Open Carry?

Pvt. Pyle · January 27, 2011, 04:17 PM

I believe the state I live in, IA, allows open carry or is talking about allowing open carry. I have heard things about it. Now I am not saying that I would want to, but dressing around a gun in my eyes kind of seems a bit tough as I would almost have to change my wardrobe for summer. But carrying a gun always adds responsibility, and dressing around a means of safety and protection is something that goes along with a CCW.

Anyway...

Basically what I am asking, if you could open carry, would you?
Or do you think it would just escalate any situation you may be in that much faster?

chris in va · January 27, 2011, 05:06 PM

You can do a search for 'open carry' and get hours of reading.

In my experience, having OC'ed in VA and KY, it's generally accepted by the public but you *will* get attention from doing so, positive or otherwise. Being the introverted type that I am, I really don't like chatting with the general public about the practice so I CC most of the time.

I had an old-timer pat me on the back in WalMart for carrying. "We need more of you guys around" or somesuch.

A woman at a gas station got really nervous and asked if I was an LEO. Things went downhill from there, and I left. It was the only negative encounter I've had.

I am not familiar with Iowa's tolerance to OC, but suspect you may also have to deal with the infamous "man with a gun call" we're so fond of.

Ironically I'm a fair proponent of open carry and like to attend OC meet -n- greets at a designated restaurant whenever possible (got one Saturday actually).

http://forum.opencarry.org/forums/

SatCong · January 27, 2011, 05:33 PM

In Tn we can, most don't.

Mike

Mr. James · January 27, 2011, 06:57 PM

I have open carried extensively throughout Virginia and in North Carolina for about five years now. Never a serious difficulty to report. Never a negative or hostile encounter with law enforcement. I did have the police summoned to a "man with a gun" call in Prince William County - the County officers merely explained the law to the complainant without ever contacting me at all (I was seated about 20 feet away).

Citizen reactions are largely non-existent. Most people do not notice it, believe it or not. Those that do often assume I'm in law enforcement. A few may sniff disdainfully, but no one has ever tried to argue with me or accused me of "compensating" or any other asininities. Those that actually speak to me are either (a) curious - didn't know it was legal, or (b) back-clappingly supportive.

As to escalating a situation, my experience has been just the opposite. True low-lifes tend to cross the street and get the hell away from me. Street criminals like low-hanging fruit - the distracted, the tired, the drunk, the physically weak. A confident, alert guy, aware of his surroundings and looking people in the eye - who also happens to have a pistol on his belt - is the antithesis of these. Of course, decent folk have nothing to fear from a lawful open carrier.

YMMV. By open carrying, I see myself as protecting a right by exercising it. I also try to act at all times as an ambassador, if you will, for responsible, legal self defense. Not everyone is interested in either of those roles.

Good luck and God bless

Bob James

Japle · January 27, 2011, 07:50 PM

Good for you, Bob. Florida will probably get OC this year and at first I wasn’t too interested. I’ve been carrying concealed since ’88 and never had a problem. The more I think about it, though, the more I agree with those who think OC is a good idea, if only to let the regular folks know that not everyone with a gun is going to shoot somebody.

In the movies and on TV, if a character has a gun, you just know he’s gonna shoot somebody. Otherwise, they’d have left the thing in the prop room. In the real world, that’s not the way it is and we (IMHO) need to get the word out.

An armed citizen is NOT a threat to normal people. BGs --- that's a different story!

Pahoo · January 27, 2011, 08:05 PM

Quote:

In Tn we can, most don't.

I believe you will find that in time, that will be the case, in Iowa. I now understand that this is really not a new change and that those who could legally carry, could always do so. Last week I saw my first open carry at a local Gun Show. I noticed it right off but I suspect most didn't or paid little attention. Even the LEO's at the door paid little or no attention when he walked out. .....

Shall issue in Iowa, is a new experience for all and time is needed in order to get use to it. Right now, Open Carrry would be more of a shock to most folks in Iowa on top of Shall Issue. ....

