I now open carry regularly

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Ethereal- I was trying to imagine a situation as you suggested in post #33 and was unable to do so. Has such a thing ever happened in the past? Other than the movies that is?
 
FWIW, I was open carrying as usual last weekend when a couple of unknown guys showed up at my place. (not only O/C, I was also riding my horse :) )Turned out they were from out of state and one of them was looking to buy a property next to mine.

They didn't have a problem with it, and later I showed them some of the property corners. I also showed them my little "shooting range" and they did ask me "is that a Ruger?" ("yes, Security Six") They talked about how hard it is to find a place to shoot in their home state. I hope he buys the place because I think he will be a good neighbor, even if he "ain't from around here."

So the moral of this story is: in this case it worked out really well. And if they had freaked out about my sidearm then it would have worked out even better, because I don't want anti-gun people moving in next door. ;)
 
Unremarkable

Remember, one of our goals is to make carrying a gun so common that it becomes unremarkable.

On the day when your waitress asks, "oh, hey, where's your gun today, in the shop?" then we will be close.

On the day your boss suggests you go home and put on a nicer gun, 'cuz the regional manager is coming by -- and you work for a high-tech or advertising outfit, that's the day we will have won.
 
No it's not from a movie Titan6.

Ethereal- I was trying to imagine a situation as you suggested in post #33 and was unable to do so. Has such a thing ever happened in the past? Other than the movies that is?
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Titan6, in my experience, yes and no thank god. In the past I have carried open and have gotten mixed experiences from it. I've been commended by some for using my right in a tasteful fashion, and other times I've gotten nothing but scared looks and whispers from onlookers. The time when me carrying open almost got me killed was when some guys saw me carrying open and thought it best to draw their weapons as well to "match" my display of arms. Things go south really f*&^ing quick when you got four guys outside of a grocery store and three of them think you want a shootout when you're trying to diffuse the situation as calmly and quickly as possible. I don't like the idea of putting myself in that situation again so I recommend to others despite the freedom of bearing arms openly one should use discretion in where and why to because some dumb a-hole thinks he has to step up to a guy with a gun and point his crap at me. This is no movie make believe situation, it's just bugs me when the rally charge comes out and the open carry flag gets everyone up in arms to show off their freedom when some people honestly should't be excercising it to begin with. My original post in no way was meant to discredit the OP or even remotely downplay his training, experience, or intelliengence. I just wanted to stress that there are serious issues one should think about reguarding open carry before jumping on the bandwagon to go outside to a world that's ignorant, afraid, and in some cases aggressive to those bearing arms.
 
Why do I still have trouble visualizing O/C folks standing
in line at Starbucks in SEA or Mc's in LA?

:confused:

Oh, wait. Never mind.
I just remembered the answers to that one.

:cool:
 
Boy I tell ya, if I could OC every day I would do it. CC is such a PITA.

Frankly around here I feel like a neon sign is strapped to my hip if I OC since no one does it. It's a shame really.
 
Here in Wyoming open carry is legal and many folks do it. I prefer to carry a concealed weapon. I think if a bad guy was going to use force you would be the first one cut from the herd. If no one knows you are armed you have an advantage. The Rattle Snake does not always rattle before he bites.:evil:
 
In Virginia it is legal to open carry, I did once to the Food Lion once "just because", no one seemed to notice. I second the fact that most just assume you are a LEO. Except cops, no one seems to think you are in the wrong if you aren't trying to hid a weapon. Most just assume if you are carrying, its because you are "suppose" to be carrying. (ie think your a cop)
 
Why do I still have trouble visualizing O/C folks standing
in line at Starbucks in SEA or Mc's in LA?
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Because everyone wearing their pants below their butts makes Open Carry a real problem.... because gravity works and guns are heavy.

I'd love to see more of it, but I don't like taking the tactical advantage off my plate either, so I CC, not OC. As Ranger40 aptly put it
The Rattle Snake does not always rattle before he bites.
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I'm not even sure I can do it in the Portland, OR area. I vaguely recall some OC restrictions somewhere, but not sure where. I'll have to look into it. However, the Portland area being heavily laden with liberals, I really wouldn't want to have the RKBA rights discussion every block as I make my way through the city either. It's not worth the hassle to me. I am not of the personality to take on the education of the antis simply because "I can." I don't have the patience for the overly emotionally charged liberal reaction every step down the street. As soon as I get toward Sandy going East, not a problem what so ever.

I just spent a week in the woods in SE Oregon and I really didn't even think about it. Very rural area so I'm sure no one would mind. I was in an out of CC/OC mode all week simply because if it was a little chilly, like in the AM, my second shirt covered up my FS Witness. When it warmed up, off came the cover camo and I was in OC mode. All I got from passers by was waves and smiles.

