Author Topic: Conceal Vrs. Open Carry (Read 3911 times)

Curtis · « **Reply #30 on:** September 24, 2012, 03:02:40 PM »

Quote from: Brett on September 24, 2012, 07:09:09 AM

Quote from: keith44 on September 23, 2012, 06:27:01 AM
Quote from: FPH on September 23, 2012, 05:12:33 AM
People who know I have A CCL sometimes will ask "are you carrying today"? I just say "good question".

I like that answer!!

I usually answer: "I might be... you never know."

My favorite (smart alek) answer to most ANY pointed question is "As far as you know"!

Curtis

Curtis · « **Reply #31 on:** September 24, 2012, 03:03:57 PM »

Quote from: Empty Quiver on September 23, 2012, 09:31:08 AM

Mn. has a Carry Permit with no compulsion to conceal. It is nice to know that printing is not a crime, and a slip of the cover garment won't mean a loss of permit.

Having said all that I rarely open carry. Closest I come is an outside the waistband holster, and a T-shirt over it, not carring if someone sees my gat.

By and large I don't want the attention. Shoot me first fears don't weigh on my mind, I tend to believe as many no goodniks would be persuaded to wait till I finish my business and leave before they punch in and get to work.

I am exactly in step with Empty Quiver on this. I wish Texas would pass open carry for this reason.

Curtis

keith44 · « **Reply #32 on:** September 24, 2012, 08:00:42 PM »

When did Texas ban open carry??

Curtis · « **Reply #33 on:** September 25, 2012, 12:23:14 AM »

Texas has never had open carry for hand guns. Printing can lose you your CC permit. Open carry is only legal on your own property here.

Curtis

P.S. Open carry of long guns is legal here though.

keith44 · « **Reply #34 on:** September 25, 2012, 04:56:36 AM »

I guess I watched too many westerns as a kid

thanks for setting the record straight.
In Ky we started with open carry only, many many years ago, and only within the past 10 years or so started allowing concealed carry. I just assumed every other right thinking state did or had similar.

guzzijohn · « **Reply #35 on:** September 25, 2012, 05:14:00 AM »

No open carry in Texas? That is a surprise to me, I just assumed as we are talking Texas here. Even Kansas allows open carry although if you try it in any metropolitan area you will probably have to explain that right to a LEO. It was just a few years ago that we got CC.
GuzziJohn

FPH · « **Reply #36 on:** September 25, 2012, 06:31:48 AM »

We just got open carry in NM.

Curtis · « **Reply #37 on:** September 25, 2012, 01:57:40 PM »

Quote from: keith44 on September 25, 2012, 04:56:36 AM

I just assumed every other right thinking state did or had similar.

Yeah, I wish. Texas is not too far behind the best states though and is pretty gun friendly overall. We can conceal in our vehicle without a CC permit with no requirement of "travelling" as well as conceal to and from the vehicle and our residence or other legal location. We can legally defend said vehicle against a car jacker with deadly force and no obligation to reatreat.

The 2007 strengthening of our castle law gave us that provision, along with protecting from civil suites in a "good shoot". Open carry has come up in the State Capital several times, and one day I'm sure will pass into law.

Curtis

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #38 on:** September 26, 2012, 02:02:46 AM »

We have open carry in Va. with exception of a few cities. A couple days ago two guys riding motor cycles pulled up to a stop light near me. There were a few ladies in a car next to them . They were all looking at the one rider with a gun strapped to his side in plain view. Their attention drew mine and most waiting for the light to the gun. It was no ? the ladies didn't care for seeing the gun.
So I ask why expose it and cause others to react ? They may react by voting anti gun later .

Spirithawk · « **Reply #39 on:** September 26, 2012, 04:32:15 AM »

Quote from: SHOOTALL on September 26, 2012, 02:02:46 AM

We have open carry in Va. with exception of a few cities. A couple days ago two guys riding motor cycles pulled up to a stop light near me. There were a few ladies in a car next to them . They were all looking at the one rider with a gun strapped to his side in plain view. Their attention drew mine and most waiting for the light to the gun. It was no ? the ladies didn't care for seeing the gun.
So I ask why expose it and cause others to react ? They may react by voting anti gun later .