Quote:

Basically what I am asking, if you could open carry, would you?

If and when I can, I won't and for a number of good reasons. ......

Be Private, Protective and Safe !!!

DiscoRacing · January 27, 2011, 08:07 PM

We can open carry here... but I have a permit to conceal so I dont open carry. ...

... open carrying here always gets too much unwanted attention....typically leading to a long talk with the local police...nothing happens...just time wasted talking about rights that everyone knows you already have.

CorpITGuy · January 27, 2011, 08:17 PM

We're in the middle of trying to get open carry legalized in Arkansas at the moment. It's an uphill battle, I can tell you that much!

http://www.arkansascarry.com/dcra-q-aa.html

jimbob86 · January 27, 2011, 08:27 PM

OC is legal here across the Muddy from you ....... I OC'd for awhile in places that had local ordinances prohibiting CCW ..... most people did not notice, to be honest. The few that did asked if I was "some kind of police". I explained the deal: I concealed it where I could, and OC'd where I could not conceal. In less than a year, the Legislature put the kibosh on local ordinances (except Omaha's- that took another year and another law, and threats of a lawsuit) .... so now I don't OC. No need to.

It is nice to know that since OC is legal, inadverdantly printing or allowing your gun to be seen is not a crime here ...... just unwise.

Jim March · January 27, 2011, 08:30 PM

Here in Tucson I do "98% concealed". I carry a big gun, OWB, crossdraw, very "high and tight" and covered by a light jacket. It might poke out once in a while but very few notice. The legality of open carry means this isn't a problem...and both comfort and fast access are exceptional.

I couldn't carry this way in Texas, Florida, etc.

Sefner · January 27, 2011, 08:33 PM

OC is legal in MI. I really like having the option. Say it's a hot summer day and I just need to go to work. I OC on the way to my car, disarm before walking into work, OC on my way into the apartment (or into the grocery store if I need). Or out and about, wearing my usually untucked, unbuttoned dress shirt that I use to conceal (carry OWB), and it's hot out. Take shirt off, only in a t-shirt, I'm still legal.

Also in MI if you have a CPL you can OC in PFZ (weird I know). Do that frequently.

Never had a bad interaction, 99.99999% of people never notice.

jimbob86 · January 27, 2011, 08:53 PM

Quote:

99.99999% of people never notice.

^^^
This.

Condition white is the norm.

Standing Wolf · January 27, 2011, 09:58 PM

Whew! I thought I'd somehow missed the open carry of the week therad.

Seriously: if you believe the Second Amendment means what it says, there's not much left to debate. We could, to be sure, debate whether open carry attracts criminals, though that would be an exceedingly small debate if it were conducted by people who actually carry openly.

Here's the real issue: are openly carried guns more or less likely to get dirty quicker than concealed?

Ryder · January 27, 2011, 10:18 PM

Quote:

Here's the real issue: are openly carried guns more or less likely to get dirty quicker than concealed?

I think OC gets shot more often, so yes

Stevie-Ray · January 27, 2011, 10:22 PM

Quote:

Basically what I am asking, if you could open carry, would you?

I can and do, quite a bit.

smince · January 28, 2011, 07:24 AM

My thoughts on open carry:

I don't need to be seen with a gun to be non-selected by a BG. Attitude and how you carry yourself goes a longer way toward not having to use a gun than OC. In my AO, in my experience, concealed carry is a better tactic than OC. For myself. YMMV.

Really, I don't see the need to have a gun hanging off my belt for the whole world to see anymore. There is a reason I don't and it has nothing to do with being hassled by the police or losing a right. I don't want ANYONE to know I'm armed. Not the neighborhood gossip, not the thugs, not the everyday folks going about their business.

If I am going outside of the house at night, I do open carry but that's about it. If I am going anywhere else I would rather have my gun concealed.

I would only OC if that were the only legal way to carry.

I am sure that some of the criminal element will just pick another target, but some is not all. The visible gun will not make you the bane of criminals and solve all your problems. And most people are not as tuned in as they think they are.

