Open Carry (or concealed) when heavily tattooed

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If the pics you posted are you, I wouldn't worry. You don't look the least bit threatening.

A lot goes in to people's estimations of each other's character. How you dress, tattoos, haircut, demeanor, how you walk, who you're with, etc. It's not as simple as saying tattoos = thug.
 
Blackbeard said: "A lot goes in to people's estimations of each other's character. How you dress, tattoos, haircut, demeanor, how you walk, who you're with, etc. It's not as simple as saying tattoos = thug."

Someone else mentioned scowling. I agree with both of them. I'm not bothered by a heavily tattooed man who dresses out of the norm, but who uses appropriate eye contact with me, maybe smiles and greets me (if appropriate) or responds politely if I talk to him first. But a man with or without tats and beard who looks angry or aloof in a hostile way bothers me. I'm happy for the former to be armed, a little more wary of the latter.

(Speaking as a non-gun-owning female in a country which is very anti-gun.)

I know the power of preconceptions and appearances - I have to work against some preconceptions others have against myself (or others like me), and I do work hard to treat people as individuals. Whether OC'ing will hurt the gun community image, I think, depends more on how friendly and sane you seem, even if your appearance may not be the norm.
Jmo.
 
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Since you asked ...

First of all, rights are rights. Without trying to define precisely, anything that you can't do just because other people don't like it, or you, is not a "right".

If you are lawfully carrying because you want to, for whatever reason, don't let it stop you, just be aware. You may get stares and more attention from law enforcement, maybe other unjustified problems. It's your decision if that's worth dealing with or not.

On the other hand, some people OC because they want to be good-will RKBA ambassadors to the normals. Unless you are already known and liked by the people who will see you, OC for that purpose might not work so well. That is not to say that you have any less right than one of the normals, but they probably won't change their thinking about guns if they associate guns with something they fear (however wrongly) and distrust. How this works in RealityLand(tm) will depend a lot on where you are and what the local standards are. You'd have trouble some places with or without a firearm ... but I suspect you know that.

I do agree also that attitude and demeanor will have a lot to do with how you're perceived. A textbook, straight-ahead Normal can scare the other normals if s/he's acting twitchy or hostile.

Good luck in any case.

regards,

GR
 
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Would -you- probably make you nervous, if you didn't know you, if you saw you obviously armed in a public area?

Would -you- probably make a "knife edge" (person exactly at the 50/50 part of the "fence sitter" majority) person nervous?

I'm not talking about "antigun" folks - I'm talking about people who have never really thought about it.

Now, I've got short hair (at the moment), but I tend to do a bushy beard, and about half my clothing either came out of Kenny's range shack or is tie-dyed... I'd probably make enough people nervous...

It's about conversion of the fence sitter types. Not pushing them the other direction. And YOU are sometimes the best judge of you - question is... are you in denial?
 
I am one of those that you described: older and conservative. I personally don’t care to see a lot of ink on someone. The key word here is personal! My views are my own and I am entitled to them provided I don’t use them to judge others! Other person’s views should not interfere with your rights. Ever!

As far as scaring the sheep, the only time the sheep aren’t afraid of a gun is if there is badge with it. I consider this to be their problem.
 
I'd say, smile, be polite, hold doors open for old ladies, and get out there and change some perceptions. Yea, you might get some bad reactions, but so what. You are allowed to tattoo your body, and as a law abiding citizen, you are allowed to carry a gun. If people don't like it, then that is on them, not you.
 
I would say carry concealed.
No offense, but I think a lot of people will presume you're up to no good, possibly even a gang member, and if you do get arrested and then say "but it's my right", people will think the second amendment causes crime.
 
gang of lumberjacks and Maine lobstermen maybe.

My dad was a harley biker who stood out quite alot. So if anything I might look like a harley rube.
 
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I.m not inked out, but I have 7 visible tats (medium size) in shorts and a tshirt. I OC and very seldom get a sideways glance; in fact, I think youll find that about 90% of the sheeple will never even notice you are armed because they have no situational awareness.
 
I don't think I qualify as "heavily tattooed";having just got a few on my forearms,shoulder and back...on th eother habd everyone has their own perception.Ink has become a lot more commonplace/mainstream since I was kid.Interstingly enough ; I haven't had the inclination in years.
I have seen a lot of cops with them;but different departments may have differing policies.My stuff is fairly par for the course(nondescript dagger &scroll work, a Valkyrie,a Grim Reaper and a female Genie rising from a bottle)...nothing that would stick out of a crowd of ex military,bikers or gainfully employed drifters. I would say that as long as you don't have any obvious gang related stuff;you probabl;y attract less attention than you would have even a few years back.
Think of it as being an ambassador for another cause(besides gub ownershipo/carry,dog ownsership,etc) . Your appearance may cause notice;but its your BEHAVIOR you want them to leave remembering you by.
 
