Posted on 06/02/2011 6:40:19 AM PDT by marktwain
If I’m carrying a gun, no one else needs to know about it. Living in an open carry state—within a proverbial stone’s throw of DC—has reinforced this belief. There are just too many stories of OC’ers being harassed. I don’t have time to be held up by local law enforcement called in by a gun-shy ignoramus. Spending the weekend in TN changed my perspective . . .
With all the moving between venues, changing clothing and gear was impractical. As TN’s an Open Carry (OC) state, most of us carried openly while moving through hotels, gas stations and restaurants on our way to and from events. No one called the cops and no one even gave us a second look. To be honest, it was refreshing to see people treat openly carried firearms as if they were “no big thang.” Which got me thinking . . .
How many of us would actually choose to open carry if your state allowed it, and in what situation would you most likely choose to do so? I know a lot of people view OC as the equivalent of a wearing a T-shirt that says “Shoot Me First,” but wouldn’t that cease to be an issue if OC reached critical mass?
And LEOs are less and less tasked to come up with a valid reason for shooting someone.
Similar - Except my concealed is a Beretta 92F in a”fanny pack” and my open woods pistol is a Springfield M1911A1
Nothin doin! I’m saving myself for Tweetypie Anthony Weiner.
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.
You would think, but concealed means business owners don’t post their establishments. Or if they do, they better post in foot-high letters to have it “seen.”
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?
I’m with you. I carry but I have a CWP. Why give those TSA wannabe cops a chance to pat you down after maybe shooting you first.
Given that you are in PA, make sure you don't forget to unload and separate your ammo from your gun before you go into Maryland, or you're gonna get in a world of trouble. ;-(
This has been my experience also.
I open carry sometimes & concealed carry sometimes. My decision depends on what I am going to be doing, what I will be wearing and the weapon I choose to carry, on a particular day.
A full-sized 1911 .45 is a great self-defense weapon, but it's tough to conceal while wearing shorts and a t-shirt, while a Bond Arms Snake Slayer fits nicely in the pocket of any shorts I'LL be wearing. But, even though it is samll, the derringer slides/bounces around a lot in my pocket when I'm running around playing catch at the park with my son, so sometimes a small to medium revolver securely holstered on the hip works best. Etc. etc.
And speaking of 'Carry Encounters': I recently attended a concert at the Hampton Coliseum to which I carried (concealed) a Smith&Wesson .38S&W revolver. The weapon was discovered during the security 'pat-down' at the entrance, and the coliseum management folks REALLY pushed hard trying to talk me in to taking it back to my car. However, the Hampton Police Major on the scene was having none of it. He made it clear that it was legal for me to carry the weapon in to the venue, and he flatly stated that he was not even going to try to stop me or talk me out of it. And that's the closest thing I have experienced to a 'negative' encounter when carrying, open OR concealed.
Just to keep it clear, you’re quoting post 1, not me :)
I don’t think OC is what most people want. I wish we could have concealed carry without a permit in Texas. I do carry my 1911 when I am on the farm, since there are coyotes that will attack.
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