearing!

Now, if you are talking about the People's Republic of New Jersey, that is a different story.

It's not scary in the big cities in AZ, but it's just socially unacceptable.

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Have you tried it?

Open carry is socially acceptable, in my experience, in these places in Glendale, Phoenix, Peoria, and Scottsdale:

Doing yard work
Walking the streets
City and county parks
various gas stations, both outside and inside
Albertsons
Safeway
Wal-Mart
Best Buy
Circuit City
Physician's waiting rooms
Carl's Car Care
Gyro House
McDonald's
A&W
Sonic
Home Depot
Ace Hardware
Office Max
Staples
Babies 'R Us
Borders

Most people don't notice. Those that do, don't seem to care. If they do care, they are sure good at hiding it.

Try Switzerland. Their military must have their weapons with them even while on leave.

This really surprised me the first time I saw a young guy (casual clothes) in line at the bus stop carrying a SAW. Nobody paid any attention to him.

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My GAWD!!! There must be blood running down the streets with all the weapons so easily available.

And the reason for open carry is?

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• It's Legal.
• Good deterrent to Would-be Lawbreakers.
• Quicker access to your sidearm should you ever (god forbid) need to use it.
• Puts the message across to the Sheeple that armed citizens are not a threat.

And much much more.

I've yet to try OC myself (beyond getting my mail anyway), but I have been told that for most it is akin to giving a public speech, IE: first time is nerve wracking, every time after that much less so.

[Edited to add] Advice i've been told, learn your local laws, and always be twice as polite or more, if a cop tries to disarm you, let them, just be sure they call it in to their superior and they will usually apologize for their mistake afterwards. (newbies always make mistakes)

Too true Arfin. Down in the southern part of Nevada, I see several who open carry (and some who are attempting CCW), who work in the legal profession. No one usually gives them a second look - with a white button-up and dress slacks, people think they are FBI. Usually, they work in the US Atty's office or even the DA's office though. It really does make a difference how you look when you carry.

It's not scary in the big cities in AZ, but it's just socially unacceptable.
There's no reason to display a firearm on your person everywhere you go, and you will draw unwanted attention at the non-"hick" locales (pretty much any place of business/socialization in the city besides Walmart). Whether or not the law will get involved, I strongly doubt it, especially since it's legal. But you'd definitely be upsetting a lot of people by carrying a gun on your hip openly. I doubt any of them will call the cops, however, though I could see a scenario where someone calls the police and says they feel "threatened" by your gun, since there is a good chance some hoplophobes will be wherever you are.

I view it like wearing a highly-inflammatory political/religious T-shirt. You'll get a lot of nasty gazes, shocked expressions, and the occasional indifferent person. So unless you think that you *really* need that gun on your person, I'd advise against it. My views may be somewhat skewed though, as I'm rather young, and tend to go to places with a college-adults-aged clientèle, so that's often the people I perceive as likely to throw a fit, and I know they would.

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I have had far more positive conversations with people about guns, shooting, the law, and freedom because I was open carrying, than negative reactions. Open carry with regularity desensitizes people to people having guns. Every time you go about your business and leave a place without incident, the more normal it becomes.

I’ve been asked to leave two businesses in the past 7 years, I just don’t spend my money there anymore. The businesses that don’t care or actually like having armed people go there, continue to get my business.

Furthermore, people do not have the right to not be offended. We all have to tolerate people on a daily basis expressing opinions and beliefs contrary to our own. I’m not going to not open carry simply because some hoplophobe might get offended the same way the anarchist/leftist cretins aren’t going to stop wearing Che’ shirts because it offends me

If open carry is socially unacceptable or is getting there, it’s only because the people have failed to exercise their rights and it has become less common due to laziness and self-consciousness.

I open carry because I believe the deterrence value, speed, and comfort outweigh the negatives most of the time. Educating the public is another reason I do it. I do concealed carry sometimes because in large crowds of people it is difficult to maintain the situational awareness and personal space I feel is necessary.

It TOTALLY depends on the setting and circumstances. Up here in AK I've walked into urban department stores with cased rifles in my shopping cart. Seeing openly carried civilian arms is nothing unusual and unless the person is doing something unsafe or weird with them the cops have no interest in it.

But do the same thing in a farming community and you may have much more intense reactions. Just because it's not NYC doesn't mean you aren't surrounded by antis. AFAIK Nebraska has never had much of a reputation for gun rights. The rule of thumb is to watch what other people do and try not to stand out--assuming you want to avoid law enforcement attention that is.

