How scary is open carry?

Status
Not open for further replies.
S

strat81

Member
Joined
Oct 6, 2006
Messages
3,912
Location
Nebraska
How scary is open carry? I ask this now that I have applied for a CCW permit in Nebraska. I grew up in NYC and the only people with guns are cops and bad guys. If I saw someone carrying a gun openly on their hip or shoulder, I always assumed the person was a plain clothes cop. After all, only bad guys conceal weapons <sarcasm>. Seeing a holstered weapon did not (and does not) bother me.

My town passed an ordinance banning concealed weapons on city owned property like parks, libraries, etc. (NE has no preemption for their CCW law.) My response from the city council was that I should open-carry in the park if I felt I need to. For those that don't live in quasi-socialist areas like Chicago, Milwaukee, NYC, or DC, how do people react when they see a normal person (not GQ, but not gangsta) with a gun on their hip? Here in rural NE, we don't have plain clothes cops like we had in NYC, so I think it would meet with resistance and "man with gun" phone calls.
 
Not particularly scary, but it depends on the setting and on your attitude.

Around here open-carry is easy. Most people don't see it every day but when they do they don't usually act like it's unusual.

It gets easier when you gain the confidence that comes from the belief that what you're doing is perfectly within your rights as free person.

When you feel like you're doing something illicit or shameful, it shows and people respond to that with suspicion and distrust.

When you feel like you're engaging in perfectly legal, moral, and safe behavior that shows too. Most people respond with politeness, respect, and trust.
 
I've carried openly very often in states like AZ, UT, MT, ID, etc.

The only people who had reactions were tourists.

As for carrying openly here in WI: don't do it. You'll be arrested for disturbing the peace or disorderly conduct.
 
Here very few even blink. If you're not doing anything illegal, why worry? In Indiana, like other things in life, everyone's got one but very few go around talking about it.:D

I have had people from Illinois give me the once over twice. I smile and nod.:D

I've openly carried in my city, in rural settings, in downtown Indianapolis, no problems, no hassle. IPD just looks at me with bored eyes.

The only time anyone has said anything is in a place called Wheatfield, Indiana (population you, me, that guy and his dog) where I was picking up a rifle. I stopped at THE gas station for coffee and the town marshall there asked me "you have a license to carry." I replied, "from which state?":D
 
No open carry in Oklahoma by citizens is allowed.

On occassion one will see a plain clothes policeman - or at least that is what I assume - with a gun on his hip. Doesn't bother me but I do try to be aware of where the person is when he/she is in my immediate vicinity.
 
not scary

I open carry frequently in Northern Virginia, hard by the twin socialist Hells of our nation's capital and suburban Maryland. This is also an area tilting heavily (and increasingly) to the blissninny demographic. I have never had any problem. Dirty little secret: most people are utterly oblivious and they will not notice that Ruger Alaskan strapped on your hip!

Of the few that notice, if you act like you belong there, they will assume you're a cop. The reaction will depend on your dress and comportment; for example, I am easily mistaken for a cop by a non-cop. (Real cops, of course, peg me for a "civilian" straight away.) Your mileage may vary - some college kids here did have a rough go of it from the local constabulary.

If folks do notice and harbor doubts about your occupation, some may even have the brass to ask you whether you're a cop (it has happened twice to me). Have your response ready.

Really, the biggest shock for me when I first open carried was how few people, even on-duty police, even noticed.
 
I open carry frequently. It's legal, and if it bothers some tourist, well that's just tough. Gun ownership, and exposure to legal firearms needs to be expanded, not hidden behind closed doors like we are odd or criminal. By the way, perps normally go for the weak. Those that claim open carry "sets you up" are simply wrong, and usually live in areas where you CAN'T. Just one man's opinion.
 
I tried open carry once, I was quite nervous. I prefer concealed carry as criminals wont know that your armed and it keeps them quessing. Also I worry about visible firearms like those in a gun rack in a vehicle, because it criminals find out where you live, them might rob your house/vehicle while your away. I once had the CD player in my truck stolen, and thats worth much less than a firearm.
 
