Open Carry- I CAN!

[NavyLCDR]

There’s absolutely nothing wrong with having and expressing an opinion, but stubbornly digging in your heels when it’s been plainly shown that your opinion is erroneous is…well, I’d rather keep this High Road and not say it out loud.

I personally don't even care if someone digs their heels in whether or not they are going to open carry or conceal carry or what their reasons are for doing so. I personally don't care how another person carries. What I WILL say something about is when someone makes claims to be "pro gun" and "pro 2A" and then calls those that carry guns in holsters on their belts to be a$$es because they choose to do so. Let's leave that stuff for the Brady Bunch and their followers to do, we have enough problems with their unfounded judgements based on appearance only.

And there's nothing wrong with asking if a person's opinion is based upon fact or theory, and asking for facts to back up the theory or asking for the facts they claim their opinion is based on.

 

[Axel Larson]

I realize that I am new here but if you could refrain from calling people pompous and an a$$ would great. This is an interesting discussion and I would like to continue it instead of a moderator shutting it down. Attack the argument not the person. Thanks.

 

[jonnyc]

If you gentlemen will read carefully, my statement did not call you anything. I stated what my initial gut reaction was to people I saw carrying openly. You're free to take that as you will. If that is my reaction, I can only begin to imagine the reaction of non-gun people, who are a huge chunk of the voting public.

 

[smalls]

Lately when i head to work (where my gun sits in either the glovebox or duffel bag) I've been just slapping a paddle holster on when I walk to and from house and car. I live in a townhouse, that faces inward to a park in the complex. I had my neighbor come to the door on Saturday. He's about 25, and I've recently found out he's the local (I guess "legal"?) pot dealer.
Him: do you have your CPL?

Me: unless you're an officer, that's none of your business .

Him: if you do, you need to conceal that weapon. That's what it's for, so you can conceal it, a**hole. We've got kids playing here, I don't need my kids seeing some looney with a gun.

Me: the way I carry my weapon is also my business. I'm perfectly within the law.

Him: I don't care if it's legal or not, knock it off.

Me: the only reason someone would be nervous of my gun is if they might give me a reason to use it.

He left very quickly after that. He had a couple other smartass remarks. I was pretty angry with him, but had yo smirk to my self when he ran home.

 

[*NOVA*]

Some parts of Virginia thinks differently. Now some of those you call Virginians may not be Virginians at all. They may very well be transplants who moved here from some "foreign" state like New Jersey and the like. Also rememeber that Virginia has a thriving tourist trade and these folks may have very little idea of what Virginia laws allow.

Agree with Black Knight

As my handle implies, I am in NOrthern VirginiA. I have lived here over nine years now - have NEVER seen anyone open carry that wasn't in an LEO or securtity guard uniform. (We have a lot of government / contractor facilities here with armed guards at the entrance gates)

I have a CCW license. It makes sense to me that OC in this part of the state would look very unusual. I think it would be great if more people were aware of their right to OC. But I also have to figure there ARE intelligent folks around the DC metro area who are indeed aware of the right but choose NOT to carry for whatever reason. Take into account the huge variety of people living here (metro area) and one can safely assume there is a large segment with anti-gun sentiment.

People who open carry stand out because they are in a minority. Concealed carry? I hope there are a lot more of my CCW licensed folks than I can see (if they conceal well, you don't see it, right?) Conclusion: while you open carry you probably encounter at least a few people in public who conceal and you don't even know it!

 

[Mainsail]

I can only begin to imagine the reaction of non-gun people…

True, you can only imagine, but why? There are several people here that OC regularly, some who do so in large cities like Tacoma, Seattle, and Bellevue and have firsthand knowledge of how people (very liberal people at that) react to someone openly carrying. You never asked, so it certainly appears you prefer your opinions baseless.

This is a firearms community forum and there are people here with experience in numerous areas. If I want to know why my 1911 isn’t feeding, there are quite a few people with tons of experience who will help me. I don’t make a groundless statement that 1911s don’t feeds properly, I ask questions and learn.

