Busted my Cherry....With OPEN CARRY!

[dasmi]

One thing to keep in mind, however, that one of the main reasons for concealed carry is that you maintain a certain tactical advantage.

I would conceal carry, but I don't have an AZ CCW, so it's either open carry, or go unarmed, which is unacceptable.

[ATW525]

I think open carry is a trade off... you give up the element of surprise by letting people know that you're armed, but in return the fact that you're visably armed might just be the key to deterring a threat to your life before it even occurs.

Open carry is legal here in NH, though I have some reservations about it since hearing of mvpel's incident at the local Barnes & Noble. So, I usually make at least half an effort to conceal anything I carry.

[Bullrock]

Maine is an open carry state, but I don't need the hassle!

[harbinger]

Amen to that, Brother Bullrock.

[Blackhorse]

Tried oc a couple times here, found it made people a little nervous that were sitting around me in the restaurant and at the grocery store, plus I didn't like the attention it drew to me, so cc is the way I go now.

[Mikkel]

Here in Norway you aint even allowed to have ammo near your gun. This means that you will have to load a clip before you can shoot. The laws here are getting worse each year and the police can even search your house anytime they want without a warrant if you have a gun license.

[alpineman]

Like JRLaws, I'm in KY where open carry is legal. I live in a really small town, and I don't know how that will go over. It's normal around here to see a rifle or shotgun in someone's truck (usually unlocked with the windows down & still running in the paking lot -- yeah, that kind of small town) so I know people here are comfortable with guns. I just don't ever see anyone carrying a pistol. So, it's CC for me for the time being, but I'm sure the urge will eventually get the best of me & I'll give it a try.

[Scamp]

Can anyone fill me in on OC laws in NM or steer me to a website? Thanks.

[gb_in_ga]

Scamp:

The "standard" repository for information along those lines is www.packing.org, you should be able to find what you are looking for there.

---------------------------
Added:

Ok, I did a little digging, and came up with this:

30-7-2. Unlawful carrying of a deadly weapon.

A. Unlawful carrying of a deadly weapon consists of carrying a concealed loaded firearm or any other type of deadly weapon anywhere, except in the following cases:
(1) in the person's residence or on real property belonging to him as owner, lessee, tenant or licensee;
(2) in a private automobile or other private means of conveyance, for lawful protection of the person's or another's person or property;
(3) by a peace officer in accordance with the policies of his law enforcement agency who is certified pursuant to the Law Enforcement Training Act [29-7-1 NMSA 1978];
(4) by a peace officer in accordance with the policies of his law enforcement agency who is employed on a temporary basis by that agency and who has successfully completed a course of firearms instruction prescribed by the New Mexico law enforcement academy or provided by a certified firearms instructor who is employed on a permanent basis by a law enforcement agency; or
(5) by a person in possession of a valid concealed handgun license issued to him by the department of public safety pursuant to the provisions of the Concealed Handgun Carry Act [29-19-1 NMSA 1978].
B. Nothing in this section shall be construed to prevent the carrying of any unloaded firearm.
C. Whoever commits unlawful carrying of a deadly weapon is guilty of a petty misdemeanor.


Which seems much more sensible than what we have here in Ga, where there is no open carry save for a few exceptions like hunting and the shooting range.

Oh, BTW -- there are some restrictions on where you can't carry, I haven't listed them. You might want to check out the relevant NM statutes here, where I came up with that above info.

[PythonGuy]

I think open carry in all but the smallest towns, is akin to wearing a sign that says "Shoot me first". This not the 1800's and unless you live in Dodge city, concealed carry is the safe way to go, anything else is asking for trouble.

[davidp]

Nope -- no open carry in GA unless at the range or hunting. No concealed carry anywhere alcohol is served.

Actually,

Georgia is not a traditional open carry state. However, open carry IS legal with a Georgia permit. It is also worthy of note that you MAY openly carry a firearm without a permit in a motor vehicle. [from www.opencarry.org]

[Stiletto]

I think open carry in all but the smallest towns, is akin to wearing a sign that says "Shot me first". This not the 1800's and unless you live in Dodge city, concealed carry is the safe way to go, anything else is asking for trouble.

Agreed. But I won't rain on anyone else's parade if they choose to carry openly. *shrug*

And there is something to be said for carrying a big hulking piece (USP Tactical, M6, dot sight ) instead of a smaller one.

[jonathon]

http://fishorman.blogspot.com/

This guy is goin through hell for open carry... its a good, hard fight. But we need it. Giving ground on one right just leaves more room for them to take the rest away.

I'd do it though, if I was old enough.

[ATW525]

This guy is goin through hell for open carry...

