What would you change if you had Open Carry?

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Keep in mind that here in Texas, if your jacket flaps open and someone sees your gun and has a conniption, you can be charged with brandishing. Despite the obvious definition of "brandishing" as being "intentional", that's not the way it plays here in Texas. Casual concealment is not concealment. In Nevada you're not under those strictures. Trust me, they're no fun.

And of course, as a woman, concealment has its own peculiar problems. If I looked like Twiggy it might be easier, but I outgrew that at about age 12. With a statuesque figure (read: curves) the whole issue becomes a lot more difficult with large guns.

It's not as easy as all that, really.

Springmom
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Hold on a minute. First, your concealment garment would have to flap open---and why does that happen? A good garment should have both snaps and velcro so it's windproof. Mine does, and in my town, 20mph winds are very common. You can get garments that conceal and stay concealed.

Then, you have to have somebody see the weapon and have a fit? Come on, you're in Texas! I know there's a very few towns that are more like California than Texas--are you in one of them? Still, the chance of being seen can't be that high.

Are you familiar with the website www.corneredcat.com? Good website for the women, by a woman.

I've spent the last four months researching and/or trying dozens of carry holsters and systems. There are so many ways to conceal and carry just about any gun with a 6" barrel or less. Yes, you may have to make some changes in your clothing or what you wear. Yes, it may cost some to make the change to CCW, but it can be done.

I wasn't trying to slam or insult anyone. It just seemed ridiculous to me to justify OC by saying that it's the only way to carry a full size gun. I run into guys (and one or two girls) carrying big revolvers or .45 autos and they do keep 'em concealed, and make it look easy doing it.
 
Keep in mind that here in Texas, if your jacket flaps open and someone sees your gun and has a conniption, you can be charged with brandishing. Despite the obvious definition of "brandishing" as being "intentional", that's not the way it plays here in Texas. Casual concealment is not concealment. In Nevada you're not under those strictures. Trust me, they're no fun.
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Can you explain , what you mean by that please ?
 
Can you explain , what you mean by that please ?
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What she means is that here in Nevada, both OC and CCW are legal. You don't need a license to OC in Nevada, and if your weapon 'prints' or is seen, it's not brandishment.
 
if it is on your permit , it must be carriedconcealed , at least that is the way I understand it. I will double check with a firearms instructor that I shoot with .

Open carry is legal. ( though N.Vegas and Boulder city it cant be loaded )
 
Hi lady,

I open carry using a Triple K leather cowboy belt with 2 holsters. Sometimes I only use one holster on it. With my cowboy style set - I pack a Ruger Blackhawk in 45Colt and/or my Ruger single actions in 22LR. (I have 2 of them - Super Single Six using 22LR not 22WMR and my Bisley in 22LR.)

I open carry using an Uncle Mike's shoulder holster with a Model 686 in 357Magnum. I use 357Magnum or 38Special Plus P but if in the WOODS - 357Magnum. My S&W Model 686 is not the plus or ported model, it is the 6 shot, 6 inch barrel, full 'lug' (?), Hogue grips, stainless steel = 6 or used to mean that. I like wood grips on that too.

I used to open carry with a leather holster that my husband owned using my former S&W Model 60, 3 inch barrel, Uncle Mike's grip - nice gun!

I used to open carry using my former S&W Model 29 with my Uncle Mike's holster too. I have mentioned that before here. In the woods... 44Magnum ammo and at other times... 44Special.

Glock Model 19C with a nice leather holster back east.

My husband carries open and concealed, Spring Mom. He does this with his Kimber in 45ACP, his revolvers, his semi automatic pistols, etc. He has TONS of holsters. If you would like me to ask him about this when he comes home - let me know and I will post it here for you.

Best wishes and take care.

Catherine
 
if it is on your permit , it must be carriedconcealed , at least that is the way I understand it. I will double check with a firearms instructor that I shoot with .
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Absolutely wrong. There is nothing in the NRS that requires that. The only requirement is that if you conceal, you have to have a permit, and you have to qualify with the weapons that you are carrying concealed. Further, if you qualify with ANY revolver, you can carry any revolver. Only the semi-autos are make/model specific.

