Why open carry?

[JohnKSa]

I would think you could draw a little bit faster if you didn't have to pull your shirt off your gun in the process

And you'd BETTER be fast because you'll be forced to draw immediately when something goes down. Carrying concealed may be a bit slower but it gives you the option of choosing when to draw.

Here’s the one example cited in this thread.

The statement was that no one could produce an example. I did.

Guns are a very desirable item for theft. So desirable that robbers have held up gun shops manned by armed clerks. It's totally unrealistic to assume that one man walking alone down the street is going to be more threatening than a couple of armed gun store clerks on their own turf.

The example cited demonstrates what is already obvious. Criminals are willing to risk injury or death to steal firearms. The example SHOULD be unnecessary given the fact that it's COMMON knowledge that criminals have attacked openly armed persons in order to steal guns.

I'd bet you could find at least that many examples of people being killed for their concealed piece too.

This defies logic. How would a criminal manage this? Go about killing people he thinks might be carrying concealed?

 

[Ragnar Danneskjold]

Whether I open carry is pretty much based on how I'm dressed. I carry either a Mil Pro in an IWB, or a Walther P99 in a Galco. Usually my weapon is covered up by either a t-shirt, polo, or button down. But if I decide to wear the button down open, than my weapon is pretty much visible.

I try to dress and look pretty nice and civilized. The way I figure, if your way of dressing acting, and presenting yourself is upstanding and impressive, having a visible weapon won't automatically make people think "bad guy". So far I have yet to be hassled if I let my weapon show.

 

[JesseL]

I'd bet you could find at least that many examples of people being killed for their concealed piece too.

This defies logic. How would a criminal manage this? Go about killing people he thinks might be carrying concealed?

Concealment isn't always perfect. I've seen a lot of guys that were pretty obviously carrying yet not "open" carrying. There have been numerous threads about this. Look for guys with fanny packs, photographer's vests, 5.11 pants, oversized Hawaiian shirts, etc.

 

[Tequila jake]

JesseL and Mainsail:

1. "That hasn't been a problem for me." I carry my cell phone on my belt and (perhaps because I'm pretty clumsy) have had it hang up on seat belts, chair arms, and other things. I believe the same thing could happen to my weapon if I carry openly.

2. "That's probably true for the guns you carry, but I like to carry something a little bigger and easier to shoot accurately." I agree that a larger handgun would be easier to shoot well than either of mine, but it certainly wouldn't be any more comfortable to carry than either of them. And that's what I was getting at--the comfort angle.

3. "I'd bet you could find at least that many examples [2]of people being killed for their concealed piece too." If their weapon was properly concealed, the bad guys wouldn't know they had one and wouldn't kill them.

4. "Although it's never been a problem here in AZ, I think rights are worth fighting for. Thank goodness all the great civil rights leaders of the past didn't let the fear of being questioned or arrested by the police stop them." I agree completely that rights are worth fighting for, and I will be happy to fight for the right to carry openly. However, because of the other disadvantages I see, plus the possibility of arrest, I won't carry openly. I didn't say it wasn't worth taking a chance on being arrested if a person wants to carry openly, it's just not worth it to me.

5. "Here’s the one example cited in this thread. Pay attention to the time of day the incident took place. Again, for all the hand wringing, it simply isn’t enough of a threat to persuade me that’s it’s any more realistic than a zombie invasion.


Quote:
Man robbed in the Centreville area

About 4:10 a.m. Sunday, July 30, officers were called to the area of Newton Patent Drive and Newton Tavern Drive. A 21-year-old Centreville-area man was robbed while walking on Newton Patent Drive. Two suspects approached the victim from behind, and placed a metal object up to the victim’s head. The suspects took the victim’s hand gun which he was openly carrying. The suspect’s then fled the area. The victim was not injured."

Note that there is no mention that they took anything except the victim's handgun. If he had not been carrying openly, I would assume that they wouldn't have attacked him.

Bottom line: for those who want to carry openly, I hope that all states soon allow it. But it's not for me....

Tequila Jake

 

[Feanaro]

I carry my cell phone on my belt and (perhaps because I'm pretty clumsy) have had it hang up on seat belts, chair arms, and other things. I believe the same thing could happen to my weapon if I carry openly.

I hang my phone on stuff all the time. But I've never hung a pistol on anything. I don't bang it into walls and such. Whether it's a good, tight holster or a raised awareness, I've never had that problem.

 

[JohnKSa]

I'd bet you could find at least that many examples of people being killed for their concealed piece too.

Concealment isn't always perfect. I've seen a lot of guys that were pretty obviously carrying yet not "open" carrying.

So basically you're saying that not concealing properly puts you at risk of being killed for your firearm?

Maybe I'm missing something but that seems like a terrible argument for open carry...