The problem is you will never know how many crimes were deterred by open-carry.
The serious criminal or suicidal guy intent on his activity, may target the open-carry person for his first shot. But if the sight of open-carry deters the average loser from a crime he was about to commit, you never know about it.
BBI will jump in and set the record straight, but I believe it was 3 OCers and 1 CCer. I don't know if they were all within the past year either. And they were all in roughish neighborhoods.
How do you prove they were targeted specifically for the gun? They could have been targeted before the criminals ever saw the firearm.
I looked all over the carry in self-defense thread but I cannot find a thread specifically about that. Maybe it was posted inside of a thread about open carry, but I'm not reading through all those pages. I don't remember seeing any buddy saying something about OCers being targeted.
This needs to be found and linked by someone also.
What's easier? Just walk up and grab a gun off the hip of someone carrying open, and then run away? A gun on the hip of a person open carrying, or a gun tucked away in a concealed holster?
The answer is it could happen to both people. It's one of the unwritten responsibilities we have when we are carrying a firearm. We have to keep it out of the hands of someone else. This is not always possible.
Sometimes being SA isn't enough. Sometimes nothing is.
Commentary from Gun Nuts Media:
Open carry advocate has gun stolen | Gun Nuts Media
Commentary from Gun Nuts Media:
Open carry advocate has gun stolen | Gun Nuts Media
BBI will jump in and set the record straight, but I believe it was 3 OCers and 1 CCer. I don't know if they were all within the past year either. And they were all in roughish neighborhoods.
How do you prove they were targeted specifically for the gun? They could have been targeted before the criminals ever saw the firearm.
Not sure if this is a repost.
Man Exercising his 'Open Carry' Right Robbed of Gun he was Carrying
Gresham Police Dept - 10/07/14
Gresham, Ore -A man who bought a handgun earlier in the day and was openly carrying it, was robbed of the gun by another man who had a gun of his own. The incident occurred October 4 at 2:10 a.m. in the 17200 block of NE Glisan.
William Coleman III,21, of Gresham was talking with his cousin in the area of 172nd and Glisan, while openly carrying his new purchase. He said a black man, about 19 to 23 years old, approached them and asked for a cigarette. The man eventually asked about the gun, then pulled a gun from his waistband and told the victim, "I like your gun. Give it to me." Coleman handed over his gun and the suspect left on foot eastbound.
The suspect is described as a light-skinned black male, 19 to 23 years old, clean cut with a small patch of facial hair on his chin, short black wavy hair and "skinny." He was about six-feet one inch and was wearing grey sweatpants, a white t-shirt and flip-flops.
The weapon he used in the robbery was described as a possibly semi-automatic, black gun. The gun that was stolen is a black Walther brand, model P22. It is semi-automatic and .22LR-caliber.
Anybody who may have information on this case is asked to call the Gresham Police Tips line at 503.618.2719.
In the course of working in my chosen trade (HVAC-R) I worked in some seriously rough and tumble areas. In the alleys behind the buildings or the stores. Liquor stores etc. Usually by myself. These were the only areas I wanted to OC and for obvious reasons. No one ever got inside my circle. I have seen the "Hey Man....you got a cigarette" ploy so many times it is old hat. It is used to get close. I have had comments on my side arm. If you appear to be SA....If you put out the vibe you will be left alone. Those idiots usually prefer soft targets. Then there are the ones so wound up on who knows what drug/drugs and alcohol that they are fearless. Even they think better when met with eye to eye. If you are showing all your cards stay alert. Or just leave the damn thing at home.
Where did it say he was making a political statement?