Open carry question

[KimberUltra]

I've heard alot about states having open carry and what not. But I can't find out which states actually practice it. Open carry doesn't mean a whole lot if its not actually practiced.

Any input from you pro gun state citizens?

 

[Sam1911]

www.opencarry.org has sections for relating personal experiences, but maybe that's not what you're asking -- I'm not sure.

Are you asking if there are places where open carry is legal but discouraged? Sure, lots, in 'most every state.

As for personal experiences, I've never had a bad experience, but I really don't OPEN carry so much as casually carry most of the time. Here in PA it doesn't matter (if you have the LCTF) whether you're concealing or openly carrying or something sort of in-between. So, I tend to go with the flow, temperatures, comfort, and situation. If anyone's ever noticed, they've not given me a moment's grief about it.

 

[USAF_Vet]

Michigan is an OC state. I have a CPL, but my carry style is more indifferent carry. Sometimes concealed completely, sometimes concealed slightly, sometimes concealed not at all. Prior to getting my CPL, OC was my only option, so I practiced it. I was, however, in a small minority group of folks who do so.

 

[turbojohn41]

Wisconsin is a open carry state. It was prety popular a few years ago when it was our only option. You dont hear too much about it now days.

 

[SouthernBoy]

The normal, standard or default, mode of carry in Virginia is open. Concealing your sidearm requires permission from our employees, i.e. public servants. I have been OC'ing on a regular basis since the summer of 2007 and it's a no brainer in my state. No problems at all doing this. I do CC when I deem it to be in my better interests at some specific place and/or time. The OC movement in Virginia is perhaps the most active of all the states.

 

[ngnrd]

I can't say I open carry on a daily basis, but I've done it plenty of times here in Alaska - twice in the past two weeks. I strapped on my Triple-K Wyoming drop belt with my Single Six in it and drove to an informal range for an afternoon of target shooting/plinking. Stopped by the local convenience store for gas and snacks both times.

The revolver hanging low on my hip never even got a second glance by either the cashiers or the other customers. No stink-eye, no comments, no nervousness, nothing. It's not even hunting season, just another random day in Alaska.

Gotta love living in a free state.

 

[Yo Mama]

AZ has open carry/ constitutional carry (CCW without permit) and CCW which is used for a few areas not covered with open and constitutional carry.

 

[tightgroup tiger]

ngnrd,

I have that exact same rig. Including the Blackhawk. Mine is a 1972 that has never been sent in for the hammer block safety mod. Good taste.

North Carolina has open carry but I always conceal my carry weapon. Leo usually doesn't look twice at us even when we do open carry.

 

[beatledog7]

Virginia has open carry, but I rarely OC. When I have, only a small fraction of the people I've encountered even seemed to notice. Maybe I look like I should be carrying a gun, so they just think, "OK, I guess he's a cop or something."

 

[Wes Mantooth]

Kansas

Most people here in Kansas do as they please. They just recently made it ok to OC in Wichita. Some people have tried it and didn't get much of a reaction. Most people CC anyway.

Me...? I haven't yet OC. I perfer to not advertise that I'm carrying to the bad guys.

 

[KC&97TA]

I'm with tightgroup tiger, Living in NC rifles and shotguns hang in the back windows of trucks and seeing a pistol on a man / womans hip is normal. I'm thankful for the Open Carry Law here, my dear wife hasn't quite mastered CCW, her's is usually hanging out the back of her shirt OC IWB !

98% of the time I Conceal, but there are occasions when the BBQ pistols and large frame revolvers need some air.

 

[Vurtle]

TX is in the process of having open carry allowed. It is house bill 700 and is suppose to be voted on in the near future. If you are in Texas, please write, email, or call your representatives and ask them to support this bill. We are one of only six states that do not allow open carry. I have my chl and I would much rather open carry. I know a guy who thinks open carry should be illegal simply because it may scare his wife if someone is openly participating in their second amendment right. Blows me away that he would hope everybody else's right is denied just for his wife's comfort level.

 

[Outlaw Man]

Arkansas doesn't currently allow open carry, so my open carry experiences have been limited and in other states.

I was asked to leave a mall once in Virginia. I didn't notice any strange looks or uneasiness, and certainly nobody approached me about it, so I don't know if I was reported or not. While being "escorted" out of the mall by a mall ninja (it was all very friendly - I didn't want to force the issue), I got a few clues that it may have been entirely his doing. "We aren't even allowed to carry in here," or something to that effect.

 

[lpsharp88]

Ohio is an OC state (unless you are in a car, then you need a permit), but I rarely see anyone who does.

