Conceal VS Open

[mutantsquirl]

Im a new shooter and a new firearm owner. i just recently purchased para orndence carry 12.
im wondering the difference between conceal and open. i have no idea what open carry means. i have a vague idea.
i know i need a permit for conceal carry. but do i need 1 for open carry?
and what is considered open carry? im not sure i truly understand that 1.
im from colorado springs if that that makes a difference.
thanks all who can help out.

 

[Mags]

Check out this website. http://www.opencarry.org/ From the looks of it in Colorado you don't need a permit to OC but you do need a permit to CC. Read up on the vehicle stipulations and other rules in that link before OCing.

 

[mljdeckard]

Yes. Also pay attention that certain cities in CO (DENVER) may have their own fine print.

In Utah, you can open carry anywhere you are legally allowed to possess a firearm. BUT, if you don't have a carry permit, you can't have a round chambered in the city.

 

[Jswebb45]

Yes it is legal to open carry but they are very cautious on the loaded vs. unloaded open carry here also is a website that might help out a bit on some of the questions you may have from gun laws in Colorado http://www.rmgo.org/faq/#OpenCarry for the info your looking for specifically click on the open carry link on the webpage

 

[mutantsquirl]

thanks guys, ill check up on it now.

 

[mutantsquirl]

im still not understanding it all. stupid big words. lol

 

[kingpin008]

Mutant - Take a CCW class, get some training, then worry about carrying. It's a huge responsibility, you know, and you owe it to yourself and others to be as knowledgeable and capable as you can be once you decide to strap a pistol onto your hip.

Not trying to preach or talk down to you, just offering some friendly advice.

 

[mutantsquirl]

im in the army and have plenty of practice with all types of firearms, just dont know the civilian rules and regulations. in the service i can carry and do whatever i want with a firearm. now in the civilian world is a different story.

 

[mljdeckard]

Really? Try keeping a gun with you in the barracks. Try carrying concealed on-post. Better yet, try open-carrying on-post.

There are some BIG differences between civilian DEFENSIVE gun handling and military combat gun handling. Very different priorities and rules. I knew absolutely nothing about defensive pistol or concealed carry when I first left the army.

 

[Mags]

in the service i can carry and do whatever i want with a firearm.

BS! Sorry had to call it.

 

[mutantsquirl]

im talking about on the range. i know not on post. i havent been in long and my entire career has been in iraq.

 

[mutantsquirl]

this is what im trying to figure out. what does open carry mean? loaded or unloaded? loaded to me is round in chamber, but in the civilian life it might mean magazine in the magazine well.

There are some BIG differences between civilian DEFENSIVE gun handling and military combat gun handling. Very different priorities and rules. I knew absolutely nothing about defensive pistol or concealed carry when I first left the army.

 

[Southern Rebel]

A very general discription would mean that open carry says that your method of carry would be visable to the general public's view - such as having a holster on your hip, with no covering garment such as a long shirt or coat. Concealed carry would mean that your method of carry would conceal your gun from the general public's view.

Those generalized discriptions vary somewhat by state. In some states, concealed carry is a very strict definition - don't let the gun show either by accident or on purpose. In other states, concealed refers to a legitimate effort to conceal, but an accidental brief showing of the weapon by reaching or bending is not a violation. You would need, as others have suggested, read your state's laws regarding their explicit definition. (Hope that helps a little!)

 

[TexasRifleman]

this is what im trying to figure out. what does open carry mean? loaded or unloaded? loaded to me is round in chamber, but in the civilian life it might mean magazine in the magazine well.

In general open carry means that the firearm is partly or completely visible to an observer, where concealed carry means that it is not visible. Again, in general, whether it's loaded or not doesn't enter into it at all. Most states that allow open carry don't mention loaded/unloaded in their statutes.

 

[Stophel]

Open carry means carrying your gun "in plain sight", for all the world to see.

It's what all us Cowboys, irresponsible hardheads, and rabble rousers do.



Each state has differing regulations (or none at all) on open carry. Find out before you do.

www.opencarry.org

 

[kingpin008]

Correct. It's pretty self-explanatory, really.

Open carry = out in the open.

Concealed carry = concealed from view.

Why would the operational status (loaded vs. unloaded) have anything to do with those two terms?

 

[Stophel]

If it's in your car, it can make a difference. Many states that allow open carry, do not allow it in a vehicle (for whatever bizarre reason). Usually, you can keep it unloaded in a car, depending upon the state, and usually, a concealed permit takes care of this problem.

 

[Jswebb45]

Here is some more of what I found on your state law for Open Carry

Open Carry without a permit- Technically legal in most areas unless local laws exist (city of denver), in which case signs must be posted. May be interpreted as distrubing the peace by law enforcement.

State Preemption of local restrictions- Open carry and unlicensed car carry of a loaded firearm is prohibited in city and county of Denver, otherwise, local ordinances are preempted by state law

Check http://cbi.state.co.us/ccw/Statutes/33-6-125.asp for your states C.R.S. 18-12 statutes under weapon related statues.

As far as a defined Statute 33-6-125 states "It is unlawful for any person, except a person authorized by law or by the division, to possess or have under his control any firearm, other than a pistol or revolver, in or on any motor vehicle unless the chamber of such firearm is unloaded." Thats the only statute I see clearly stating the chamber must be unloaded.

Also from what I can tell Denver is the only city that prohibits "Open Carry" as far as carrying your weapon with a round in the chamber I would say its not very likely you could but possibly carry your mag in your weapon without a round in the chamber check with your local law enforcement agency they will be able to tell you for sure.

 

[mutantsquirl]

jswebb45=, thats what im talking about. i get it now. i wasnt for sure and wanted to get slarified before i do something stupid. lol thanks.

 

[NavyLCDR]

Check out the Colorado section of www.opencarry.org. They are the closest to experts you will find on the internet regarding open carry in Colorado. For instance, vehicle carry is specifically protected by Colorado state law, EVEN in Denver. Denver has been granted authority to prohibit carrying a firearm outside the vehicle by the Colorado Supreme Court, but inside the vehicle carry in Denver is still governed by Colorado state law.

BTW, my personal opinion is that if what you are carrying in the holster isn't fully loaded, then you are carrying a club vice a gun.

 

[Mainsail]

Whether you are a man or woman, you are required almost everywhere to conceal your junk. This means the general public cannot see your wang or your hoo-hah as you walk down the street. Lumps, bulges, outlines, etc., (hey, it ain't 1976 anymore), may be a little gross, but are not illegal. The same goes for your handgun in most states. I think there's one or two states where people claim it's illegal to even 'print' while concealing, but I cannot say definitively.

The definition of 'loaded' vs. 'unloaded' varies from state to state.