Weapon retention is more of an issue with open carry. If you have had at least academy-level retention classes or a comparable private class, all the better. How many OC'ers have? Now how many do you see OCing in a $5 holster from the bargain gun show table?

There are a multitude of reasons for and against open carry. If that's your thing go for it. I simply prefer not to.

JerryM · January 28, 2011, 09:45 AM

We can, and I don't.
Regards,
Jerry

Brian Pfleuger · January 28, 2011, 09:58 AM

I probably wouldn't do it very often, if at all. I would like to be able to carry a gun in a way that accidental exposure wouldn't get me arrested though.

The discussion about the tactical differences between open carry and concealed has been had over and over again. No one can show that there is any difference beyond opinion.

twobit · January 28, 2011, 10:24 AM

Texas is approaching 500,000 current CHL (concealed handgun licenses). I predict Texas will, within a few years, have open carry with the same licensing as now required for the CHL (just call it a Handgun Carry License).

Many of the CHL licensees will probably opt to continue to conceal most of the time, but it will ease the fear of their gun being accidentally seen. The public should be educated that these people have walked among them for years, armed, without issue, and that now some of them will be seen with exposed handguns. I believe that once they understand that half a million of their fellow Texans have had the guns for years, the shock will be less and it will be a non issue.

AcridSaint · January 28, 2011, 10:31 AM

Off and on for 8 years, never a problem in NC. I don't buy into many of the pro-OC arguments, but I do have personal political reasons for doing it.

PawPaw · January 28, 2011, 10:34 AM

A lot of us Fudds carry openly quite a bit, depending on the season. If I step out of my pickup truck, throw a rifle over my shoulder and go hunting, is that not open carry?

If I need work done on my shotgun and I drive to the gunsmith on Main Street, park four doors down and carry my shotgun to the shop, is that not open carry?

I don't see the big deal.

Skans · January 28, 2011, 12:56 PM

I'm not into open carry, but I don't care if others do.

dawg23 · January 29, 2011, 08:02 PM

As others have said -- in my state (LA) we can open-carry. Few do. I certainly don't.

Those who espouse open-carry can often offer some reason why they think it's a good idea. Their reason usually related to the concept of "educating the public" or that of "exercising my rights." I can think of better ways to do either of these.

I won't reiterate them here (because this has been beaten to death on multiple occasions), but suffice it to say that there are many good reasons to keep your weapon concealed.

Presuming one has a permit, concealed carry is (tactically) a no-brainer.

SauerGrapes · January 29, 2011, 09:53 PM

I OC when the weather get warm most of the time. I've never insited a panic or been approach by LE. I have had some educational conversations with a few people. Some have advised me I could be arrested for brandishing a firearm. LOL I had to educate them on the law in Pa.

Most people are too wrapped up in their own lives to worry or even notice I'm carrying a gun. I think most people just think I'm a LEO or something if they do notice. I think you'll find most people really don't care. The ones that would, probably don't like anything and just like to bitch about everything...

langenc · January 29, 2011, 10:21 PM

... open carrying here always gets too much unwanted attention....typically leading to a long talk with the local police...nothing happens...
from post #7

what is there to talk about?? Maybe what you carring and where do you shoot??

January 27, 2011, 04:17 PM	#1
Pvt. Pyle Senior Member Join Date: January 18, 2011 Posts: 116	Open Carry? I believe the state I live in, IA, allows open carry or is talking about allowing open carry. I have heard things about it. Now I am not saying that I would want to, but dressing around a gun in my eyes kind of seems a bit tough as I would almost have to change my wardrobe for summer. But carrying a gun always adds responsibility, and dressing around a means of safety and protection is something that goes along with a CCW. Anyway... Basically what I am asking, if you could open carry, would you? Or do you think it would just escalate any situation you may be in that much faster?