No offense, but it sounds like this guy had a chip on his shoulder, caused a scene and made a jerk of himself to the officers. The sad part is that I get this impression from reading his side of the story. I imagine if he had been cooperative and friendly he probably wouldn't have had the same amount of problems that he ran into when he used such wonderful lines as, "You need to do your job and leave me alone." and "I did not ask for your opinion.”

Don't get me wrong, I don't think that people's civil rights should ever be violated, but if your going to be a dick and piss on the cops, don't cry about it when they make your life miserable. They are human after all.

Whatever happened to the "golden rule"?

[jonathon]

I see where your coming from, though I still see him in the right. Cops have gotten to powerful, and think they are the almighty. His case pretty much proves it. They harrassed him for a legal activity in the state of WA. OC isn't banned, it is in writing in our consitution.

[Duxman]

Everyone,

I don't think there is a single one among us who will argue that CC is preferrable to OC. My point to posting my experience is in my state - at current time it is illegal for civilians to CC in bars / restaurants that have a license to consume alcohol on the premises.

So the choice is to go illegal gun CC, unarmed, or go OC in those establishments. I prefer to go OC. It was my first time, so I wanted to share those thoughts. And I applaud all of you, who have done so as well. My point is - try it once - IF legal in your state (and you feel confident and secure in your ability) and see how it feels.

To the pending post about the man who got harassed by cops - my thoughts are even if it is your right - it does not hurt to be NICE to the boys in blue. BUT even if you are not nice - it is still your RIGHT and they should not harass folks for doing so.

If we start letting big government step on us for these violations, what is next? I say hold the line and fight for principle.

[dasmi]

I'm a little wary of my upcoming open-carry excursion into Arizona, but I have to do it. I'll be traveling all night long, in a place I've never been. I'd be foolish not to be armed. Hopefully, there will not be any incident. I'll let everyone know how it goes.

[ATW525]

I see where your coming from, though I still see him in the right.

I'm sorry, I can't agree... this guy's story has more holes than swiss cheese, especially his second run in the with the law where he claims that he always drives around with the magazine of his pistol between his legs. Does he think the cop is a moron?? Apparantly his own wife tells the cops that he unloaded the pistol after the cop stopped them.

Then after all his claims of harassment and false arrest he goes and cops a plea... which was probably the happy ending to this whole story, since he gave up his gun as part of the agreement. So law abiding gun owners will no longer have to worry about this guy "fighting for thier rights".

I think the fact that the pro-gun groups wouldn't touch this guy's case with a ten foot pole speaks volumes to just how "in the right" this bozo really was. The sad part is that if he had learned at least the basics of manners he probably wouldn't have had half the problems he did. This started out with a reasonable reaction to a 911 call (a single police officer walking over to see what was going on), and this guy just insisted on making a scene and escalating it and then crying about being the "victim". As it was all he did was give legal gun owners a bad rep with the local law.

Let's face it, if age requirements to purchase handguns went by the comparative age of mental and emotional development, rather than physical age then this guy would still have another 19 years to go before he would be legally eligable to purchase one.

[wayneinFL]

there's a thread on TFL here which covers this issue in more detail:
http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/...d.php?t=148017

It was hashed over pretty good there.

Strange- I've been hunting and openly or concealed carrying and checked 6 or 7 times by fish and game officers and never been disarmed. I've been carrying concealed at traffic stops, and never been disarmed. Of course, this was in the woods or in a car.

I don't understand why officers are in danger from a man with a gun in one geographical location and safe with a man with a gun in another geographical location.

I suspect the attitude toward the officers had more to do with it than anything. I know it really shouldn't matter, but they're human, after all.

I hate to sound cynical, but I think this country has outlived the usefulness of guns. I think most gunowners themselves, even those who ccw (closet carry weapons), have been educated by the public school system, the media and today's culture to think guns are not acceptable, and best left for Hollywood, history, and a privileged few.

I keep hearing "why do you need a gun?" I say to the gunowner who says this: "why do YOU need a gun?" Hunting or shooting papaer targets is not exactly a neccessity, but our gov't seems to think guns are unlawful if they're "not for sporting purposes." What does "sporting" have to do with the second amendment? Did we take the armories at Lexington and Concord for "sporting purposes"?

I've read the word "paranoid" several times on this forum. I'm sure i'm quoting someone here, but not sure who: "Why should I be paranoid, I have the gun?"

Cops are afraid of people with guns? Bank tellers are afraid of people who possess guns? Equipment installers (me) are afraid of people with guns?

Back to the open carry- people don't usually openly exercise RKBA in the city. So the public gets used to feeling safe because they don't see the guns that are there- the ones carried legally by permit, or carried illegally, by crooks. Truth is, no one- cops, crooks or the rest of us are safe- ever. Guns, cars, crooks, lightning, meteors falling from the sky. When your number's up, your number's up. Why does society pick out guns over everything else? I don't know. I think it's public education, the urbanization of the U.S., less people exposed to guns - maybe we're too civilized for anybody but the criminals or cops to have guns, or defend themselves.

