The Night Rider
Member
- Joined
- Feb 16, 2022
- Messages
- 2,177
I disagree. Would you not agree that open carry can make you a higher priority target to criminals in certain instances, due to the fact that you're clearly/VISIBLY armed? Like a mass shooter situation, or gun theft? Even a mass shooter may not want his own life to be taken, and very well may eliminate someone else in preservation of their own life.I say this as someone who chooses to carry concealed the majority of the time.
Your opinion is simply wrong. It's just feelings with nothing to back them up. It's exactly the same argument anti-gunners use against all forms of carry. It makes them uncomfortable, therefore they don't think anyone should do it. I've been hearing this exact same argument for 15+ years and no one has over been able to cite any sources that show proof of it making you a target, higher chances of your gun being taken, etc. In fact the only news story I've seen during that time about an OCer other than being hassled by the police for no reason was when one successfully stopped a robbery years ago in VA.
Frankly, the last thing the gun community needs is another fudd spreading this nonsense. Especially on a forum that anti-gunners can reference to use against us. I'm supportive of people exercising their constitutional right in any form they'd like to.
Will the "average dirt bag" notice? Maybe, maybe not. Willing to take the risk?So when I'm CC'ing, I bend over to get something from a bottom shelf in the supermarket and my gun pokes out from under my shirt tail, have I switched to open carry?
I'm hoping my plumber's butt distracts anyone looking and they don't see my gun.
I lot here worry about "printing" when conceal carrying...not me.
A cop or another cc'er may see the printing but I don't believe the average dirt bag would even notice.
jmo,
.
That ""exhausting amount of situational awareness I have to maintain whenever in close proximity to others"" is also present in CC'ing for me.Used to open carry back in my early to mid 20s as a political statement in an attempt to "normalize" the presence of private citizens with sidearms. Got kicked out of a few eateries and harassed by the police a few times for my trouble.
I always used a level II retention holster at minimum and dressed business casual when openly carrying.
What eventually got me to stop is not the negative attention or strictly speaking the potential tactical disadvantage itself: it was the exhausting amount of situational awareness I had to maintain whenever I was in close proximity to others. You can never let your guard down or focus all your attention to the task at hand when you're open carrying among the public. It got too stressful and I eventually gave up on it, with the exception of special occasions like 2A rallies and the like.
"yet, it is the same "I am right and others are wrong" BS we see in all of these OC vs CWC threads."....yet, it is the same "I am right and others are wrong" BS we see in all of these OC vs CWC threads. Strangely, we haven't had one of these threads for a while....they used to be much more commonplace. Outcome is always the same. They quickly get closed. I respect the right of everyone here to express their opinion. Kinda what these types of forums are all about. What I don't respect is the subtle condescension used in attempt to make some folks and their "way" superior, by pointing out all the self perceived/assumed fails of the "other way". I live in the next to last state in the Union to allow CWC, yet OC was always legal. There was only one legal way to carry a weapon for SD up until November of 2011. Was is stupid and foolish then too? These types of threads are just a quest for others to affirm, similar to caliber wars and gun manufacturers bashing. Is similar to the old S&W bashing years ago when they first started using MIM parts. Statements like "I won't trust my life on plastic parts!". Until everyone else starting using them too. Now, there's nuttin' but crickets. Is open carrying any different than owning a "Black Rifle"? Again, opinion. How about how many rounds in a magazine, or even carried as a reload? "Oh my, you don't still carry a revolver with only 5 rounds for SD, do you"? Here are all my reasons for carrying a double stack!"
Sorry, don't intend to bash...just MHO.
....and of this I agree, other than the author's opinion is wrong. It is his opinion and without factual evidence, it can't be right or wrong, just an opinion.
Criminals don't target "known harden targets"? Ever?Strange, mass shooters avoid cops since cops are known to be armed. The same applies to open carry. Criminals don't target known harden targets.
