Do you open carry?

[Walkalong]

Those sorts of 'fighting words' are what derails these threads every time.

Exactly right. State whether you open carry or not, and why you personally do or don't, but statements like that are against the rules, or at least the spirit of THR. We don't attack people here, whether directly or as a group. That post could also be mistaken as trolling, which is also frowned upon.

It just wasn't nice and can only cause trouble.

 

[ljnowell]

Since my post was kinda sorta involved in this derailment, let me clarify something. I'm not saying open carriers are looking for attention. The attention that I said I didn't want is from people approaching me, pointing me out, or things such as that.

I like to stay low key.

 

[montanaoffroader]

Sometimes, just depends on the circumstances. If I'm heading out of town and have a few stops to make I often open carry, no one really comments on it as it is a fairly common sight here.

I do conceal when I go to the mall or other similar venues, mainly to avoid unwanted attention. I'm pretty sure the people at Carmike Cinemas wouldn't appreciate seeing me walk in with a .44 Magnum on my hip.....

 

[Good Ol' Boy]

I don't do either currently but will be soon. I'm still deciding on whether or not to get a medium size pistol to wear IWB or just open carry my full size.

For me there's two issue's. One, I absolutely do not like these teeny sub compact pistols that I can barely get 3 fingers around (and yes I've shot several). Secondly my draw is without question faster open carry (OWB) than any type of IWB. I really don't get at all folks wanting to carry IWB with a shirt tucked in over the pistol.


I don't look down on folks either way, whatever's comfortable for you. If I can find a small/mid sized .380 with a decent sized grip I would consider CC IWB, but more and more it seems like just carrying my full size would be more practical. In the cooler months it would be easily concealable by a sweat shirt or jacket. Even if I found something smaller IWB that worked well I'd probably only use it during the hot months.

 

[Shaq]

Why do you assume that people who open carry are looking for extra attention or are somehow burdened with a psychological affliction. In my case I did a self evaluation of my carry practice years ago and realized that carrying a mid sized Glock under a T shirt wasnt fooling anyone so what's the point? I was carrying a gun and looked like I was carrying a gun. Might as well open carry. Maybe people notice, maybe they don't but thats not really my problem is it? If I open carry its a few minutes here and there in public and all the time out on the trail or out in the woods. It is very common out here in the semi rural west to see people open carrying.

Anyone who intends to conceal a firearm knows better than relying on a T - shirt to conceal it. Except for a very small gun, it can't be done, especially if it's too snug fitting.

 

[UpperAtmosphere]

No open carry here.

Not allowed in Illinois (shocking), and I wouldn't do it if I could. I think the downside of "freaking the squares" outweighs the advantages.

All it takes is one soccer mom screaming "HE'S GOT A GUN!!!" to ruin your night.

 

[Shaq]

Sometimes, just depends on the circumstances. If I'm heading out of town and have a few stops to make I often open carry, no one really comments on it as it is a fairly common sight here.

I do conceal when I go to the mall or other similar venues, mainly to avoid unwanted attention. I'm pretty sure the people at Carmike Cinemas wouldn't appreciate seeing me walk in with a .44 Magnum on my hip.....

My point exactly. You have consideration for others. You don't want to draw extra attention to yourself & you don't want to cause fear & apprehension in others.

 

[ACP]

No.

I don't pin cash to the outside of my shirt, either.

 

[Arkansas Paul]

I don't open carry when out at restaurants or places like that. I'm personally not a fan of it.

However, I don't think it should be illegal. I'm always hesitant to favor the government telling us what to do.

 

[yugorpk]

Anyone who intends to conceal a firearm knows better than relying on a T - shirt to conceal it. Except for a very small gun, it can't be done, especially if it's too snug fitting.

115 degrees in the summer. T shirt and shorts is about all I wear when not at work. I'm not going to start wearing a sport coat or a blazer so I can conceal a pistol when I really don't think its necessary to do so. On the hip or in a cowboy holster is good enough for me. Soccer moms don't scream "he's got a gun" here or they dont last long.

 

[jonnyc]

Why scare the "sheeple" and advertise to the bad guys???
Makes no sense to me at all. As posted above, I want to be the only one who knows I'm armed. Foolish to give up tactical surprise and your selection of time and place to intervene.
I see it as nothing more than a political act. But hey, that's my opinion....you can agree or disagree.

 

[yugorpk]

Why scare the "sheeple" and advertise to the bad guys???
Makes no sense to me at all. As posted above, I want to be the only one who knows I'm armed. Foolish to give up tactical surprise and your selection of time and place to intervene.
I see it as nothing more than a political act. But hey, that's my opinion....you can agree or disagree.

Don't care about the sheeple all that much or what their opinions are. The bad guys I'd rather have cognizant of the fact that their days work isnt going to go as easily as they thought it might and picking another place to go to work might be a good idea. Bad guys like to go home at the end of the day too.

Life, or at least expectations of what people should or should not do in public in the liberal east is sure a lot different than in the rural west. No one really gives open carry an second glance here. Last time I was in Arizona I was surprised at the frequency of open carry . I got used to it pretty quick.

