Posted: 2/2/2016 7:45:19 PM EDT
|
I have been carrying concealed since I got my license in 2012. I have always been obsessive about concealment. I never wanted anyone to know I was carrying. I've invested in a good belt and quality holsters and made a concerted effort to dress around the gun so that no one, not even me scrutinizing myself in the mirror, can tell it's there.
I had always thought it would be neat to open carry, though. When I went to Yellowstone year before last, where open carry is legal, I couldn't bring myself to do it even though I wanted to. I was just way to self-conscious about it. I sort of half-assed it the other day wearing an unbuttoned shirt over it. Occasionally, the wind would blow it aside. I found myself checking to see if it was covered up at other times. I feel like I'm exposed. I have a nice Bianchi 57 and Gould & Goodrich mag carrier for my G19 (you know, to look professional). I also have a Safariland 7TS set-up for extra retention although the look is decidedly more "tactical." I guess it will just take time to feel more comfortable (don't want to get too comfortable, I suppose). I'm definitely not looking forward to the first time someone goes off on me about carrying a gun. |
|
Quoted:
I have been carrying concealed since I got my license in 2012. I have always been obsessive about concealment. I never wanted anyone to know I was carrying. I've invested in a good belt and quality holsters and made a concerted effort to dress around the gun so that no one, not even me scrutinizing myself in the mirror, can tell it's there. I had always thought it would be neat to open carry, though. When I went to Yellowstone year before last, where open carry is legal, I couldn't bring myself to do it even though I wanted to. I was just way to self-conscious about it. I sort of half-assed it the other day wearing an unbuttoned shirt over it. Occasionally, the wind would blow it aside. I found myself checking to see if it was covered up at other times. I feel like I'm exposed. I have a nice Bianchi 57 and Gould & Goodrich mag carrier for my G19 (you know, to look professional). I also have a Safariland 7TS set-up for extra retention although the look is decidedly more "tactical." I guess it will just take time to feel more comfortable (don't want to get too comfortable, I suppose). I'm definitely not looking forward to the first time someone goes off on me about carrying a gun. I open carry my M&P in a Safariland ALS, no one really notices. Even when I carried concealed I just threw over a long shirt unbuttoned one size bigger than I wear. I never worried if the wind blew the shirt back, if it did just pull it back You guys need to quit getting so worried about open carrying. |
|
Quoted:
I have been carrying concealed since I got my license in 2012. I have always been obsessive about concealment. I never wanted anyone to know I was carrying. I've invested in a good belt and quality holsters and made a concerted effort to dress around the gun so that no one, not even me scrutinizing myself in the mirror, can tell it's there. I had always thought it would be neat to open carry, though. When I went to Yellowstone year before last, where open carry is legal, I couldn't bring myself to do it even though I wanted to. I was just way to self-conscious about it. I sort of half-assed it the other day wearing an unbuttoned shirt over it. Occasionally, the wind would blow it aside. I found myself checking to see if it was covered up at other times. I feel like I'm exposed. I have a nice Bianchi 57 and Gould & Goodrich mag carrier for my G19 (you know, to look professional). I also have a Safariland 7TS set-up for extra retention although the look is decidedly more "tactical." I guess it will just take time to feel more comfortable (don't want to get too comfortable, I suppose). I'm definitely not looking forward to the first time someone goes off on me about carrying a gun. Same here...Have never OC in public yet, except when deer or pig hunting. |
it's not like your fly is open and your Johnson is hanging out.....
if you're that concerned about something then DON"T DO IT..or start at home, take your jacket off when you sit down at a restaurant run into a slow 7/11 and grab a donut etc do it in short bursts. if you're still uncomfortable, don't do it. Its not mandated, it's an option. I've worn a gun for 40 years when ever possible, yes, legally and yes illegally as I was involved in managing a lot of low life's and yes, it was pulled, shown and used in that time period. it is second nature to me to carry a weapon, and no I don't intend to open carry but do like the fact I don't have to worry about my gun showing I did run into a C-store the other day as it was warm and I had taken off my jacket and didn't give a thought to wearing my sidearm..neither did 1/2 dozen other people. |
|
Cops do it every day. They get so comfortable with it they leave their guns on the roofs of their cars and hanging on coat hooks in restroom stalls.
I think you can get used to it. I have not done it yet but just about every restaurant I go too has a 3007 sign. Even my favorite pawn shop has the sign. I have one friend who is open carrying just to educate the public. He feels it is his duty to spread the word. Go for it, its your duty. 
|
|
I conceal most of the time without regard to printing and will open carry if its more comfortable/convenient.
