Open versus concealed carry

[Toms_2003_Stang]

What are the pro's and cons of both? Im looking at getting my permit in a couple of weeks and would like some real world advice, thanks.

[pandafp]

from what i have heard from numerous leo and ex military is that they feel that open carry is a tactical disadvantage for numerous reasons one of those reasons being that they become targets. I don't open carry because it isn't worth the hassle to be harassed in this great state I'm in. I would personally rather conceal because the less that other people know the better position I'm in.

[ozo]

I grew up in a time period where every pickup truck in the school parking lot had a gun rack in the back window, at least one gun in/on the rack, and a lariat hanging off one hook on the passenger side. I would bet my life that each one of those trucks had a handgun of some sort/size underneath the driver's seat. The windows were most likely down unless rain was expected, and the keys were probably in the ignition.
Never gave it a second [or first] thought.........not until the last 15-20yrs.
What happened ?

[Theohazard]

In my opinion, open carry is vastly inferior to concealed carry. First, in some places it only provokes alarm and pushes more people against our cause. Second, open carry gives up a huge tactical advantage: The element of surprise and the ability to use your gun when and if you choose to. And third, your gun is far less likely to be snatched from your holster if no one knows you're carrying one in the first place.

Say you're caught in a bank robbery while carrying concealed; you can either choose to get involved if you think the situation warrants it, or you can remain passive and not aggravate the situation into an armed encounter. Now let's say you're open carrying in the same situation. Sure, it's possible that your gun could be a deterrent to the robber (provided he notices it before he begins), but it's also possible that it could make you a target before you could react and escalate a simple robbery into an unnecessary shootout.

I live in an open carry state, but I only carry concealed. This gives me the element of surprise, it doesn't make me a target for criminals and allows me to use my gun when and if I choose, it makes it highly unlikely I'll have my gun snatched from my holster considering nobody even knows I'm carrying, and I don't receive negative attention from anti-gunners who will be so alarmed that they'll go donate a bunch of money to MAIG or some other group.

[ozo]

" I would personally rather conceal because the less that other people know the better position I'm in."


Not necessarily true.

[pandafp]

I sat there for a couple seconds debating if i should throw a "most of the time" and decided against it and knew i would regret it as someone would pick on that line.

[ozo]

I didn't wear a uniform. No patches.
You could not see a badge 99% of the time.
You could always see my gun.
Never had people freak around me.....for that reason.
I wish everybody thought everybody had a gun.

[Glockstar .40]

open carry:
Pros- quicker draw time (maybe). reason I say maybe is because if you practice drawing conceal carry you can be just as fast as open carry
- might be a little more comfortable. I dont open carry a whole lot so maybe someone who does regularily can chime in on this one.

cons- open carry is just not tactically smart. Most likely you will be the first one to get taken out if something goes down. (this is probably the biggest con for me and far outweighs any of the pros). Only place I OC is if i'm hiking or at a 2nd amendment rally

conceal carry:

Pros- read open carry cons and think the opposite
-dont have to worry about someone calling the cops on you thinking your going to rob the joint.

cons- always being concerned if your gun is printing when you have to pick something up (IWB)
- shopping for the right gear to make sure your gun stays concealed. (or maybe thats a pro?)

[dakota.potts]

Open carry is often constitutional and unlicensed. I would have a much easier time open carrying my CZ 75 than concealed carrying, so weapon choice is better. Draw and accessibility are going to be better. It is also a deterrent. There is an argument made that it may make you a target, but at this time there is no evidence that is a common worry. It may happen, but not at a statistically significant number. I believe that it dissuades far more would-be criminals that in provokes or gets the user targeted.

Concealed carry is, of course, concealed. There are places like working at a place of business where I would not open carry unless I knew it was outwardly pro-gun. It does give you that element to choose your course of action where open carry may or may not depending on if you're in the criminal's line of view.

[Bozz10mm]

We don't have open carry in Texas, but I know it would make me uncomfortable to see someone doing it even if it was legal. Can't imagine wearing a pistol in a hip holster into a place of business. Especially a bank, or a post office, or grocery store. Or 7-11. Unless you are wearing a badge. Contrary to a lot of people's perception of Texas, it ain't the Old West any more.

