Open carry is just stupid

[castile]

there is not one thing under the sun that open carry is good for. Open carry in and of itself is not an issue. If I were hiking in the Desert of the south west I would open carry. But in public its just retarded. You lose any element of surprise you would have had. You make yourself a target if someone is committing a crime. You make yourself a target if someone wants to obtain a gun, and your are a fool if you think you can just see it coming and use your gun to take care of it. If you live in someplace like Wyoming where its mostly Prong Horn and not very many people and you ride around open carry in a small town where its not an issue that would be one thing. But I still would not want to open carry unless I needed a 44 mag or 45 long colt for snakes and such. You can freak grandma out at the local mega low mart if she sees a gun and its in an area where there are people who are not or have not been around guns or open carry. Open carry has very little if any real use. I took the enhanced gun class for an upgrade to my CCW. We talked about it in class and we all agreed, including the instructor that there is no good reason for open carry. The instructor said if someone wants to that is up to them if its legal but there is no good reason for it. I have said that for years. I have heard it all before and all the BS about how they can carry a desert eagle or a 50 S&W but its just that BS.

 

[Rubone]

Lots of things are stupid, but that doesn't keep people from doing them.

 

[AlexanderA]

Well, I can think of one valid reason to open carry -- if it's legal in your state, you don't have a concealed carry permit (and it's not a permitless concealed carry state), and there's a specific, credible threat against you that has suddenly arisen. (This set of facts would be extremely rare.)

The few people that open carry around here, in contrast, do it to "make a statement" and to "desensitize the public" about guns. They are fools. What they are actually doing, instead, is offending the Soccer Moms and sensitizing them to the "threat" posed by guns. This sort of bad PR is exactly why we lose our gun rights.

 

[jmorris]

there is not one thing under the sun that open carry is good for.

I think its good to be free to do so if I want to, even if I think its not a good idea but I like freedom more than most.

 

[bassjam]

Everyone likes to say open carry makes you a target, but is there any instances that proves this theory?

One could just as easily say that open carry is a deterrent to crime. Criminals don't want to be confronted, they want an easy victim and a clean get-away. If a would-be criminal walks into a 7-11 and sees 3 people open carrying, I bet he's going to pick another store.

Just playing devils advocate here because absolute statements like "open carry is stupid and there's no good reason for it" are kind of stupid. Especially if this statement is predicated by "If I were hiking in the desert of the southwest I would open carry". So there must be SOME good reasons to open carry if OP admits under certain circumstances he would himself open carry.

 

[jmorris]

Everyone likes to say open carry makes you a target, but is there any instances that proves this theory?

Lots of them, why police use holsters you can't just slip a gun out of.

This is Why You MUST Have Retention on an Openly Carried Firearm

Do you ever open carry? If you open carry your firearm, you must think about retention as part of your Active Self Protection. There’s a reason law enforceme...

www.youtube.com

Man’s gun stolen from holster while waiting in gas station line

Memphis Police are looking for a man accused of stealing a gun off another man’s holster while he was standing in line at a store.READ: https://wreg.com/news...

www.youtube.com

Open Carrying Officer Has His Gun Stolen From Him

Baker Targets brought us today’s video of Open Carrying Officer Has His Gun Stolen From Him. https://get-asp.com/bakertargets is my go-to source for targets ...

www.youtube.com

Another Guy Robbed Of Gun In His Pocket Is Why I Don't Open Carry

Gun Taken From Pockethttps://bit.ly/2CHLudtHere is another video demonstrating why I don't open-carry.There are not too many things more embarrassing than ha...

www.youtube.com

You could probably hand most people a level IV holster and they wouldn't have the gun out a half a minute later or longer. A number of actions have to take place, some concurrently and there are shields that ensure some actions cannot be done by a faced opponent.

Holster Retention | Understanding Holster Retention Levels

Safariland helps you securely holster your firearm with the most stringent and clearly defined retention levels in the industry.

inside.safariland.com

 

[JohnJak]

Will someone please pass the popcorn. This will be interesting. I do not open carry for all those bad reasons.

 

[ilbob]

People might well say concealed carry is no good for similar reasons. I figure it should be a choice.