Yep, exactly. Here in missouri open carry is legal but you practicly need to be an attorney and carry a GPS to know just when and where. Local law varies from county to county, town, city, and specific location. You can be standing in one spot, be perfectly legal to carry open, take a few steps and suddenly be illegal. Just too much hassel to mess with. I rarely open carry even on my own property. No one needs to know I'm armed unless such time as it's necesary to let them know. I don't carry to show off I carry as insurance should I need it.

Duke0313 · « **Reply #40 on:** September 26, 2012, 09:51:40 PM »

I completely agree that concealed is a smarter choice...but open carry just looks "cooler."
How I'd love to be able to walk down the street wearing my Blackhawk with stag grips on my hip.

jcn59 · « **Reply #41 on:** September 27, 2012, 07:16:25 PM »

I think Spirithawk nailed it well. It's interesting that the NRA likes to say that the mere presence of a firearm often deters crime. A man with a concealed gun in his pocket appears unarmed and looks like an easy mark.

My answer to all these questions is to stay away from the usual people and places where trouble happens, and make protective behaviors a habit.

Let me add that asking a man to see his Roscoe is bad taste.

Spirithawk · « **Reply #42 on:** September 27, 2012, 08:03:45 PM »

I'd rather the bad guy not even know I have a firearm till it's too late for him. If one of us is going to get a very bad surprise I would much rather it be him than me.

.

keith44 · « **Reply #43 on:** September 27, 2012, 08:20:14 PM »

Quote from: Spirithawk on September 27, 2012, 08:03:45 PM

I'd rather the bad guy not even know I have a firearm till it's too late for him. If one of us is going to get a very bad surprise I would much rather it be him than me. .

I agree

Quote from: jcn59 on September 27, 2012, 07:16:25 PM

I think Spirithawk nailed it well. It's interesting that the NRA likes to say that the mere presence of a firearm often deters crime. A man with a concealed gun in his pocket appears unarmed and looks like an easy mark.

My answer to all these questions is to stay away from the usual people and places where trouble happens, and make protective behaviors a habit.

Let me add that asking a man to see his Roscoe is bad taste.

An alert person, one who is constantly scanning for trouble, does not appear to be an easy mark. On the other hand a person who walks quickly with short steps and looks only at the ground directly in front of them looks like an easy mark or prey.

I prefer to give off the predator vibe, especially when armed, but do my best to avoid trouble spots.

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #44 on:** September 28, 2012, 02:04:02 AM »

I can say the NRA is correct about the gun as on a couple occasions when confronted with criminals trying to make me a victom my producing a weapon changed their minds . Most don't consider me a weakling looking like a target either. Two were home invasions . Not all crooks have the good sense to only attack the weak.
I would still rather have the fact I have a gun be a big suprise when I pull it out . That few second shock factor ( I have seen it several times in person , once on the wrong end ) is helpful in turning the situation around.

FPH · « **Reply #45 on:** September 28, 2012, 05:17:47 AM »

An alert person, one who is constantly scanning for trouble, does not appear to be an easy mark. On the other hand a person who walks quickly with short steps and looks only at the ground directly in front of them looks like an easy mark or prey.

I prefer to give off the predator vibe, especially when armed, but do my best to avoid trouble spots.

My CCL instructor did a survey of people walking from Wal Mart's Door to their car.......it was amazing how many people kept their eyes to the ground and scurryed off to their vehicles. I always scan my environment and try to give off the feeling of someone you don't want to mess with. When someone has accosted me they have at the very least left with something broken for their troubles. I figure if they will mess with me, what will they do to my wife or my 82 year old Mom.

keith44 · « **Reply #46 on:** September 28, 2012, 06:13:57 AM »

exactly FPH

Last near issue I had was when entering Wal mart after work (at mid-night) (boy what a freak show) four non-english speaking dark skinned males wearing dark pants and white short sleeve shirts with blue bandana's tied around their upper right arms were following people in and out of the store. I watched as they followed a woman across the parking lot, and simply started walking behind them.

