Open carry?

[tarosean]

I guess I preclude most of the CHL laws, it was open carry or nothing not to long ago.

I'd prefer to have the choice, it is one thing I dislike about living in TX..

 

[Warp]

Warp,

You missed a belt loop, again.

Not this time.

That is because of the way the belt works. It circles back on itself like that.

 

[Warp]

Thanks all for the responses. I realize that open carry very well might be inferior to CC for self defense , but I was really curious about carrying to support 2nd amendment rights. Increasing my personal safety in a practical way was not really the intent of my question. Do you think it generally increases awareness or generally just makes people angry and more opposed to firearms? I suppose from the above posts,it is fairly clear that in an appropriate environment, OC won't anger people- but I'm still not really sure if it will change anyone's mind in the pro-gun direction.

I think that mostly depends on the person who is openly carrying, how they present themselves, and how they are perceived.

I think that I generally increase awareness.

I think that the people who just get angry were a lost cause anyway and don't give a damn what they think. I am confident that, when done "correctly", the fence sitters (which is who matters in this context) get a good impression.

 

[NavyLCDR]

Thanks all for the responses. I realize that open carry very well might be inferior to CC for self defense ,

Very much a personal opinion/choice. I am of the opinion that open carry is superior to concealed for self defense - if my goal is to deter the criminal from ever attacking me in the first place. I guess if my goal was to better my chances at having an opportunity to actually defend myself, then yes, concealed would be superior.

but I was really curious about carrying to support 2nd amendment rights. Increasing my personal safety in a practical way was not really the intent of my question.

I am also of the opinion that the number 1 priority in carrying a gun is for my personal safety and supporting 2A rights is a very, very distant second place.

Do you think it generally increases awareness or generally just makes people angry and more opposed to firearms? I suppose from the above posts,it is fairly clear that in an appropriate environment, OC won't anger people- but I'm still not really sure if it will change anyone's mind in the pro-gun direction.

Well, I can tell you from personal experience, and others that open carry in Washington have agreed with me:

95% of the public makes no indication that they notice the gun.

4% of the public will either show support for my gun, or they will ask honest questions and leave being more educated than when they approached me.

1% of the public will show signs of being against the carrying of the gun, and the vast majority of that 1% are concealed carry only people who can't resist the urge to tell us how they carry concealed and that we should too.

 

[Skribs]

Very much a personal opinion/choice. I am of the opinion that open carry is superior to concealed for self defense - if my goal is to deter the criminal from ever attacking me in the first place. I guess if my goal was to better my chances at having an opportunity to actually defend myself, then yes, concealed would be superior.

Deterrence vs. tactics is what you're choosing here. Both have their advantages.

 

[NavyLCDR]

Deterrence vs. tactics is what you're choosing here. Both have their advantages.

There are several tactical advantages to open carry as well:

Increased speed and ease of drawing the firearm.

Less chance of something going wrong while drawing the firearm.

Ability to carry a larger gun, with greater round capacity, and larger guns tend to make quicker follow-up shots.

In the gun in the crowd environment, it is fairly easy to conceal the gun with very little movement of the elbow, but less movement is required to draw the gun and fire, therefore less movement likely to be noticed by the criminal.

Example:
http://www.ammoland.com/2009/07/gun...mond-va-golden-market-shooting/#axzz2HhxVoqSG

Open carry was an advantage in this case because in the video I saw just how fast the GO managed to draw his gun and begin to return fire. You always hear about how open carry is so bad tactically – you’ll be the first one shot, etc. Oh, yeah? The GO had a HUGE gun in plain sight and he was NOT shot. Who got shot first? An unarmed store owner.

 

[Wyndage]

We can carry openly or concealed in my neck of the woods, but open carry is rare. It just isn't worth the hassle of the cops detaining you and threatening to (falsely) arrest you because you know the carry laws better than they do. So mostly, I keep it concealed.

 

[gazpacho]

There is one day of the year that I make it a point to open carry. Halloween! Every Halloween I dress up western, strap on my six guns and go about my day. I usually get a few comments on how nice my "rig" looks.

Also, I usually open carry when I am at the range.

 

[Deltaboy1984]

Hello,

I was just curious what everyone's opinions are on open carry. Do you believe it is a good idea to respectfully open carry for firearms awareness, or do you think its a bad idea? I've heard plenty of mixed responses from the pro-gun crowd.

I would if TX allowed it.

 

[SouthernBoy]

We can carry openly or concealed in my neck of the woods, but open carry is rare. It just isn't worth the hassle of the cops detaining you and threatening to (falsely) arrest you because you know the carry laws better than they do. So mostly, I keep it concealed.

This is going to depend upon the state in which you live. It has never happened to me and I have openly carried into banks, police precincts, our state legislators offices (with hundreds of others OC'ing), approached police when they were in their patrol cars, on foot, and just standing around. I have passed by our county sheriff while OC'ing, and have been in the presence of our town mayor with my sidearm openly visible. Never, not once, any hassle, problems, negative comments, or cautions from any of these public servants. Not one time.

 

[smalls]

Most of my opinion has been said in other threads, but:

I am a huge supporter if OC, as long as the person carrying has their head on a swivel 100% of the time, and their holster has proper retention. Doesn't gave to be a strap (it'd be damn near impossible to get my 1911 out of its pancakes holster.)

I occasionally OC. I've had a few odd looks, but mostly because I'm young (23), and do not look like your average law abiding citizen. I'm covered in ink, am usually wearing a fitted baseball cap, etc. So when I do OC, I try to wear jeans to cover my leg tats, and a Polo/nice shirt.

I've had 0 bad encounters, and have really only talked to a few people about guns while openly carrying. They were positive, mostly asking how they can get a gun and carry license to protect themselves or whatever.

No MWAG calls, no arrests, no cops threatening me, etc.

 

[smalls]

I also remember a similar thread that was about how wearing gun manufacturers shirts was advertising you are carrying, and the thread drifted into an OC vs CC debate.

Soooo I did an experiment. I OC'd while wearing a shirt from my friends gunshop, then took my daughter for a walk to the corner store and the park.

We were on the swings with 2 other sets if parents. Both sets engaged me positively, and we had a great discussion on firearms and carrying. One if the fathers was CC'ing.

 

[Mainsail]

It just isn't worth the hassle of the cops detaining you and threatening to (falsely) arrest you...

It $ure can be.

 

[CountryUgly]

I OC and CC. Just depends on what I'm wearing and where I'm going. Sometimes I'm a firearms billboard other times you wouldn't have a clue I own a gun. If it's a right you can enjoy in your particular area I do feel you should exercise it from time to time just to make sure you don't lose it but if you don't feel comfortable OC'ing then don't but don't bash others that do.