And the reason for open carry is?

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Another is for someone old enough to carry a firearm, but not old enough to obtain a CCW permit...18-21 here in Arizona.

BenjaminR: I wouldn't worry about being "offed" in the bank, etc. If you want to openly carry, do so, but you do need to maintain a higher vigilance to your surroundings. If you're just interested in going around in condition white while armed, then concealed it best for you.

G3: Not carrying openly because some out-of-stater might get his/her panties in a wad is silly. It's like an African-American putting on white-face because someone might not like Blacks. Additionally, if everyone believed that they should carry concealed merely because others might get offended, it then relegates open carry to the idea that it's no longer needed, and voila, there are bills outlawing open carry.

Someone "feeling" threatened by a holstered firearm isn't a crime. Wanna know how many times I've been stopped by cops for carrying openly? Zero. It was only when I tried to check my firearm at the library that I got the 3rd degree, but that was for other reasons unrelated to just openly carrying.

And one thing to remember about open carry:
"..If a man neglects to enforce his rights, he cannot complain if, after a while, the law follows his example....." - Oliver Wendell Holmes

Thats pretty much a no go anywhere on the east coast. Some one prove me wrong go ahead i won't argue one bit.

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Hmm , as far as I can tell , Maine is east coast , and open carry is legal here .

I both CC and OC . Depends on the weather . Really don't get much attention over open carry . But , I'm not looking for attention either . I go about my business as usual and no one seems to make a big deal about it . Every once in awhile someone will comment on my carrying , but it's far from "scared" .

Sometimes I open carry around here in NC. We had a problem with coyotes around here targetting dogs and at least one old person so when I walk the dog I tend to take something along. When I been to the range I sometimes still have a weapon on me and a few other occassions in open carry. Not many people even notice and no one ever asked a question.

You just have to stay away from schools due to not being allowed within a certain distance armed and a few other places.

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actually NC does not have any rule regarding schools other than you cant carry on campus... there is no distance rule...

but OC is generally frowned upon due to this little diddy called "going armed to the terror of the people"

By common law in North Carolina, it is unlawful for a person to arm
himself/herself with any unusual and dangerous weapon, for the purpose of terrifying others, and go about on public highways in a manner to cause terror to others. The N.C. Supreme Court states that any gun is an unusual and dangerous weapon for purposes of this offense. Therefore, persons are cautioned as to the areas they frequent with firearms

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and i have heard of people getting hit with this simply for loading guns into their car in their driveway

the number one reason i prefer concealed is , if you carry open the otherhumans know you,re armed, if they are looking for a gun they might target you for yours, or for the same reason you shouldnt wear identifieing garmets, such as Departmental clothing while off duty, that might get you identified or killed, i see people all the time wearing clothing that identifies their occupation or hobbies, clothing that in the event of being caught in the wrong place and time , might get them targeted first.

Thats pretty much a no go anywhere on the east coast

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Don't paint us all Kennedy blue.....Massachussettes people have a special name in these parts...

Maine & New Hampshire are both open carry and shall issue states with pretty much the equivalent of the castle doctrine.

VT has NO permitting required for firearms period...open, concealed...it's all legal for any one who chooses to do it.

I open carry regularly. Sure is nice not to worry about printing and all that. I meet some really nice folks that way, too. Many more good interactions, very few negative.
There's a bunch of us that get together regularly to dine out while OC'ing. Rarely every any issues. You can read up on OC in your area in the subforums at www.opencarry.org

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open

Heck I open carry more than concealed, here in Az. most people dont' give a hoot.
I stop off in Cave Creek Az. once in awhile to have coffee with friends at a cafe, usually get a tourist to ask why I have a gun on my hip.
I stand up and say "cut. let's try it again" and then tell them they just ruined a take on a film"
Then spend the next coffee cup full watching them look all over for the cameras.
Can't help myself,

Have you guys ever heard of:
www.opencarry.org

It will tell you everything you ever wanted to know about open carrying.

Ken

In my state open carry is legal if one has a "carry" permit. I carry openly only at my home and when woods walking and I don't mean in the park. I appreciate that open carry is legal because it means I don't have to be concerned with printing or having the end of a holster showing under my shirt. But I don't like to see open carry in public places. And thankfully I don't see it very often. It seems that when I do see OC it is usually by a guy wearing urban camo looking like a gun show ninja. That scares the sheep. They don't know whether an OC guy is a good citizen or a nut case. If OC makes people uncomfortable, they will be less likely to support the right to keep and bear. And we NEED all the support we can get.

