I now open carry regularly

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Oregon Street

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I've been carrying concealed for about a year. Thought I would try open carry because Idaho is awesome in that respect and I'm a lot more confident now with my handgun thanks to training and a lot of time on the range.

People don't seem to mind or even give you a second look. Even stood next in line to a LEO at the local sporting goods store. He just smiled and said hello.

Perhaps because I'm clean-cut looking people assume I'm a LEO. But I don't have a moustache, and typically wear shorts, flip-flops, and a t-shirt -- and a S&W 1911.

God Bless Idaho!
 
A while back there was a story about two young, well-spoken brothers in Post Falls, ID who open carry. They do it for a lot of reasons, but one is to help educate the public about a right we should all protect.

I think those kids were spot-on and hopefully we're starting a trend in the region. I don't think many folks realize it's perfectly legal.

I don't open carry at work, but our general manager lets me carry concealed at work.

Another reason - which may not be high road - is because I work with a lot of anti's, who I rarely bother debating the subject with. When they see me around town with my 1911 they practically faint.
 
I open carry frequently. One time a lady complained about it in a small cafe up on the mountain. The owner suggested, since the gun made her nervous, perhaps SHE didn't belong in his business establishment. Other than this one time, I've never had a problem. I guess it depends on the area you are carrying in.
 
Other than being illegal, I can't imagine what would happen open carrying here in MA. Probably would send the folks fleeing ahead of you like Japanese before Godzilla.
 
You can carry a lot more gun a lot more comfortably in an ordinary holster; at least equally to the point, America needs to see more law-abiding American citizens keeping and bearing arms legally, openly, safely, and to good civic purpose.
 
Good for you. I don't have the courage to OC in a city or town, even though it is legal in my state, but I have done it while out in the boonies. I've been hassled a couple times even then. One of these days, I'll try it in town, but I'll have to work up a good bit of courage first.
 
Open carry in Massachusetts probably wouldn't be a good idea. After all what was more or less a litebrite got the bomb squad called on it a few months ago in boston.
 
I didn't have the courage either, until solid training, range time, and a little bit of reading up on the law made it very comfortable. And since I live in a state where it's legal, I feel it's a pretty important right that I should be excercising on a regular basis.
 
My problem isn't training, range time, or knowledge of the law because I have plenty of each. My problem is getting strange looks from people, or being harrassed by law enforcement. I've heard some horror stories of that happening. Plus I live in a small town and I've never seen anyone open carry here, ever, except for hunting rifles and shotguns during hunting season. I have to live with these people and see them every day, and a lot of them already think I'm pretty wierd. I'm afraid that if I open carry they will think I'm really nuts. I know I probably shouldn't care what people think, and I may be surprised and find out nobody really cares, or maybe they don't do it because they don't know they can, but for now I can't bring myself to do it.
Maybe if I wasn't the only one to test the water so to speak. It would help if I could get a couple friends to do it with me. Kind of an open carry party. Hmmmmm........;)
 
I relish the element of surprise...think I'd carry concealed even if OC was commonplace and accepted in Washington State. I see no reason to advertise the fact that I am armed nor do I wish to draw attention to myself from the good guys or bad guys.
 
So what holsters are used for open-carry? Do ya'll use a nice El Paso Saddlery or other ornate leather? Are you carrying a sixgun?

OT, although I generally despise the St of MA, calling out the cops for the 'lite-brites' was a good idea. I think that the day of the Iraq-style 'market bomb' is getting closer. Better to get the training and practice in advance.
 
Tell ya whut, that is a good lookin' holster. But their Western Holsters are what you are really need to be showin' off. Suweet...
 
I always carry in an OWB holster as nothing else I ever tried was comfortable, or felt very acessable to me.I dont open carry or concealed carry for any specific reasons,I just put on my gun in its OWB holster, and if clothing/temperature/weather dictates I wear a jacket or flannel type shirt, I do, and then I'm carrying concealed (albeit somewhat "sloppily" a lot of times, as I take no specific steps to conceal), if I'm wearing shorts/pants and a tucked-in shirt only, then I'm open carrying that day.I carry the way that feels most comfortable and gun-accessable for me.Concealed or not concaled happens by chance.Haven't had any issues doing it this way, and I like that my gun is alway comfortable feeling, and readily accesable if (God forbid, I need it).All my OWB holsters have a retension strap, so it falling out or getting snatched is a non-issue IMHO.
 
I went to school in Idaho for a couple of years, just north of Couer d'Alene. I miss north Idaho. I was too young to carry at the time, but I recall seeing a guy open carry in the Target store one time, and another time outside the gas station. I think open carry is a great idea. As stated before, there are area where concealed may be a better option, but I believe open carry to be a blessing because it shows the public that regular law-abiding people go about there business every day while armed. I think that part of the reason why so many people are against carrying of a firearm, or guns in general, is that they are unaware of just how many responsible people carry on a daily basis without incident. If open carry were legal in Florida, I would get a beautifl full-size 1911 piece with customized grips and engraving. It woud be nice to be able to show off your carry piece. :D
 
I get mixed results here in VA. Sometimes it's just a "wow, look at that" but other times I get "I don't approve of your gun".

My worst fear is having management tell me to get out as it's making the customers nervous, or having the cops respond to a 'man with a gun' call. I'm not making this up, it happens. People here don't have the 'wild west' mentality and are somewhat sketchy of anything besides a rifle.

Frankly I'd get less comments if I had a scoped Remington 700 slung over my shoulder walking down mainstreet.
 
I OC'ed for a year and a half before I bothered to get my CWP. Of course, up here in this part of AZ... Nobody cares. You goto the store and 1/2 the time you'll see someone else OC'ing. My friends who aren't 21 yet carry their sidearms OC (duh) and nobody bats an eye. I have one buddy who was open carrying down in Phoenix and was stopped by an officer at a car show because he was on indian land and it was illegal. Cop just asked him to put it away in his car. Cop caught up with him later and tried to recruit him for the PD.

In the time I did it myself, I had almost nothing but positive responses. Especially the LEO's. The one negative was at my local stop'n'rob at 3am on a Saturday. Strung out petchulie-smellin' college hippie decided to take issue with it. The guy workin the counter told the guy to get out.
 
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