[marktwain]

The idea that open carriers “would be shot first” sounds plausible, but it does not happen much in reality.

You also have concealed carriers attacked and their guns taken, because the attacker thought they were unarmed.

You have a plenty of bad guys deterred by open carry, so they do not initiate an attack.

Both methods have their pluses and minuses. I support both methods. At times, I have employed both at once.

Open carry is much better for making political statements; concealed carry is nice if you are shy about making political statements or simply want to be inconspicuous.

It is surprising the large number of people who do not even notice a full size holstered pistol in the open.

[wastoute]

I suppose there might be an advantage to having the BUG as the actual defense gun, and maybe even a “decoy” replica in the open holster. It wouldn’t work on me. Were I a “bad guy” I would just shoot the open carrier. In my mind, “were I a bad guy”, my thinking would be “I have crossed the Rubicon” I am in public, brandishing, taking charge, I have ALREADY gone too far so shooting threats is just logical...

[HotHunt]

When I lived in Arizona, it was not unusual to see people shopping at the local grocery store with holstered pistols strapped to their waist.

The first time I saw a woman with a pistol on her hip, I asked her if she liked it. Absolutely she replied. Keeps the creeps at bay she said. No fears of being attacked was her answer.

Open carry only upsets liberals because they don't think people should have guns to begin with. Open carry shoves it right in their faces and there's not a darn thing they can do about it.

The right to carry a firearm to defend oneself is exercising their 2nd Amendment rights under the Constitution. No different than having the ability to speak your mind, even if it is unpopular speech, because of the 1st Amendment.

[Manly Warrior]

“You have a plenty of bad guys deterred by open carry, so they do not initiate an attack.”

Citation for this statement or just conjecture?

Unless someone surveys crooks of all sorts, there is no way to come to this conclusion regarding the deterrent effect of OC. OTOH, one could probably glean enough data from news reports of OC being targeted- that too, is likely a small ( but really problematic) for those OCs who were targeted, if an were....

I think Kleck or Mustard or... surveyed incarcerated folks regarding their opinion regarding CC arms- the result was they did nto like it at all...