 

[NavyLCDR]

To me... the anti-gun sentiment and even the idea that a person openly carrying a handgun in a holster on their belts warrants "a closer look" comes from the anti-gun media. The public has been so conditioned over the last 30 years that guns are automatically associated with criminal behavior that it is instinctive for people to think that way.

The Brady Bunch and their followers have campaigned very loudly and incesscently in order to achieve this indoctrination in the minds of the public. And they have succeeded very well in their goals. Look at the feelings expressed by pro-gun people when they see someone carrying a gun in a holster!

The problem is that the public is never going to be able to overcome this indoctrination if they don't see an alternate image than that presented to them by the anti-gun groups. Whether we like to admit it or not, one of the by-products of hiding our guns away is the promotion that somehow their is something evil associated with the gun so we must hide it. To the anti-gun crowd they see this as something secretive - and we all know that something that must remain a secret must have something bad associated with it.

Until we get over these feelings ourselves. Until we change our way of thinking and are able to convince ourselves that there is absolutely nothing wrong with a person who chooses to carry a gun on their belt because they desire to be able to protect themselves and their families from harm, then how can we ever expect the anti-gun public to have their feelings changed?

Until the public starts SEEING Americans carrying guns for self protection in normal, everyday American life, they aren't going to get any sight of a gun in a positive way. Until we start telling the police who stop us, I don't have to show you ID, I don't have to answer your questions, because I am not doing anything that would indicate criminal behavior just because I am lawfully carrying a gun...and until those same officers are chastised in court for detaining law abiding citizens - the public is going to continue to assume that the mere act of carrying a gun is suspicous behavior.

Sometimes we are our own worst enemies. It's because we have been exposed to the anti-gun conditioning and propaganda pushed by the Brady Bunch and other groups that some of it has gotten into our heads. It's time we stopped an evaluated very strongly and carefully why it is that the sight of a gun carried in a holster bothers us, even on the slightest level, before we take into account any other behavior on the part of the person carrying the gun that would actually be worthy of suspicion.

There is really only one difference between the person who carries the gun concealed and the person who carries the gun openly in a holster on their belt. One person wears their shirt over the gun, and the other person tucks their shirt in behind their gun.

 

[AlexanderA]

Just because something is allowed, doesn't necessarily mean that it's wise. I live in Northern Virginia, and, although legal, open carrying around here would just tend to provoke people. (Just because they don't speak up doesn't mean that they are not upset.) Or, they would assume that you were law enforcement (which, of course, raises issues of "impersonation").

This sort of confrontational approach isn't good PR for gun owners. Yes, I know the argument about "desensitizing" the public. Open carrying is more likely to "sensitize" the public against it, and the next thing you know there might be a law against open carrying. I'd rather have a right that I could hold in reserve until it was really needed. Same thing with a concealed carry license. Have it, but don't necessarily use it until really needed. How many of us really feel threatened on a daily basis? (And, I might add, it might be worth making a few changes in your lifestyle if indeed you feel threatened on a daily basis.)

Bottom line: I don't need to carry a gun to prove how tough I am, or to compensate for my perceived weaknesses. This whole thing about gun-carrying is basically infantile behavior. The gun-carriers among us need to honestly examine their motivations.

 

[ForumSurfer]

Sometimes we are our own worst enemies. It's because we have been exposed to the anti-gun conditioning and propaganda pushed by the Brady Bunch and other groups that some of it has gotten into our heads. It's time we stopped an evaluated very strongly and carefully why it is that the sight of a gun carried in a holster bothers us, even on the slightest level, before we take into account any other behavior on the part of the person carrying the gun that would actually be worthy of suspicion.

While I do open carry on occasion, fully support open carry and it is fairly common here; when I do see someone open carrying I give them a once over. By that I mean I do a basic threat assessment. I look into their eyes, glance at their gear (good belt/holster vs Mexican carry) and just give them a casual observation. While I don’t disprove or suspect the person of anything, I do give that person more of my attention than the average unarmed joe beside him. Maybe I’m paranoid, maybe it’s a situational awareness thing or maybe you are right about us being our own worst enemy.