We live in a society that increasingly places emphasis on safety, not liberty. We accept officers killing a family (albeit family of wackos) over a sawed off shotgun. That's law and order. Yet, I can't let my kids hammer something together with nails or spank them 'cause that would endanger them? I do this anyway, but by today's standards, that reckless and abusive. God help me if I do this with someone else's kids- I'll get sued for thousands.

It's dangerous in my opinion, to put safety above liberty. But I don't see the train stopping in my lifetime. I do see it crashing at the bottom.

I really feel it's only a matter of time until we go the way of the British.

[Stiletto]

*sniff*

That was beautiful.

[ATW525]

Believe me, I totally agree that the perception of firearms in the country is increasingly negative and I'm not at all happy about that. However the "It's my RIGHT and if the police even look at me funny I'm going to scream HARASSMENT" attitude is both ignorant and counter productive. The fact is that an officer responding to a call about about a man with a gun is perfectly within bounds of the law to briefly question you long enough to ensure that no crime is being committed. Needless to say a confrontational demeanor where you respond to an officer's questions with hostility and evasiveness doesn't really help speed things along.

It's just one of those things to keep in mind if you're going to carry, whether you do so openly or concealed. Following the law and being polite to those who's job it is to enforce those laws will go alot further towards protecting your rights than being some kind of rebel martyr. If you don't like the laws there's legal ways to change them and organizations dedicated to that purpose that can use your support. Bubba "$%^# the Guvment" Redneck who just wants to things his way and says "Screw the system" adds to the problem and not the solution.

[Duxman]

Wayne,

That was a beautiful montage of thoughts and ideas.

However, I respectfully disagree with you. I believe even though the mainstream press has not changed their mind about the general perception of guns - the public has gone to more non-traditional sources of information to get their news - blogs, the internet etc.

Several grassroots organizations - NRA, VCDL (local to the state of VA) have gone out of their way to educate the public about firearms. And help folks who the government has unjustly prosecuted.

Once in a while some whacko goes nuts and it gets a lot of press, but the general public is slowly changing its mind about guns. There are less anti-gun laws now:

No more Assualt weapons bans.

More states with "shall issue" CC

More states with OC

Although 911 has increased the nation's paranoia about security - there is a large faction of the country that is dedicated to liberty and freedom, not to mention it is in our base constitution - This is not the case with the British.

So lets help the cause in educating more of our neighbors and friends in gun safety, and fine art of killing paper targets.

[Rickstir]

Before MO got CCW, I OCed everywhere I could. Now I live on a farm in a rural area. I OC all day long when at home. It is just easier to leave it on when I have to drive the 6 miles to town for feed and such. Once, at a bait shop, a van full of sheeple from St. Louis I guess were pressed up to their side windows watching me get ice and minnows while open carrying my 92FS. It was like they were in one of those zoos you can drive your car through.
Once I was in line at the Dollar General store with the canine deputy from the County sheriffr's office. He asked if I liked my 92. Absolutely I told him. He knew me bacause he was the one that did the fingerprints on my CCW apps for MO and FL.
I would not OC in STL or KC. It is is illegal in STL and North KC anyway.
In the right place, OC is just fine.

[wayneinFL]

"That was a beautiful montage of thoughts and ideas."

That really wasn't my intention. On the contrary, I burnt my frozen pizza while typing all that out. And I don't think it's beautiful at all. I fear what will happen when this next generation gets into power. I got thinking about that and got all fired up.

We have made some headway in the last five years or so, with CCW reciprocity agreements, semiauto ban sunsetting, and we just had the castle doctrine expanded here.

Florida is kind of a melting pot, at least for the east coast and you get to meet a pretty good cross section of the U.S.- I see the people from other states moving in, hearing their attitudes about things, and it's scary. I hear the Barbara Boxers, Hillary Clintons, and Ted Kennedys of our country. John Kerry was nearly elected president, and I think he would be elected today if it were put to a vote now.

I'm not lying down without a fight, to be sure. I'm still writing and calling my congressmen, etc. But unless we get firearms back into the mainstream public in a big way I can see things getting worse.

ATW: "Needless to say a confrontational demeanor where you respond to an officer's questions with hostility and evasiveness doesn't really help speed things along."

I agree.

[BatmanX]

That really wasn't my intention. On the contrary, I burnt my frozen pizza while typing all that out. And I don't think it's beautiful at all. I fear what will happen when this next generation gets into power. I got thinking about that and got all fired up.

I think you are going about this the wrong way.
I look at it from the other POV.
In my eye's, it is the old generation (old regime) that has screwed this up, and it is the combination of multiple generations that are building the idea of CC back up to an idea of safety and the 2nd amend.

It can only get better from here.