How Many Of You Open Carry?

I like the concept of OC over CC. I think that in a perfect world, we could all OC with no major legal problems... I could actually carry my full-sized, full-powered service pistol instead of my little sub-compact 9mm. However, I don't really have the time or the patience to deal with the cops every time I walk down the street. Society is too damn paranoid about guns. They want us to "keep it in the closet" so to speak. Therefore, I only OC when I am in the woods. In the city, its CC only.

A few minutes later I get a phone call from a friend of mine who worked for the cities police department and he told me that the guy called the police and said that I was in the video store drunk with a gun.

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I'm going to start by saying that was wrong of him to do. However...

I then told him that from now on I wont try to help him out when hes in trouble but me and my friends would be paying just as much attention to him as he was paying to me.

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By saying that he won't be in the good graces of the local constabulary anymore, are you contending that he might receive [gasp] equal treatment under the law? Or do you mean you and the rest of the blue wall of silence are going to come down on the guy like the fist of an angry God for daring to take one of you on? Again, what he did was wrong. But as a cop, you're held to a higher standard of behavior, and rightfully so considering the position you're in. Please keep that in mind as you go about harassing this guy, writing more tickets, keeping special tabs on him when he moves, or whatever else you'd planned.

I OC about 80-90% of the time. Only when I'm wearing something that makes it hard to OC do I CC. And, when the law says I must. (State parks)

For those that OC a lot, I built a site to track what businesses are OC friendly. It's in my sig line, the Friend or Foe tool. If you want to see what it looks like when there's a lot of data, put in Richmond, VA and select the 200 mi range. You'll see most of what is in VA (up to the 100 business max).

Feel free to add more businesses / ratings.

We need concealed carry because your shirt tail might fall over your gun, and someone might accuse you of carrying concealed.

We need open carry because your shirt tail might not fall over your gun, and someone might accuse you of carrying openly.

ARMED BEAR - " I've seen people open-carrying downtown [Boise] here, and it isn't a big deal. However, it's pretty rare.

I'm guessing that concealed carry is NOT rare, though, for a number of reasons.

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Yep. I know quite a few people here in Boise who CCW, men and women.

I don't see many people open carrying in the city, but if people want to, doesn't bother me.

I open carry when I go out into the mountains or high desert, but CCW in town. My wife also has her CCW.

L.W.

I open carried for the first time today. Went to a gas station with a bunch of folks inside. The eyes went instantly to the gun at my right kidney. I was nervous for about 10 seconds and got over it. Told myself its my right and I am legal and kept a nice attitude about it. Got my gas and left. I might start doing this more often.
I was in jeans and a tank top and sandals. No one there thought I was a cop. I agree, it is all about attitude. just be cool man.

With regards to open carrying, I've found that how you present yourself in every way other than your pistol is a huge factor in whether or not you get odd looks or even a phone call to the police. If you look professional, polite, good natured, and fairly clean cut, most people won't even notice the gun or will just assume you're supposed to be carrying one. And for the occasional person who asks, you just presented gun owners in a positive light. Anything we can do to break the Bubba "right wing nutjob who lives in a compound" stereotype is a plus.

One of the great advantages to open carry is that it desenstizes people to seeing guns. They learn it's no big deal and shrug it off.

Now, if some nattering nanny gets a wild hair and calls the police, they may respond a few times, but if you're not drunk or behaving wildly, you're okay.

And pretty soon the police start getting annoyed at calls like that and begin telling the nattering nannies to put a sock in it.

WRT Boise, my wife was at a meeting with a bunch of the local public librarians. They said they don't really like OC in the Library. They don't have any problem with people carrying guns for self-defense in the library; they just don't like dealing with the few people who are freaked out by it.

That's about as much objection as OC seems to get around here, and public librarians aren't exactly known for their ultra-conservative politics.

With regards to open carrying, I've found that how you present yourself in every way other than your pistol is a huge factor in whether or not you get odd looks or even a phone call to the police.

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Exactly.

Same goes for walking around with the pit bull we rescued, driving a muscle car or riding a Harley, etc. If you know there's something about you that could make people wary, then a little extra effort to behave like a civilized, friendly person goes a LONG way.

WRT Boise, my wife was at a meeting with a bunch of the local public librarians. They said they don't really like OC in the Library. They don't have any problem with people carrying guns for self-defense in the library; they just don't like dealing with the few people who are freaked out by it.

