The Open Carry Argument

[2A_Tom]

The vast majority never notice it.

For me, the few that have either were positive, assumed I was a LEO, or made a joke about it. I am always polite and answer whatever questions people have, but I don't play along with any jokes about using it on someone. Had that happen yesterday at the grocery store. Cashier joked to the bagger about me using on him. I simply said that was not what it was for.

When anyone tries to joke about guns with me, be they friends, family or strangers, i get my sternest look on my face ans tell them "I never joke about guns."

 

[KLB]

When anyone tries to joke about guns with me, be they friends, family or strangers, i get my sternest look on my face ans tell them "I never joke about guns."

Does it make them laugh?

 

[2A_Tom]

Deposit photo's, so he's making a deposit?

 

[engi-ninja]

Ah....but you held so much promise...

It is very rare that anyone notices and even more rare that anyone comments. With the possible exception of a very few, the comments have been positive or neutral.

So, I'm getting the sense that idea that open carrying can make you a target in certain circumstances is ridiculous. I guess, thinking about it more critically, criminals are fundamentally cowards and bullies, and are not willing to engage anyone who is prepared to fight back; in which case, open carrying would be a more effective method of carrying.

 

[KLB]

So, I'm getting the sense that idea that open carrying can make you a target in certain circumstances is ridiculous. I guess, thinking about it more critically, criminals are fundamentally cowards and bullies, and are not willing to engage anyone who is prepared to fight back; in which case, open carrying would be a more effective method of carrying.

In general, yes.

 

[rhino]

When minuteman32 and I used to have weekly "prayer meetings" on Thursday evenings at Grindstone Charley's in Speedway, there was an older lady who was really confused by my gun. She kept asking everyone at our table if I were a "patrol officer." At first it didn't make sense to me, but then I realized she was asking if I were a police officer. I don't think she really though I was a cop, but she was unaware that it was legal for anyone other than police to carry guns and was just curious.

I've had to decline free beverages at convenience stores more than once when the clerk assumed I was a cop. In each of those cases as well other interactions with convenience store employees about my carry, they were all very positive about it.

But most people don't notice. Convenience store clerks that last very long tend to be observant.

 

[engi-ninja]

I wonder why publications talk down on it so much then? There was a whole article in the USSCA magazine about why you shouldn't open carry.

 

[rhino]

I wonder why publications talk down on it so much then? There was a whole article in the USSCA magazine about why you shouldn't open carry.

The guy who owns that organization doesn't like it, so . . .

 

[wtburnette]

I wonder why publications talk down on it so much then? There was a whole article in the USSCA magazine about why you shouldn't open carry.

Look at the name of the organization and it suddenly makes more sense.

 

[2A_Tom]

I wonder why publications talk down on it so much then? There was a whole article in the USSCA magazine about why you shouldn't open carry.

This thread is open to any data that is available.

• Unarmed people are attacked every day.
• Often CCers are mistaken for unarmed people.
• There is very rarely an OCer attacked. Almost every one posted in this thread were attacked by thugs that knew them.

 

[Bobby]

So, I'm getting the sense that idea that open carrying can make you a target in certain circumstances is ridiculous. I guess, thinking about it more critically, criminals are fundamentally cowards and bullies, and are not willing to engage anyone who is prepared to fight back; in which case, open carrying would be a more effective method of carrying.

I have an article for you to read. The information contained it has been discussed in previous posts by other members. But, you may still find it helpful because it is a detailed essay. I started open carrying because it makes sense to me on a number of levels.

The Pro Liberty Choice: Dispelling The Myths | The Daily Caller

 

[wtburnette]

I have an article for you to read. The information contained it has been discussed in previous posts by other members. But, you may still find it helpful because it is a detailed essay. I started open carrying because it makes sense to me on a number of levels.

The Pro Liberty Choice: Dispelling The Myths | The Daily Caller

Thanks for posting that. I've read it before, but it's always good to read through again

 

[CPT Nervous]

So, I'm getting the sense that idea that open carrying can make you a target in certain circumstances is ridiculous. I guess, thinking about it more critically, criminals are fundamentally cowards and bullies, and are not willing to engage anyone who is prepared to fight back; in which case, open carrying would be a more effective method of carrying.

Armed robberies are common. The criminals perpetrating the crime often use toy guns, or unloaded guns, but that's not to say that they all do, many more do indeed have loaded firearms.

The intention of an armed robbery is to intimidate, and steal by force, or threat of force. The people just want the money/valuables. They do not want to kill anyone. If you're in line at 7-11 with a handgun on your hip, and the bad guy sees you, the chance that you'll be the "first one shot" are negligible. They aren't there to shoot people. Either they won't notice your gun, and proceed with the robbery, or they'll wait for you to leave. Armed robbery is one thing, murder is another thing entirely.