January 27, 2011, 06:57 PM	#4
Mr. James Senior Member Join Date: April 10, 2001 Location: The Old Dominion Posts: 1,521	I have open carried extensively throughout Virginia and in North Carolina for about five years now. Never a serious difficulty to report. Never a negative or hostile encounter with law enforcement. I did have the police summoned to a "man with a gun" call in Prince William County - the County officers merely explained the law to the complainant without ever contacting me at all (I was seated about 20 feet away). Citizen reactions are largely non-existent. Most people do not notice it, believe it or not. Those that do often assume I'm in law enforcement. A few may sniff disdainfully, but no one has ever tried to argue with me or accused me of "compensating" or any other asininities. Those that actually speak to me are either (a) curious - didn't know it was legal, or (b) back-clappingly supportive. As to escalating a situation, my experience has been just the opposite. True low-lifes tend to cross the street and get the hell away from me. Street criminals like low-hanging fruit - the distracted, the tired, the drunk, the physically weak. A confident, alert guy, aware of his surroundings and looking people in the eye - who also happens to have a pistol on his belt - is the antithesis of these. Of course, decent folk have nothing to fear from a lawful open carrier. YMMV. By open carrying, I see myself as protecting a right by exercising it. I also try to act at all times as an ambassador, if you will, for responsible, legal self defense. Not everyone is interested in either of those roles. Good luck and God bless Bob James __________________ "...A humble and contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise." Ps. li "When law and morality contradict each other, the citizen has the cruel alternative of either losing his moral sense or losing his respect for the law." —Frederic Bastiat

January 27, 2011, 08:30 PM	#10
Jim March Senior Member Join Date: February 14, 1999 Location: Pittsburg, CA, USA Posts: 7,417	Here in Tucson I do "98% concealed". I carry a big gun, OWB, crossdraw, very "high and tight" and covered by a light jacket. It might poke out once in a while but very few notice. The legality of open carry means this isn't a problem...and both comfort and fast access are exceptional. I couldn't carry this way in Texas, Florida, etc. __________________ Jim March

January 27, 2011, 08:33 PM	#11
Sefner Senior Member Join Date: June 24, 2009 Location: Michigan Posts: 769	OC is legal in MI. I really like having the option. Say it's a hot summer day and I just need to go to work. I OC on the way to my car, disarm before walking into work, OC on my way into the apartment (or into the grocery store if I need). Or out and about, wearing my usually untucked, unbuttoned dress shirt that I use to conceal (carry OWB), and it's hot out. Take shirt off, only in a t-shirt, I'm still legal. Also in MI if you have a CPL you can OC in PFZ (weird I know). Do that frequently. Never had a bad interaction, 99.99999% of people never notice. __________________ gtalk:renfes steamID: Sefner

January 27, 2011, 09:58 PM	#13
Standing Wolf Member in memoriam Join Date: April 26, 2002 Location: Colorado Posts: 1,649	Whew! I thought I'd somehow missed the open carry of the week therad. Seriously: if you believe the Second Amendment means what it says, there's not much left to debate. We could, to be sure, debate whether open carry attracts criminals, though that would be an exceedingly small debate if it were conducted by people who actually carry openly. Here's the real issue: are openly carried guns more or less likely to get dirty quicker than concealed? __________________ No tyrant should ever be allowed to die of natural causes.

January 27, 2011, 05:06 PM	#2
chris in va Senior Member Join Date: December 26, 2004 Location: Louisville KY Posts: 13,806	You can do a search for 'open carry' and get hours of reading. In my experience, having OC'ed in VA and KY, it's generally accepted by the public but you will get attention from doing so, positive or otherwise. Being the introverted type that I am, I really don't like chatting with the general public about the practice so I CC most of the time. I had an old-timer pat me on the back in WalMart for carrying. "We need more of you guys around" or somesuch. A woman at a gas station got really nervous and asked if I was an LEO. Things went downhill from there, and I left. It was the only negative encounter I've had. I am not familiar with Iowa's tolerance to OC, but suspect you may also have to deal with the infamous "man with a gun call" we're so fond of. Ironically I'm a fair proponent of open carry and like to attend OC meet -n- greets at a designated restaurant whenever possible (got one Saturday actually). http://forum.opencarry.org/forums/

