No Reaction to Open Carry at all

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There was a small ruckus here in Northern VA (Fairfax, I think) a few months back regarding OC. Some members of a gun club wore their guns to a restaurant after a meeting and somebody called the cops. The cops confiscated the guns and had to return them the next day after the law was explained to them. I usually carry concealed, but I'm tempted to OC just to see what if any reaction I get. Then again, something tells me I should just let sleeping dogs lie...
 
I open carried in Hanover, New Hampshire(home of Dartmouth, liberals, hippies, and brainy types :p ) right into the Dartmouth bookstore, and no one even batted an eye.
I was also carrying my revolver with fancy wood grips in a nice leather safariland holster, and wondered if its looks (not an ugly "evil black gun") had something to do with the lack of reaction.
Whatever the reason, I was somewhat surprised, pleasantly so.
 
For me, it's about excercising my 2nd amendment right to carry, and if people get offended, well, it's not my fault they haven't read the law of the land, especially here in AZ.
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I had family members say to me "But what if you scare people, won't you feel bad?" I said "I have no intentions of alarming anyone, and they will be in fact probably safer around me than elsewhere. I have no control over people's reactions to me, and if they get scared or offended, that is their issue, not mine."
 
It is considered "legal" to OC here in Maine , but there IS this one statute that could be used against someone who is OCing .

§2001-A. Threatening display of or carrying concealed weapon
1. Display or carrying prohibited. A person may not, unless excepted by a provision of law:
A. Display in a threatening manner a firearm, slungshot, knuckles, bowie knife, dirk, stiletto or other dangerous or deadly weapon usually employed in the attack on or defense of a person; or [2003, c. 452, Pt. N, §2 (NEW); 2003, c. 452, Pt. X, §2 (AFF).]
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I OC fairly often even though I have my concealed permit . Haven't had any problems yet . Mostly I get "what that? Is it a glock? " Lol , apparently my XD45 looks like a glock to people .
 
I know Im one of the new guys to THR but Im going to go ahead and say what I feel...Why the hell would you want everyone to know you're armed? Its nice to do things because you can and because its your right, but I just dont understand it. Not to mention if you get a new cop who gets excited...etc. I carry concealed up here in VT almost 24/7, no one needs to know I have a weapon except me!
 
I am with you MTNMEDIC on that one. It is good to have the right to do so and nostalgic and cool to show your stuff, especially if you live in a very low risk of actual confrontation community. BUT in real life IMHO, the element of surprise is one of your biggest advantages. I don't want to show unless I intend to pull the trigger in most situations. Around Atlanta and lots of other places, open carry is more likely to get you shot or clubbed from behind to steal your nice gun or shot real quick by a perp or his sidekick if you should happen to walk into a armed crime in progress. It looks cool and badass, but tactically not does not put you in the best position. Just my opinion from the urban jungle.
 
mtnmedic11

When it's 100 deg out with 99% humidity , wearing anything more than a tanktop is unbearable . Right now when you go out in the morning it's 30 deg out so you wear a jacket . But , as the day progresses , it gets up in the 60s . Of course you take off the jacket , so no more concealment .

Everyone has their own opinion regarding open carry . Mine happens to be to not be shamed into concealing . I also don't fall for the false notion that open carry makes one a "target" by criminals . If that were the case , we would hear of many LEOs being attacked because they were obviously armed .

The "element of surprise" statement has merit , just as a visible gun being a deterrent does . It is a personal choice .

Maybe people where open carry is common can chime in . Exactly how many people have been "targeted" due to their firearm (not by LEOS) ? Have there been criminals roaming the streets looking for armed people to take their weapons?
 
Sethsquatch, things have apparently changed for the worse in Northern Virginia.

My older brother used to carry his Super Blackhawk .44 mag all the time. We lived in Falls Church, which is right next to Alexandria, in Fairfax County. He had a left hand draw western holster. It was really obvious that he was carrying, (kind of hard to hide a gun that big), and no one ever said a word.

Of course this was over thirty years ago.

Since it appears to be legal, perhaps more folks should do it and get people used to the idea.
 
Sethsquatch, things have apparently changed for the worse in Northern Virginia.
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Not at all. We probably have more OC'ers in NoVA than the rest of the state, and most of the local gendarmes have gotten the word. Check out opencarry.org for many of our experiences.
 
I haven't seen this thread yet, I don't know how I missed it.

I'm trying to get into Embry-Riddle (aviation college, for those who don't know) in a year or two and I'm glad to hear people are cool about open carrying like there.
 
