Open Carry. Yes or no?

Open Carry. Yes, no or maybe?

  • Yes. If open carry was allowed, I would do it.

    Votes: 145 54.3%

  • No. It's a bad idea.

    Votes: 52 19.5%

  • Depends on the political climate, etc.

    Votes: 57 21.3%

  • Undecided.

    Votes: 13 4.9%
  • Total voters
    267
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I'm admittedly ignorant of Anchorage, so I ask, Why?
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Most of the Alaskans I know arent interested in making political points with guns, or bludgening the "sheeple" (most of whom are packing concealed anyway) into accepting the somewhat oddball (with all due respect guys) idea that in a large urban area in the year 2004, carrying a gun openly on your hip, downtown, is appropriate.

And I have yet to see a convincing argument that it is.

I can only therefore assume that a guy walking down the street with a sixgun is either looking for trouble or is trying to make a point.

I dont like making "a point" with a gun.

WildandicarryaguneverydayAlaska
 
If you are in a state where open and CCW are permitted then you don't have to worry about "printing" or accidentally exposing your weapon.

Since I often shoot at an outdoor area in the middle of nowhere we are technically violating the law here by carrying a weapon openly on our belt.
Now it's not uncommon for a Deputy or a Game Warden to drive by and stop to chat or even convert a few dollars into noise. It's been happening here for dozens of years. But if someone ever wanted to get nit-picky about it...


Open carry isn't something I'd want to do on a regular basis. I just wish it wasn't a crime if I happened to do it once in a blue moon.


But then again, it would be nice if someone could peaceably walk down any street and into any store while carrying openly and the only commotion that might be made would be a few ooohs and ahhs over a fancy holster.

Remember when many of us were kids and we played Cowboys or Soldiers or whatever? Howabout watching a small group of boys and even the occasional girl, ride by on bicycles with BB guns acorss the handlebars, heading down to the locak creek/pond to plink at Cat Tails. (the weed not real cats!) Back then adults weren't alarmed by that behavior, it was considered normal.

:( Ain't if great how much our society has "progressed"? :(
 
I never miss the chance. I was born and raised in Tucson AZ and go back as often as possible. When I cross the Colorado on I-10, I turn into the Flying J to stretch my legs etc. When I get back in the car, I'm "healed."
In '95 when I went to phoenix for the NRA convention, I was staying with my now late Aunt. When I pulled up in her driveway, her neighbors saw me get out of the car with my Blackhawk on my hip. The young woman (30ish) smiled and waved then said, "You must be Olive's Nephew here for the convention."
I very seldom get a negative reaction in AZ. When I do, I write th incedent off as Another PRK Transplant Infesting My Home State. :rolleyes:
 
I'd rather carry and have no one know than to carry and have to worry about people seeing it and either freaking out or messing with me over it. Sure, it may stop a bad situation but I have a feeling it would also cause at least a few small bad situations.

If open carry were the universal carry I think you'd see an awful lot of situations of people(drunks and kids and so forth) that try and grab someones gun.
 
I do live in a open carry state, and still use my concealed permit and carry concealed. The main factor is the hassle. Many of the places I go are legal to carry open or concealed, but when open carrying the place of business can ask me to leave. I will definitly carry open when in the woods, and if Im a position where it was open carry or no carry at all, Id probally take open carry.
 
I do on occasion. My neighbors are used to seeing me out in my yard carrying openly. Had a few of them come over to chat, but no problems.

I did have the staff at the local arbys a little concerned once. They were all high school girls on summer jobs I think. We came in off the desert shooting trip, and I didn't feel like leaving my gun in the truck anattended, so I went in "heeled".

They gave me some funny looks and whispered among themselves for a few minutes. Then when my food was ready, I discovered they had shorted me a sandwich. So I went back up to the counter and asked about it. After the girl looked over the receipt she looks up and says "we didn't charge you for it" and then glances down at my gun and backs up.

At this point I'm thinking "what kind of garbage has this kids head been filled with?"

So I told her no problem, I wanted the sandwich, charge me for it.

At this point she realized I was normal, even if I had a gun.

We didn't discuss it, but you could tell I wrecked the stereotype she had built up and got her mind doing some work.
 
Is my state a freak or what?

Open carry is allowed by law. Game laws state that if you have a gun and are afield or in the woods, you are hunting. If hunting season is closed and you have a gun, you are poaching. Game laws override all other laws in my state and a game warden is the same as a state trooper with additional powers.

Game laws do allow people with CCW to carry while in the woods during hunting season. My problem is most of the places I go are within NPS/National River bounderies (you know the opinion of these people) or in the woods so that means no open carry for me.
 