If I seen you tatooed and oc with a leather holster and a 1911. I would probably take a gander at your ink and and admire it, and ask you some questions about your ink if you had the time. It's called getting to know someone. Oh, the 1911, custom? then we will probably chat about that too. Someone with ink and a sidearm doesn't bother me.
 
You are committing no crime so do as you please. Anyone telling you not to OC because of your appearance has a serious problem. No matter who you are, how you look, or how you talk somebody, somewhere is going to find fault in you. Let them worry about it and go about your life as it suits you.
 
I wouldn't really be concerned about the appearance personally. But then again, I'm super biased, because I have a sleeve of tattoos plus a few on my legs. Not to mention I have a psychology degree.

Although I fully support open carry, I usually only conceal carry. The only times I really open carry is if my girlfriend and I go on a night bicycle ride and CC isn't really an option.

But coming outside of my tattooed perspective... The fact that the guy had a nice 1911, in a nice leather holster, probably says he's not just some punk.

I doubt I'd ever see some gansta with a nice leather holster. Plus gangstas wouldn't want the fact that they have a gun to be known I'm sure.
 
do it. helps to break the common misconception that all gun owners are: super conservitive, backwards hillbillies, bible thumpers/other "flavor" of nutcase.

im getting a tattoo for my 18th birthday(right around the corner! :D). im not stopping with just the one either, blame my lifelong love/interest for tattoos. i also plan to get a CCW so i can OC and CC as i please. nothing wrong with being/looking different than the status quo.
 
I too am tatooed, dont drink or drugs, I go to church and hold the door for people and I love it when they find out how I really am and always say. " youre appearance doesnt reflect your personality. My job is public related and have often heard that myself referred to as that "nice young man that looks like a punk". I say carry however you want and are comfortable!!! this is america, and if you arent breaking any laws then strap it on and thank God for all the soldiers that gave us the right in this country!!!!!
 
Some of the best people I've met have been large, bearded, heavily tatooed, bikers.

Carry and be proud, comrade. What you will represent is a diversity of lifestyles taking up arms for a better society.

We all can't look like John Wayne.
 
I already relied to this thread but I'ma do it again anyways, personally if I see ANYONE OCing and it's in a holster on their side I think nothing of it in fact the only reaon I stare is to get a better look at what they're carrying lol in conclusion GO FOR IT! We need to get the public use to seeing OC
 
You have as much right to bear arms as a well dressed, clean cut mamas boy w/ a manicure

You are who you are! Rights extend to all freemen, regardless of look, style etc; race or creed!

The 2A doesnt come w/ conditions(AFA the BoR is concerned)
 
I personally don't ever give much thought to what other people think. I find it to be time consuming and counter-productive.

People do the strangest things for reasons I'll never be able to fathom, they reach conclusions I can't even begin to logically approach and they "feel" things that are just plain silly to me.

I find trying to anticipate other peoples thoughts, feelings or reactions and then trying to compensate for them so that everyone is happy is a terrific exercise in futility.


Don't sweat what others think about how you look or what legal items you carry. That's a lot of baggage to carry around for a bunch of people you don't even know.
 
This is the perfect example of the double standard set forth by most lideral type anti gunners:

They all want equal rights, and the abiltiy to express yourself in any leagal way, or complain because we don't let queers do their thing in public.

But the first time one if us wants to be themselves and excersize a God given right, their noses go up in the air.

I would say it helps the cause as long at you realize that people are going to do exactly what you expect them to. Be curtious and friendly to them and all should be well.
 
If someone who looks like you describe yourself carries a pistol confidently on his side for the world to see, he must be a cop or some form government.
 
Another poster brought up a great statement and made me think of taking it one step beyond. He mentioned looks and being asked to not carry because of them. What if the OP was black, and was asked to not carry open becuause he freaked out people by OC and being black? Dang! How long would the libs take to jump on that one not knowing they were HELPING out the 2nd A!!!
 
Carry On! Never let what people think get in the way of exercising your rights!

Where in Utah do you live? We should hang out sometime, preferably downtown as they don't get enough OC action (and I just moved down that way)!

PM me!
 
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