I open carry most of the time… and this is in suburban Minneapolis, not farm country… I open carry as a means of activism, and public education.
When I open carry, I often go with my kids… Because my kids are cute. Most gun owners are family men, who are concerned and motivated to protect their lives, and the lives of their loved ones. I am the same. When I open carry with my cute kids in tow, the public can see that I’m not a deranged redneck stroking his rifle quoting lines from Full Metal Jacket. I’m just a regular guy, wiping his 1 year old son’s snotty nose, and debating with my 3 year old about what kind of cereal she can have.
99% of people either don’t notice, or don’t say anything. I have only had a handful of encounters, and all of the good or neutral.
Remember to be polite, and don’t rub people’s noses in it. I respect business owner’s rights, if they don’t want me carrying in their business, then I certainly don’t want to spend my money there.
When you OC, you are representing all gun owners, wheather you want to or not. handling yourself in a kind, courteous manor may just win some hearts and minds. Being a jerk will certainly lose them.
Re: the “Shoot me First”:
Some people say that concealing gives you the element of surprise, and a tactical advantage. Others say that open-carrying gives you easier access, and is a tactical advantage. Another concern is that if you are open carrying, you will be eliminated first to neutralize a threat, a counterpoint is that the presence of a visible gun will deter a threat. Truth be told there simply isn’t enough data to substantiate any of the previous claims. There are a wide array of good and logical reasons both ways.
Being inconvenienced is something to take into consideration if you OC.
Last summer, an acquaintance was “cuffed and stuffed” for legally carrying a gun. He had been at Cosby Farm Park in St. Paul, and removed his vest because of the heat. As he was walking through the park he was detained, disarmed, and put in a police vehicle. The officer even said ” it was illegal to carry a pistol in the open” and asked ” if (he) knew what “concealed” meant”. Eventually it was found he had committed no crime, and he was released.
This kind of ignorance is all over the police force. The fact of the matter is, the public, by and large is unfamiliar with carry laws, and unfortunately, so are the police. There is some sound reasoning for this though… Permit holders are by nature, law abiding citizens. With all of the laws police officers are responsible for remembering and enforcing, it stands to reason that since they don’t have problems with legally armed citizens, they don’t invest much time in the laws that pertain to that right.
If you do OC, carry a voice / video recorded (check your local laws) to make sure your rights are protected and observed… and as a means to defend yourself against crazy accusations from the public and or cops.
OC is not for everyone, but if you are up to the challenge, I think it is a good thing for the general public to see good guys with guns.
No way. I’m a petite female. Got enough trouble with what I open carry now. ;)
I would OC if loaded, it would be a waste if unloaded
No. I stay in the background, trying to be unnoticed most of the time.
No way! It’s a private thing.
Cops come up with this notion of a person “breaching the peace” when someone is engaging in OC. WTF does that come from?
What gun???....I don’t have a gun inside the waist band that you cant see, covered by a shirt or vest.....loaded with +P rounds...cocked and locked....
why do you ask???....
For me, it would be situationally dependant.
For my money, OC is a dangerous thing to do.
It is quite easy to be shot by law enforcement, especially if one tries to educate people about the legality of OC.
Concealed all the way.
I think OC would much more practical in Florida for people who are not in air conditioned spaces all the time.
Only thing stopping me from OC is the sociopolitical idiocy I’d have to deal with. OC is a lot more comfortable, and practical, than CCW.
The “shoot me first” argument is stupid. A wolf out for an easy meal will go after the weakest sheep, not the biggest baddest sheepdog. The odds of a sheep in fact being a cloaked sheepdog is very, very small - so small as to not perturb the plans of the wolf. The odds of a “shoot me first” scenario are limited to rare cases involving organized criminals so well prepared that CCW isn’t going to do you much good either (you know, like SWAT vs. Guerena).
I have open-carried on occasion, but generally prefer to conceal my weapon, as I live in a suburban area which has become more densely-populated during the past ten years.
I”m a female who would carry openly. No sense pretending it isn’t the ‘wild west’ when it is. Why should criminals be the only ones armed? Ludicrous!
If you’re ultimately responsible for your own safety, OC makes sense.
“Eventually it was found he had committed no crime, and he was released.”
I hope he subsequently filed a 1983 civil rights action against the cops.
Colonel, USAFR
Legally, I can open carry, but I don’t. I’d as soon slip around on my public errands unnoticed. Have enough stress with the public and customers in my professional life.
I carry a Colt 1911 .45ACP, 230 grain JHP in the pipe, hammer cocked. (Always a good debate about the hammer on a 1911, particularly open carried w/ hammer cocked.)
Around metrosexual here, the mere sight of a firearm makes the bedwetters...well, wet themselves. I’d just as soon not make waves.
/just finished my classes for my CCP. Plan on purchasing a Keltec soon.
Camping maybe; don’t think I’d do it in city or suburbs.
Only out in the woods, not where the public is. I believe we should all be allowed to carry concealed without a permit.
How I carry might not change, but I want the option to do so without having to worry about badges wanting to murder me because they are afraid or humiliate me because they feel dissed that I don’t need them.
I want my right to do as I see fit in defense of my family and myself within the framework of law being protected without fear of being targeted for harassment or attack by union thugs.
Being harassed is exactly the reason to open carry.
I’m new to this issue. I just took the NRA’s basic pistol safety course, and will be joining a shooting range in another state tomorrow night. So I look forward to being educated by my fellow Freepers.
What are the concerns states have with open and concealed carry? Which is considered more “threatening”? I know in my state, it’s virtually impossible to get a concealed carry permit. I don’t know about open carry.
In general terms, what are the issues involved?