 

[bangswitch]

there is not one thing under the sun that open carry is good for. Open carry in and of itself is not an issue. If I were hiking in the Desert of the south west I would open carry. But in public its just retarded. You lose any element of surprise you would have had. You make yourself a target if someone is committing a crime. You make yourself a target if someone wants to obtain a gun, and your are a fool if you think you can just see it coming and use your gun to take care of it. If you live in someplace like Wyoming where its mostly Prong Horn and not very many people and you ride around open carry in a small town where its not an issue that would be one thing. But I still would not want to open carry unless I needed a 44 mag or 45 long colt for snakes and such. You can freak grandma out at the local mega low mart if she sees a gun and its in an area where there are people who are not or have not been around guns or open carry. Open carry has very little if any real use. I took the enhanced gun class for an upgrade to my CCW. We talked about it in class and we all agreed, including the instructor that there is no good reason for open carry. The instructor said if someone wants to that is up to them if its legal but there is no good reason for it. I have said that for years. I have heard it all before and all the BS about how they can carry a desert eagle or a 50 S&W but its just that BS.

You're pretty much preaching to the choir.

I agree, open carry intimidates the sheep, and it makes you the first guy taken out in a 7-11 robbery if you're there buying an RC Cola and a Moon Pie.

 

[bassjam]

Lots of them, why police use holsters you can't just slip a gun out of.

This is Why You MUST Have Retention on an Openly Carried Firearm

Do you ever open carry? If you open carry your firearm, you must think about retention as part of your Active Self Protection. There’s a reason law enforceme...

www.youtube.com

Man’s gun stolen from holster while waiting in gas station line

Memphis Police are looking for a man accused of stealing a gun off another man’s holster while he was standing in line at a store.READ: https://wreg.com/news...

www.youtube.com

Open Carrying Officer Has His Gun Stolen From Him

Baker Targets brought us today’s video of Open Carrying Officer Has His Gun Stolen From Him. https://get-asp.com/bakertargets is my go-to source for targets ...

www.youtube.com

Another Guy Robbed Of Gun In His Pocket Is Why I Don't Open Carry

Gun Taken From Pockethttps://bit.ly/2CHLudtHere is another video demonstrating why I don't open-carry.There are not too many things more embarrassing than ha...

www.youtube.com

You could probably hand most people a level IV holster and they wouldn't have the gun out a half a minute later or longer. A number of actions have to take place, some concurrently and there are shields that ensure some actions cannot be done by a faced opponent.

View attachment 1223110

Holster Retention | Understanding Holster Retention Levels

Safariland helps you securely holster your firearm with the most stringent and clearly defined retention levels in the industry.

inside.safariland.com

Thanks for posting. I was referring more to OP implying that open carrying makes you a target to get shot, because as you point out there are holsters that can severely impair the ability of someone else taking your gun off your hip.

 

[bluejeans]

there is not one thing under the sun that open carry is good for.

Well at least you’re open minded about it…

We talked about it in class and we all agreed, including the instructor that there is no good reason for open carry. The instructor said..

You seem to be assuming that everyone’s gun use is for daily, defensive carry in public places but I’d say many, possible the majority of gun use falls outside that window…
Not all guns are concealable nor intended for concealed use and they deserve to be able to leave the house whether in use or transport without the cops being called.
Strategically there is a place for a show of force (but yeah, not all day, every day as a lifestyle)
Parts of the country are more friendly to OC than others… where I live it’s pretty common to see open carry and you’re more likely to strike up a good conversation than hear an objection.
I can think of a good number of examples that would disprove your point but here’s one: a few years back I was approaching a strange house to knock on the door when the owner, a petite older woman, stepped out on the porch to meet me with a gun. I could see at first glance that it was not loaded and at second glance that she didn’t know how to use it. But rather than laugh and point out her gun wasn’t loaded, I put on my serious face showing her the respect she was obviously wanting, asked my question, thanked her, and left.

 

[scaatylobo]

there is not one thing under the sun that open carry is good for. Open carry in and of itself is not an issue. If I were hiking in the Desert of the south west I would open carry. But in public its just retarded. You lose any element of surprise you would have had. You make yourself a target if someone is committing a crime. You make yourself a target if someone wants to obtain a gun, and your are a fool if you think you can just see it coming and use your gun to take care of it. If you live in someplace like Wyoming where its mostly Prong Horn and not very many people and you ride around open carry in a small town where its not an issue that would be one thing. But I still would not want to open carry unless I needed a 44 mag or 45 long colt for snakes and such. You can freak grandma out at the local mega low mart if she sees a gun and its in an area where there are people who are not or have not been around guns or open carry. Open carry has very little if any real use. I took the enhanced gun class for an upgrade to my CCW. We talked about it in class and we all agreed, including the instructor that there is no good reason for open carry. The instructor said if someone wants to that is up to them if its legal but there is no good reason for it. I have said that for years. I have heard it all before and all the BS about how they can carry a desert eagle or a 50 S&W but its just that BS.

