I Open Carried Today - people's reactions

[longdayjake]

Well, there is a difference between an innocent brush against it and an intentional grab. Wisdom is knowing which is which.

I slightly disagree. I believe that wisdom is treating both the same. If someone is close enough to you to touch your OC gun then they are too close. Though one may be innocent it still warrants a butt chewing or even worse. Heck, I have been known to bruise a hand or two for touching my ASP. I have seen too many cop training videos to be "nice" about others touching my weapons. I would just prefer to avoid the situation all together.

 

[TheProf]

Here's what I posted before... and then an additional comment..

Why do people react so negatively to OC? Hmmm....let me guess. They realize that the masses are "not so noble". (Think...Hurricane Katrina looting, etc) When a person OC, it is a reminder to others that "the man with the gun" have the power of life and death in their fingers. It's not a very comforting thought for many that "ordinary people" can have such power. (I know...makes no sense... but I'm answering your question.)

Is this logical? Of course not. Cars...those two ton vehicles are just as deadly...but we would never think of outlawing those things.

Do I support OC. Of course!!! Would I open carry? Maybe not...but I do want that option.

When a person chooses to exercise their right to legally OC, does it support our "Right to Bear Arms" cause? Sometimes yes. Sometimes no. Just remember, if you OC...you remind others of this important right. Which is a good thing. On the other hand, if you OC with the "in your face" attitude towards the "sheeple"... it could create a backlash...and who knows...laws may change and OC becomes illegal in your area.
You must exercise wisdom with OC. Dress and act appropriately when OC... look and act professional...choose the time and place so as to not scare the public.. I guess its one of those judgement calls...

Here's my additional comment:

Having said the above... although I would not OC (for strategic reasons), I strongly am favor of OC law. Why? I don't want to be ever accused of "flashing" my gun... should I inadvertently reveal my CCW (example: cover garment accidentally being blown open by wind, etc.)

I think that having an OC provision in our laws is a very good thing.

I guess my ideal carry situation is somewhere between OC and CC. You know...sort of like.. "very discrete" carry.

 

[TNboy]

I seldom OC but have been known to from time to time. I fish a lot, the other morning I was fishing from a bridge I had my shirt off and my pistol in a hip holster. Everybody around here pretty much has guns so it's not a huge deal. My buddy that I was fishing with commented on my gun as we were walking back to the car after fishing for a couple of hours. Said something like "I didn't know you were packing heat." and laughed. No one else on the bridge even said anything about it or seemed to notice. I figure around here OC will just make a methhead that was going to bum money or whatever move on down the road, these methheads don't have guns, if they did they've already hocked them for dope money.

 

[jonmerritt]

I would think "Someone else that believes in self defense" untill they prove me wrong.

 

[Zoidberg523]

Originally Posted by TheProf
Having said the above... although I would not OC (for strategic reasons), I strongly am favor of OC law. Why? I don't want to be ever accused of "flashing" my gun... should I inadvertently reveal my CCW (example: cover garment accidentally being blown open by wind, etc.)

I strongly agree, and find that be my first reason for supporting OC as well (aside from the simple fact that it is pro-RTKBA).

 

[Chip1wa]

Zach- I think you Forgot to finish your post with the words "In My Humble Opinion"

If you don't like OC, or don't like Brussel Sprouts, don't do it, don't eat them.

And I've yet to have a negative encounter OC'ing in the 2 years I've proudly displayed.

Thanks,

Dirty

 

[Gouranga]

Man. coming down a little harsh on him aren't ya?

He has a business, if his customers freak out, they won't be coming back. Maybe feeding his family and keeping his home is more important to him than being a spokesperson for the OC movement.

As for folks on this board who claim they "think nothing" of someone OCing...why wouldn't we? With the exception of the occasional troll, we are all Pro-2A, and pro-guns. I think it goes without saying that a normal person carrying a firearm is not going to alarm any of us. now if he/she was doing so, while talking to trees and squirrels, and claiming to be Joan of Arc, yeah it might make some of us nervous.

I would NEVER OC here (gaston county, NC). I think folks would freak. 25 yrs ago, they would not have thought twice about it, heck downtown Charlotte, 10 years ago they would not have thought twice about it. I have no intention of making a spectacle of myself. plus people freak, NC has this wonderful "Going armed to the terror of the public" law that can be a royal PITA. They may not convict you but who wants to get arrested?

I also rarely walk out of my home without my concealed piece on me. If i were to see someone OCing here, I would not bat an eye, except to maybe see if I could see what he/she was carrying. I would really not bash the OP for his conclusion. He has a business to run. It is unfortunate folks would react that way, but like it or not his customers did and he needs them to stay in business.

