I'm looking to relocate to Colorado and I had a question about open carry. Does it have to be in plain sight? like police do. The way I would open carry would be having the gun in a holster OTWB wearing a hoodie/jacket unzipped. Would that construe conceal carry, or would I still be 'openly' carrying?
Open carry question
- Thread starter doom
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hermannr
Member
To keep everyone (that is LE) happy, it should be fully exposed, that is, it should be readily apparent to a casual observer that it is a weapon.
Remember, no OC in Denver, at least until the legislature fixes that. Have fun.
You have to look at Colorado law. Go to handgunlaw.us, they have a link, and look up the specific wording for "concealed". The above is the safe definition.
Remember, no OC in Denver, at least until the legislature fixes that. Have fun.
You have to look at Colorado law. Go to handgunlaw.us, they have a link, and look up the specific wording for "concealed". The above is the safe definition.
Standing Wolf
Member in memoriam
Unfortunately, doom, that's likely to constitute whatever an individual law enforcement officer thinks it does. My understanding is open carry isn't very well defined. Your most reasonable assumption would be to figure the whole gun and holster need to be exposed, (definitely not the ideal way to carry in the winter!)
I carry openly, concealed, and indifferently concealed in Colorado. I've never encountered any hostility, nor any notice from law enforcement officers. I have the permit, and carry it with me whenever I leave the house, so I'm covered whichever way I'm carrying. I wholly disagree with the very idea of having to pay for a license to exercise our Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms, but getting the permit is the lesser of two evils for now. Vermont, Alaska, Arizona, and Wyoming do it right: they have constitutional carry, which means you don't need government permission to carry however you please.
Obtaining a license is not the problem, it's just the time I'll spend between getting my state ID, plus training that has me looking for an alternative. Being from gunophobic Illinois, I'm not sure what people think of OC in the outlying towns outside Denver, and I'm not one of those guys who wants to OC because it's 'cool' or because I want to 'protest', I don't want to draw attention and freak people out if I don't have too..
NavyLCDR
member
As a person who open carries everyday (in Washington state, though) I can tell you that 95% of the public doesn't notice the gun, or shows no indication that they notice. The majority of those that do notice are supportive.
The biggest non-supporters tend to be "pro-gun" concealed carry only people who can't resist the urge to tell you that it would be "better" if you carried the same way they do.
I was in line at Jack in the Box. A big guy looked down his nose at my gun and said, "I carry mine concealed." I replied, "You aren't very good at it." He said, "What do you mean?" I replied, "I know you have a gun!" End of discussion
I guess what frustrates me is that to open carry, the cost and time of choosing a decent holster that will fit the gun AND ensure that the holster retains your firearm IF someone does try and grab it becomes the same as getting training for your CCW license. If I could conceal carry without waiting three months, plus training, I'd prefer something like a Browning .25 or carrying the way I mentioned earlier. Oh well, guess it's better than what I have now in my current Gulag of Residence
Steve Raacke
Member
It's not just the holster that retains the gun. You have to do your part too. Get some weapon retention training as well as some defensive handgun training from a reputable instructor.
Decent retention hosters can be found for $30 - $50 in many cases. If you have a popular make/model of a modern firearm you should have no problem finding a good holster to carry it. I found my Uncle Mike's triple retention holster on sale at a local police supply store for ~$50 and love it. Just as important is the blet which holds your holster. A strudy belt will keep your holster from flopping and hold it close to you and improve your tetention and drawstroke.
So spend the time and money to find a holster/belt combo that will work and you will be more comfortable carrying your gun.
I have taken self defense and weapon retention training. In about 3 weeks I'll be taking a 2 day Defensive Handgun class from Tom Givens of Memphis based Rangemasters.
I practice wtih my firearm and even occasionally compete in USPSA matches.
You need to think about how you will use and carry your gun and practice doing so regularly.
Decent retention hosters can be found for $30 - $50 in many cases. If you have a popular make/model of a modern firearm you should have no problem finding a good holster to carry it. I found my Uncle Mike's triple retention holster on sale at a local police supply store for ~$50 and love it. Just as important is the blet which holds your holster. A strudy belt will keep your holster from flopping and hold it close to you and improve your tetention and drawstroke.
So spend the time and money to find a holster/belt combo that will work and you will be more comfortable carrying your gun.
I have taken self defense and weapon retention training. In about 3 weeks I'll be taking a 2 day Defensive Handgun class from Tom Givens of Memphis based Rangemasters.
I practice wtih my firearm and even occasionally compete in USPSA matches.
You need to think about how you will use and carry your gun and practice doing so regularly.