Here, in the spirit of laziness, I quote myself from another thread

There's a guy in Minnesota named Bruce Krafft. ..[H]e occasionally carries openly instead of concealed -- as is perfectly legal in Minnesota. Read his story at https://www.keepandbeararms.com/newsarchives/XcNewsPlus.asp?cmd=view&articleid=2795

As Bruce writes on his home page, http://home.comcast.net/~bruce.krafft/:

I continue to do so because for too long gun owners have treated their guns as something shameful, something that should be hidden. As a result people have no idea that we are out there. When I go to the grocery store carrying openly in a shoulder holster people see someone with a gun who is not using it to terrorize or victimize. So the next time some anti is spouting hate against gun owners, at least some people in my neighborhood will say "He didn't look like a camo wearing, bandoleer festooned nut job. He looked like an overweight, middle-aged guy who held the door for me and helped a little old lady get some crackers off of a high shelf."
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Hey - I hear what y'all are saying. The stealth existence is the safest. But sometimes you have to do your part to serve the greater good.

At the grocery store last night, the same one I've shopped at every week for four years, I was carrying OTB and briefly considered deliberately showing my gun while reaching for my walllet.

I had no good reason -- and I didn't -- but I thought it would be interesting to see what, if any, reaction I got.

The urge passed. But was it good sense or cowardice?
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The urge passed. But was it good sense or cowardice?
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Hahaha! .... if I had a Dollar for every time I've thought just the same ..... usually at checkouts!

Answer?? Combination of both I suspect ...... ''chickening out'' .... lest a freaked out person goes postal with their cell phone and calls 911.!:D Instance the MVPEL Episode
I have to agree tho ... I do favor managing open when circumstances permit .. for the simple reason that people should still be able to see a firearm and not fear for themselves or anyone else.

I told THIS TALE against myself a while ago ..... it was only of concern because I was meant to be concealed. I guess now, thinking back, it was actually no biggie, tho it did explain some slightly askance looks I got!
 
Voted that I'd do it but in reality only under certain circumstances.

In areas where I considered that a threat existed I would carry concealed.

There are areas however that even though a threat always exists the threat is minimal. In those areas I'd carry open. Why?

The more folks that carry open over time the less frightened folks who don't carry will be of it. Seeing someone carrying would become a non-issue.

To put it crudely I'd open carry to educate the sheep!
 
Open carry is an optoin here in WI, but it is an optoin that is limited. We cannot open carry in a vehicle so it really slows down anybody that wants to carry openly. I could open carry while riding my bike, the problem is here in the town I live in it would creat such a stir that it would be more trouble then it is worth. I also don't want to piss off the local Chief of Police. Here in the near future I am going to be applying for a couple of class III guns and will need him to sign off on them. If thinks I am a trouble maker there is little to no chance he will sign my Class III request.


I really bothers me that my option to open carry is so limited, but I really don't have any other option. I keep and unloaded pistol hidden in the back seat of my car. Right now that is the best I can do.



Oh by the way this is my 1000th POST!!!!
 
I open carry on my own place, for coyotes and the occasional trespasser with a shotgun (never had to pull it, they usually just leave). I have open carried at my business, but it tends to freak the customers out, so I usually conceal. A trophy shop is not a very dangerous place.
If hunting season is closed and you have a gun, you are poaching.
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You mean you can't carry while fishing or hiking in the woods? Here, if you are carrying a gun, you are carrying a gun. If you are poaching, you are poaching. We don't have a big problem with poaching because in this state it is a felony, and it will cost you your hunting license, your firearm, and possibly your vehicle, plus a big fine.
 
10 years in the middle of phoenix az.
I think i've heard 2 comments during that time,I was rude and 1 wanted to know what ammo i was carrying.I don't go out of my way to advertise the fac
t that i'am carrying.I use a IWB hols
ter and have black rubber grips on my carry pieces along with a dark colored i doubt if many people even
notice.
 
It is legal where I live but I don't do it. I once talked with a gun-friendly LEO about the subject, he said no law against it but I would'nt do it hassle free.
No doubt some concerned citizen would call 911 and report "man with gun" and the police would show up and question your intentions. This would probably happen almost every day.
 
I'd do it in a heart beat. If a law abiding gun owner scares you that much, God help you. It'd make BGs think twice knowing I could fire back.
 
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some concerned citizen would call 911 and report "man with gun" and the police would show up and question your intentions. This would probably happen almost every day.
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Know what Sisco .....

If it DID happen every day ... multiple times .... then perhaps the recipient of a 911 call might eventually just ask ... ''And is there any threat or just someone carrying a gun''?? ..... because the cops would be tired sick of being called out to non threat carry reports, and be able to get on with real work.

Over time it just might ''normalize'' things ... and make it far from unusual to be seen .... as was once the case before ''gun'' became such a stigmatized word.

Just takin a peek thru rose tinted spectacles!:p
 
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