When a question is asked concerning only open carry why all the replies about concealed carry? It's good that some prefer either by personal opinion or law to carry solely concealed but how does that address the question about open carry?
Open Carry
- Thread starter Majic
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SniperStraz
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I think that most people that OC have a CCL anyway. Could be wrong, just a hypothesis.
Steve 48
Member
I open carry only when I am hunting. I don't want to be seen by my neighbors as a "nut job". Steve48
Open carry has it's place but as Steve says many will think you're a nut job. When I lived in AZ (over 20 years ago) there was no CCW. You'd see open carry as a matter of fact in smaller towns and no one ever raised an eyebrow. Open carry in the mall in Phoenix or Tucson, although legal then don't know anout now, would inevitably lead the carrier being the subject of a "man with a gun call.
I would never want to advertise that I carry and make myself stand out in a crowd, In fact I've never liked doing anything that drew attention to myself in a crowd, not to mention having my gun open to grabs, to me open carry would be fine if it was the norm in my area and the only legal way to carry, but when CCW is possible then it seems much more practical and safer.
The MN law is not a "conceal and carry" law, it's a "carry" law. There is no distinction here. You could carry openly here if you really wanted to once you have your permit, but all it would really do is draw undue attention to you from people and cops.
Derek
Derek
CajunBass
Member
I've got a CHP, and I open carry about half the time.
Standing Wolf
Member in memoriam
I carry openly over half the time. Virtually no one ever notices.
Maybe I should give an example as the very thing I mentioned has already happened in this thread. Say for an example I state I'm going to open carry. Decision is made, can live with the perceived consequences, and now looking for advice. I want to know some of the better holsters suited for open carry that others use and like. Now you can amost count on some posts popping up where someone states they never carry openly and gives reasons why. How do these posts answer the original quesion? Why the comments on concealed carry are even brought up?
ZeSpectre
Member
The real problem with open carry, at least in my book, is that it's so damn easy to suddenly be carrying concealed without even realizing it. A shirt is untucked just so, a jacket flops over, you sit down in a car, etc.
I believe that, if you can, it's better to get your CCW permit and just call all the bases covered.
I believe that, if you can, it's better to get your CCW permit and just call all the bases covered.
Stretchman
member
With open carry your weapon is in plain view, and as a result, you should strongly consider going to some type of retention rig. You should also make yourself aware of any techniques that may able you to wrest your weapon from the hands of the curious, or others.
Retention is no joke. Someone can easily walk up behind you and snatch your piece before you have a chance to do anything, shoot you with it, and drop it on your corpse. Makes it difficult to secure a conviction if there are no prints. Your holster definitely needs a snap, and probably some kind of tensioning device to hold it, as well as being difficult to draw for anyone but the person who is wearing it. And easy off paddle holsters are bad, because someone can strip the entire holster. Forget a lot of kydex brands as well, because they can break under stress.
For retention, I'd suggest looking at holsters that are belt slide type, and at least have a retaining strap. Better ones also have a strap of leather, or similar material that prevents draw from the rear. That's the real issue with open carry. Otherwise, it's not as big a deal as you'd think.
Stretch
Quit cigs 1M 3D 19h 20m ago. So far saved $208.83, 1,392 cigs not smoked and counting ...
Retention is no joke. Someone can easily walk up behind you and snatch your piece before you have a chance to do anything, shoot you with it, and drop it on your corpse. Makes it difficult to secure a conviction if there are no prints. Your holster definitely needs a snap, and probably some kind of tensioning device to hold it, as well as being difficult to draw for anyone but the person who is wearing it. And easy off paddle holsters are bad, because someone can strip the entire holster. Forget a lot of kydex brands as well, because they can break under stress.
For retention, I'd suggest looking at holsters that are belt slide type, and at least have a retaining strap. Better ones also have a strap of leather, or similar material that prevents draw from the rear. That's the real issue with open carry. Otherwise, it's not as big a deal as you'd think.
Stretch
Quit cigs 1M 3D 19h 20m ago. So far saved $208.83, 1,392 cigs not smoked and counting ...
Snarlingiron
Member
Simply not an option in Texas. Unless you are looking for some free State provided room and board. If it were legal here, I wouldn't hesitate. Much simpler than concealment.
Detritus
Member
I agree, specificly i wish we had the option to open carry Because there are days out here in the Houston area that soften the sidewalks AND have 90-99% humidity.
Temps approaching or in, the triple digits are one thing when it's a dry (drier) climate, such as out in AZ and the like, but another entirely when humidity is above 90% as well.
on a high temp/high humidty day there is no reasonable/comfortable way i can carry the pistol(s) i'd prefer to, and have it reliably remain concealed.
I personally wouldn't carry openly unless i also had a CHL. I just want the option to do so, as well as freedom from fear of my carry piece becoming "un-concealed".
tinygnat219
Member
It's fully legal here in VA. However, some of the more "liberal" areas here are kinda edgy about it. It's not my liter of Schnopps. Since I have a Conceal and Carry permit, I just go concealed.
TallPine
Member
AFAIK, none of my neighbors thinks that I am a "nut job" 
FWIW, (to answer the question) I use a Bianchi belt slide leather holster with a thumb break. If I am around a lot of people (as opposed to hiking or horseback riding or just working outside) I try to keep my hand/fingers tucked into a pocket with my arm guarding my sidearm.
Interesting ... when we first moved out here and I first met one of my neighbors, we were both openly carrying handguns. We got along fine but sadly they decided to move away last year.
FWIW, (to answer the question) I use a Bianchi belt slide leather holster with a thumb break. If I am around a lot of people (as opposed to hiking or horseback riding or just working outside) I try to keep my hand/fingers tucked into a pocket with my arm guarding my sidearm.
