thoughts on open carry...

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CoastieTech

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I have been carrying for about 4-5 months and I am thinking about switching to open carry. I really don't try to conceal my gun now as is and I figure that if I'm not going to try to conceal then I might as well be comfortable and an OWB definitly seems more comfortable than IWB. I don't have the clothes to conceal in a OWB so I figure that I'll just open carry. I have a CTAC for my MilPro PT145 and I plan on getting a crossbreed holster for my G19 so I will have the ability to conceal when necessary. My main concern for open carry is rentention. I am extremly paranoid that someone will try to take my weapon, expecially in a crowded place. I don't know how much more rentention I will get from having a thumb break but it gives me a litlle more confidence. By the way I live in the Tidewater area of VA if that makes a difference, it is legal to open carry here. I just wanted to know what your thoughts were on this subject and whether you had any advice to give a newbie who can't make up his mind on how to carry. One more thing this is the holster I was thinking about open carrying in http://store1.yimg.com/I/desantisholster_1880_1641230 Sorry I still don't know how to post pics. Thank you in advance for all your help.
 
If you did not have much attention as a child, you will now :D :D . Looks comfy though.
 
I carry openly roughly a third of the time, indifferently concealed about a third of the time, and concealed the rest.

Virtually nobody ever notices, and of the very few people who have, no one's expressed a speck of hostility.

It's a lot easier to carry a lot more gun a lot more comfortably in a paddle holster.
 
I live in New York and would be OVERJOYED to be able to carry - concealed or open!!

I've got to get out of this state to someplace I can be free!! :fire:

Luke
 
I am considering open carry in my state as well.

In Maine it is legal to openly carry except in the "citys" of Portland,( thanks to former police chief mike chitwood) and Waterville. Also you cannot possess a firearm into a State park.

Also in my state you can't carry a loaded revolver or pistol in a motor vehicle without a permit.

My question is on open carry, though it is not illegal, many would suggest that is a poor choice of judgment to do so. For instance if people see firearm in "plain view" it might upset them when they realize that your not a police officer. What do you think? I have never actually seen a person carrying openly in my state (other than law enforcement) or during hunting. I have seen the occasional person to have a revolver on there belt when deer hunting. I have carried openly when I was hunting or fishing in remote areas, but never in a populated area.

Not trying to hijack the thread but I have a similiar situation.

Brother in Arms
 
I tried it a few times and I just personally did not like the attention it brought on me. Now, I used to work in "security" for three years, and even getting out of those particular vehicles (and everyone knew what was in them) in full uniform, I had a lot of dumb comments from librals with one track minds who thought the life of a criminal trying to kill me for what I was carrying was worth more than my life and I had no right to defend myself. So, my advise, as dumb as it may be, is that if you don't have a quick wit about you, develop a quick wit fast. :) If you have a quick wit already, be prepared to use it.

Also, check the laws town to town. Here in NC... the state is open carry, but some towns like Chapel Hell - erm, I mean Hill - do not permit open carry no matter what the state says.
 
The problem with open carry is despite what state law is if LE is not familar with the law and a blissninny calls the man down on you, YOU have the problem until LE had been demonstrated to be in error. If my memory serves me correctly there exists on THR an extended thread about some one in Virginia open carrying and was sicced on by LE because a bystander wasn't familar with the law.

Control your paranoia. Open carry is just not worth the hassle. Get a CCH, use it, and be done with it. Open carry is not a hill worth dying on.

Edited to add:
NC has open carry laws but you'd have to be an idiot to do it, regardless of the city.
 
+1 on the whole attention problem. I don't think you'll have an issue with retention, though. LEOs carry open all the time, and don't seem to have a huge problem with it.

The thing comes back to attention from sheeple. Some will never notice it even if you hold your weapon in front of their face. Others will be cool about it. Others will be freaked out. I open carried a few days ago into a gas station twice in the same day, early morning and evening. The first time I went in, the lady at the counter saw it, asked if I was going target shooting, and didn't seem to care. The evening visit, different clerk, and about half a dozen other people too. I think only one customer noticed, but said nothing. The clerk didn't say hi, acted very nervous, and kept his eyes fixed on the gun the whole time.
 
OK I cannot think of any reason I would give up my element of surprise i.e. concealed carry vs. open to the world carry. A few years ago in the main library down town Salt Lake there was a crazy man that took multiple people hostage. The Sheriff's office was right next door and a plain clothed deputy ran into the library and let the bad guy take him hostage not knowing his identity. After quite some time the situation went south and the deputy drew his "Concealed" weapon and neutralized the bad guy. Like I said why sacrifice surprise quite honestly I don’t want any one to have a clue I am carrying.
 
Texas doesn't have open carry.
If we did I'd probably open carry a fair amount. If for no other reason than to irritate the anti gun liberals.

When I first moved to Texas in the mid 60's every pickup truck had long guns hanging in the back windows and no one thought anything about it. Loaded long guns can still be carried in vehicles.
I'd like to see open carry and no one thinking anything about it.
But it won't happen if we have to hide our guns all the time.
 