 

[NavyLCDR]

While I do open carry on occasion, fully support open carry and it is fairly common here; when I do see someone open carrying I give them a once over. By that I mean I do a basic threat assessment. I look into their eyes, glance at their gear (good belt/holster vs Mexican carry) and just give them a casual observation. While I don’t disprove or suspect the person of anything, I do give that person more of my attention than the average unarmed joe beside him. Maybe I’m paranoid, maybe it’s a situational awareness thing or maybe you are right about us being our own worst enemy.

Please allow me to honestly ask this question:

Do you give everyone you see a once over? Do you do you a basic threat assessment on everyone you see? Look into their eyes, glance at their waist area to see if there is a bulge there or an outline of a gun there? How do you know that the average Joe in line in front of you at 7-11 is unarmed? Why is a person who displays their gun openly more worthy of the extra look than the person who MIGHT have a concealed gun? Wouldn't the person openly displaying their gun actually be LESS likely to be a person who would have something to hide, either in the present or in their past?

 

[NavyLCDR]

It's simply amazing...

How this can provoke so many negative feelings and raise such concern:

 

[ForumSurfer]

Do you give everyone you see a once over?

Nope, don't have time. Just people that catch my attention.

Do you do you a basic threat assessment on everyone you see?

Same as above.

Look into their eyes, glance at their waist area to see if there is a bulge there or an outline of a gun there?

Only those that catch my attention. (I look at people often, gets me in trouble. I can't help it, I'm a people watcher. I get a kick out of watching people's demeanor and reactions for some reason. Like my grandfather, I could grab a bowl of popcorn and be entertained by simply watching a crowded street and observing interactions. It has gotten me in trouble more than once with girlfriends, but I'm honestly just observing.)

How do you know that the average Joe in line in front of you at 7-11 is unarmed?

I don't. But if he throws up red flags, he gets my attention.

Why is a person who displays their gun openly more worthy of the extra look than the person who MIGHT have a concealed gun?

Because I'm a people watcher. The guy has a gun. He is either a threat or a gun guy like me, in which case I'm looking at his OC gear to see if his taste is similar to mine. He has my attention because he is carrying a gun, I can't help it. I look at people.

Wouldn't the person openly displaying their gun actually be LESS likely to be a person who would have something to hide, either in the present or in their past?

Yep, but like I said...I'm a people watcher. I'm not looking with suspicion or doubt, just looking. Unless the guy beside him looks like a complete threat, I'll observe the person with the gun. I think it is almost subconscious.

What was that old military motto? "Be polite but have a plan to kill everyone around you?" I just pay attention to those in my vicinity. Just because I give someone the once over, doesn't mean I do it negatively. I give many people the once over. If they look back or notice, I nod or say hello so as not to appear rude. OC is common here, but not overly common. I may see one or two people a day OC'ing, so yeah...I look. He or she may be a threat or may be next shooting buddy after a conversation.

 

[dandydon]

I have a an "unrestricted" permit here in new york(state) not city, but the laws are confusing, I CC when I carry,and still feel odd walking arround. When I researched the CC rules for our state some dude said in an article "Even if you can see the form of a gun thru your shirt, you could be arrested and charged"I'm still trying to sort this crap out!!!! Anyone with correct info on this please post.
Thanks, Don

 

[NavyLCDR]

Bottom line: I don't need to carry a gun to prove how tough I am, or to compensate for my perceived weaknesses. This whole thing about gun-carrying is basically infantile behavior. The gun-carriers among us need to honestly examine their motivations.

I could not agree more.

 

[FIVETWOSEVEN]

I was once open carrying at a shooting range and was shooting shotguns at the time and was talked to about it. The guy that ran the range wanted me to put it away after I finished my round and before that he asked me to unchamber it with the reason that he didn't want any accidents which really doesn't make any sense to me considering how I wasn't touching it.

I would like to open carry considering at the moment its my only method of being able to carry but my parents don't want me to for the same exact reasons that people always say about open carrying.

 

[Art Eatman]

Lotsa "How I feel" and not a lot about firearms laws...