Would you if you could: Open VS Conceal Carry

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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Would you if you could: Open VS Conceal Carry (Page 1 of 3)

Posted: 6/14/2009 4:57:25 PM EDT

Would you open carry in public if you were allowed to by law? If not, why?

Posted: 6/14/2009 4:59:21 PM EDT

[#1]

We can in Oregon. It's a convenience thing. Nice to be able to go check the mail or go hunting without worrying about covering up.

Posted: 6/14/2009 4:59:54 PM EDT

[#2]

OC in NC every time we go up there. Would do it in SC vs CC if it were legal.

Posted: 6/14/2009 5:00:14 PM EDT

[#3]

Concealed.

And IBTSS.

ETA: I think you're going to find that it is almost always situational.

A guy out west on a ranch or hunting in rugged open terrain? OC is not big deal and no one will give him a second glance.

A guy in the produce aisle at WAL-MART in a city with tons of non-gun people who get very edgy at the mere sight of a gun? Not such a great idea, unless you like talking to the police a lot.

Posted: 6/14/2009 5:00:37 PM EDT

[#4]

Quoted:
Would you open carry in public if you were allowed to by law? If not, why?

I have a CWP and OC 90% of the time.

Posted: 6/14/2009 5:01:28 PM EDT

[#5]

Quoted:

OC in NC every time we go up there. Would do it in SC vs CC if it were legal.

Why? What's the point? Deterrence, maybe?

Posted: 6/14/2009 5:01:37 PM EDT

[#6]

CC Daily, Only open carry when hunting or out in the woods

Posted: 6/14/2009 5:01:57 PM EDT

[#7]

You're an easy target if you open carry.

Concealed carry is better because the bad guy may attack someone else since you don't seem like a threat and you can dispatch him.

Posted: 6/14/2009 5:02:06 PM EDT

[#8]

sometimes i go concealed and sometimes i carry open

it usually depends on my choice of clothing for the day, if i'm wearin my shirt tucked in i open carry and if it's untucked then i conceal it

Posted: 6/14/2009 5:02:15 PM EDT

[#9]

Why advertise to the bad guy that you are armed?

Posted: 6/14/2009 5:02:48 PM EDT

[#10]

Nope. Tactically unsound IMO.

Posted: 6/14/2009 5:03:02 PM EDT

[#11]

We can open carry in TN. I choose concealed.

Posted: 6/14/2009 5:03:03 PM EDT

[#12]

We can open carry w/o a permit here. I do and would often. You HAVE to if you want to enter a restaurant that serves alcohol...though we've been trying to get that changed for some time now. Our dickhead Governor keeps vetoing the bill.

Posted: 6/14/2009 5:03:47 PM EDT

[#13]

Quoted:

Why advertise to the bad guy that you are armed?

this

Posted: 6/14/2009 5:04:09 PM EDT

[#14]

Quoted:
Would you open carry in public if you were allowed to by law? If not, why?

TN is a carry permit, not a CCW. So I could if I wanted to.......

Posted: 6/14/2009 5:04:36 PM EDT

[#15]

Quoted:

Why advertise to the bad guy that you are armed?

+1

Plus, all of the Mothers of America get freaked out at the local mall when they see someone carrying a gun and not a badge. Too much hassle to be worth it. I'm not saying you shouldn't be allowed to OC legally, but I can't see why you'd choose to OC when you have the option to CC.

Posted: 6/14/2009 5:05:01 PM EDT

[#16]

Legal OC allows you to carry without having to be paranoid about cover garment malfunctions.

You can get away with some pretty useful concealment if you don't have to be 100% windproof.

Posted: 6/14/2009 5:05:11 PM EDT

[#17]

I would if I could

All the time

Posted: 6/14/2009 5:05:15 PM EDT

[#18]

I open carry a government 1911 daily.

Posted: 6/14/2009 5:05:15 PM EDT

[#19]

I do both. In Michigan, as soon as you get into a vehicle, its considered concealed. Sometimes (rarely) I open carry, most of the time I conceal carry.

Posted: 6/14/2009 5:05:28 PM EDT

[#20]

I wouldn't but for those that choose open carry more power to 'em.

Posted: 6/14/2009 5:07:26 PM EDT

[#21]

We can carry open or concealed in Vermont (without permit, FTW!

), but I generally carry concealed.

Posted: 6/14/2009 5:09:22 PM EDT

[#22]

I can and do ccw but I also open carry. More so during warm weather.

Posted: 6/14/2009 5:09:35 PM EDT

[#23]

As an Illinois resident, I would be happy with whatever.

Posted: 6/14/2009 5:10:16 PM EDT

[#24]

When I am old enough to carry, I will carry concealed even though it is either way in TN. I don't want to make my presence felt to those around me, it can cause too much commotion.

Posted: 6/14/2009 5:11:39 PM EDT

[#25]

My Lifetime carry permit is a concealed permit. So I carry concealed.

Posted: 6/14/2009 5:14:07 PM EDT

[#26]

OC is legal in CO except in Denver. I'll OC sometimes hiking, hunting etc.

Posted: 6/14/2009 5:14:27 PM EDT

[#27]

Wholly shit, is it 2100 already?

Posted: 6/14/2009 5:17:18 PM EDT

[#28]

It would depend on the public atmosphere. For instance, when i lived in Arizona, open carry was a common sight, people didn't freak out and call the po po, so I open carried. In Northern VA, concealed only even if the law changed.

