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?
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.
I would love to open carry, and my state supposedly allows for it. I’m not pushing the issue, and CC whenever I go out. I have inside-the-waistband holsters, so in the house I’ll use them, but not care about the shirt covering. At my clients, I conceal deeply (LCP) so I don’t make waves.
I would open carry if I could, considering all the options and arguments laid out before me. I’m a small guy (29 inch waist, 135 lbs) and Concealing has greatly limited the kinds of firepower I can carry with me. Open carry would open me up to more choices in firearms make and models.
Cops come up with this notion of a person “breaching the peace” when someone is engaging in OC. WTF does that come from?
Ditto. PA is an OC state. Tried OC for awhile and found myself being hit on....by other women. Effin’ scary that was. Carry in my purse now...or in a jacket pocket depending on where I be.
Funny!
I like the element of uncertainty.
"I know what you're thinking. "Did he fire six shots or only five?" Well, to tell you the truth, in all this excitement I kind of lost track myself. But being as this is a .44 Magnum, the most powerful handgun in the world, and would blow your head clean off, you've got to ask yourself one question: Do I feel lucky? Well, do ya, punk?"
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???....
“No way. I’m a petite female. Got enough trouble with what I open carry now. ;)”
Evidence is critical to such assertions.
A nice retro-stylish fur muff does the trick in cold months. You can go anywhere with your hand ON the gun. :)
For me, it would be situationally dependant.
WTF does that come from?
Power.
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 carry openly, big magnum revolvers when I enter the woods....any other time it is a compact semi-auto discretely hidden but easily accessed...
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).
Will definitely try that. It does get wayyyy cold up here in these mountains.
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.
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