The last time I saw a guy carrying open I was in an electronics store with a wide selection of CDs and DVDs. A young man came in with a shaved head, rings in each ear and tats from shoulders to wrists. He was wearing a tank top and baggy knee length shorts showing more tats encircling his ankles. His SIG 226 was in a black nylon holster that ran from his BDU belt and strapped around his leg holding his gun against his thigh. On his belt were two twin magazine holders. Counting the magazine in his gun, he was packing perhaps 75 rounds of 9mm. There was nothing out of line in his behavior, but it didn't take long for the store to empty. Can you expect a store owner not to prohibit guns in his establishment when they frighten his customers away? Remember that sheep are as fearful of sheepdogs as they are the wolves. Especially when they can't visually tell the difference. If you insist on carrying openly, please do so discretely, and give some thought to how you dress. It's my opinion that OC has the potential to do the cause more harm than good.

I've opened carried in Colorado, Arizona, and New Mexico several times. No issues, no muss, no fuss. Only one person, a transplant from California night attendant at a Loves gas station gave me the stink eye.

Anti Open Carry people annoy me.

I will get back at them by open carrying in the future.

If OC makes people uncomfortable, they will be less likely to support the right to keep and bear. And we NEED all the support we can get...It's my opinion that OC has the potential to do the cause more harm than good.

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I have an uneasy feeling (and it's just a feeling - nothing to back it up) that "Owlhoot" could be right about this. We don't want to win the battle (open carry) but lose the war (RKBA). I hope not.

God forbid we exercise our right to carry, lest we offend people. Did I get that right?

That's like saying, "It's not a good idea to disagree with people's opinions because they might use it as justification to violate your right to free speech."

I do not have a permit to carry concealed, and I open carry wherever it is legal. I have carried in Wal-Marts, gas stations, malls, libraries, and parks. On two occasions I was interviewed by Police. One occasion was positive, one was negative. Nobody ever put a hand on my sidearm. No criminal ever thought to shoot me first. No people screamed in horror and ran from me. Everyday Joes think I'm a cop, and most cops think I'm a cop.

As many other posters have found, those of you who do not OC would be truly amazed at how few people actually notice what is going on in around them, let alone what people are carrying on their hips. I would say less than 5% of people notice that I am carrying, and maybe twenty percent of those people have any kind of reaction - positive, negative, or indifferent.

For those of you who CCW and worry about your sidearm printing, or someone making you, try OCing. You'll never worry about concealed carry again.

Open carry is completely legal in Alabama. We even have a Supreme Court case that minces no words proclaiming its legality:

The State v. Reid said:

Under the provision of our constitution, we incline to the opinion that the Legislature cannot inhibit the citizen from bearing arms openly, because it authorizes him to bear them for the purposes of defending himself and the State, and it is only when carried openly, that they can be efficiently used for defence.

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So how does law enforcement react to those who carry openly?

By arresting them, of course. In July, a man was arrested for carrying an AK on a sling through the limousine liberal neighborhood of Spring Hill in Mobile. In May, a man was arrested for carrying a pistol openly in Andalusia. His case was dismissed; he had a good pro-gun pro bono lawyer.

As it currently stands, the newly-formed Alabama Firearm Rights Association is about to start a letter-writing campaign first aimed at county sheriffs, then at the police chiefs in major towns, county seats, etc., educating them as to the wealth of legal precedents upholding this right.

Personally, I OC daily when I drive, but for now I will continue to conceal when I am on foot. Until this education campaign gets underway, I don't want a misinformed LEO making me kiss pavement for no reason.

The last time I saw a guy carrying open I was in an electronics store with a wide selection of CDs and DVDs. A young man came in with a shaved head, rings in each ear and tats from shoulders to wrists. He was wearing a tank top and baggy knee length shorts showing more tats encircling his ankles. His SIG 226 was in a black nylon holster that ran from his BDU belt and strapped around his leg holding his gun against his thigh. On his belt were two twin magazine holders. Counting the magazine in his gun, he was packing perhaps 75 rounds of 9mm. There was nothing out of line in his behavior, but it didn't take long for the store to empty.

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That kind of person is an exception, not the norm, 99.99% of all OCer i've seen are very clean cut in appearance.

& by the way, what significance does the amount of mags/ammo the guy had make?