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The solution to that is to use the old librarian's standby -- put one finger over your lips and tell the person who's freaking out, "Shhhh!"

The solution to that is to use the old librarian's standby -- put one finger over your lips and tell the person who's freaking out, "Shhhh!"

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And the cops need to do that to the MWAG callers too. I never could understand why the cops are so quick to tell us to put our gun away, why don't they chastise the person who used 911 unlawfully to report a person enganged in perfectly lawful and peaceful behavior.

Sometimes they threaten the person carrying with "causing a distubance" or "disorderly conduct." I suggest they charge the person freaking out.

The less people that know you own firearms the better.

I open carry in the summer and carry concealed in the winter because that's what the weather dictates here in Wyoming. Sometimes I will carry concealed in the summer if it's not a real hot day and will just wear a shirt over a t shirt. It really makes no difference here how you carry because here in Wyoming nobody cares or pays the least bit of attention to it anyway. Sometimes carrying open the tourists will ask questions but that's a good time to explain our rights to many who don't even know they have rights anymore.

largecaliber said: I open carry in the summer and carry concealed in the winter because that's what the weather dictates here in Wyoming. Sometimes I will carry concealed in the summer if it's not a real hot day and will just wear a shirt over a t shirt. It really makes no difference here how you carry because here in Wyoming nobody cares or pays the least bit of attention to it anyway. Sometimes carrying open the tourists will ask questions but that's a good time to explain our rights to many who don't even know they have rights anymore.

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Largecaliber, thanks for that. I always assumed that was the case (nobody caring or paying attention here in WY), but have never open carried. I am waiting on my CCW to arrive in the mail but want to start carrying.

The fact that my car was broken into last night (punks only took the face plate of my stereo ) made me decide to start carrying even more so. I know many people who CC but have only seen a few people OC'ing here in Cheyenne. Glad to here that you have never had a problem.

I've openly carried while hiking or fishing numerous times. However, I've never tried urban open carry. Some day, I'll take the plunge.

I fully support those who open carry routinely. I wish it was more common.

The first time I open carried was after a Friday night at the range when we went to a restaurant with a group of friends, and it was definitely easier to do in a group. We once went to a CHAMPPS restaurant in Reston and were "reported" by the management. The local police came, had a brief discussion with a few of us, and left after we explained the situation. We finished our meals and left. Ultimately the incident made it into the Washington Post, mainly because Reston is such an anti-gun area. CHAMPPS restaurants subsequently became pro-gun, though I'm not sure how that evolved. Fairly sure our little "project" had something to do with it.

That was the only time I was ever remotely "hassled." Since getting my CCW I open carry if I'm in a restaurant, and transfer my weapon because concealed carry is illegal in restaurants/bars, etc.. where liquor is served. As a rule no one even notices. I once even carried in a Trader Joe's, which is usually packed with PC types, and no one noticed... or if they did they didn't let on.

I can see being somewhat self-conscious about it at first, but you get over that more quickly than you'd think.

Carbon Helix, no problem with it anywhere that I have found, not even Cheyenne. In fact the police chief here in Cody and I know each other slightly and he firmly believes in the public's right to carry open or otherwise. I think you will find much the same in Cheyenne also. Take care.

In my state, we don't have open carry - yet. Personally, I'm ambivalent about it. I concede that it is convenient - more convenient than carrying under my Texas CHL. But I also concede that I live in a society in which some portion of the population is going to be constantly phoning in "man with a gun" calls. It's wrong, but I'm the one who's going to get hassled for it - not the caller.

Perhaps if we had OC here, that would pass over time as the general public got more comfortable with it. From my perspective, OC would probably not mean any more than I wouldn't have to worry too much about accidentally exposing my weapon - either on my person or in my vehicle. But I would still probably carry concealed most of the time simply because it is not my goal in life to draw undue attention to myself.

I OC routinely around the spread here in the sticks of Western NC. I CC a 442 all the time too now. With a pistol conspicuously on my hip, I only get a second look from the young hooligans on four-wheelers. ...he he he...

Fine with me.

Les

I OC depending on my dress. In the winter it's usually CC because of outerwear but in the summer I OC mostly because it's just more comfy.

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Same here, although in winter I usually remove my coat anyway when I enter a building/business, so I'm still OCing in most business establishments...