[rickyrick]

I'd prefer to conceal in public. But I don't worry about printing, because it turns out no one is looking. I usually conceal IWB but I have concealed large pistols OWB and in my pocket. Unless your wearing skin tight clothing, no one is staring long and hard at your waistline. Or anywhere else.

[patrickmn]

I see that you are in Tennessee from your profile location. It's illegal to possess a loaded handgun in public, but a Handgun Carry Permit gives you a defense to that law without specifying open or concealed. So if you don't have a permit, you can do neither. If you have a permit you can do either one, or in between.

If I was making this decision, I might ask myself some questions:
1. Do I care if my friends, family, or coworkers, who I might run into while out shopping or whatever I am doing, see me with a gun on my belt?
2. Do I believe bad guys will leave me alone if they see it, or will they target me.
3. It is a crime to possess a loaded handgun in public, so a police officer would be well within their duty to stop, disarm, question, and possibly even arrest me, if somebody reports me. Do I believe these things will happen, and am I willing to risk these things happening?
4. Am I going somewhere that doesn't have a long-standing policy of allowing lawful handgun carry where other customers might convince the owners to ban guns?
5. Do I want to make a lot of new "friends" from people who see me with a gun and want to start talking about guns while I'm shopping?
6. Do I want to scare strangers? Some might be uncomfortable.
7. Do I want to make strangers feel safe? Some might feel safer with you around.
8. Do I want to participate in desensitizing fellow citizens to the sight of legally-carried handguns?
9. Do I think quick access to my pistol will be of any real advantage?
10. Will my holster secure my handgun well enough to prevent someone from walking up behind me, pulling it out, and running away with it?

These are just some of the things you have to consider when making the decision. Comfort, both physical and emotional, are the issues I would think about first. How would I be comfortable carrying a gun? My answer wouldn't be the same as another person's answer. Other people might have different concerns that I didn't mention above.

In the last few years I've started noticing more people around West Tennessee openly carrying handguns, mostly at Wally World, but at a few other places. More people are getting permits all the time, but I've heard that it is still only about 5-7% of Tennesseans have them. I don't see this state banning open carry, even if some people get scared and complain. I have heard of several businesses posting signs as a result, but I've also heard of several businesses taking down signs after gun-owning customers complained.

[spacecoast]

I wish everybody thought everybody had a gun.

Agreed, but that's the power of concealed carry - a multiplier effect if you will. Only 10% of those around you likely have a gun, but the fact that anyone could be armed is likely a powerful deterrent to crime.

[SgtLumpy]

On "I wish everyone was carrying" ...

In my state, Arizona, a permit is available but not required to either open or conceiled carry. Essentially anyone, except the usual disqualfiers (adjudicated mental, ex-con's, minors etc) may carry open or CCW.

Still, 2% of the people in my county, 3% of the people in my state, have active CCW permits. It's pertty logical and safe to extrapolate that there are a LOT of people carrying here, with or without CCW permits.

It is extremely common to see several people open carrying in the grocery store, Wally's, walking their dog etc. These are not people at a 2A rally or going to the shooting range. These are people carrying out normal daily activities.

It's also extremely common for people to initiate conversations with open carry citizens about "Do you like that brand of holster?" or "Does that XXX gun carry ok, as heavy as it is?" etc. Same kinds of conversation topics you might hear on the range or at the gunsmith's shop, you hear in the produce section or at the dog park.

I think what I'm trying to say here is that -

1) Open or CCW surely varies a HUGE amount in acceptance and regularity depending on your location

2) In my state at least, for every person with a CCW permit, there are others (more or less than permit holders? Who knows?) who don't have or are required to have a permit yet are legally carrying just the same.

3) Again, in my state at least, open carry seems to me to instill a bit of confidence in others. Part of that might be because I look more like a cop than a gang banger.


Sgt Lumpy

[lcpiper]

I am also living in AZ. and for me it's a decision based on what I plan to be doing. It's situation dependent.