Open carry is legal. ( though N.Vegas and Boulder city it cant be loaded )
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More wrong information. You really need to spend some time coming current on the law. As of Oct. 1, 2007, NRS codes 244.364, 268.18 and 269.222 were amended to give statewide preemption to the legislature. The Nevada legislature 'reserves for itself such rights and powers as are necessary to regulate the transfer, sale, purchase, possession, ownership, transportation, registration and licensing of firearms and ammunition in Nevada, and no county, city or town may infringe upon those rights and powers.'

Las Vegas was allowed to keep their handgun registration for anyone residing in the city longer than sixty days, and the cities and towns are allowed to regulate where a firearms may or may not be discharged.

Boulder and North Las Vegas still have a lot of laws on the books that are unenforceable.
 
First, your concealment garment would have to flap open---and why does that happen? A good garment should have both snaps and velcro so it's windproof. Mine does, and in my town, 20mph winds are very common. You can get garments that conceal and stay concealed.
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There is no way in God's green earth I am going to wear a jacket in 95 degree weather with 50% humidity. I won't have to worry about being shot by a perp. I'll die of heat stroke first. :rolleyes:

Then, you have to have somebody see the weapon and have a fit? Come on, you're in Texas! I know there's a very few towns that are more like California than Texas--are you in one of them? Still, the chance of being seen can't be that high.
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The point is, that is the law in Texas, and I don't know too many folks, either in person or on here, who care to take their chances on that. I won't.

Are you familiar with the website www.corneredcat.com? Good website for the women, by a woman.
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Yes, I know Kathy, I know her site, I've read it. I'm not a newb either at carrying concealed or being here. :p

I've spent the last four months researching and/or trying dozens of carry holsters and systems. There are so many ways to conceal and carry just about any gun with a 6" barrel or less. Yes, you may have to make some changes in your clothing or what you wear. Yes, it may cost some to make the change to CCW, but it can be done.
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In theory, I'm sure you're correct. But you have to throw in the variables of body type for either males or females, the weather in their particular location, the requirements of their jobs or avocations that have their own (written or unwritten) dress codes, and the fact that people do have their own preferences as to what they wear. If I lived in, oh, Seattle, I'm guessing I could probably get away with a windbreaker or jacket or some such most of the time, and sure, they close up ok. If you wear that down here in August you will at least be wretchedly miserable.

Just for grins, I'll take me as an example. "Matronly" is a good description. Thin, wimpy shoulders, hips that suggest that yes, indeed, I had four kids. When I wear a vest, well.....let's just say that vests don't work on some body types. Overshirts do, and that's one way I carry sometimes, OWB. But only when the weather is cool enough to stand it. Heck, when it's really cool, I can throw on a wrap or a poncho and could just about conceal my AR. :neener: But the majority of the time here, it is HOT. And most people take great pains to wear as little as their dress codes allow.

I saw a sheriff's deputy yesterday in cargo shorts and a polo shirt. He was cool and comfy. But he had his duty weapon out in plain sight, too. Even the cops wear shorts down here a lot in the summer. You just can't layer and conceal here and be anything like comfortable doing it.

We do not all of us look right in photographer vests, we can't all wear windbreakers, and we are not going to dress to conceal a 66-3 if there's a more comfortable and workable alternative. One of those alternatives is open carry. That sheriff's deputy can do it. I should be able to, too.

THAT SAID.... this thread was never intended to be about helping me learn to conceal my handguns. It's about what all you other people would do if they could wear any handgun they wished openly. Let's not take it down a different path and change the subject :)

Springmom
 
THAT SAID.... this thread was never intended to be about helping me learn to conceal my handguns. It's about what all you other people would do if they could wear any handgun they wished openly. Let's not take it down a different path and change the subject

Springmom
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Alright, back on topic. Do you know that there is a growing OC movement in Texas? There's a billboard? Taxi signs coming soon? Online petition? check out the open carry forum for all the info. If TX. law is as bad as you say, I'd be signing up everybody I could find to get OC legal!
 
OC is technically legal here, but no one ever does, at least in my city. I've heard of people doing it up north though. As my grandpa said " You can do it, but it won't be long before you have company."

I wish we could, it would be nice. I'd carry my SA XD9 Service or a Ruger GP100, both with two reloads. In some nice tan leather.
 