As others have said it's all about getting comfortable with it. Coming from a OC state and being raised in a family that was all about guns and the 2A it's always been second nature to me. My daughter who is almost 5 is so normalized with guns she actually checks with me if I have my gun when I conceal lol. In the end it's all about education and changing perception. The same reason it's ok to be black or gay in public now. The pants pissers and armchair commandos that whine about how stupid you are for daring to OC will eventually fade away. |
|
I have one friend who is open carrying just to educate the public. Everytime I try to explain to someone about carry laws I get an argument telling me I'm wrong and that it is against the law to do that. "You can't carry there they sell liquor there and it is regulated by the state" is my favorite. I saw a gunbuster sign on a piece of typing paper at a business the other day that said Guns are prohibited here You are trespassing and will risk confiscation. I guess that means they are going to take Your gun away from You. |
|
Quoted:
I have been carrying concealed since I got my license in 2012. I have always been obsessive about concealment. I never wanted anyone to know I was carrying. I've invested in a good belt and quality holsters and made a concerted effort to dress around the gun so that no one, not even me scrutinizing myself in the mirror, can tell it's there. I had always thought it would be neat to open carry, though. When I went to Yellowstone year before last, where open carry is legal, I couldn't bring myself to do it even though I wanted to. I was just way to self-conscious about it. I sort of half-assed it the other day wearing an unbuttoned shirt over it. Occasionally, the wind would blow it aside. I found myself checking to see if it was covered up at other times. I feel like I'm exposed. I have a nice Bianchi 57 and Gould & Goodrich mag carrier for my G19 (you know, to look professional). I also have a Safariland 7TS set-up for extra retention although the look is decidedly more "tactical." I guess it will just take time to feel more comfortable (don't want to get too comfortable, I suppose). I'm definitely not looking forward to the first time someone goes off on me about carrying a gun. I would not do it in most situations. I guess that makes me anti 2A as well.
|
|
Seems fairly reasonable to me OP. On one hand, do you want to be the guy who walks into the office wearing a hard-hat? Why is this guy wearing a hard-hat in the office? This guy is weird. For a lot of people, that’s going to be part of it. Amplify that with it being a lethal device, and it’s kind of socially awkward. If everyone else is doing it, great, but if it’s just you…
Also, you are not a cop or otherwise in a position of authority, where carrying a gun goes with it. It’s basically out of place, and in the eyes of many – pretty much marks you as… different. As to protection from it… eh, maybe. You’re also marked as the first guy to go after, and the potential source of a handy gun, without the authority and back-up that a cop has. You’re also expected to be the hero now if anything goes down. Why are you not charging into that building stopping that robbery?! For the most part, OC law means you can more easily pack a real gun and not worry so much about legal complications if it prints. That's how I see it. I support the right to carry openly, but don’t think I ever will. |
|
Quoted:
Then don't open carry. 
I don't like drawing attention to myself either, so I doubt I'll ever OC. Might try an OWB holster with a t-shirt over it, though. That's pretty much where I'm at. I've done the OWB with my shirt over my G19 and am considering getting a nice, low-profile leather OWB for my BHP. I'd still put a shirt over it. I have no problem with OC, just not my thing. |
|
Quoted:
I had always thought it would be neat to open carry, though. When I went to Yellowstone year before last, where open carry is legal, I couldn't bring myself to do it even though I wanted to. I was just way to self-conscious about it. That is called "programming". We're wired that way, unfortunately. |
|
Quoted:
That's pretty much where I'm at. I've done the OWB with my shirt over my G19 and am considering getting a nice, low-profile leather OWB for my BHP. I'd still put a shirt over it. I have no problem with OC, just not my thing. Quoted:
Quoted:
Then don't open carry.
I don't like drawing attention to myself either, so I doubt I'll ever OC. Might try an OWB holster with a t-shirt over it, though. That's pretty much where I'm at. I've done the OWB with my shirt over my G19 and am considering getting a nice, low-profile leather OWB for my BHP. I'd still put a shirt over it. I have no problem with OC, just not my thing. I think this is what the anti OC but pro CC crowd don't understand about it. I really have no desire to OC at Walmart. I just don't wish to have to worry about my cover that much. Now back in my cowboy work days I would have loved to OC as it would have made it so much more comfortable. |