Open carry in Northern Virgina circa 1985 would likely get you a visit by Officer Friendly, and kill about an hour out of your day while you chat with Officer Friendly and several of his/her coworkers.

I haven't tried it lately.
 
Try Switzerland. Their military must have their weapons with them even while on leave.

This really surprised me the first time I saw a young guy (casual clothes) in line at the bus stop carrying a SAW. Nobody paid any attention to him.
 
Dress nicely with a nice leather belt holster and most people won't say a word to you, all will assume detective, etc.
 
Clothes Make The Man

A well-dressed guy (or gal) with a sidearm wouldn't raise much fuss here.

In fact, if you dress in "period costume" around here, people will just figure you're doing something tourism-related.

During certain seasons, we get "dramatic enactments" by folk wearing black hats, long coats, and pointy boots. BANG! BANG! Argh! Ya got me! Look, honey! Oh, darn, no film in my camera.

Now, if you showed up with lots of gold chain, a torn t-shirt, baggy pants, and a fine selection of tats and pins to go with said sidearm, you might attract some attention from Johnny Law.

Jeans, plaid shirt, light jacket, some kind of hat or cap, some well-appointed leather and the wheelgun of your choice just isn't going to raise any excitement.

Add a tie, and most will think you're somebody official.

Welcome to Nevada.
 
During certain seasons, we get "dramatic enactments" by folk wearing black hats, long coats, and pointy boots. BANG! BANG!
Click to expand...

I understand that Tombstone, AZ, has had some controversial laws restricting open carry, to avoid any "misunderstandings," since these sorts of reenactments go on regularly.

I don't know if they still do.
 
ArmedBear said:
I understand that Tombstone, AZ, has had some controversial laws restricting open carry, to avoid any "misunderstandings," since these sorts of reenactments go on regularly.
Click to expand...

Way back when there was such a law in Tombstone, it was part of what precipitated the shootout at the OK corral.

These days any such law is null and void thanks to our state's preemtion law.
 
If you have one in a holster here no one really cares. If it's stuck in the crack of your...pants, you'll make them uncomfortable. It's not a good thing to make them uncomfortable because a large percentage have permits and carry.
 
Thats pretty much a no go anywhere on the east coast. Some one prove me wrong go ahead i won't argue one bit. If i was to open carry I wouldn't be arrested I would be gunned down like a dog. Thats not a joke at all.:mad:
Police don't play around here.
 
I'm feeling a bit contentious today. If it were me the city council told to open carry in parks, I would be out there open carrying in parks every day, sucking up those police resources responding to "man-with-a-gun" calls, until the council realized that hey!, concealed carry in parks isn't such a bad deal after all.
 
Here in the Wild Wild West (Arizona) I've seen people open carry a couple times maybe...I've done it a couple times but to no real public place. I remember years ago there was a neighbor, an overall jerk (he was nice to me tho)--I saw him packing a revolver once. I'm pretty sure he would be a prohibited possessor now as I remember he wasn't all that good of a guy to his live-in girlfriend.

When I get a good holster for my 1911, I'm thinking I'll open carry until my CCW arrives.

My question is, has anyone here open carried into a Wal-Mart? Any problems?

-Benjamin
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

M
  • Locked
Overland Park OKs new 'open carry' ordinance
Replies
6
Views
448
Big Boy
Big Boy
V
  • Locked
Open carry.
2
Replies
26
Views
1K
1911Tuner
1
S
  • Locked
Open carry harrassment and screwball LEO logic...
2 3
Replies
58
Views
5K
slabuda
S
S
  • Locked
SLC Tribune On Open Carry
Replies
13
Views
815
armedandsafe
armedandsafe
A
  • Locked
Open Carry questions
Replies
8
Views
1K
Marshall
M
Back
Top