Open carry vs. concealed carry poll.

Do you feel open carry is safe?

  • Yes, open carry is safe, and a great deterrent!

    Votes: 143 61.6%

  • No, it encourages gun snatching attempts, and you lose the element of suprise!

    Votes: 89 38.4%
  • Total voters
    232
  • Poll closed .
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papabear said:
I would like to be in a open carry place an see how folks act around it.
Click to expand...

I can tell you from experience how folks react to open carry.

Most don't even notice it.
Some will do a double take and then politely ignore it.
A couple may express polite curiosity.
A (very) few will continue to glance nervously at the openly carried sidearm, and perhaps whisper to their companions.
A really tiny percentage will take offense.
 
I was glad I had my gun and it was concealed.

I was in a situation three days ago. That I was glad I WAS carrying and also that it was concealed. My wife and I were at an estate sale, by a dealer. It was 4:00 in the afternoon on a Friday. The house was quite small and loaded with shoppers. I would not have been comfortable open carrying in that environment.
To many hands to close to me and bumping bodies. But I always carry at garage and other sales and it is always CC. I have been bumped in the gun while CC but I never gotten strange looks.
Well Friday 4 or 5 persons came in saying what the F... is going on here. Just raising hell yelling at the dealer what right did he have yada yada.......

My wife was opposite them from me and I was near the door and the only way out. I gave her the sign to get out now. The room was too crowded for her to move. Then the 5 just started carrying things out. What ever they wanted and not paying for anything. Soon my wife squeezed out and we left ASAP. While I am glad it never went any farther than huffing and puffing and what I would call strong arm robbery. I at leased felt some comfort that I was carrying. The next day I found out that they were related to the dead home owner and felt they were owed something and just took what ever they wanted.
In this case I feel that CC was best for me.
 
Not long ago there was a discussion about OC & CC, and the BG getting or trying to take an OC weapon away from "one of us".

Stats prove that it happens more to LEO's more than us!!!

Usually happens inside jails or court houses with the "die hard" BG's.

Sometimes it happens to "us", in our homes while the BG is doing his thing, but I've NEVER heard or read anything about a BG trying to do his job and trying to take an OC firearm off "one" of us first.

If I was OCing, I'd be 2 or 3 times more "alert" to a stranger getting toooo close to me, and "if" that happened,,,,my hand would already be on my weapon!!

If I was OCing, say in my bank, I guess I could always walk backwards toward the cashier!!

I do think that the more of us that did OC, the BGs would be looking for "safer targets".

I don't remember the movie, but 2 BGs tried to rob a bar, which just happened to be where the LEOs went for a drink after the shift. VERY FUNNY

If the "sheepe" wouldn't get their panties in a bunch every time they saw an OC weapon on "us", bad things would certainly slack off.

If LEO was called just to check you out to verify, I'd OC more-----"THEY" need to get use to "our" rights and accept IT!!

Thank you I'm done UJ
 
I feel that open carry is perfectly safe. However, even if applicable laws allowed it, I would consciously and voluntarily choose to carry concealed regardless.

I would do this for the same reason I don't put bumper stickers on my car: you make yourself a target. For example, everyone that's driving around with a bumper sticker in favor for, or against a "hot" issue is making their car a target for those that oppose the opinion expressed by the bumper sticker.

While rare, there have still been incidents, even in my small, quiet, relatively crime-free town where a car will be blatantly vandalized due to a bumper sticker.

I think that blending in makes it harder for me to be targeted.
 
I think there's a time and a place for both.
I carry concealed most of the time, but that's me.
I don't think there's anything WRONG with open carry, (where legal of course), I just would rather be concealed.
 
cops dont scare crooks. they know the LEO have guns and will catch them offguard.
it's all about how they plan it out.
 
I've OC'd while hiking and biking a lot, and tend to get a lot of not so friendly stares. Of course, most of those people I encounter in those kinds of places are tree hugging, gun hating, liberals (which is a stereotype, even if it is completely true).

I don't have CC permit yet, and won't be able to get one once again, because I'm fixing to move soon, then I'll have to be at my new residence another 6 months before I can get the permit. In most all cases except in the woods where people encounters are rare, I'd prefer to CC. I'd be paranoid about someone taking it in a crowded place, and I don't like the extra attention open carry draws anywhere that people are close-minded or brain washed.

You know you're living in a truly sick society when you feel like you're doing something wrong for exercising your god given right as an american to carry a gun in public.
 
When I open carry (mostly in the summer) I often also have a small pocket gun or derringer concealed in a readily accessible pocket too as back up in case a bad guy does plan around my visible firearm.
 
JesseL, I was thinking of posting a picture of one of those neon-colored poisonous frogs! Beat me to it. Great point, though. In nature, its all bout deterrence... let the wolf know you're dangerous before he tries to eat you. Once the wolf's teeth are around you, its a bit late.




Its interesting to see the poll is just about 50/50. I'm torn 50/50 on the issue, myself.
 
OC or CC

Both should be available to any honest citizen (able to own an gun). I know some states do not allow OC but do allow CC. NM used to be OC only, no CC. Too many conflicting laws! Most of the time I CC, because I go to formal meetings of city officials, more than one city, where both carry methods are technically legal, but socially not acceptable. You just can't discuss matters with others that are upset with A GUN IN THE MEETING ROOM! No one cares one whit, IF I'm concealed. I'm comfortable CC, can carry a substantial weapon (.357 mag.), can "present it" in short order (not like the spooferoo with his .32 vs. hand cannon). There is a time and place for everything.:)
sailortoo
 
I didn't vote because the options were too narrow. Personally I agree with the poster that said OC on property, CC off. That is more my personal preference. I don't really want people to know I'm armed. My personal opinion is that not knowing whether someone is armed is a deterrent. It would be nice if BIG BROTHER would give us the option to choose for ourselves though...
 
this whole element of suprise thing I see so much is kinda a mute point I think.

Sure it suprises the bg some but in most cases you are the one suprised first to start with by finding yourself in a position you should not be in(ie getting threatend). I understand that not all situations are avoidable however with some awareness of your suroundings most situations could be avoided.

Any way my point is try to be proactive instead of reactive a suprise to detur a suprise in no good.

Oh and this is not ment to be an arguement but rather a diffrent point of view.
 
I just thought of a question reading this thread. In Florida, you can carry concealed with a permit/license. However you cannot carry in the open to the best of my knowledge.
Having said that, are there any states that allow you to open carry but also allow concealed carry? Another words, does it have to be one or the other, and if so, are there any states you have either option?
 
I voted NO. Not because it encourages gun snatching, but because of the attention from the cops it attracts. In CT, if you open carry, you will likely be arrested and have your permit revoked, even though it is technically legal.
 
Vector I: Many states give you both options.

I myself would carry openly depending on the situation however I would also carry concealed.

I think open carry is a deterrent but it also puts the gun at risk in some regards as when your in a crowded area. In a rural area I would open carry though but in an urban and crowded area I would conceal.

I think each has its own merits and benefits. It really depends on the situation I am in.
 
For those of you who are bold enough to do so, go for it. Personally I am a quiet, shy type of fellow who prefers to appear to blend in with the crowd.
 
I think concealed carry has several advantages....

1. Element of surprise.
2. Less likely to be regarded as intimidating.
3. Weapon is more secure.
4. Offers more legal protection to the shooter.
5. Is the shooter's "own business" and gives him or her greater latitude in all phases of firearm choice, use, etc.
 
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