First I'm in central Va. and completely understand. Don't be discouraged by those from other states with different laws. Let N.C. handle their own problems as they don't apply here. If accused of some offense by someone not liking the idea of you open carrying they have to provide proof or you have a lawsuit. Most LEOs will clarify that you are not doing anything wrong. If the LEO is not current on today's law then you can bet the judge or magistrate will set him straight as you have a wrongful arrest suit. Don't give up your right because someone else doesn't like it. Though some may view it as poor judgement it is your judgement and only you have to answer to it. What they think means absolutely nothing. I think it's pathetic when I see so many gunowners who advise against open carry, which Virginia has had as long as I can remember, when a lot of them just recently got the priviledge to carry.
OWB is a lot more comfortable. Just make sure a jacket or shirttail doesn't get you in trouble. Nothing can cover any part of the handgun. I use pancake holsters with thumb breaks (just a personal preference). A nice holster/belt combo can bring more kind remarks than the actual gun on your side. Ladies often noticed the patterned holsters. ;)
So carry openly if you choose. You may be surprised at just how little people will notice. When you do hear something said about a gun it will be the little kids asking you if the gun is real quickly followed by "can I see it".
 
Majic said:
Don't give up your right because someone else doesn't like it.
Click to expand...

Super extra double mega plus ditto, with cheese.

Being too careful to not offend got us here, where rights are now privileges. We ain't gonna get out of this fix by considering everyone's feelings. Do it with intelligence, do it with style, do it lawfully, but most of all, do it.
 
Seems to me that open carry is very location dependent - even if your location say's it's legal. Here in Alamogordo NM it's legal to open carry and you occassionally see it on the streets. A few banks still have places where you can check your guns, as does the county courthouse. A few miles away from the center of town open carry is the norm and it's almost odd to see a local rancher or worker not carrying.

Here, I have no problem carrying my handgun openly. But if I were in a place that it alarmed people, or drew a lot of attention I wouldn't open carry, legal or not.
 
Standing Wolf said:
Virtually nobody ever notices, and of the very few people who have, no one's expressed a speck of hostility.

It's a lot easier to carry a lot more gun a lot more comfortably in a paddle holster.
Click to expand...

Very true, open carry is a testimony on the lack of observation skills of most folks out there.

I just think you loose that edge you have over the bad guy in terms of "element of surprise."
 
Optical Serenity said:
I just think you loose that edge you have over the bad guy in terms of "element of surprise."
Click to expand...

I think this is a gunnie urban legend. Everyone says it, but there's nothing to back it up other than conjecture and the occasional anecdote. One could just as easily argue (and with exactly the same amount of evidence to back it up) that fewer criminal acts occur in the vicinity of open carry.
 
I live in VA as well, but the very northwestern part. When I was in closer to DC, there'd be NO way I'd open carry, although the law says we have to in ABC places...restaraunts.

I dunno, try it out for a week and see what happens. All they can do is call the cops on you ("man with a gun") and make you explain yourself to 6 cops at once. :cool:

Oh, and be prepared for private businesses telling you the "hey, you can't have that in here" BS. Outback Steakhouse is one that comes to mind.
 
too chubby these days

I do not open carry because I feel it causes to much of a disturbance. I do not usually concealed carry for the same reason you mentioned. Just no real place to conceal it. I am a bit heavier these days (at only 6'1 and weighing in at 225 lbs instead of my service weight of 180 lbs) and there is barely enough room for me in my clothes much less a weapon. Plus I am always a little afraid of losing some very personal bits if an inside-the-belt carry went off accidently. It was bad enough the time I shot myself in the foot...and I have two feet.:uhoh:

PS - I have thought of getting a derringer with an ankle holster for when i am in a bad area
 
How about this!

I am surprised that nobody has hit on the real solution yet.:neener: The most obvious and correct answer is to do both!!! Have one open, have another in SOB concealed, and then a wheel gun on your ankle. Now all bases are covered and so are you
 
EZ CZ75 said:
I am surprised that nobody has hit on the real solution yet.:neener: The most obvious and correct answer is to do both!!! Have one open, have another in SOB concealed, and then a wheel gun on your ankle. Now all bases are covered and so are you
Click to expand...

Hehehe..and don't forget the new rectum holster from Smith and Wesson coming soon...just in case.:)

Don't sue me S&W, I am just kidding ...unless you actually make one, then I want a percentage.
 
The only issue that I have with open carry is in formal dress. Therefore, except when in formal dress, open carry makes perfect sense.

Historically I think that is the way it has generally been as well.
-------------------------------------------

http://ussliberty.org
http://ssunitedstates.org
 
LAK said:
The only issue that I have with open carry is in formal dress. Therefore, except when in formal dress, open carry makes perfect sense.
Click to expand...

I would not open carry in a formal dress....sequins and pistols just don't go together. Wear full length and use an ankle holster. :neener:
 
LAK said:
The only issue that I have with open carry is in formal dress. Therefore, except when in formal dress, open carry makes perfect sense.

Historically I think that is the way it has generally been as well.
Click to expand...

I disagree completely. It is all about selecting the right pistol to suite your style...

Glock for jeans, but a nice polished 1911 in a classy OWB leather holster for the suit and tie.
 
Open carry is a double-edged sword. On one side, you garner a lot of unwanted attention by doing it. On the other, if more and more people would stop worrying about what other people thought and just do it (a la Nike), then the sheeple would become acclimated to it. I think open carry should be allowed/encouraged in every state with concealed carry being the dicreet option. No damn "permits" either.

Greg
 
I think open carry not so good. If you even look at j. q. citizen with a frown, he will assume you are threatening him. Then the call to the police about a man with a gun and he may be a robber, etc, etc, etc. And the burden of proof will be on you. AND if you get an officer that is not very well read he's going to take alot of your time......and it goes on and on.
 
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