January 27, 2011, 05:33 PM	#3
SatCong Senior Member Join Date: November 21, 2004 Location: Twangtown Posts: 175	In Tn we can, most don't. Mike

January 27, 2011, 07:50 PM	#5
Japle Senior Member Join Date: October 12, 2004 Location: Viera, Florida Posts: 1,340	Good for you, Bob. Florida will probably get OC this year and at first I wasn’t too interested. I’ve been carrying concealed since ’88 and never had a problem. The more I think about it, though, the more I agree with those who think OC is a good idea, if only to let the regular folks know that not everyone with a gun is going to shoot somebody. In the movies and on TV, if a character has a gun, you just know he’s gonna shoot somebody. Otherwise, they’d have left the thing in the prop room. In the real world, that’s not the way it is and we (IMHO) need to get the word out. An armed citizen is NOT a threat to normal people. BGs --- that's a different story!

January 27, 2011, 08:07 PM	#7
DiscoRacing Senior Member Join Date: December 19, 2008 Location: milton, wv Posts: 3,640	We can open carry here... but I have a permit to conceal so I dont open carry. ... ... open carrying here always gets too much unwanted attention....typically leading to a long talk with the local police...nothing happens...just time wasted talking about rights that everyone knows you already have. __________________ Desert Eagle Alliance Group Launcher Extraordinaire ______ ----Get Busy Live'n.....Or....Get Busy Die'n......Red -------They call me Dr. Bob,,,, I have a PhD in S&W

January 27, 2011, 08:17 PM	#8
CorpITGuy Senior Member Join Date: May 14, 2009 Posts: 113	We're in the middle of trying to get open carry legalized in Arkansas at the moment. It's an uphill battle, I can tell you that much! http://www.arkansascarry.com/dcra-q-aa.html

January 27, 2011, 08:27 PM	#9
jimbob86 Junior member Join Date: October 4, 2007 Location: All the way to NEBRASKA Posts: 8,722	OC is legal here across the Muddy from you ....... I OC'd for awhile in places that had local ordinances prohibiting CCW ..... most people did not notice, to be honest. The few that did asked if I was "some kind of police". I explained the deal: I concealed it where I could, and OC'd where I could not conceal. In less than a year, the Legislature put the kibosh on local ordinances (except Omaha's- that took another year and another law, and threats of a lawsuit) .... so now I don't OC. No need to. It is nice to know that since OC is legal, inadverdantly printing or allowing your gun to be seen is not a crime here ...... just unwise.

January 28, 2011, 07:24 AM	#16
smince Junior member Join Date: October 9, 2004 Location: Northeast Alabama Posts: 2,580	My thoughts on open carry: I don't need to be seen with a gun to be non-selected by a BG. Attitude and how you carry yourself goes a longer way toward not having to use a gun than OC. In my AO, in my experience, concealed carry is a better tactic than OC. For myself. YMMV. Really, I don't see the need to have a gun hanging off my belt for the whole world to see anymore. There is a reason I don't and it has nothing to do with being hassled by the police or losing a right. I don't want ANYONE to know I'm armed. Not the neighborhood gossip, not the thugs, not the everyday folks going about their business. If I am going outside of the house at night, I do open carry but that's about it. If I am going anywhere else I would rather have my gun concealed. I would only OC if that were the only legal way to carry. I am sure that some of the criminal element will just pick another target, but some is not all. The visible gun will not make you the bane of criminals and solve all your problems. And most people are not as tuned in as they think they are. Weapon retention is more of an issue with open carry. If you have had at least academy-level retention classes or a comparable private class, all the better. How many OC'ers have? Now how many do you see OCing in a $5 holster from the bargain gun show table? There are a multitude of reasons for and against open carry. If that's your thing go for it. I simply prefer not to.

