Yesterday in a store there was a rough around the edges 60ish bandana wearing guy open carrying in two shoulder holsters. Plus a couple bigger knives, one on each hip. Guns were 1911’s. I have no problem with open carry. We need those guys out there. It’s just not for me. My issue was that both barrels were horizontal to the ground. More than once I had both pointed directly at me. I instinctively moved so that they weren’t. Am I being overly sensitive?
You were being overly sensitive. "Horizontal" shoulder holsters are not uncommon for handguns... people are walking around carrying like that and you don't know it, and you are fine. As long as the person is not touching / playing with the guns, it is fine.
Open carry is rather foolish in an urban setting. Many reasons NOT to open carry. Many people don't train for firearm retention and many documented cases of firearms being taken from open carry persons, bad guy wants to do harm in a setting and spots your firearm, you're the first threat to go, no element of surprise if you have to engage. I could keep going, but these are a few. Was standing in a coffee line a few weeks ago, plainclothes Det standing in front of me with his back to me and firearm at 4:00 O'clock position in a Galco pancake holster, oblivious to his surroundings while texting, this is more than ridiculous. Being a retired LEO, and I knew him I said to him, "Hey I like your old German 228" He was red faced. I advised him to cover it up and he said that actually taught him a lesson. If I was a bad guy all I had to do is simply lift from his holster. Never advertising you have a firearm is an advantage and if the time comes and you need to engage, why not have the advantage and element of surprise for the perp?
For me, that guy gets marked as a potential threat because it is not just OC but an open display of defiance against the system, not unlike slinging a longun in urban/public space. Time & distance. This is the whole core of the OC debate; when is it your right vs when are you just being a provactive dick.
I am still lost on your stance that OC immediately puts you in condition orange. I could see it if the person OCing was doing something in addition to holstered OC.
Works for me while they are shooting it out I can get the heck out of there.It is for my own protection upon a confrontation.. no confront no reason to do anything. I don't get any pay to protect and serve for anybody.And why advertise the fact hey shoot me first.Best to move on and go about any business.
RON K.
Open carry is rather foolish in an urban setting. Many reasons NOT to open carry. ...I advised him to cover it up and he said that actually taught him a lesson. If I was a bad guy all I had to do is simply lift from his holster. Never advertising you have a firearm is an advantage and if the time comes and you need to engage, why not have the advantage and element of surprise for the perp?
But, but, muh free-dum! It's muh raght tuh curry OPUN, 'un FREE! FREE-DUM!!!
Mostly, I consider "open carriers" attention whoring fools, unless you're on the trail, in the woods or on your farm.
I don't open carry because I don't feel comfortable doing it, and I feel I don't have the training to do it right. If other people want to, go for it. I feel much more comfortable conceal carrying. For me I feel a smile and holding open a door works far better with other people than showing them I have a gun.
I like the idea of open carry on one specific item. If I can carry concealed but my gun flashes or prints then I am not in violation of CCW laws. Yes I am careful but crap happens when Mr. Murphy pays us a visit. Other than that, I do not prefer to OC, IF I do then it is in a retention holster. I don't care if others do, just be responsible about it.
The guy with two open-carry 1911s in shoulder holsters has mommy issues. He wants attention. And yes, I would be p!ssed to have those things pointed at me. Of course I would. Leave one at home, mommy boy, and put the other in a belt holster.
People like that make me nervous, and I really don't "need those guys out there". Not only is he announcing to the whole world that he is armed, he's also indicating that he's likely dangerous and unstable.
My issue was that both barrels were horizontal to the ground. More than once I had both pointed directly at me. I instinctively moved so that they weren’t. Am I being overly sensitive?
Funny.
As I'm reading this, I'm sitting at my favorite local restaurant. And I just watched a middle aged man, get up and walk to the cashier with a Glock 19 I think, hanging from a crap holsters and flimsy belt. It was dangling halfway to his knee, no way he could have reached it without bending over.
So since I was in the middle of reading this post it caused me to watch the other people around us.
I could tell it caught a couple of people's eye, one gentlemen pointed it out to his buddy and they both chuckled over the spectacle. The OC'er noticed and glared at them.
I'm all for carrying in whatever manner you want OC, CC, IWB, OWB or even UYBC. However be prepared for people to react if you wave your junk in front of them.
A gun in a holster that covers the trigger guard is not something to be concerned with (RE: muzzle direction). If somebody was pocket carrying (in a holster) and they sat down across from you at the table, or behind you in the movie theater, etc, it would be no different...except you wouldn't know and ignorance is bliss. If they are carrying on their waistband/belt and stand above you on the escalator, their gun may be pointed at you. If you walk by a cop and they have a BUG in a vest holster on their chest/inside their shirt, it may point at you much like a shoulder holster.
Hell, your own holstered gun is probably pointing at you as you are worried about his holstered gun
I almost broke my own rule on Mother's Day. I was CCL'ing my 1911. My wife wanted to go to the Woodlands to buy clothes. She wanted to go to JCP. The air conditioner had failed in there, and I was sweating buckets, while following around for shoe shopping, clothes shopping. I was an inch away from taking off my button down shirt and letting the hand gun and extra magazines all hang out. I have had had heat stroke enough times, that I try to avoid it. Then the next day, the A/C guys took all day on replacing the entire system on a day that topped 90 degrees. I spent the evening playing musical toilets to vomit in, whichever was closer. Extreme heat and humidity and I are not friends.
OC? it sounds more like ego on display. Open Carrying 2 guns and 2 knives is a fairly strange inclination. I would steer clear of such individuals no matter if their behavior is legal or not.
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