If I am on my morning walk I carry my P238 concealed, if I am on my way to the range I carry my Model 27 on my hip. If I am headed onto the Military Base where I work I leave them all at home but if I am out and carrying and need to go in some place where they don't want guns, I leave it in the car. All are legal options.

[Corrections Cop]

I prefer to carry concealed, for reasons that have been already stated. I only open carry around my house. MI does allow open carry but their are things here in MI you can not do while open carry, another reason to ccw. I like knowing that I am the only person that knows I have a gun. Also it is against federal law to bring a gun into a post office, if you look on the wall their is a sign. Even though you can open carry here in MI most people don't, I don't even know anyone personally that does. I don't even think I would open carry walking down the street, just because I would not want the hassle.

[Bezoar]

well the definition of concealed and open carry varies by jurisdiction.

in michigan you can open carry, because the attorney generals say its ok.

now you can have a civil war flap holster for your gun, but if any part of your windbreaker covers the holster, your now concealed carry and better have the proper permits.

[JimmyR]

I live in a state that allows open and concealed carry with a License to Carry a Handgun (LTCH). I generally carry about 60-40 between concealed and open.

I personally don't give the whole "tactical advantage of the element of surprise" a lot of credit; at best, I think it is offset by the gun acting as a deterrerent, and at worst, I think it is fear-mongering.

Draw speed difference to me is negligible, with a slight advantage to open carry, because there is no cover garment to move out of the way, and no cover garment to snag the gun.

My attire, location, and community are my biggest deciding factors between open and concealed carry. I have gotten absolutely 0 dirty looks or questions from LEOs while open carrying. I have had some people ask questions about my carrying, generally asking if I feel threatened as a reason to carry, or simply asking if my open carrying is legal. I have also had people THANK me for carrying, saying they feel safer with someone with a sidearm on their person. I know which of my friends are "gun people" and which ones aren't, and I carry accordingly. I also tend to OC more if I am in my work attire (shirt and tie) or if I am just running out from home to the store.

[rickyrick]

In Texas, about 1% of the population has a concealed handgun license. The number if those that actually carry are even less. I'm sure there's plenty in glove boxes end nightstands, but actually walking in public it's hard to guess.

[glh17]

TN has open/conceal carry. The only time I've ever open carried is going to the range. In fact, I don't remember ever seeing anyone openly carrying other than at the range, gun shop employees, and LEOs. Maybe in more rural areas there's some open carry.

[Skans]

I'll take concealed carry any day of the week over open carry. Open carry telegraphs way too much information to strangers for my liking.

[Bullcamp82834]

Put me down for concealed carry when not out in the woods.

The element of surprise being a huge edge in an encounter with a dangerous human.

[Glenn E. Meyer]

TX - a few years ago, one of the concealed handgun instructor association honchos told me that they found, informally, that 80% of folks didn't carry most of the time. They just wanted it for carrying the gun in the car.

If that changed with the new law - don't know. Doesn't make sense to me as most incidents don't happen in your car.

As far as OC - I'm with the crowd that says it gives away too much. There is not that much empirical data on such but I think if you OC and I wanted your gun it is mine. I'm not wrestling with you by the way. Think about it.

[lcpiper]

This has actually happened where a man who was open carrying was targeted and robbed at gun point because he was wearing it on display.

I just hope Arizona is graced with more time with our current laws so we can see what the impact of our current laws really will be.

EDIT: Another good argument for why the Fed needs to let the States handle State business. It allows many states to pursue differnet solutions to common problems which affords the opportunity to figure out what works and what doesn't.

[dajowi]

Years ago I was concealed carrying while out on a walk. Coming back I started to get rather hot so took off my coat. I'm minding my own business and notice that cars passing me by are slowing down and people are looking at me as if they hadn't seen someone walking before. I didn't think anything about it until I got almost home and realized that everyone could see my shoulder rig. So as to not alarm anyone else I put my coat back on. It wasn't but a minute later that a sheriff's car drove by in the direction from which I came. So to answer your question, no I don't open carry - although it's perfectly legal in this state.