45Guy said:
I wish we could, it would be nice. I'd carry my SA XD9 Service or a Ruger GP100, both with two reloads. In some nice tan leather.
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A right not exercised will soon be lost. So try that open carry and be surprised by how many people don't even notice it. And if the cops show up, what can they do? If it's legal, it's legal. Yeah, they can harass you, but they can't do anything that will stick. So you put up with some inconvenience the first time, and then people start to get word of it. A few more people start to carry openly, and then a few more, and more. Until one day it's a common occurrence and the cops only get called by tourists. And those tourists get told "big deal, call me when you have something important to report".
 
As to what'd I'd carry, the same thing I get to right now, either my Ten Ring Hi Power, or my Kimber Pro Carry. Hopefully Texas gets open carry legalized before I come home.
 
JesseL and ZeSpectre,
If you read my post it was referring to someone thinking that if the accidently expose their concealed weapon then they are covered by the open carry law which they are not. Now as to transitioning (which should be done discreetly) once you made the change you must stick to the rules of that mode of carry. If you are now open carrying then no clothes should cover part of the exposed handgun. I f you are carrying concealed the no part of the handgun should become exposed.
 
Good question there.

NC has open carry, on the "You're going to get a lot of stares and, depending where you are, some possible hassling," basis -- which is one reason I haven't seriously considered it.

One the one hand, it seems it would be a LOT easier if I didn't have to worry about the rather severe limits of the physical size I can conceal. While the Taurus PT 92/99 that I love the feel of so much is probably too heavy for constant wear, the Stoeger Cougar that I liked nearly as much would probably move to the top of the list.

BUT, as the mother of young children, including a 2yo, I've got little hands all over me most of the day. I'm sure that a visible, holstered gun would be as enticing as the hoop earrings and bright necklaces that I don't wear much because I would rather be open to all those spontaneous hugs and pats and touches than enforce a hands-off-mom policy on a toddler.

So even if open carry were usual and unremarkable I might prefer to conceal until the youngest child in the family reached the age of discriminating between "Don't touch Mommy's gun or holster," and "Mommy doesn't love you so keep your hands off". Foolish, maybe. But they're little for such a short and precious time. :)
 
So even if open carry were usual and unremarkable I might prefer to conceal until the youngest child in the family reached the age of discriminating between "Don't touch Mommy's gun or holster," and "Mommy doesn't love you so keep your hands off". Foolish, maybe. But they're little for such a short and precious time.
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3b - sounds very logical to me.
 
When I carry concealed, I carry my Kimber Custom II in a Galco Royal Guard II Horsehide...

When I carry open, I carry my Kimber CUstom II in a Galco COP series Three-Slot holster.

I rarely open carry.
 
I've spent the last four months researching and/or trying dozens of carry holsters and systems. There are so many ways to conceal and carry just about any gun with a 6" barrel or less. Yes, you may have to make some changes in your clothing or what you wear. Yes, it may cost some to make the change to CCW, but it can be done.
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A. Some people are not as large as others and have less room on their bodies than others. I could conceal my Ruger Mark III with the 6 7/8 barrel -- if I wore it in a thigh holster under a hoopskirt -- but if I put DH's M&P on my belt I would either be incapable of sitting down or incapable of drawing (some of the more prominent curves on my female body are closer to my waist than the barrel of that gun is long).

B. Some people do not wish to wear clothing that looks like it was designed by Omar the Tentmaker. Others have job restrictions on their clothing due to wearing a uniform, safety requirements such as not wearing loose clothing when using certain power equipment, or dress codes (formal or unwritten), that require a certain look and a degree of fashion consciousness.

C. Women have curves. Gun barrels are straight. Straight shapes do not conform to curves and thus a large handgun on a curvy woman -- especially a short, curvy woman -- can be as hard to conceal as a scoped AR with pistol-grip and bipod would be on a man.
 
loneviking , I stand corrected on the first part , however I believe you are mistaken on the 2nd part , as I believe there was a ruling that NLV and Boulder pre-empted any other .

I will check.
 
Majic said:
JesseL and ZeSpectre,
If you read my post it was referring to someone thinking that if the accidently expose their concealed weapon then they are covered by the open carry law which they are not. Now as to transitioning (which should be done discreetly) once you made the change you must stick to the rules of that mode of carry. If you are now open carrying then no clothes should cover part of the exposed handgun. I f you are carrying concealed the no part of the handgun should become exposed.
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Okay, so if someone's concealed handgun becomes accidentally exposed - what are they going to be charged with in VA?