 

[Mudinyeri]

Why!?
How many criminals open carry!?

I'm a watchful person by nature. I watched partially to see how/if people would react. I also watched them because in the event something untoward might happen they could make good allies.

 

[Mudinyeri]

I would appreciate it if you would not attempt to make sweeping statements applicable to me. Open carry is not a good idea for you. It is perfectly fine and acceptable to me, thank you.



I would keep an eye on off-duty cops as well. Now, if you thought they required more of your attention simply because they were carrying guns, I too would like to know why? Twin brothers are standing in line at Wal Mart, one is wearing a gun, the other isn't. Would you feel differently about the one wearing the gun?

The idea that someone must be watched because they are carrying a gun comes straight from the Brady Bunch and other anti-gun groups' propaganda. The gun means nothing, it is only an inanimate object.

Yes I would feel differently about the twin brothers. See above.

I suggest you try that last statement on cops that work in gang-infested areas and see how far it gets you. LOL

 

[Balrog]

The idea that someone must be watched because they are carrying a gun comes straight from the Brady Bunch and other anti-gun groups' propaganda.

Hmmm... don't think so!

Living in condition white and ignoring someone with immediate access to a deadly weapon is a bad idea.

 

[Carter]

Man. coming down a little harsh on him aren't ya?

He has a business, if his customers freak out, they won't be coming back. Maybe feeding his family and keeping his home is more important to him than being a spokesperson for the OC movement.

As for folks on this board who claim they "think nothing" of someone OCing...why wouldn't we? With the exception of the occasional troll, we are all Pro-2A, and pro-guns. I think it goes without saying that a normal person carrying a firearm is not going to alarm any of us. now if he/she was doing so, while talking to trees and squirrels, and claiming to be Joan of Arc, yeah it might make some of us nervous.

I would NEVER OC here (gaston county, NC). I think folks would freak. 25 yrs ago, they would not have thought twice about it, heck downtown Charlotte, 10 years ago they would not have thought twice about it. I have no intention of making a spectacle of myself. plus people freak, NC has this wonderful "Going armed to the terror of the public" law that can be a royal PITA. They may not convict you but who wants to get arrested?

I also rarely walk out of my home without my concealed piece on me. If i were to see someone OCing here, I would not bat an eye, except to maybe see if I could see what he/she was carrying. I would really not bash the OP for his conclusion. He has a business to run. It is unfortunate folks would react that way, but like it or not his customers did and he needs them to stay in business.

I'm with Gouranga on this one. When I interned with the police department in my town there were a whole lot of armed to the terror of the public arrests in the computer on the stuff I was researching. While these were usually all bad people, and probably a law designed to give the "good guys" another thing to stick criminals with, it can be used against the lawful citizen as well.

I think if open carry was more widely done and firearms weren't demonized in the past then there would be no problem, but right now in today's fear driven pandora like world, you're going to get a lot of unwanted attention. And depending on the cop, you might get arrested for some bizarre law that you didn't even know existed. Convicted or not though, you got an arrest record now.

But it is the individuals choice, and should be his right, to open carry. If he's in his place of business then he has every right to. People don't get scared when they go in to a gun shop and see every salesman with a sidearm. A major factor, IMHO, is the environment that a gun is seen in. Hopefully the "acceptable" environments to the general public/LEO's/ETC will widen in scope.

 

[ArfinGreebly]

Insufficient Data

The OP has posted a minimal description using vague terms, a complete lack of specifics, and avoided stating his location.

I opened carried at work today (my own company inside a building that I own). Open carry is legal in my state and I have a CCW. I was dressed nice in biz casual attire. Carried on a hip holster.

Anyway we have customers come in to pick things up now and then.

As far as people's reactions...let's just say that people do not take kindly to a person wearing a gun. Approx 90% of the public looked at me all weird, wouldn't talk to me, gave me the cold shoulder, and acted in a way to avoid me at all costs.

I guess open carry is not a good idea.

Legal in . . . what state? What city? What part of that city?

Carried what in a hip holster? What kind of holster? High on the hip? Low on the hip?

Customers? What demographic? Office supplies? Feed store? Dress shop? Florist? Hardware store? Mail box store?

Things? Pick up things? What "things?"

"People's" reactions? No demographic. At all.

Basically, no data.

Very sketchy outline.

Just enough to provoke a lot of "spirited" discussion with no foundation at all.


Seriously?

You guys went for this?


I'm not buying.

The OP is free to PM me with more details and, if he's prepared to flesh out the report with something resembles context and facts, I may reopen the thread.


For now, however, let's latch this one.