That's not what the other post said.It is my opinion. I haven't said I think or expect anyone to do what I say. I actually OC or CC depending on my take of the situation which was kind of my point: assess the situation, determine if show of force or surprise is a bigger advantage. For example I prefer to open carry whenever I feel like I have home field advantage.
And if the CCers would just leave the OCers alone, we wouldn't have to have that, would we?What I see in these arguments is what I see in so many ingo posts. Lack of reason and black and white thinking. The inability to see anything outside of their own preconceived notions.
One thing you can bank on, I never OC out of Ego, machismo, or to freak out the sheep.
I'll add my bit to the glue factory candidate of a thread:
The threshold of action (drawing gun) should IMO be very high. Once you draw your gun, the range of good outcomes is reduced, and the likelihood of bad outcomes is higher.
In the store robbery case that is oft-cited, I would say that your first reaction should be to not draw a gun nor stand out in anyway. Unless the robber shows clear intention to kill (rather than steal), you should probably choose to let the robbery continue.
If you OC, then you basically remove that option to lay low. You may actually increase the probably of someone (other than BG) getting hurt or killed.
That said, I refuse to accept the idea that OC or CC is always better than the other option. Neither is without risk or reward in a given situation.
There's no substitute for using your own judgement. If I carried (I do not), I would tend towards CC just be more sociable and not draw attention to myself.
Even if you don't have any intention to draw stares from people, you can't never disprove the allegation that you're just looking for attention.
I'd rather it not be an issue, and I'm willing to live with the disadvantages of CC in most cases.
Combat was quieter and they ONLY wanted to kill me....not remove body parts!!!!
I was wondering the same thing...
Do I need to build a rack for my sig line too?!
As a Combat Vet:
Only if you really want to be COOL!!!
I only made it because I don't have any other way to show them off lol. I thought it was pretty cool.
MW2, MW3, Black Ops I'm an all alone INGO member on them for PS3 lol.
I'd show all of mine if it weren't for space restrictions.
Carrying openly suggests to someone that you are ready for trouble and that someone looking for trouble will find it. To a criminal, you are also advertising that you are trouble. To bystanders and responding police, you are advertising that you MIGHT be trouble. Bystanders don't know the difference until you part ways.
I'm very well-trained in close quarters combat shooting and in most situations as a citizen, I would not pull the gun. A few important reasons why:
1) rule number four of combat shooting - know your target and what's behind it. Chances are people are behind the perp so you have to look for a shot or create one. The criminal might not have any such reservations. I have a high degree of confidence I'll hit what I'm aiming at. The criminal probably will not under that much stress.
Collateral damage is common in urban gunbattles.
2) money and material possessions, whether insured or not, are not worth the life of SOMEONE ELSE. Innocent people can get hurt. Bullets very often travel through barriers and can hurt if not kill. Why take the chance unless absolutely necessary? Better to get the plate # and description of a car or of the suspect for law enforcement.
3) Taking a life, as was stated before, is not something to be taken lightly.
4) If things go badly, and I think we can all agree they can, you might save the day, and still wind up sued or worse, charged with a crime if things aren't clean. The broader issue: threat assessment and the application of force. If you pull a gun you better be prepared to use it. Was it even justifiable?
Even as a combat veteran who carries concealed, when I see someone carrying openly, my first thought is, why the hell are they carrying the gun? Are they responsible enough with that gun not to get us all killed getting involved in something they might not be trained for, i.e. COMBAT.
Some things to consider about open-carry: Do you really want to make an armed robber even more nervous when they see your weapon carried openly after barging into a store? They're unlikely to see it until they are in the place. Gauging or rather "gambling" on how a criminal is going to react is dangerous and it could be fatal. They come in and see your gun, you see them, maybe you instinctively reach for the gun, and even hesitate...there's more than a few things that can go wrong here. That kind of stress leads people to do things you would not always expect.
If a perp runs into the store armed and sees your gun, you have now become priority number one. Is that safer for you and the others around you? The money the perp wants is insured. Unless he's shooting people, he most likely wants the money and to leave. Everybody else wants to survive. Consider whether it's worth the trouble that can potentially be caused. It could escalate the situation into a fatal encounter in what otherwise would have been survivable. Your decision to openly carry, or even use your gun is one that is made for every person in the area.
Stats teach us nothing about deterrant because you can't track crimes that don't take place because of open-carry. While most criminals are unlikely to break into a house of a gun-owner, how many criminals really avoid actual crimes because of open-carry? No way to track that info realistically.
I concede carrying concealed is not useful if the gun is not readily available. Mine can be reached and effectively used in seconds (Combat reflexive shooting). A lot of practice and training went into it. I respect everyone's opinion who wants to carry openly but I think it's selfish to just say, well the housewife with her four kids at the grocery store needs to get used to seeing guns on our hips. Carrying is a way of life and a tremendous responsibility. Gunfights are rarely ever clean, and somebody almost always gets hurt. Most rounds fired in combat, even by trained professionals, are not on target. That's an absolute fact. Mostly because people are moving and stress. Moving and shooting is a skill well-beyond what even experienced range shooters are capable of. Especially if bystanders are involved.
Personally, I think someone that wants to carry should do what the U.S. military teaches it's operators to do: Carry concealed where you can access the gun rapidly if you ever needed to. Train harder and more effectively rather than trust your life and everyone else's to the presumption that a criminal will respond the way you want them to.
I could not agree more with this post. This is good advice. You have the right to open carry just like you have the right to wear a t shirt with a huge bullseye on it. Doesn't mean you should. I conceal carry to protect myself, family, and friends. I am willing to put myself in harms way to protect the aforementioned. That being said, the last thing I want to do is draw more attention to myself or my loved ones in a shoot out. For the protection of those who may be standing close to me, I will never open carry.
I could not agree more with this post. This is good advice. You have the right to open carry just like you have the right to wear a t shirt with a huge bullseye on it. Doesn't mean you should. I conceal carry to protect myself, family, and friends. I am willing to put myself in harms way to protect the aforementioned. That being said, the last thing I want to do is draw more attention to myself or my loved ones in a shoot out. For the protection of those who may be standing close to me, I will never open carry.
I could not agree more with this post. This is good advice. You have the right to open carry just like you have the right to wear a t shirt with a huge bullseye on it. Doesn't mean you should. I conceal carry to protect myself, family, and friends. I am willing to put myself in harms way to protect the aforementioned. That being said, the last thing I want to do is draw more attention to myself or my loved ones in a shoot out. For the protection of those who may be standing close to me, I will never open carry.