Open carry / firearm handy

[shaeff]

I don't really have much of a choice in NaziNYS, but I OC on my property at times, kinda. More like an IWB holster with shirt tucked behind it. Nobody can see me anyway.

I wouldn't OC anyway, nobody's business what I've got or where it's located.

 

[two_bit_score]

If you had the Muddy Girl camo you'd open carry that!

When out on my land working open carry is just much more practical so that's what I do. Otherwise when out in public it is CCW. I really don't care what others do as long as it's moral/ethical/legal, but I very much dislike open carry outside of the range, woods, etc. Walmart? Burger King? Drop a shirt over that rig.

The main reason I dislike open carry - and I don't mean to offend any fine upstanding people here who chose to do so - is that at least half the time you see people OC, they are the people who make you cringe. Not the typical posterboy the average gun owner wants to be associated with. The general type numbnutz who hangs out at the local gun shop spouting off his opinions as fact as to why this is better than that (although he owns neither and is just regurgitating what he's read on the web), the one that continually muzzle sweeps others at the range, has 0 retention in his $6 Uncle Mike's holster (made for a completely different size gun), and is so uncomfortable with a firearm he is nonstop tugging/adjusting/confidence checking his rig. That's the kind of jackass that I see OC all too frequently. While yes it is his right to do so, I think all that does is help reinforce the mindset "average people shouldn't have guns" that the anti's have. It just makes us all look bad because they can't see all the perfectly normal people around them who are CCW. They just see the goober, acting like a goober, wearing a "Guns don't kill people, I do" t-shirt and it reinforces their opinion that guns and gun owners are a problem.

I think any type of "in your face" activism is counter productive and has a negative effect swaying opinions to your cause. I see OC in a lot of cases as just that. You ask a lot of people why they prefer OC vs CCW and often the answer is "CUZ I CAN!" Not everyone, not every situation, but more often than not the person who chooses to OC is simply doing it to make a statement. And that statement is sadly often interpreted as "LOOK at me! I'm a jackass with a gun!"

But to each his own...

The type people you speak of do more harm to gun rights than just about anything else.



TBS

 

[Tworude]

If you had the Muddy Girl camo you'd open carry that!

When out on my land working open carry is just much more practical so that's what I do. Otherwise when out in public it is CCW. I really don't care what others do as long as it's moral/ethical/legal, but I very much dislike open carry outside of the range, woods, etc. Walmart? Burger King? Drop a shirt over that rig.

The main reason I dislike open carry - and I don't mean to offend any fine upstanding people here who chose to do so - is that at least half the time you see people OC, they are the people who make you cringe. Not the typical posterboy the average gun owner wants to be associated with. The general type numbnutz who hangs out at the local gun shop spouting off his opinions as fact as to why this is better than that (although he owns neither and is just regurgitating what he's read on the web), the one that continually muzzle sweeps others at the range, has 0 retention in his $6 Uncle Mike's holster (made for a completely different size gun), and is so uncomfortable with a firearm he is nonstop tugging/adjusting/confidence checking his rig. That's the kind of jackass that I see OC all too frequently. While yes it is his right to do so, I think all that does is help reinforce the mindset "average people shouldn't have guns" that the anti's have. It just makes us all look bad because they can't see all the perfectly normal people around them who are CCW. They just see the goober, acting like a goober, wearing a "Guns don't kill people, I do" t-shirt and it reinforces their opinion that guns and gun owners are a problem.

I think any type of "in your face" activism is counter productive and has a negative effect swaying opinions to your cause. I see OC in a lot of cases as just that. You ask a lot of people why they prefer OC vs CCW and often the answer is "CUZ I CAN!" Not everyone, not every situation, but more often than not the person who chooses to OC is simply doing it to make a statement. And that statement is sadly often interpreted as "LOOK at me! I'm a jackass with a gun!"

But to each his own...

Exactly. When I'm in the bush (Alaska) I open carry. I'm not worried about bears, I'm more concerned about the crazies out there. The only law is the one oin your holster.

 

[plowhog]

I think one of the advantages of concealed carry is that most folks (including me) behave differently when carrying. I was trained to leave, back down, and avoid a confrontation if you are carrying a firearm. There is simply nothing good that is going to happen if you are carrying and unholster your weapon.

A displayed open carry firearm can also attract unwanted attention. I wouldn't want to be on a public street with a drunk taunting me about open carry, while I have a loaded firearm on me in full view of him, me, and others. I'm not saying that open carry is bad ... I just think concealed has some advantages. But while working in remote areas of my property I sometimes open carry just because it is less hassle ... but I also don't expect to see many people.

 

[two_bit_score]

I think one of the advantages of concealed carry is that most folks (including me) behave differently when carrying. I was trained to leave, back down, and avoid a confrontation if you are carrying a firearm. There is simply nothing good that is going to happen if you are carrying and unholster your weapon.

A displayed open carry firearm can also attract unwanted attention. I wouldn't want to be on a public street with a drunk taunting me about open carry, while I have a loaded firearm on me in full view of him, me, and others. I'm not saying that open carry is bad ... I just think concealed has some advantages. But while working in remote areas of my property I sometimes open carry just because it is less hassle ... but I also don't expect to see many people.

Most sensible people do this most of the time.

 

[Thall303]

I have seen almost no open carry here in Texas....even in rural areas.

Most of those appear to want attention and appear macho.

 

[RoyJackson]

I have seen almost no open carry here in Texas....even in rural areas.

Most of those appear to want attention and appear macho.

I haven't seen much open carry in Vermont either...kind of surprising, actually since VT is so gun friendly.
I almost always wear a vest over a firearm...I'm not particularly concerned if anyone sees the gun though...and I've never had a hassle the times the gun was exposed.

 

[fried1765]

And when they go fishing and hunting it's catch and release, at Thanksgiving they buy the turkey at the store then they wont be guilty of turkey murder or it's Tofu turkey oh boy, then after the that lovely dinner they go down to docks and hold hands with PITA and protest the those mean lobster fisherman.

Have you ever heard a lobster cry out when the steam hits?
It must be awful!
Poor lobster...Probably cooked on a refurbished wood stove from Bryant Stoves!
Bring on the melted butter!

 

[Thall303]

I haven't seen much open carry in Vermont either...kind of surprising, actually since VT is so gun friendly.
I almost always wear a vest over a firearm...I'm not particularly concerned if anyone sees the gun though...and I've never had a hassle the times the gun was exposed.

Here in Houston, violent crime has gotten out of hand and carrying concealed is a necessity.

Sad to say this about a city where I grew up and was very proud of!

 

[ovrszd]

Having spent my life in the military and Deployed a lot, in the public sector I must say the sight of a weapon doesn't bother me as much as sometimes the site of the person who's carrying it.....

Half of my Deployed time I carried a long gun and a pistol, loaded. This requires a lot of self awareness and conscious thought. Not sure that is always the case in the civilian world today.

I believe most of the carriers on this thread share that awareness. But I also believe they are in the minority.