If someone's openly carried handgun becomes a little covered (and they have A CWP and aren't in a restaurant) - what are they going to be charged with?

I've never heard of any legal no-man's-land between fully open and fully concealed. A sidearm is either open or concealed and if both states of carry are legal, where is the problem?
 
I could conceal my Ruger Mark III with the 6 7/8 barrel -- if I wore it in a thigh holster under a hoopskirt -- but if I put DH's M&P on my belt I would either be incapable of sitting down or incapable of drawing (some of the more prominent curves on my female body are closer to my waist than the barrel of that gun is long).
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Well explicated. I needed some more female backup to explain this! :D

Some people do not wish to wear clothing that looks like it was designed by Omar the Tentmaker.
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Can't....breathe....laughing....too.....hard...... :neener:

Women have curves. Gun barrels are straight. Straight shapes do not conform to curves and thus a large handgun on a curvy woman -- especially a short, curvy woman -- can be as hard to conceal as a scoped AR with pistol-grip and bipod would be on a man.
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Exactly. Put my BHP at my waist and it will either (1) have to be in a holster that holds it out straight down, which will put it out several inches from my waist and thus would require Omar to conceal it, or (2) the muzzle would stick out at an angle, or (3) I could appendix carry and give myself an appendectomy every time I sit down. I would only add to your comment, "or a short-waisted curvy woman". I'm 5' 6" (or 7, depending on how bad my back is and therefore how straight up I'm standing at the doctor's office) but short waisted. Hence the above effect.

Either way, these are not happy choices.

Now, back to your regularly scheduled thread topic..... :neener:

Springmom
 
Wouldn't change a thing.

Well, maybe I'd put some nice pimp-a-licious grips on my 1911. Other than that, nothing would change except I wouldn't have to conceal it.

Technically, Ohio is an open carry state, but doing so will result in getting arrested for inciting panic, breach of peace, etc. I have gone to a few areas where O.C. is considered normal, but they are few and far between around here.
 
In general I prefer to carry a full size 1911, and if near unrestricted open carry was a viable option I'd probably carry my Kimber CDP most of the time.

Another important point - we'd have to ensure the affirmation of this right to carry applied on military installations as well. Unfortunately military installation regs don't authorize carry of personal weapons when on base, so those of us who carry either have to find somewhere near the base to drop off the weapon before going through the gate, or we have to accept the personal risk and proceed anyway and hope no one ever finds out, or we have to leave the gun at home. Frankly, I find the whole concept somewhat ironic - we'll assign you to carry and employ this mortar, machine gun, rifle, or whatever, but we won't authorize you (read between the lines to say "I don't trust you or anyone else for that matter") to carry your personal weapon on the base - but it is what it is...
 
Quote:
Some people do not wish to wear clothing that looks like it was designed by Omar the Tentmaker.
Can't....breathe....laughing....too.....hard......
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Having gained excessive weight as I struggle with pre-diabetes has not removed my sense of style nor has honesty about my condition eliminated my vanity. :D

I am not an adherent of the "Hang a tent from my breasts" school of plus-size fashion. My waist measurement may be precisely twice what it was when I was in college, but it still exists. :D

Last night at the Tyro match I shot in we had some difficulty figuring out how to get a borrowed Colt Mustang onto my body in such a way that I could physically draw it without sweeping the entire firing line. And that was without any attempt to conceal the thing. I had to put it into the appendix position because there was no dropped, offset holster available to place it outside my hipbones (if I had a gun in that sort of holster I'd be able to put my entire fist between the gun butt and my ribs without touching either and I don't think that even Omar could conceal that). Sitting down jammed even that tiny Mistang' butt firmly into the underwire of my bra.

A man, even a guy with a big beer gut, can put his gunbelt over his hips and under his belly. Putting a belt on a pear doesn't work well.

If I end up getting the Beretta or Taurus 92 that I want for competition shooting I am seriously considering trying that paratrooper leg holster no matter how "Mall Ninja" silly it would look. LOL
 
I've open carried a Cobray M-12 (leinad). You should see the bug eyes on those soccer moms, and you'll be amazed how many people ask you about your "Uzi" :rolleyes:
 
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