Open or concealed carry?

American Thinker ^ | 11 May, 2024 | Mike McDaniel

[MtnClimber]

Generally, it’s best to go about one’s business as unobtrusively as possible, relying on situational awareness and solid knowledge of use of force law to avoid ever having to draw or fire one’s handgun.

Among the perennial controversies in the firearm world is whether concealed or open carry is best. Circa 2024, open carry is widely allowed:

State laws regarding open carry fall into several categories: permissive, permissive with restrictions, licensed open carry states, and those in which open carry is prohibited. Permissive states allow non-prohibited citizens to open carry without requiring a permit or license. Most states fall into this category. There are also slight variations in regulations for handguns versus long guns.

Thirty-six states are permissive and allow the open carrying of a handgun without a permit or license. Seven of these states have some restrictions on the open carrying of handguns. North Dakota, for example, allows for open carry of a firearm without a permit, provided the gun is unloaded. The state requires an individual to obtain a license to open carry a loaded weapon.

Nine states require a permit to open carry a handgun, while four states, California, Florida, Illinois, and New York, prohibit it entirely. Open carry is also not permitted in the District of Columbia.

Forty-four states allow open carry of long guns—rifles and shotguns—without a license.

The primary advantage of concealed carry is criminals can’t know who is carrying and have to assume everyone is and act accordingly. This applies largely to red states. Of course, situational awareness plays a role. Anyone appearing to be an easy, unaware target is more likely, armed or unarmed, to be attacked. Obviously, the greater the number of honest people carrying concealed, the greater the potential deterrence.

[Phlyer]

For me, the primary benefit of open carry being allowed in my state is that I can carry concealed and not get into problems if my gun is accidentally exposed.

Exactly! There is another similar advantage. I live in Texas and sometimes it gets hot enough that I slip off my jacket or covering shirt and my pistol shows. I never do that in 'open' areas (meaning, with a lot of general public), but if I'm working on our RV in the storage lot, or taking things in and out of my car at home, then I'm not paranoid about hiding my pistol, nor taking it off and storing it somewhere for that short time.

But open carry is like wearing gaudy, apparently expensive watches or jewelry. It gives someone an incentive to try to rob you, and I don't think anyone is invulnerable to an ambush-attack planned in advance to steal the weapon. On the other hand, if you *might* have a weapon, then the bad guys *might* choose an easier target. To that end, even if I'm not carrying because I'm going somewhere I can't, I often wear a jacket just so they don't know.

[CodeToad]

“Open carry makes you the first target of the bad guy with a bad plan.”

Open carry means the bad guy skips it and moves on to some other place without a gun pointed back at them.

[NorthMountain]

The AK-50 actually works!

Just another thing on the list of things I want but can’t afford ...

[GailA]

Have they named or determined if this 16-year-old is a Tranny?

Gunman arrested at Louisiana church during First Communion Mass
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-69004988

Parishioners stopped teen with a rifle from entering church with 60 children inside
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/parishioners-louisiana-stopped-teen-rifle-church-childrens-mass-rcna151925?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR0QWKKZtOxauV7nlFi790Ew4jSoPBafSsG065Zhuuhht934Cuii6_yli2E_aem_AZ7kJ87SCYDt0kFTeAoFO2B2j-E6sQUNb94rZSBs1E_EqYw5ZPvEvUGTbz0pui_zg0qtj1hyDTaSIn3Zxk3go7YT

[GailA]

I do both, depending on where I am. Shelby Co (Memphis) conceal. Atoka, Tipton Co Either way.

[MtnClimber]

Have they named or determined if this 16-year-old is a Tranny?

I have heard no mention of the gender which seems unusual.

[Lazamataz]

Open or concealed carry?

Yes.

[MtnClimber]

I have done both. I live in FL now so OC is not legal. The thing I like about OC is that it allows carry of a full sized handgun, which I prefer.

[GailA]

A male was mentioned. But that is all, being 16 it will be kept on the QT as long as they can.

[GailA]

Any updates on this story? He was sent to the hospital for a mental evaluation and released on NO BAIL. 16 so no other info was released. Only that he was a he.

Parishioners stopped teen with a rifle from entering church with 60 children inside

Children were inside St. Mary Magdalen in Abbeville, Louisiana, waiting to take their first Holy Communion, the church said.

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/parishioners-louisiana-stopped-teen-rifle-church-childrens-mass-rcna151925

[MtnClimber]

I have heard no updates. Just crickets.