I'm very comfortable with properly concealed carrying wherever I legally can. By properly, one part meaning not printing. I view one of the advantages of concealed carry is that other people will have no clue you're carrying (unless you inform them).Thanks for sharing your thoughts. You bring up valid concerns and make some good points. Anyone carrying a weapon in public should think about these things. In my opinion, it seems to me that you could be uncomfortable carrying any weapon in public - openly or concealed. Not a put down. Carrying a weapon in public is not for everyone.
Carrying concealed is only that until someone notices. When that happens you are just open carry with a coat on, or whatever. I routinely scan people for print-through or other tell-tale signs that someone is packing heat. I'm not the only one. Thus my opinion of "concealed carry" is that it is really just an extension of open carry. I'd say that after considering all the pluses and minuses and everything on your list, then if any of it is still a problem one probably should do a little soul-searching. Carrying a weapon in public may not be a good fit for you.
What drives your decision to switch to conceal carry in town?My state allows open carry.
I open carry in the back country. In town I conceal carry. Works for me.
You have one incident as an example.. out of how many millions of legal gun owners in the US? Hundreds of thousands of people open carry daily. You argument is the same as the antigunners when it comes to 30rd magazines or an AR-15.Criminals don't target "known harden targets"? Ever?
Open Carrying Officer Has His Gun Stolen From Him
Baker Targets brought us today’s video of Open Carrying Officer Has His Gun Stolen From Him. https://get-asp.com/bakertargets is my go-to source for targets ...m.youtube.com
Yet Mr. Grisham was arrested by your fellow Texan LE in TX for legally open carrying a long gun and in the end, his fight helped legal general open carry in your state.I have been a Texas law enforcement officer since 1987 and am still going strong. Looks like you worked in the wrong state.
After you decide you have properly concealed there will be someone who studies you/follows you around and determines you are "printing" in some way you are not a where of.I'm very comfortable with properly concealed carrying wherever I legally can. By properly, one part meaning not printing. I view one of the advantages of concealed carry is that other people will have no clue you're carrying (unless you inform them).
OC should be legal, but rare.OPEN CARRY NEEDS TO BE LEGALIZED IN FL TO STOP THE HARASSMENT OF THE LAW ABIDING.
Those that are lobbyists and activists for gun rights, such as yourself, should definitely care about what the public thinks of gun owners. (I'm not talking about the opinions of the dyed-in-the-wool antigunners, but about the opinions of the vast numbers of people in the middle, shorthand for whom is "soccer moms.") I can tell you that, at least here in northern Virginia, such people are turned off by the sight of weapons being openly carried (unless the person carrying is uniformed LE). If you open carry just "to make a statement," you risk turning a neutral observer into an antigunner. And then don't be surprised if more antigun laws get enacted. This is just basic public relations.Just because OC scares the anti-gunners, WHO CARES.
They don't want you to carry or own arms, PERIOD. appeasing them by staying in the closet and hiding ain't gonna win them over.
Stop being afraid and start being loud and proud as a gun owner.
Bear in mind he's not from Florida, he's from Miami.I lived in FL. from 03/95 to 05/08 in Jax, Clermont, Orlando, Ocala and never experienced any Police harassment while CC'ing.
My standard dress was a bathing suit with the liner removed, a tee shirt and a fanny back for my stuff.
My fellow workers once harassed me about my fanny pack, calling it a "sissy sack"/tourist badge/etc., not at work but out in public.
My response was where else can I carry my gun was met with an awkward silence and the subject was changed.
Sorry to hear things have changed, I'm hoping it's just a Miami thing...
jmo,
.
You have one incident as an example.. out of how many millions of legal gun owners in the US? Hundreds of thousands of people open carry daily. You argument is the same as the antigunners when it comes to 30rd magazines or an AR-15.
Again, an inalienable right. Feelings don't Trump rights.
So, first you seemingly said that mass shooters/criminals avoid cops/open carriers, because they're armed, and therefore are "known harden targets". Basically, anyone who is visibly armed. Yet, when I posted video evidence refuting your claim, you seemingly try to switch to something else?Strange, mass shooters avoid cops since cops are known to be armed. The same applies to open carry. Criminals don't target known harden targets.