This thread really drives home the lack of freedom here in New Jerkistan. We are only "allowed" to carry our (state registered) handguns to and from the range or shop (in the most direct route possible, ie., no side trips), in a case, separate from the ammo. Other than that, you are committing a felony (if they catch you).
 
mtnmedic11 said:
I know Im one of the new guys to THR but Im going to go ahead and say what I feel...Why the hell would you want everyone to know you're armed? Its nice to do things because you can and because its your right, but I just dont understand it. Not to mention if you get a new cop who gets excited...etc. I carry concealed up here in VT almost 24/7, no one needs to know I have a weapon except me!
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Welcome aboard medic!
I'm going to give you my standard rundown on my reasons to open carry:
  • Comfort. It's just more comfortable to wear an OWB holster, and not have the gun rubbing my skin.
  • Education. I think it's important for people to see a peaceable citizen carrying a firearm, and see the lack of ensuing violence.
  • Deterence. I think most criminals are inherently cowardly. They're not going to be interested in risking their skin to take on an armed victim. They'll find an easier mark.
  • Power. When you're not trying to keep it hidden, you can carry a gun that's much bigger. Bigger guns are easier to shoot, hold more rounds, and hold bigger rounds.
  • Freedom. A right unexercised soon atrophies and is lost. I don't want that to happen to open carry. In addition open carry doesn't require any sort of permission from the state, unlike concealed carry (though I do have an AZ CWP).

And my counterpoints to all the supposed drawbacks of OC:
  • I never get harassed.
  • I've never had the police stop me for open carrying.
  • The Police I have encountered, have been consistently polite and friendly.
  • I've never been asked to leave a business or cover my sidearm.
  • Concerns about being the first one shot in a robbery or being targeted by a mugger after my gun, seem to be mostly hypothetical with little real-world evidence to support them.
 
JesseL

Thanks for the rundown. Ill admit openly that I grew up in the communist commonwealth of Massachusetts where even talking about guns can cause the police to show up...and I really never saw anyone carrying openly. Since I've moved north to arguably the most friendly gun law state in the country its like night and day.

I appreciate the fact that people are exercising their rights but personally I dont think Id like the attention carrying in the open would bring to me.
 
One of the things I miss about Chino Valley (just down the road from Prescott) is being able to OC. Sure wish Texas would catch up with AZ!
 
Open carried with my family at the little car show/earth day/wildfire expo held downtown last Saturday, still nothing but good reactions.:)

OCatcarshow.jpg

-Before anyone complains:
The little guy spent most of the time walking on his own or being carried by momma, so no worries about not having my hands free during a snatch attempt.:rolleyes:
 
JesseL said:
Open carried with my family at the little car show/earth day/wildfire expo held downtown last Saturday, still nothing but good reactions.
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A single action?! Wow! You rock, that's awesome!
 
To those who raise the concerns of a gun take-away... Are you suggesting, in your opinion, that this is still a notable concern when carrying in a retention holster (thumb break, etc.)??
 
Good to see that you guys are open carrying. We're working on getting it enacted down here in Georgia. It's been a good year legislatively but I personally want the option of openly carrying my guns wherever I go.
 
+10 JesseL

Only been asked to leave a business once and that was by a female immigrant from a communist country.

One of the reasons the antis have sooooo much power is that people only associate guns with crime. Guns are bad so hide them and be afraid of anyone with them.
 
mtnmedic11, I open carry when I'm visiting my home in West Virginia. I'm not a resident of that state, and the state I am a resident in doesn't have shall issue. WV doesn't recognize non-resident carry permits from other states and itself doesn't issue one. So my only option is to open carry when I'm out there. So far no problems.
 
I was open carrying this morning and needed gas, pulled in next to the gas pump ahead of a little Pontiac Vibe with Texas plates (wife and I wondered why the license plates specified 'Truck':confused:). I got out of the car and said howdy to the guys with the Pontiac.

After I started pumping gas, the guys approached me and asked in thick German accents for directions to Highway 89 toward Wickenburg. I helped them out as best I could and they never so much as blinked at my pistol.:D

Yet another day of open carry with nothing but good consequences :D.
 
AZ is probably the most OC-friendly state in the USA.

Between Ruger, Gunsite, and the late Col. Cooper's legendary status, Prescott is probably the most OC-friendly city in AZ.

So it's no surprise that someone could OC there and not have any issues or negative reactions.

Enjoy!
 
frankie_the_yankee said:
Between Ruger, Gunsite, and the late Col. Cooper's legendary status, Prescott is probably the most OC-friendly city in AZ.
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That's quite possibly true. But how many German tourists know about Ruger, Gunsite, and Col. Cooper?
 
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