January 28, 2011, 09:45 AM	#17
JerryM Senior Member Join Date: April 4, 1999 Location: New Mexico Posts: 1,889	We can, and I don't. Regards, Jerry __________________ Ecclesiastes 12:13 ¶Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. 14 For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.

January 28, 2011, 09:58 AM	#18
Brian Pfleuger Moderator Emeritus Join Date: June 25, 2008 Location: Austin, CO Posts: 19,578	I probably wouldn't do it very often, if at all. I would like to be able to carry a gun in a way that accidental exposure wouldn't get me arrested though. The discussion about the tactical differences between open carry and concealed has been had over and over again. No one can show that there is any difference beyond opinion. __________________ Nobody plans to screw up their lives... ...they just don't plan not to. -Andy Stanley

January 28, 2011, 10:24 AM	#19
twobit Senior Member Join Date: February 25, 2010 Location: Coyote Creak, SW Texas Posts: 597	Texas is approaching 500,000 current CHL (concealed handgun licenses). I predict Texas will, within a few years, have open carry with the same licensing as now required for the CHL (just call it a Handgun Carry License). Many of the CHL licensees will probably opt to continue to conceal most of the time, but it will ease the fear of their gun being accidentally seen. The public should be educated that these people have walked among them for years, armed, without issue, and that now some of them will be seen with exposed handguns. I believe that once they understand that half a million of their fellow Texans have had the guns for years, the shock will be less and it will be a non issue. __________________ Twobit, Strive to live up to the opinion that your dog has of you.

January 28, 2011, 10:31 AM	#20
AcridSaint Senior Member Join Date: February 28, 2009 Posts: 407	Off and on for 8 years, never a problem in NC. I don't buy into many of the pro-OC arguments, but I do have personal political reasons for doing it.

January 28, 2011, 10:34 AM	#21
PawPaw Senior Member Join Date: December 24, 2010 Location: Central Louisiana Posts: 3,137	A lot of us Fudds carry openly quite a bit, depending on the season. If I step out of my pickup truck, throw a rifle over my shoulder and go hunting, is that not open carry? If I need work done on my shotgun and I drive to the gunsmith on Main Street, park four doors down and carry my shotgun to the shop, is that not open carry? I don't see the big deal. __________________ Dennis Dezendorf http://pawpawshouse.blogspot.com

January 28, 2011, 12:56 PM	#22
Skans Senior Member Join Date: November 20, 2008 Posts: 11,132	I'm not into open carry, but I don't care if others do.

January 29, 2011, 08:02 PM	#23
dawg23 Senior Member Join Date: February 21, 2001 Location: Louisiana Posts: 403	As others have said -- in my state (LA) we can open-carry. Few do. I certainly don't. Those who espouse open-carry can often offer some reason why they think it's a good idea. Their reason usually related to the concept of "educating the public" or that of "exercising my rights." I can think of better ways to do either of these. I won't reiterate them here (because this has been beaten to death on multiple occasions), but suffice it to say that there are many good reasons to keep your weapon concealed. Presuming one has a permit, concealed carry is (tactically) a no-brainer. __________________ . www.PersonalDefenseTraining.net

January 29, 2011, 09:53 PM	#24
SauerGrapes Senior Member Join Date: March 22, 2009 Location: S.E.PA. Posts: 920	I OC when the weather get warm most of the time. I've never insited a panic or been approach by LE. I have had some educational conversations with a few people. Some have advised me I could be arrested for brandishing a firearm. LOL I had to educate them on the law in Pa. Most people are too wrapped up in their own lives to worry or even notice I'm carrying a gun. I think most people just think I'm a LEO or something if they do notice. I think you'll find most people really don't care. The ones that would, probably don't like anything and just like to bitch about everything...

January 29, 2011, 10:21 PM	#25
langenc Senior Member Join Date: August 19, 2007 Location: Montmorency Co, MI Posts: 1,551	... open carrying here always gets too much unwanted attention....typically leading to a long talk with the local police...nothing happens... from post #7 what is there to talk about?? Maybe what you carring and where do you shoot??