 

[smalls]

Michigan is an OC state, but you won't find it very often around Detroit, Grabd Rapids, or Flint areas. I live near Detroit, and Ooen carry every once in a while, though. I mostly "casual" carry like Sam stated.

 

[PavePusher]

opencarry.org also has maps that show the open carry states.

http://my.opencarry.org/?page_id=103

 

[PavePusher]

Arkansas doesn't currently allow open carry, so my open carry experiences have been limited and in other states.

I was asked to leave a mall once in Virginia. I didn't notice any strange looks or uneasiness, and certainly nobody approached me about it, so I don't know if I was reported or not. While being "escorted" out of the mall by a mall ninja (it was all very friendly - I didn't want to force the issue), I got a few clues that it may have been entirely his doing. "We aren't even allowed to carry in here," or something to that effect.

Most malls are private property and posted "No Weapons". If you O.C. in one that is, being asked to leave should not be a surprise.

 

[asia331]

EDC is part and parcel of my lifestyle and that of most of my close friends and while I most often conceal I do so casually for my own convenience rather than for any concern of anyone else. On those occasions when I am open I'm pleased to have had no bad experiences here in AZ.

 

[SouthernBoy]

I was asked to leave a mall once in Virginia. I didn't notice any strange looks or uneasiness, and certainly nobody approached me about it, so I don't know if I was reported or not. While being "escorted" out of the mall by a mall ninja (it was all very friendly - I didn't want to force the issue), I got a few clues that it may have been entirely his doing. "We aren't even allowed to carry in here," or something to that effect.

Which mall and in what part of Virginia did this happen?

 

[tyeo098]

I was asked to leave a mall once in Virginia. I didn't notice any strange looks or uneasiness, and certainly nobody approached me about it, so I don't know if I was reported or not. While being "escorted" out of the mall by a mall ninja (it was all very friendly - I didn't want to force the issue), I got a few clues that it may have been entirely his doing. "We aren't even allowed to carry in here," or something to that effect.

I carry in the malls around NoVa without issue. Were you at Tysons or something?

 

[X-Rap]

Home here in CO I pretty much casual carry with a loose shirt or pull over fleece. If it is scorching hot summer it's oc or pocket carry but then I wear cargo shorts that fit my G26.
I spent the last 4 mo. in Texas which is pretty restrictive regarding oc and I was definately uncomfortable given what I am used to.

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

AFAIK, Tennessee allows you to open carry if you have a carry permit, but I've never seen anyone actually do it.

 

[HorseSoldier]

Open carry is a liability/PR nightmare for law enforcement. On the one hand you have open carry is legal, on the other hand you will often get 911 calls from concerned citizens. So then you get into the situation of the law not being broken but the potential melt down if "guy with a gun" turns into "active shooter" and the lawyers or media get wind of the fact that local LE had multiple calls about the guy with a gun and did nothing.

So you send some officers out to check it out. How that contact goes is about personalities on both sides, information Dispatch is pushing out to the officers from the 911 callers (which in turn goes back to what the callers are saying) and a bunch of other variables.

However it plays out for a law abiding citizen and LEOs trying to do their job to standard and properly it works out to mutual headaches and wastes of time -- when it comes up in a professional capacity for me, I advise people to go with concealed carry just to avoid potential inconvenience. (Even here in AK -- or more specifically within Anchorage, where we probably have most of the state's gun naive and hoplophobic citizens who will call 911 because they see a gun, etc.)

 

[Midwest]

Kentucky is an open carry state (with or without a permit). I have seen a few people open carry, I even seen a person on a motorcycle on I-75 open carry.

 

[armoredman]

Open carry has worked well down here in AZ for over 100 years. Normal and unremarked upon, unless it's visitors from Cali or Joisey.
"Officer, Officer, there's a man with a GUN!"
"And what is he doing with it?"
"It's on his belt, right there plain as DAY!!!"
"Ma'am, you're not from around here, are you?"

I normally go concealed, but I will go open once in a while. The only time a buddy of mine was ever the victim of the MWAG call was hilarious - he was cruising in Tucson on a Honda motor-scooter, (with flame paint job, I kid thee not), with his AKM clone strapped across his back. TPD stopped him, determined he wasn't breaking a single law, and let him go...slightly confused, but nonetheless, unlike Milwaukee PD Chief Flynn, they understand the limits of the law.
Back before we had CCW, I carried openly all the time, and ran into store managers who were, shall we say, "less than friendly". I always was polite and professional and left as soon as I was informed, (took over 4 hours at one shopping mall, before they posted signs), and ya know the odd thing? Every place I was asked to leave has either A), gone out of business, (the majority), B) changed their policy, C) changed management. All of them.