No Reaction to Open Carry at all

[JesseL]

For the past 3 days I've been open carrying in public. I've been to Wal-Mart, the grocery store, various smaller stores, and the downtown courthouse plaza. I've walked past local police, sheriff's deputies, and security guards, along with store greeters, little old ladies, tourists, and homeless people.

Only one person has shown any response at all. He asked what I was carrying and why I didn't carry an auto instead.

I've OC'd many times in the past, but it was usually a mid-sized semi-auto in a black nylon holster that's pretty easily overlooked. This time I was carrying my 4-5/8" .41 Mag Ruger Blackhawk in my new holster and cartridge belt from El Paso Saddlery - not so subtle.



I just thought it was interesting that nobody here seems to feel that open carry is worth making a fuss over. Gives me hope for the rest of the country .

 

[Heavy Metal Hero]

Good to hear.

 

[coyote_jr]

good on you

 

[LarryS.]

If you can.......DO IT!

 

[Leanwolf]

.41 Magnum is a great cartridge!

L.W.

 

[MarshallDodge]

I don't find it that big of a shock. Everytime I visit AZ I always see a person carrying in the open.

The Blackhawk is a good choice. I have open carried with my 45LC Vaquero a couple times.

 

[GunTech]

I tried open carry a few days ago, and got no reaction here as well. I have never seen anoth person carrying open since i moved here 2 years ago. Browning HP in a tan Galco - also pretty obvious.

Open carry sure is more comfortable in the summer.

 

[IA_farmboy]

There's no reaction because you were carrying a perfectly respectable "cowboy gun" that good guys use to shoot rattlers, coyotes, and train robbers.

Just think if you had been carrying one of those "semiautomatic machine pistols" that drug dealers and crackheads use to shoot mothers clutching their babies, screaming and frightened schoolchildren wearing cute little school uniforms or boyscout outfits, and through the doors of police cruisers to hit a decorated police detective just hours from retirement. You would have seen some people run the other way in horror, others piss their pants and stand like a deer in headlamps while muttering prayers to themselves bracing for their inevitable death, and have three LEOs tackle you to the ground and beat you mercilessly once they had you in handcuffs.

Please, don't give me flak for putting LEOs in a bad light in that last paragraph. I'm just trying to point out how many people overreact to the sight of Evil Black Guns. I think that your choice in weapon had much to do with how people reacted.

 

[JKimball]

I think Prescott had a lot to do with how people reacted. Cool town. Of course, I mostly know it as the home of J&G, and from a few good Louis L'amour novels. Way to go JesseL.

 

[RP86]

AZ is great, I was surprised I didn't see anybody OC'ing while I was out there for a few days.

 

[MisterPX]

You're in AZ. OC is no big deal there.

Come try that in WI where OC is "legal".


That's just a joke, don't actually do it, or bad things will happen to you.

 

[dasmi]

I frequently open carry around AZ without any trouble at all. I have open carried in Prescott as well, Makarov in a paddle holster. Not a glance from anyone.

 

[Dimensio]

I've had surprisingly little reaction to OC in Louisville, KY. A few people have asked me if I have a permit, and I inform them that no permit is required for open carry, though I do have a permit allowing me to conceal the pistol if I so choose.

A few of the commenters were gun owners themselves, who clearly had no problem with my carrying.

 

[beltslide]

AZ is a great State. I've seen quite a few people OC on various trips to AZ.

 

[Mannix]

I've only seen one guy OCing here in the Twin Cities, and he was being cornered by a few soccer moms in the fresh produce section at Cub. All of them were basically telling him how irresponsible it was to carry a weapon in the open, as it was likely to scare children and old ladies .

Perhaps one day soon I will escape to a state where I can carry openly without fear of ignorant cops or angry soccer moms ...

Heck, I'd settle for a state that recognized that 18-21 year olds have the right to self defense too.

 

[chris in va]

There's no reaction because you were carrying a perfectly respectable "cowboy gun" that good guys use to shoot rattlers, coyotes, and train robbers

That was my first thought, plus it's in AZ. I tried OC a couple times in VA and got comments.

 

[RLsnow]

dudes! i cant even carry a knife in norway!

me=jealous, in noorway you can not own a gun for self defense, hunting and target shooting ok but self defense is a big no-no.

 

[Jdude]

You aren't likely to get a reaction OCing in AZ. I've seen everything from revolvers to EBRs in that state. It is part of the culture there.

 

[Owens]

Can't say for sure, but I somehow feel that the "no reaction" would be the norm especially in the south and southwest U.S. Wish it were a possible here. Although I hear there are some folks working on that.

 

[spankaveli]

I was going to say "because you're in AZ" but apparently that's been covered a few times.

 

[Citroen]

Loved "PresKit"

I attended Gunsite in 1985 and stayed in Prescott. I loved the town; greatest place on earth and the people were some of the nicest I ever met. Spent the first hour in town finding and shopping in the local drug store - looking for bright orange fingernail polish for the front sight of my revolver. Clerk comes over, sees my rather confused look (in 1985 Men did not wear fingernail polish!) and asks if she can help. While ringing up the selection she remarked, "You are the second man in here today looking for this".

Loved the place and, if I could have found a job there I would have moved in a heartbeat.

I am glad to read that it has not changed for the worse.

Thanks for the reminder from a little bit of Heaven.

John
Charlotte, NC
No - you do NOT want to move here!

 

[crankshop1000]

Try that in Detroit!!It's legal here, but you will be hassled (or killed and eaten).

 

[CajunBass]

Your experience mirrors mine here in Virginia. Never had a comment at all other than "Can I do that too?", or "What sidearm are you carrying? Is that a Colt?" Couple of days ago I was in a Hardee's in Richmond, and two of Richmond's finest (Richmond is not noted as being "gun friendly.") came in. They didn't give me a second look, even standing in line right behind me.

I carry either a Colt Commander (cocked and locked of course), a Smith & Wesson 39-2, or like this morning when I'm feeling somewhat lazy, a Makarov. Maybe not "evil and black", but they ain't cowboy guns either.

 

[romma]

I actually flew to AZ last week for a business trip and carried concealed there. It was the first time other than being with someone else going hunting, that I checked a firearm at an airline. The airline was good, TSA was good, and it was nice to know that I could legally carry in AZ.

The only thing I didn't like,is that AZ has a law against carrying in places where they serve alcohol.

 

[SolaScriptura139]

I've open carried many times here in WV. Never had any comments or funny looks that I saw from the general public. A guy thought I was a cop and asked me for directions. However, I did get comment's from people I know. Always asking me why I carry a gun and stuff like that. But that's not a bad thing, gives me opportunities to spread RKBA. I have a church friend who's now thinking about carrying.