Standing Wolf
Member in memoriam
Yeah. I carry openly about a third of the time and indifferently concealed another third. About one person a year notices, and I've never received a negative comment.
guyfromohio
Member
When I see open carry in Ohio, I assume LEO or lawful citizen. Right, wrong, or indifferent, that's what goes through my head. If I'm in a store with someone OC, I know that I have an ally in a situation. I think a good percentage of the public has those assumptions. The bad guys generally don't carry in a drop leg holster.
mortablunt
Member
Keep it fully exposed.; it's just easier that way. People don't notice Open Carry that much, or at least they won't say anything. So long as you don't act like you're trying to avoid everyone's attention and create a scene over having your gun visible in the open, then nothing will happen. Also, dress appropriately. Looking sloppy like a thug is not advised for OC.
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hermannr
Member
Maybe I could add...when you OC, don't act like a nervous Nelly. Act like what you are doing is totally legal, and you are confident of that fact. (it is in CO, and WA and a lot of other states)
Know the law for the state you are in so you don't carry where you should not, and you can be confident that you are legal where you do carry. Like Navy, I live in WA and generally OC (except when the weather dictates a coat) never attempt to conceal (even though sometimes it is concealed)
Yes, I have a CPL, and have been carrying (mostly OC) in WA for over 40 years. I'll be armed at the Republician Caucus tomorrow.
Know the law for the state you are in so you don't carry where you should not, and you can be confident that you are legal where you do carry. Like Navy, I live in WA and generally OC (except when the weather dictates a coat) never attempt to conceal (even though sometimes it is concealed)
Yes, I have a CPL, and have been carrying (mostly OC) in WA for over 40 years. I'll be armed at the Republician Caucus tomorrow.
I open carry almost every day in Loveland/Fort Collins/Windsor and have never had any problems. Doing so in Boulder/Denver and surrounding areas may lead to different experiences despite what state law says. I would feel comfortable in any other area of the state. The only "run ins" i have had are with people who are curious about either the law or the gun i have on me.
andrewstorm
member
colorodo is the west
Right ? cowboy apperel is in order ......how bout a nice snake skin quick draw rig carrying 4 in colt ss sa in 45 colt ....just a thought.....
Right ? cowboy apperel is in order ......how bout a nice snake skin quick draw rig carrying 4 in colt ss sa in 45 colt ....just a thought.....
deadin
Member
Navy....
How do you manage your carry piece when you go to work? (I assume you're on NAS Whidbey.) Last time I was up there they had some pretty draconian regs posted at the gate. (Any private firearms found on base will be confiscated and destroyed). The only way on was to go to the security office and check in any firearms and then retrieve them after leaving. (At that time security was outside the gate, up on the hill.)
As I was coming on station to spend some time in the RV Park and had about 5 rifles and a half-dozen handguns with me, that seemed way too much effort seeing as how I was planning on going shooting most every day. I ended up taking them out to Green's(?) for storage. (I don't know if they are even there anymore.)
How do you manage your carry piece when you go to work? (I assume you're on NAS Whidbey.) Last time I was up there they had some pretty draconian regs posted at the gate. (Any private firearms found on base will be confiscated and destroyed). The only way on was to go to the security office and check in any firearms and then retrieve them after leaving. (At that time security was outside the gate, up on the hill.)
As I was coming on station to spend some time in the RV Park and had about 5 rifles and a half-dozen handguns with me, that seemed way too much effort seeing as how I was planning on going shooting most every day. I ended up taking them out to Green's(?) for storage. (I don't know if they are even there anymore.)
NavyLCDR
member
I don't carry when I go to work :-(. Greene's is still there and still open. I actually live in Stanwood, so I am defenseless on my 45 minute drive to and from work :-<.
Autolycus
Member
I would argue that if the gun is covered by a coat, then it is not openly carried. If it is in plain site, then it is openly carried in my opinion. Your best bet is to consult the AG of Colorado. I would also suggest carrying concealed with a license so this way you will be sure that you are not breaking the law.
newbuckeye
Member
Blackhawk will have level 2 and 3 retention holsters for both those guns. Just make sure that you PRACTICE with that holster! It has been said many times that you only have half your range skills in a real gun fight. When I was a LEO, we carried level 2's (I forget the brand) for our Glocks, and they had us practice (PLEASE USE AN UNLOADED GUN!) at home in the mirror until we could commit the draw and re-holster to muscle memory.
Mainsail
Member
What's the purpose of the mirror? Were you supposed to run back to the car and use the side mirror to draw during a real gunfight?
newbuckeye
Member
no....so you could get the picture in your head of where the holster was. AND....so my wife (x) didn't freak out on me. (she is pretty gun phobic)....
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