Carrying open?

[djsjd]

I'm disappointed that the legal carrying of a concealed weapon hasn't caught on in the land of the Cheese Heads. We've tried, but alas, it appears that our leaders don't have the stones. :banghead:

It has been explained to me that while it isn't legal to carry under cover, it is legal to carry open, naked for all the world to see, in most places (except the usual: gov't property, schools, bars and the like). However, if one is carrying open, and a lil' ole lady (or anyone else) sees it and screams "GUN!" - well after the feces that have gone through the fan get cleaned up, it's a trip downtown for disturbing the peace, inciting a riot and who knows what else.

So, what to do? I'm not the kind that would do well behind bars, but that would be just fine with me if given the choice between bars and a box. Would YOU carry open? Or would you roll the dice...

 

[fjolnirsson]

you might spend some time reading through this recent thread...

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=79934&highlight=open+carry

For me, it depends.
By the way, if you admit to open carry, you'll be accused by some here of everything from an agenda, to an inferiority complex, to having small "equipment". You might even be told you're the reason we are losing our RKBA.

I believe open carry has a time and a place. If it's legal that can be the place, if circumstance dictates.

 

[Majic]

If it's legal to carry open then grandma can scream till hell freezes over, but you still wouldn't have commited a crime. If there was a disturbance it would be caused by her and she would be the one explaining her actions to the LEO.

 

[Turkish]

The day I turn 18 I will be open carrying some form of handgun(leaning towards a 1911-style) as much as possible, until im 21 and get my CC permit. If I could get a permit earlier than 21, I would love to be able to carry concealed, but I'm not giving up the right to protect myself by not carrying instead of open carry.

 

[Treylis]

The day I turn 18 I will be open carrying some form of handgun(leaning towards a 1911-style) as much as possible, until im 21 and get my CC permit. If I could get a permit earlier than 21, I would love to be able to carry concealed, but I'm not giving up the right to protect myself by not carrying instead of open carry.

Welcome to the Arizona Open Carry Club. ;-) You're picking one of the best states to do it in, actually.

I'll dive into the inevitable open-versus-concealed argument that's about to pop up sometime later, when I feel like giving myself a headache.

 

[djsjd]

you might spend some time reading through this recent thread...

Thanks for the tip... Good thread.

 

[bpisler]

I'am going on 12 years worth of
open carry here in phoenix with no problems i can remember.I don't go around showing it off either.I
carry in a IWB holster with a thumb snap,carry guns wear black rubber grips and i wear a dark colored shirt.If i could carry con
cealed without a permit i would but i've got no plans to pay to pay for my right to carry.

 

[BluesBear]

It seems this question gets asked on THR quite a lot recently.

You'll never get a clear cut opinion either way.

If you ask directly the usual answers tend to lean toward the "open carry is stupid/asking for trouble" theory.
However I recall a thread several months ago about a biker being hassled for openly carrying at a local street fair and those who spoke out against open carry were crucified.

Better to stick with the easier and more civilized 9mm/.45, Ford/Chevy, AR/AK, Bush/Kerry, .45GAP/.50GI, Blonde/Brunette, .357/10mm, Bourbon/Scotch, .32/.380, boxers/briefs, TacLite/Laser, on leash/off leash discussions.

 

[Majic]

I have never though of that before, but if you are using an IWB holster could that be considered open carry since the holster itself is concealed? Seems like that could create a gray area between open and concealed carry.

 

[BluesBear]

Kentucky state law states that if you can obviouslytell it's a firearm then it's not concealed.


In other words of you have a 7½" Blackhawk in a belt holster, underneath a sport coat with most of the holster exposed, and it's obvious that it's a holster for a firearm then it's not deemed to be concealed.

Same if you have an IWB holster and the butt of the gun is showing so that it's obvious you have a gun, it's not deemed to be concealed.

 

[Ben Shepherd]

What I did:

Carry openly on my own property. After neighbors get used to seeing this, open carry around the neighborhood shouldn't be a problem.


If you take it further than that(I do) pick your battles carefully.

 

[owsi26]

I decided one day that I wanted to carry open when I felt like and where legal. I called both the chief of police and the sherrif and discussed it with them. They both were fine with it, after all it is legal, in my state of georgia with a concealed weapon permit. It was legal to carry open, without a permit but they changed that a few years back.

I removed the rear seat, of my van, and loaded it to help stranded motorists. I got nervous walking up to a car, especially at night, with only a gun on my ankle so that is what prompted me to carry open. I carry my .45 Colt in a pancake holster so I can easily put it on before I exit my vehilce if I'm not already carrying it. It works well for me.

It took awhile, and a lot of worried looks and comments, but most all of the local law enforcement know me (and appreciate me helping motorists and them) and so do the staff of businesses that I frequent. Most of the public will think you are law enforcement anyway. It is my right and I'm going to exercise it!

Alan

 

[bradvanhorn]

I have no objection to open carry, and while it is legal to open carry around here, I usually don't. I have a permit for concealed carry, so I usually do... However, I hate having to dress for concealment, so quite frankly I'd rather carry in the open than concealed. I think maybe I need to move to AZ so I can open carry and just fit in...

 

[Majic]

Now here in Virginia that sports coat will get you in trouble. No clothing is allowed to cover the firearm or it's considered concealed. That's why I asked about the concealed holster senerio as the holster containing the handgun is concealed.

 

[Serpico]

" I got nervous walking up to a car, especially at night, with only a gun on my ankle so that is what prompted me to carry open. I carry my .45 Colt in a pancake holster so I can easily put it on before I exit my vehilce if I'm not already carrying it. It works well for me."

Probably not nearly as nervous as the stranded motorist.....

 

[NavajoNPaleFace]

Even though I have a concealed permit I openly carry in the summer far more often than concealed.

The reasons are varied but much of it has to do with being able to dress as light as possible in the summer.

I've only had a few comments made by on-lookers who I simply just glare at and they look the other way (LOL) but for the most part I've not had any problems at all and far more genuinely interested questions from bystanders.

I rarely go anywhere outside of my 'space' without carrying.

On a side note my wife and I belong to a 4X4 club and we regularly encounter 'unknowns' out in the wild back-roads of Arizona.

Because no one is ever sure what they are riding up on, or who is involved in what, nearly everyone in the group carries into these areas.

The only areas one needs to be careful of carrying in are state parks, federal parks and forests and the likes which are dotted all over the state and often free carry areas bleed over into carry prohibited areas when riding.