As Blue Falcon stated, there are very, very few instances of open carriers being attacked. And when I hear people talking about "element of surprise" I cringe. Surprise is not a viable defensive tactic. It works well offensively, in the case of an ambush. The "element of surprise" relies upon the fact that you have already been attacked.

OC is an effective deterrent. Unfortunately, my department doesn't allow me to carry openly off duty, so I am forced to carry concealed. I carry a full size M&P 40 with two spare mags under a T shirt. I don't take a whole lot of care to avoid printing.

 

[2A_Tom]

That is a stupid rule that a lot of departments have. Politicians!

 

[CPT Nervous]

That is a stupid rule that a lot of departments have. Politicians!

Yeah.

"While off-duty, officers may only carry authorized off-duty firearms. Firearms carried off-duty shall be concealed in an inconspicuous, prudent manner."

 

[Dead Duck]

Yeah.

"While off-duty, officers may only carry authorized off-duty firearms. Firearms carried off-duty shall be concealed in an inconspicuous, prudent manner."

So you have to use flesh-colored duck tape for your forehead carry? That sucks!

 

[CPT Nervous]

So you have to use flesh-colored duck tape for your forehead carry? That sucks!

Do you know how hard it is to find that stuff? And forget that cheap Chinese crap, the adhesive doesn't stick when I start sweating.

 

[engi-ninja]

I have an article for you to read. The information contained it has been discussed in previous posts by other members. But, you may still find it helpful because it is a detailed essay. I started open carrying because it makes sense to me on a number of levels.

The Pro Liberty Choice: Dispelling The Myths | The Daily Caller

Thank you for this! This whole conversation is exceedingly interesting. Honestly, I've thought for years that open carry would be a better way to go, if nothing else, because I'm a small guy and it's hard to conceal a gun on me. I've found ways to do it, but it took a long time of trial and error. Many times throughout that process I thought "Man, it would be so much easier to just carry the damn thing on my hip and be done with it." Every time I seriously thought about it, though, it seemed like every "pros and cons of open carry" article, with the exception of the article above, always come down on the side of not open carrying. I suppose maybe that's a lesson to trust my own instincts rather than whatever I read in internet articles. I very much appreciate the education!

 

[engi-ninja]

Armed robberies are common. The criminals perpetrating the crime often use toy guns, or unloaded guns, but that's not to say that they all do, many more do indeed have loaded firearms.

The intention of an armed robbery is to intimidate, and steal by force, or threat of force. The people just want the money/valuables. They do not want to kill anyone. If you're in line at 7-11 with a handgun on your hip, and the bad guy sees you, the chance that you'll be the "first one shot" are negligible. They aren't there to shoot people. Either they won't notice your gun, and proceed with the robbery, or they'll wait for you to leave. Armed robbery is one thing, murder is another thing entirely.

As Blue Falcon stated, there are very, very few instances of open carriers being attacked. And when I hear people talking about "element of surprise" I cringe. Surprise is not a viable defensive tactic. It works well offensively, in the case of an ambush. The "element of surprise" relies upon the fact that you have already been attacked.

OC is an effective deterrent. Unfortunately, my department doesn't allow me to carry openly off duty, so I am forced to carry concealed. I carry a full size M&P 40 with two spare mags under a T shirt. I don't take a whole lot of care to avoid printing.

First of all, since when does an employer get to tell someone how to act when they're not at work? That seems like serious overreach to me, not to mention idiotic.

Secondly, it is good to hear that an LEO supports open carry; one of the reasons I've been hesitant to OC is that I've heard stories about cops giving people a hard time, like they're deliberately trying to get them to do something stupid so they can make an example of them. I've always been afraid that, if that happened to me, I would be so angry that I WOULD do something stupid, and I figured it wasn't worth the risk.

 

[actaeon277]

First of all, since when does an employer get to tell someone how to act when they're not at work? That seems like serious overreach to me, not to mention idiotic.

Secondly, it is good to hear that an LEO supports open carry; one of the reasons I've been hesitant to OC is that I've heard stories about cops giving people a hard time, like they're deliberately trying to get them to do something stupid so they can make an example of them. I've always been afraid that, if that happened to me, I would be so angry that I WOULD do something stupid, and I figured it wasn't worth the risk.

Employers tell employees how to act outside work all the time.
People working in a hospital run by a religious group have been fired for staring in amateur internet porn.
People have been fired for trash talking their company or managers on social media.
Teachers have been fired because someone found out they previously were a porn star, even though they weren't doing porn after they were hired as a teacher.
Many athletes have morals clauses.

It goes on and on.