Turns out they did not like that game after all. Night manager confronted me, asking what I said to them to make them leave. He told me that everytime the police would show up they would disappear, but return within minutes. Took about a half hour to explain, but I think the young man finally got the idea.

FPH · « **Reply #47 on:** September 28, 2012, 06:44:03 AM »

Quote from: keith44 on September 28, 2012, 06:13:57 AM

exactly FPH

Last near issue I had was when entering Wal mart after work (at mid-night) (boy what a freak show) four non-english speaking dark skinned males wearing dark pants and white short sleeve shirts with blue bandana's tied around their upper right arms were following people in and out of the store. I watched as they followed a woman across the parking lot, and simply started walking behind them. Turns out they did not like that game after all. Night manager confronted me, asking what I said to them to make them leave. He told me that everytime the police would show up they would disappear, but return within minutes. Took about a half hour to explain, but I think the young man finally got the idea.

I've told people " I'll be back in 10 min.,if you are still here, you are going to the hospital". They always have disappeared. I even gave a guy in a wheel chair enough money to buy the water pump he said he needed to continue his trip........gone when I came back.(maybe he was legit).

jimster · « **Reply #48 on:** September 28, 2012, 09:23:06 AM »

While I agree concealed carry is better (only because I choose this most of the time) I still do not want more gun laws of any kind, open carry should be OK not because of popularity, but because it should be OK. I'm not afraid of how other people will vote if they look at a guy on a motorcycle with one in plain sight, maybe if more people would do that they would not gawk as long. We have the option for open carry here, I do not want to lose that, I have no problem with people who open carry and decide to not pay for a CPL. They should never be forced into a CPL though any laws, period. Might not be popular, but in some places it ain't popular to stay with the same woman your whole life life either. So much for popularity.

Gus McCrae · « **Reply #49 on:** September 29, 2012, 05:36:16 AM »

I like open carry in the woods. I also like it in some places as a form of protest, but you have to be very careful about how you do it or you get what happened in California Open Carry.

Otherwise, CC for me.

jimster · « **Reply #50 on:** September 30, 2012, 02:40:24 AM »

Quote from: Gus McCrae on September 29, 2012, 05:36:16 AM

I like open carry in the woods. I also like it in some places as a form of protest, but you have to be very careful about how you do it or you get what happened in California Open Carry.

Otherwise, CC for me.

I think what happened in California was because of who the people voted for, can't stop that, and California already had some weird law that said your open carry weapon had to be unloaded, what good is that? The people can also vote the other way, like Arizona you don't need a permit for anything, or there is a place in Georgia that I think requires everyone to at least have a gun in the home...so it's up to the people to vote at all local levels, you get what you vote for.
I carry concealed because I don't want people to know I'm carrying, it's my choice, but if you have open carry in the state and it's legal, I have no problem with it at all, use it or lose may apply to some degree. If anti gunners can keep us from strapping one on when it's legal and we are afraid, they already won the battle it seems to me, I am glad to see more people in Michigan using open carry the last couple of years, used to be nobody did it hardly ever. I think in some places here they seem to be challenging the local police, and they are winning, so it's good to get the police in their proper place as well, enforcing all the laws, not picking and choosing which ones they like.
Sister-in-law drives city bus, she freaked out at first when someone got on that had one in plain sight, she now is educated and does not pay much attention to it anymore when that happens, she is not ignorant anymore. Be nice to spread that around some, I hope more people open carry in the years to come. I still like the idea of nobody knowing I have one, but that is a personal choice.

JeffG · « **Reply #51 on:** October 03, 2012, 03:46:08 PM »

Well said; well presented, Spirithawk. 100% agreed. In this case, the position of advantage is the fact that you are armed.

Gus McCrae · « **Reply #52 on:** October 03, 2012, 04:19:24 PM »

jimster, that was part of the reason no doubt. It came about because so many people open carried and were given the appearance of being confrontational when LEOs would intervene. It's not right, but it's what happened.

Not everyone thinks the way you do or I do. Got to remember than when dealing with bad guys or the average Joe. When dealing with non-gun people, you need to be respectful and understand that they may not get it. Some people you can't reach, but for those on the fence, you don't want to push them off, but pull them over.