Odd open carry...

[armoredman]

Just an hour ago in one of the Tucson WalMarts, my wife and I observed an individual carrying what appeared to be a nice compact 1911, (perhaps a Para Hawg?), in a cheap looking nylon horizontal open toe shoulder rig. Black nylon over black t-shirt DID kinda hide the whole thing at a distance, but anything close than, say, 20 feet, it was painfully obvious. Yes, open carry is legal, and yes, WalMart does NOT freak out, this is AZ.
First statement, if you are going to spend $1000 on a nice pistola, spend 1/10th of that on a decent rig! A professional looking leather belt holster would have gone a long way from "Tacticool Commando" to "Possible Off Duty LE".
Second, why the heck would anyone wear a shoulder holster open? Maybe a hunting rig in the bush for your scoped handgun, buit in the city with no cover garment? Not only is your draw slower and more complicated, but it is obvious, from 360 degrees, that you are carrying! Then, the fact it is open toe, and the guy behind you in the checkout line might get a little nervous, staring down your bore whilst waiting to buy his groceries.
Thoughts? BTW,if you know this guy, would you please help him get a good rig?

 

[nemoaz]

He's not LE. I've seen that dude. He's usually has a clip on folder in each pocket and bowie knife too. Wears black jeans all the time. Just a nutjob. I heard him talking cowboy commando stuff at the gun counter once.

Were you at the Wallyworld on Speedway?

 

[tmajors]

I open carried a shoulder rig once. But not really intentionally. I started the day with slacks, shirt, tie, shoulder holster and suit coat. Temperature was kinda chilly so I thought I'd have my coat on all day, but was going to be sitting also so went with shoulder holster instead of IWB or belt.

Round lunch time the guys I was meeting with decided to go to a diner. Got inside and the place was warm. Wasn't warm enough outside to kick on the AC yet or something. I could only stand it for about 5 minutes and had to take off my suit coat going from concealed to open carry. Nobody batted an eye.

 

[Bilt4Comfort]

I picture from your camera phone might have given me a good chuckle it sounds like.

OTOH, this guy doesn't sound like the type to appreciate his picture being taken.

 

[armoredman]

No, Cortaro road. Yes, as a matter of fact he WAS wearing black jeans. Go figure. Saw a clipit style knife, but no bowie blade.
It's legal, don't get me wrong, but it struck me as maximizing the chances against you.
BTW, I don't have a camera phone.

 

[Tokugawa]

What is with this horizontal carry bit? It seemingly violates rule #2 all the time. I would be very pissed off to be staring down a muzzle, even in some guys holster.

 

[Car Knocker]

What is with this horizontal carry bit? It seemingly violates rule #2 all the time.

No different than walking up a set of stairs wearing a belt holster with a forward cant - that covers anyone walking behind you.

 

[W.E.G.]

You should have struck up a 9mm vs. .45 conversation with him.

 

[armoredman]

That's not a conversation, that's an argument. Gah.

 

[The Canuck]

I wish we had Open/Concealed Carry up here. Sadly the sheeple in Canada just haven't clued in yet. :banghead:

However, I am impressed that in AZ one can lawfully carry a firearm in a responsible fashion (even if it is in a shoulder rig ) and nobody even takes any real notice. Its part of the reason I am thinking about getting my B-Pressure and rare metals tickets and heading to AZ myself...

 

[TallPine]

Heck, did you know that you can make a fairly serviceable holster out of ductape ...?


The Canuck: you could just hop over the border into Montana

 

[Caimlas]

That's pretty funny. Thanks for sharing that. (Particularly the part about the guy standing in line behind him...)

 

[Clipper]

Maybe he was just real impressed with Die Hard III...

 

[nemoaz]

Maybe he was just real impressed with Die Hard III...

 

[mbt2001]

...appeared to be a nice compact 1911

A nice gun, most likely carried cocked and locked in a shoulder holster where it is most likely pointing at someone (visably).... That isn't a good idea. The muzzle isn't in a "safe direction", it is cocked and locked.

 

[Sean85746]

I have seen that feller myself.

I also fondly remember "Herr Hitler Wannabe" who could be seen at ALL the Tucson gun shows AND walking around town with faded black jeans, jack boots, a Walther P-38 in an SS style flap holster, wearing an Afrika Korps style kepi.

There is also the guy who you see around Grant and Oracle carrying a dime-store samurai sword in a cardboard and electrical tape scabbard.

Let us not forget old "Speedway Randy" who walked around with a brace of Lorcin or Bryco pistols in double nylon crossdraw holsters.

I always called Tucson the "Cosmic Center Of Eclectic Wierdness". I grew up there...now I live in Tempe...no, not as strange...

Still, I have NO idea why anyone would want to carry in a shoulder rig. I have customers ask me to make them, and I refer them to Galco.

 

[6_gunner]

why the heck would anyone wear a shoulder holster open?

C'mon, haven't you seen The Mummy?

 

[Eyesac]

You should have struck up a 9mm vs. .45 conversation with him.

Hahaha!

 

[boredelmo]

sorry, way off topic, but open carry is 21+ or 18+ in AZ?

 

[Sistema1927]

Maybe the reason why many people don't open carry is due to the fact that they don't want to left open to criticism concerning their choice of holsters and gear.

Instead of criticizing this guy why don't we applaud him for living the RKBA? I wouldn't care if he was carrying a Nambu 94 in a handmade cardboard holster.

 

[Old Fuff]

sorry, way off topic, but open carry is 21+ or 18+ in AZ?

Eighteen, and at that age you can buy a handgun from a private owner, but not an FFL dealer. You have to be 21 to do that. You also have to be 21 to purchase handgun ammunition, but are good to go with shotgun or rifle.

Arizona is a very gun-friendly state.

 

[mbt2001]

Maybe the reason why many people don't open carry is due to the fact that they don't want to left open to criticism concerning their choice of holsters and gear.

Instead of criticizing this guy why don't we applaud him for living the RKBA? I wouldn't care if he was carrying a Nambu 94 in a handmade cardboard holster.

+1 to the idiot for excerising RKBA...

-2 for making all the rest of us RKBA look like num nutz.

 

[Sawdust]

Eighteen, and at that age you can buy a handgun from a private owner, but not an FFL dealer. You have to be 21 to do that. You also have to be 21 to purchase handgun ammunition, but are good to go with shotgun or rifle.

An eighteen-year-old can buy a handgun, but has to wait until 21 to buy ammo for it?

Sawdust

 

[Old Fuff]

An eighteen-year-old can buy a handgun, but has to wait until 21 to buy ammo for it?

Yes, it is stupid to say the least, but federal law requires that FFL dealers sell handgun ammunition to those who are 21 or over. On the other hand Arizona state law says that an individual between the ages of 18 through 20 can buy a handgun through a private-party purchase (but not from an FFL - federal law again), and leaglly open carry his or her handgun. They have to be 21 though to get a concealed carry permit.

While gun-control advocates may puff & fuss over this, the fact is that this procedure so far as 18 and up being able to buy and open-carry has been in effect since the frontier days, and not caused any problems. Those that have criminal intentions are delt with on the basis of whatever crimes they commit. Our law enforcement officers don't seem to worry about the rest.

 

[Matt_W]

What is the armed crime/murder rate like in AZ.

You have to understand that I am one of Her Majesties Subjects who suspects he has been lied to since being a boy.