I was an instructor for my police academy for 22 years [ out of 26 on the job ].
Among my lessons was " weapon retention" and yes I was schooled in real time weapon retention by the FBI D/T school and then a few classes I took on my own.
There is NO DOUBT that if someone wants your hogleg = they WILL GET IT.
And that goes for even level II holster,above that you have a "chance".
IF you doubt this then GO TRY IT !!.
Otherwise PLEASE believe those of us that have TRIED IT !.
If you want to try it,I strongly suggest you use blue guns and wear gloves.
You will need a referee and a first aid person too.
AND you will bleed,as will both partys involved.
OC has its place , I hunt with a pistol and often do OC in the woods or in a few small towns that are used to seeing hunters during hunting season [ very rural ].
And btw , I do not feel safe around those who OC as I fear that a putz will attempt to take that gun.
I do not want to be around ANYONE wrestling over a gun.

 

[irishlad]

I think its good to be free to do so if I want to, even if I think its not a good idea but I like freedom more than most.

I’m with you on freedom. I’m sure I do things others might consider dumb, that I don’t.

it makes you the first guy taken out in a 7-11 robbery if you're there buying an RC Cola and a Moon Pie.

I’ve always thought this was a plus for me. Gives me a chance to run, hide or shoot back as a last resort.

 

[Kleanbore]

Everyone likes to say open carry makes you a target, but is there any instances that proves this theory?

Yes, there are.

 

[shafter]

I have nothing against it. Cops and security guards open carry every day and many of them are grossly out of shape and poorly trained in weapon retention yet there isn't an epidemic of gun grabs. If a criminal wants a gun there are easier ways of obtaining one.

I also don't have a problem with people who carry to create awareness as long as they are respectful and don't harass law enforcement. We don't keep our rights by hiding them or not using them. That's like preserving free speech by only saying things that never offend anyone.

I think concealed carry is the best way to go and it's how I choose to carry but that doesn't mean I think it's grossly stupid to open carry. Like anything else it's all in how you do it.

 

[jobu07]

Having the option is always nice. Would it be preferred by anyone that the right to do so be taken away from us?

 

[Madcap_Magician]

I would agree that open carry as a practice is generally dumb if concealed carry is an option.

But just because a thing is dumb doesn't mean it should be illegal. There's lots of situations where legal open carry is a good thing to have. If you're carrying concealed and inadvertently expose your gun. If you're hunting and want a sidearm. If you're fishing for salmon and need a bear cannon.

 

[br549arkie]

I was behind a guy at the counter of the local Home Depot contractor's area and noticed he was open carrying a 1911 in a open top holster with no sort of retention. He was paying all his attention to the store employee on the other side of the counter and I realized how easy it would be for me or someone else to relieve him of that 1911. Bad idea to carry like that.

 

[Kleanbore]

We don't keep our rights by hiding them or not using them. That's like preserving free speech by only saying things that never offend anyone.

In our area. people "exercising their right" to open carry resulted in a spate of laws outlawing it, which have since been over-ridden for people with cCW permits by state preemption.

 

[MarshallDodge]

I can think of worse things to do than open carry. As long as the person doing it understands the risks and is aware of their surroundings, then let them have their freedom.

 

[Armorer 101]

Full disclosure, open carry in FL is illegal, so not something you see much of in FL, on the other hand concealed carry is allowed without a permit. Now AL allows open carry and when I take a long trip to AL, 1/2 mile, literally, I see folks that open carry. I do wish they would secure the gun in at least a thumb break holster though.

 

[BBarn]

Soccer Mom's didn't write our Constitutions, and I don't help elect them to government office. I don't even care what they think about open carry.

If you live in a state where open carry is your only legal option (I have), I can't blame someone for doing it. I've also lived in a state where the legal options were to carry open or obtain a concealed carry permit. In those situations, I can't blame someone for carrying open if they feel they need to and don't have a permit.

When I carry, I choose to conceal. But the vast majority of time I don't carry. I guess that makes me stupid too. I guess the only non-stupid option is to follow whatever the OP says.

 

[Jim Watson]

There was a spate of open carry here in Alabama when it was first authorized. I haven't seen one recently. I guess people's urge to assert their rights has been overtaken by practicality.

 

[Kleanbore]

Soccer Mom's didn't write our Constitutions, and I don't help elect them to government office. I don't even care what they think about open carry.

They vote for your representatives.

 

[CDW4ME]

I suspect unsaid factors of OC are that some who do it think it may intimidate and / or they really dislike untucking their shirt.