I personally would like to see more OC. However, as stated, I live in liberal country and I am not the ambassador willing to argue the legalities with every liberal that wants to get worked up over something that is a constitutional right. I suspect the "man with gun" call would go in pretty quick in this area. Those liberals that insist on their first amendment rights need to read a little bit further down in the BOR if they want to argue effectively. Of course, they don't, we know all know that.
 
Someone told me that in Michigan, if you have a MCPL (CCW) you can only carry concealed except on your private property. Anyone else ever hear this?
 
Someone told me that in Michigan, if you have a MCPL (CCW) you can only carry concealed except on your private property. Anyone else ever hear this?
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My understanding is that on private property you don't need anything to CC or OC because it's private property. Once you step off the property, that's different.
 
chris in va,

Yes, Virginia has a very active OC "club" and individuals who IMO are taking a very aggressive lead not only in exercising their right to OC but also to educate the sheeple -- and any cops -- whenever the question comes up.

http://opencarry.mywowbb.com/forum54/

I would like to see more states like VA in that regard...especially this backwards Reconstruction Era state of Texas.

-- John D.
 
On the day your boss suggests you go home and put on a nicer gun, 'cuz the regional manager is coming by -- and you work for a high-tech or advertising outfit, that's the day we will have won.
Click to expand...


AF,

I got a kick out of that one. Nice imagery.


-- John
 
Would be nice if we could see more OC in Wisconsin. It's *supposed* to be legal but the LEOs tend to harass around here. I haven't gotten my holster yet but am thinking about giving it a try. Mostly what I'm scared of is having my gun impounded or something similar and not getting it back...
 
Chris, if they do that, sue their buts off, the sooner more people take action in states like WI to fight harrassment over open carry, the sooner people will be able to freely do so without such risk. And if people give up and don't do so, the right will be lost even if not outlawed. So, go for it, and just have the number of a good lawyer handy when you do in case you're bothered by the police...
 
In WA State open carry is not illegal unless some enuretic gets their knickers in a knot, in which case you are "intimidating" them or some such nonsense. The main reason I see for OC is to have something that's not readily adaptable to CC, like a long barelled Magnum revolver or a Mossberg 500.
 
<<< ChrisMG
Would be nice if we could see more OC in Wisconsin. It's *supposed* to be legal but the LEOs tend to harass around here.>>>

Well, then you have an opening to work for concealed carry. That is one of the things they did here in Ohio, to start well planned "open carry marches". Police were advised ahead of time. It helped convince the state to legalize concealed carry :)

Personally, I haven't open carried yet except around home and down to the mail box. But I think it's a good idea. Currently, most people (including police) only see the bad side of guns on "News at 11". If we had more open carry, more people would realize that guns are not evil and that honest, law abiding people do have them.

As for the "it's better for the bad guys not to know you are armed", I understand that logic. BUT it may also avoid a confrontation. I had an argument with a family member here in our home. My wife (who knows him much better than I do), later told me that she was surprised that he didn't turn violent since he has such a history. I have to wonder if the gun on my hip didn't encourage some good sense on his part.

Ken
 
Yesterday I was open carrying when I took my wife and son downtown to walk around the town square.

Little did I know that these guys would be holding an event there. I felt a little silly carrying around a K frame .38 when every other person I saw was carrying a single action .45 and quite a few toting Winchester rifles too.
 
M1SHOOTER

Here in mt OC is legal but not practice much I feel if you dont use it you could loose it, Getting harassed is going to happen till it becomes known to citisens and law enforcment in your area.

I have started experminting at diferent places while CC I will swich to OC by moving my shirt,

My biggest fear is getting harassed by the popo however I am completely legal. Its a hurdel we all have to get over.
 
Lucas Flesher, where in Montana do you live? My family is originally from southwest Montana, in the Bitterroot valley. I've open carried there, but I was always out in the woods or on my Grandpa's land camping or fishing when I did it. Nobody ever gave me any trouble. I never carried openly in town, but I have seen a few people who do. There used to be a guy in Darby, MT who open carried a pair of Colt Peacemakers in a gunfighter rig. Nobody ever gave him any trouble either. I don't know if he is still there since I haven't been there in about 4 years.
I think it depends on where you live. If you are in Missoula, Helena, Butte, Billings or any of the other decent size cities I could see you having some trouble, but out in the woods or the small towns, especially in western MT, I don't think anybody would give you any trouble.
 
Az. is the home of open carry it is totaly accepeted there, I often would see oc even before the cc was law. NM also was pretty common about oc prior to cc. I now live in Co. and rarely see oc but it is legal, the deputy who gave my cc class said that it can be construed as a threat and reported to police as intimidation or something and while they are not likely to arrest they will have to hassle you as a result of the complaint. I live in hunting country and in the fall it is common but most guys are obviously hunters, In cold weather I carry owb and if it shows I don't worry but think its time to push harder. As others have said the day that know one notices or they comment on the nice grips or leatherwork we will have won until then try to remember that rights are like muscles, if you don't use them they go away.
 
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