Interesting ... when we first moved out here and I first met one of my neighbors, we were both openly carrying handguns. We got along fine
but sadly they decided to move away last year.BobCav
Member
QUOTE ZeSpectre: The real problem with open carry, at least in my book, is that it's so damn easy to suddenly be carrying concealed without even realizing it. A shirt is untucked just so, a jacket flops over, you sit down in a car, etc.
I believe that, if you can, it's better to get your CCW permit and just call all the bases covered.
ZeSpectre, that's exactly why I'm applying for my CHP here in Virginia. Too easy to accidentally conceal and I'd rather have all the bases covered, as you said. That and OC just isn't so simple in the c-c-cold!
As stated, OC can be a bit more unnerving because everyne knows you're carrying and you have to be on constant alert, which isn't a bad thing anyway. As for me? I just got my holster and it's not broken in yet so I won't be OC'ing until that's done. No point in OC'ing if I can't draw properly if and when necessary.
I believe that, if you can, it's better to get your CCW permit and just call all the bases covered.
ZeSpectre, that's exactly why I'm applying for my CHP here in Virginia. Too easy to accidentally conceal and I'd rather have all the bases covered, as you said. That and OC just isn't so simple in the c-c-cold!
As stated, OC can be a bit more unnerving because everyne knows you're carrying and you have to be on constant alert, which isn't a bad thing anyway. As for me? I just got my holster and it's not broken in yet so I won't be OC'ing until that's done. No point in OC'ing if I can't draw properly if and when necessary.
BobCav
Member
Back to Majic's point, he's not talking about the difference between OC and CC, but rather why when an OC question is asked, people who have only CC'ed and have never OC'd chime in.
I understand his frustration as they're two COMPLETELY DIFFERENT ways of carrying, as has already been mentioned. As much as one might think an OC'er is a target, they're also a visual DETERRENT and an EDUCATOR.
It's apples and oranges...
I understand his frustration as they're two COMPLETELY DIFFERENT ways of carrying, as has already been mentioned. As much as one might think an OC'er is a target, they're also a visual DETERRENT and an EDUCATOR.
It's apples and oranges...
Black Majik
Member
Sometimes, OC is the only way to carry. I've open carried before, because that was the only way to have a pistol with me. Times I've traveled to Arizona where OC is accepted, I will. I much prefer to conceal carry, but under these circumstances I rather carry openly than not have a gun at all.
Concealed carry > open carry > no gun.
Concealed carry > open carry > no gun.
CajunBass
Member
Considering the number of comments I read abou "flashing" and "printing" and "being made" I read here and on other boards, the opposite must be true also.
If you're not paying any more attention to what's going on around you, than to let this happen, you probably shouldn't be carrying a gun in the first place.
BobCav
Member
Apples and Oranges...
BlakMajik, I agree that both are better than no gun, but not necessarily that CC is better than OC. They're very, very different.
If all I want to do is have a hidden weapon at the ready to defend myself if necessary, then CC is no doubt the way to go.
But OC carry's a LOT more responsibility due to things like situational awareness, weapon retention and most of all EDUCATING your fellow citizens and showing that gun owners are responsible members of our society, not just "gun nuts" or wannabe LEO's.
Most of all, it's a CRIME DETERRENT. BG's don't think straight anyway, so they're not thinking about who might be CC'ing. But they're certainly aware of who is OC'ing.
BlakMajik, I agree that both are better than no gun, but not necessarily that CC is better than OC. They're very, very different.
If all I want to do is have a hidden weapon at the ready to defend myself if necessary, then CC is no doubt the way to go.
But OC carry's a LOT more responsibility due to things like situational awareness, weapon retention and most of all EDUCATING your fellow citizens and showing that gun owners are responsible members of our society, not just "gun nuts" or wannabe LEO's.
Most of all, it's a CRIME DETERRENT. BG's don't think straight anyway, so they're not thinking about who might be CC'ing. But they're certainly aware of who is OC'ing.
Smurfslayer
Member
THR is a big tent
in a lot of areas the culture hasn't been exposed to open carry in years, decades perhaps.
Personally, I think that any person who thinks I am a nutjob for exercising my rights *is* a whackjob. However, out of respect for other state residents where open carry isn't practiced I recognize that we can't accurately paint people from those places with one broad brush. On a scale, I agree w/ PP that you need to be cognizant of your surroundings while open carrying, but every situation is different. I would say that unless you're wading into a shoulder-shoulder crowd, it's about as attention intensive as riding a motorcycle in heavy traffic.
We're gunnies, we have strong opinions about carrying. Additionally, in a bbs it's bound to deviate from the original topic within a few posts depending on the topic...
in a lot of areas the culture hasn't been exposed to open carry in years, decades perhaps.
Personally, I think that any person who thinks I am a nutjob for exercising my rights *is* a whackjob. However, out of respect for other state residents where open carry isn't practiced I recognize that we can't accurately paint people from those places with one broad brush. On a scale, I agree w/ PP that you need to be cognizant of your surroundings while open carrying, but every situation is different. I would say that unless you're wading into a shoulder-shoulder crowd, it's about as attention intensive as riding a motorcycle in heavy traffic.
We're gunnies, we have strong opinions about carrying. Additionally, in a bbs it's bound to deviate from the original topic within a few posts depending on the topic...
DawgFvr
Member
While it might be true that an "Armed society is a polite society", the majority of our society is not armed...most certainly not openly. I do not like revealing all my cards, tip my hat or give any advantage to the curious, disgruntled or be a target for bad guys. Always keep the advantage of surprise...just one more weapon in my arsenal. I like carrying concealed. I can see certain areas where I would also enjoy OC...but they are few.
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