Questions for Arizona (or other) open-carriers

[NRA Instructor]

In Wisconsin open carry is legal but frowned upon. We do not have CC (yet).

Permits are not required to purchase a handgun. Just the normal background checks for anyone over the age of 21.

BUT no one I know would recommend a citizen carry openly in any city in this state as a police office can arrest you for something else. In Basic Pistol classes we tell our students to use common sense about this, to put themselves in an officers boots for a minute. Since it isn't commonly done you'll be suspect. And any bad publicity could hurt our efforts to get the Right to Carry passed as many newspapers are not overly supportive and the anti-gun people would just love to have something to shout about.

I have only heard of one local person who openly carried in Sheboygan, WI. A few years ago I was told he went into a K-mart back when they sold ammo to buy same. He was a well known local mud raker and no one made any complaints, which we assume was what he had in mind in the first place. His lawyer was probably standing by with a camera.

It would not be legal to openly carry in an auto as all firearms must be unloaded, cased and carried in the trunk of a car. In a truck they should be either in the glove compartment or under the passenger seat and away from the driver.

Open carry is more acceptable in rural areas, in the field for example, but then you'd better have a hunting lic. Hunting with a handgun is legal in WI.

We continue to work on the Right to Carry and a bill will be again be introduced in Sept and it has a lot of support from both houses. Our governor may be the problem in getting it into law.

 

[Erich]

In NM, open carry is legal most places

1. No one does it nowadays.

2. The public is not used to open carry.

3. I don't know of any businesses where open carry is practiced. In the olden days (15 yrs ago), one of the local liquor stores had all their employees carrying .45s openly.

 

[444]

Arizona: When I have taken classes at Gunsite, a number of students openly carried around town such as at the grocery store and restraunts. Nobody said a thing, and I saw other people openly carrying. I personally didn't.
Nevada: I have openly carried, but basically just driving to and from where I was going to shoot although I stopped along the way at a convienice store or gas station. I once openly carried into a bar and no one said a thing. I was out rock climbing and carried a Smith J-Frame in an open holster. We stopped on the way home for lunch and a beer. I totally forgot I had it on until I went to get back in the car. No one said a thing about it. I occasionally see people openly carrying around town. I know my gun dealer carries openly everywhere he goes. As a side note: we have a guy that stands along side the main drag of town every morning, or at least most every morning holding a cardboard sign with the bill of rights on it and a pistol on his belt. I honk at him every morning on my way home from work. He is sort of a local celebrity.

 

[Jeff OTMG]

If I wanted to carry a full size pistol in Az. I would open carry. I don't want to worry about a cover garment when it is 110 outside. Unfortunately in Texas open carry of a handgun is not an option, so I am left with pocket carry of a smaller pistol most of the 140 days over 90 degrees. When I did carry open in Va. and W.V. I noticed two things. Either the people did not even notice that I was armed, though it was a Glock 30 in a black holster wearing a black polo shirt, or they assumed that I was some sort of LEO since I was in an area with a bunch of feds around.