My boss, with a PHD in chemistry, open carries a SIG P238 when she's not at work . Its a big gun on her 5'2" frame but she carries it well.

 

[Good Ol' Boy]

I think it has a lot to do with the demographic. More rural you generally don't have problems, in the city/towns maybe more so.

I know around where I live people open carry all the time. I've yet to see anyone freak out over it. Now if you went 40min from here into the city it might be a different story.

 

[Old Dog]

When it comes to this stuff:

The military taught me that speed, surprise, and violence of action are the principles to win a fight.

I think some are forgetting about the difference between being a military member patrolling outside the wire -- open carrying, of course --and a normal citizen, going down the street to pick up a gallon of milk or making the weekly Wal-Mart run. Comparing the tenets of military strategy to the average citizen going about his/her daily chores in Anytown, USA, is a little silly.

99& of the citizenry around us wouldn't notice if we were carrying bright pink bowling balls strapped to our waists.

Being fortunate to live in a state where open carry is relatively commonplace, I don't fret if I forget a jacket or vest to cover whatever I'm got on my hip when I'm out running errands. I prefer concealed carry, but I'll OC when the mood strikes me ...

But can we please forego the use of the term "sheeple?" I, for one, don't consider all of my friends and family who choose not to carry firearms as "sheeple."

 

[gbran]

I don't OC, but I got to believe it would be the easiest, most convenient way to carry. I prefer no one knows I CC, but I sure don't begrudge those who do OC.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Do you open carry?

Very rarely. It's not because some people might be scared, that is their silliness and it's not because I think it makes me a target. I just don't want to deal with the uninformed LEO who doesn't know the law and might harass me. I'm just getting too old to fight the good fight any more. There are too many sheep and bullies around these days who have no respect for our God given rights so I choose to protect myself and family quietly.

 

[Deaf Smith]

I casual carry.

That is my gun is concealed but I don't worry if it's exposed.

See when CHL first started here in Texas you had to REALLY conceal the gun.

Now with OC, I conceal it but don't really care if the wind blows or the gun prints.

Deaf

 

[just for fun]

Retired in 07. Too old for any conflict that open carry MAY present, just the same I don't leave the house without my J frame Smith.

 

[Peakbagger46]

I don't unless at work (leo). In uniform I carry in a (fast-ish) level 3 holster and am concerned about a gun grab every day. Based on training and the things I've witnessed, I kinda cringe seeing armed citizens around my area open carry. It is a good thing people have the right to do so here, but it's not a good tactic, especially for holsters without good retention.

 

[Shaq]

I don't unless at work (leo). In uniform I carry in a (fast-ish) level 3 holster and am concerned about a gun grab every day. Based on training and the things I've witnessed, I kinda cringe seeing armed citizens around my area open carry. It is a good thing people have the right to do so here, but it's not a good tactic, especially for holsters without good retention.

That's my other issue with open carriers. Most of them just use a regular conceal-carry holster with only friction or a thumbsnap for retention. The gun is just hanging out there open to anyone standing behind him. The usual "Situational Awareness" myth only works for those who have eyes in the back of their head.

 

[CajunBass]

I have in the past, but not so much these days.

Mostly because I've moved more and more toward smaller, lighter, easier to conceal guns. I used to carry K-frame size revolvers, a Colt Commander, a Smith & Wesson 39, etc. I'd open carry them from time to time, especially if I was too lazy to put a cover garment on for a quick run into 7-11 or something like that for a cup of coffee. Nobody ever said anything negative, not even the cops who saw me. And I wasn't out in the boonies. I was living in the middle of the 95 corridor between Richmond and DC.

These days it's a Ruger LC9s that a T-shirt conceals well enough to suit me.

 

[bannockburn]

The only time I use to open carry was many years while hunting in the back woods. Other than that it's concealed carry for me in any environment.

 

[springer99]

I never open carry unless I'm hunting or in the field. Open carry in public can just tend to make others uncomfortable for a number of reasons, and certainly doesn't make me more safe than when I carry concealed. I'm safe enough with a J frame or small semi. in my pocket.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

No.

I don't pin cash to the outside of my shirt, either.

That's a really good way to put it.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

I have nothing against either means of carry. Both have a time and place. I think the main thing is your actions while carrying. This will determine how people perceive you more than anything.

I agree, and welcome to THR by the way Kittie. Always glad to see more women taking part here. We as a community often lack a female's perspective.

On a separate note, concealed carry and firearms are so prolific where I live, I more or less assume the majority, or at least the majority of the minority, of law abiding citizens are carrying concealed. I can't remember what the per capita rate was where I live, but considering my state, and particularly my region of my state has very few people in it, the number of CC permits issued was astounding. My town is about 2200 people, and my county is low population as well. But last year I heard there were something like 18000 permits issued or renewed. So there's a lot more folks out there who already have permits. We are almost open carrying by default here.

I'm a fan of looking for people who are overdressed in summer, and trying to figure out what kind of gun they are concealing. I've found myself thinking quite often "Oh yeah, he looks like a 1911 kind of guy."