Posted: 6/14/2009 5:19:07 PM EDT

[#29]

Out in the sticks, sure. Around town, I'd stick with concealed. Or I would if the State of Florida would send me my damn permit, and then legalize open carry.

Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile

Posted: 6/14/2009 5:19:38 PM EDT

[#30]

Quoted:
My Lifetime carry permit is a concealed permit. So I carry concealed.

You are semi correct! The Indiana permits only states that you are licensed to carry a handgun. They don't actually say concealed carry.

Posted: 6/14/2009 5:19:54 PM EDT

[#31]

Quoted:
Would you open carry in public if you were allowed to by law? If not, why?

Not this again

Posted: 6/14/2009 5:19:54 PM EDT

[#32]

I live in a free state, with people who don't panic at the sight of a gun. Maybe some of you should move here.

Posted: 6/14/2009 5:20:02 PM EDT

[#33]

Quoted:
Out in the sticks, sure. Around town, I'd stick with concealed. Or I would if the State of Florida would send me my damn permit, and then legalize open carry.

Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile

How long have you been waiting? Its really really backed up.

Posted: 6/14/2009 5:20:16 PM EDT

[#34]

Quoted:

Out in the sticks, sure. Around town, I'd stick with concealed. Or I would if the State of Florida would send me my damn permit, and then legalize open carry.

Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile

+1

Out in the woods or whatever, open carry would be one situation I think it would be a good idea. However, being among people like in a town/city, it isn't wise to advertise to the bad guys that you are armed.

Posted: 6/14/2009 5:20:32 PM EDT

[#35]

I open carry every day of the week, except at work where I can't carry (I'm a security guard, without my Act 235 certification.. I need to get on my company's ass about that, since they're going to pay for it. Until I have it, I'd be breaking the law to carry at work)

I've only been hassled a few times by the police, never had any real issues with anyone other than my grandmother outside of the police. Then again, she's a New York democrat who thinks guns are completely unnecessary because you can always call the police if there's a problem.

Open carried a rifle last week on my motorcycle on the way to the range, that was interesting. Had to stop for gas and had a chat with four cops, ended up inviting them to the range but their shift had just started. I hope to run into them off-duty so I can renew the offer, they were pretty nice (We talked guns, not "WHY ARE YOU CARRYING THAT RIFLE?!" for about ten minutes)

(To deter anyone asking, my fiancee had the car and wouldn't be home until after dark, when the range closed, so it was bike or stay home.)

Posted: 6/14/2009 5:20:36 PM EDT

[#36]

Indiana law makes no distinction on how to carry. For a couple months after the election I open carried just because the ignorant always question you and I felt like educating them. Once in a while when I'm dressed up I still pull out a nice leather holster and strap on the 1911. I just assume if I look like shit (common for me) I would be asking for trouble from scared sheeple and 911 respondents.

I had one person ask me to cover it with my shirt tail. He said it wasn't fair to him a security employee who had to leave his in the car. Other than that, no one cares. Some look, some stare, some couldn't care less. Police never even bothered me. One slowed down and got a look, that was it.

Posted: 6/14/2009 5:20:44 PM EDT

[#37]

Quoted:
We can carry open or concealed in Vermont (without permit, FTW!

), but I generally carry concealed.

As a former New Englander myself, that has always fascinated me about your state.

The reason it fascinates me is because Vermont is very liberal.

I hope you preserve that freedom, but I wonder if it is only a matter of time before the liberals there try to pass laws restricting it.

Posted: 6/14/2009 5:21:33 PM EDT

[#38]

I can count on two hands how many people know that I carry a handgun. I prefer to keep it that way. But if someone wants to open-carry good for them. They should be allowed to.

Posted: 6/14/2009 5:23:45 PM EDT

[#39]

I can open carry. I don't.

I don't want my neighbors knowing I carry. I don't want the extra attention.

The less everyone knows about me, the better for me. I'll take every bit of the advantage that surprise affords me.

Posted: 6/14/2009 5:31:46 PM EDT

[#40]

I can open carry or conceal carry.

I have never and will never open carry. I don't need to advertise, I don't need the attention, and the greatest thing about CCW is the element of surprise.

Posted: 6/14/2009 5:33:33 PM EDT

[#41]

I can legally open carry in ME but I don't. I'm a huge supporter or open carry and I'm glad that it's legal. It just isn't for me personally.

Posted: 6/14/2009 5:39:36 PM EDT

[#42]

only time that even makes sense to me is during hunting season out at deer camp or something,

but in public on any normal day forget it, OC is asking for trouble

even if you are allowed to do it, whats the point?

Posted: 6/14/2009 5:39:39 PM EDT

[#43]

Quoted:

You're an easy target if you open carry.

Concealed carry is better because the bad guy may attack someone else since you don't seem like a threat and you can dispatch him.

I'm just wondering when the last time one of these people said, "I took out the OC people first, then headed on to the CCW, then finished up with the unarmed".

Honestly, does your brain really work like that? I

Posted: 6/14/2009 5:40:45 PM EDT

[#44]

I would like the option. I would also like to not worry about if my shirt rides up or the bottom of my holster hangs out from under my shirt.

If I know that I am legal, I don't care who says what.. Call the cops, they can come out and tell the complainant that I am 100% legal and within my rights to carry the way I am.