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What do you think about open carry?

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open carry
39K views 840 replies 221 participants last post by  happyguy 
#1 ·
#132 ·
Agreed. On principle alone, open carry is a right. Sure. But "Open Carry Activism" where groups gather at a Starbuck's or other public gathering place with AR-15s slung over their shoulders because they can "legally" is just ignant. They stress out customers, who in turn call the cops, who in turn respond as they would when anyone calls to report a flash mob of heavily armed idiots.

The sum total is that name brand establishments ban open carry in their stores and we as a community look like jackasses to the non-shooting public. The idea that we're somehow desensitizing the public to the sight of a firearm as a badge of honor is ludicrous. It's going to backfire and the momentum that CCW has gained in recent years is completely negated.
 
#3 ·
I do it on my property, but CC everywhere else.

It's not that I give a rats ass what some liberal thinks. I just don't want to give any of them an excuse to share their opinions with me.

And also what Cowpokey said.
 
#4 ·
pros - don't need to dress around your gun or have anything shoved down your pants and the accompanying hassle and discomfort. also should be a much quicker draw.

cons - perhaps give away any tactical advantage/element of surprise. i don't really buy this as i don't think potential bank robbers or store robbers etc go around scanning everyone's waists before announcing their intent. same concept re any potential gun grabber, if they happen to see it maybe they will make a grab at it.

living in VA with both open and concealed carry, i generally conceal but don't worry too much if i might print or my jacket or shirt gets dislodged.
 
#15 ·
Comfort is a big deal to me. I just put my snub in my hoody pocket or cargo pants, no holster, no lint hassle. If the world goes to hell, then maybe will have to carry the G19 or G17, but prefer to be comfortable if at all possible.

I've read some online people that carry 17 or 18 rounds in the gun plus 1 or 2 mags. They must be preparing for WWIII.
 
#12 ·
I have open carried maybe once or twice. It's just not my thing. I have seen folks open carry around here now and then.
 
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#31 ·
I can't conceal anything in a Speedo.
 
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#23 ·
I like the fact that now, I don't have to worry about printing and can finally use a serpa holster that is super comfortable to carry my G19. I still wear a loose un-tucked shirt, so is not on open view. That was the only reason I was supporting open carry here in Texas!
 
#24 ·
In public, no. Think about any mass shooting. Guy walks in with a gun exposed & starts shooting. There are dozens of such instances. So OC guys walking into any space I am with a gun showing, I mark as a potential threat. Being vigilant is #1 rule for survival.
All the whining about printing is just about learning to dress around the gun. I am 5-10/185#. I can carry my 1911 100% concealed, summer or winter.
 
#43 ·
So OC guys walking into any space I am with a gun showing, I mark as a potential threat.
Or a potential target. I think it says, shoot me first. Or, please take my gun.

Thinking about it, in a city like Memphis, with nearly twice the murder rate of Chicago, I rarely see OC here. I wonder why that is?

Is open carry is big in St Louis, Detroit, Birmingham or Milwaukee?
 
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#25 ·
I don't care for it. But I do like that my state is an OC state, don't have to worry about printing or shirt comming up ect..

Open handgun carry is one thing, although most of the people I see doing it are not carrying in very good retention type holsters. But open long gun carry is a whole different kind of idiotic, I don't get that one at all.
 
#312 ·
I cannot see open long gun carry either. I'm not going to tell people they cannot, if it's allowed, but I can think of several reasons it shouldn't be done. Florida was looking at OC with the gun required to be carried in a muzzle down position, if I understand it correctly. They had OC here before, for about 2 days, then rescinded the law, as it scared tourists, on whom we depend for commerce. The lamestream media showed the worst of the worst on TV, which gave normal people ideas, and they were strapping ungodly hardware on. The news shows a man who was pumping gas in Miami, carrying what appeared to be an H&K PDW on each thigh. Now just for a moment, why is a man who could afford such expensive and exotic weapon systems PUMPING GAS???
Thanks news media, YOU SUCK.
 
#27 ·
I guess it depends on where you live.

When I first moved to western Colorado (the freedom side) I was hesitant to OC; after encountering several OCers and talking with them I started OCing. Never had a negative encounter, many questions like I first had.

One mother's day the wife wanted to go to a sheepdog trial at the small mountain town of Hotchkiss CO. I must have gotten ~10 positive responses. Later we went to an arts & craft show on Grand Junctions Main Street; as we entered the head of the security firm stopped me and said "All my people know open carry is legal, if you have any problems just bring them to me".

As we walked the show I must have gotten a dozen more responses including an offer of a free photography lesson from a professional in landscape photography who conducted classes I talked with. At one point I was approached by 2 cops (one older Sgt and what looked like a high school kid), Sgt said "I see your magazines, are you carrying" to which I said yes, he asked what I had and I explained the Para-Ordnance P-14 to him and he said "14 shot 1911, sweeeet. If you ever see me in trouble don't hesitate to step in". Looking back I think it was a teaching opportunity for a rookie.

Here in Wyoming I OC every day, I see other guys OC on a frequent basis. After breakfast at our favorite place as I paid the check the gal said "The other day after you left the lady sitting behind you came up and said 'that man that just left was carrying a gun' " She sad she just looked at her and said 'Yea'??" And the woman said "is that normal around here" she said "yea". The woman said "Well where we come from you'd never see that". I told her next time it happens just say "Welcome to Free America". She burst out laughing and said "I'll do just that".

Had a bit of a warm spell a few weeks ago so I didn't have on a jacket as I went in the Stop-N-Rob for a drink as I headed to Cheyenne. I was at the drink station when a city cop came in for a cup of coffee, he looked at my sidearm and asked "Whta-cha carrying"?
Me; Para-Ordnance P-14, basically a series 80 1911 but the grip has been modified to accept 13 round double stack mags" I pulled out a mag and showed it to him.
He took the mag, looked it over including the Cor-Bon DPX, chuckled as he handed it back and said "Take care"
I was first in line at the check out, motioned behind me with my thumb and said "I got his too", we shook hands and went our ways.

My rig is a plain black pancake holster with a plain black gun, I'm thinking of spicing it up a bit...
http://www.savoyleather.com/rwb-dtom-1776-patriot/

http://wickedgrips.com/product/custom-1911-thin-grips-we-the-people-ver-2/
 
#32 ·
It has a narrow range of applications. Generally CC is a better option.
 
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