Switching from CC to OC while out?

[smhbbag1]

I had never thought about doing this, until it occurred to me in a certain situation.

As long as it is done discreetly, and OC is legal, it may be something to consider.

Here is what happened, as I wrote a friend of mine:

On Thursday night I had just such an example. I was filling up on gas while coming home from work at 3 a.m. Stupid mistake, I know. My gas usage sneaked up on me, and I was out.

As I was getting out of my car, I saw two hoodlums walking up the street (yes, in the middle of the road, walking in the direction the road traveled) - and in my direction. They were about 30 yards away.

I walked the long way around my car, and tucked in my shirt to switch to open carry while they could not see me. My black Sigma .40 was clearly visible against a white shirt and khaki pants when I started pumping.

When I came around the other side of the car to pump, they were talking on the sidewalk, and eventually went back the other direction.

Any input appreciated.

I do not have a retention holster, and I do not OC. My Sigma .40 was in a Crossbreed Supertuck.

It seems like this adds a 'step' to the escalation of force for those who CC, if you're in a potentially hairy situation that does not justify drawing yet. Just a little message: "I probably won't go down easy, and you might come with me if I do."

 

[Big Boy]

Why not just always open carry?


You did nothing illegal. Someone somewhere might be able to construe it as brandishing, but that's because they are idiots. Just always remember, non threatening.

However, like you did, I wouldn't be tucking my shirt in to go OC while everybody is watching. I have no problem OC'ing and do it all of the time, but some people are already scared of guns. When they see it going from concealed to revealed I bet most would imagine something bad about to happen.

 

[Polar Express]

As the situation has been described, it would appear the approaching parties became dis-interested for some reason. Was it because they saw the gas customer was armed? We will likely never know for sure. But, it would seem like a reasonable thought path to put some of the reason for the wonder-twins changing direction on the visibilty of a sidearm.

In this case, it would appear that was a good decision.


However, I recognize the argument that by doing so, you have lost any element of surprise. Personally, I'd trade surprise for altercation prevention any day.

I'm glad your friend was unharmed.

PE

 

[smhbbag1]

Why not just always open carry?

I need good concealment at work (night shift), and I don't want to carry a second holster and go through the hassle of switching when I arrive at or leave work.

If you know of a good retention, OC holster that conceals as well as a Supertuck, let me know

As the situation has been described, it would appear the approaching parties became dis-interested for some reason. Was it because they saw the gas customer was armed? We will likely never know for sure. But, it would seem like a reasonable thought path to put some of the reason for the wonder-twins changing direction on the visibilty of a sidearm.

This was my point to my friend - who knows? It's possible they were drunk and couldn't find their house, or they may have wanted to kill me.

 

[wishin]

Good situational awareness, and the presence of mind to go OC, which I presume is legal in your State. A recipe for how to avoid getting mugged.

 

[LemmyCaution]

As I was getting out of my car, I saw two hoodlums walking up the street (yes, in the middle of the road, walking in the direction the road traveled) - and in my direction. They were about 30 yards away.

As the situation has been described, it would appear the approaching parties became dis-interested for some reason

.

As the situation has been described, it's not clear that the two persons walking down the road coincidentally with the OP's pumping gas ever had any interest in him, or even took notice of him, in the first place.

But it does make me wonder how frequently other people make preparations to use lethal force against me based on my looks and coincidental proximity, without me becoming aware of it.

Probably not very often. I'm situationally aware and generally keep as much distance between myself and others as possible while going about my business.

 

[smhbbag1]

But it does make me wonder how frequently other people make preparations to use lethal force against me based on my looks and coincidental proximity, without me becoming aware of it.

This same thought occurred to me. We usually don't think about being the guy that somebody else is worried about.

It reminds me of a time in college, when I came barreling down the library stairs because I was so happy to have finished my paper in the wee morning hours. Little did I know, there was a girl 1 flight below me, and when she heard/saw me coming toward her fast, she screamed and ran for her life. That's a rational move on her part, and I felt really bad about it.

If she had been carrying, who knows what she would have done.

 

[Jon_Snow]

Deleted.

 

[tgunner]

Really? You'd rather get in a gun fight, a fight that may end with you injured, dead or in jail, than not get into the fight at all? I have a hard time understanding that. The objective of carrying for self-defense is to prevent crimes to your person and to those around you. It is not to shoot any criminals you come across. I think the OP did very well.

I think he meant that he would be willing to lose the element of surprise in trade for not ever needing it.

 

[Jon_Snow]

I read that too quickly and my mind added a 'wouldn't' in place of the 'would'. Sorry I jumped the gun. No pun intended.