The Open Carry Thread

[hornett22]

Good to hear Patton!

[Timestepper]

I think I've finally figured out why the whole CC vs OC thing bugs me to the point of being uncomfortable. It's because it's like every religion vs non-religion/God vs atheist thread I've ever read:

Person 1: "My way is better than your way because there's no scientific evidence that proves that your way is anything but stupid and uninformed."

Person 2: "Just because you're too close minded and cynical to accept that my way may very well be the true way doesn't mean that my way is stupid."

Person 1: "Your way may have had some merit 150 years ago when no one knew any better, but now that incontrovertible evidence has come to light, you really should accept my way."

Person 2: "If my way was good enough for my daddy and his daddy and his daddy's daddy and his daddy before him, then by <deity> it's good enough for me!"

Person 1: "Why can't you see that your way is nothing more than outdated, superstitious rhetoric?!!"

Person 2: "Why can't you see that my way has its own personal merits?!!"

Person 3: "Well, I grew up doing it that way, but I don't hardly ever do it that way anymore except on special occasions."

Person 4: "I don't do it that way at all anymore, but that doesn't mean that I don't still believe in doing it."

Person 1: "I've given you fact after fact after fact showing you exactly why my way is best, so why don't you get it?!!!

Persons 2,3,4: "No, you've given us fact after fact after fact showing why your way is best for you."

Person 5: "Person 1 is so obviously right that it doesn't make sense to me to approach it any other way, but to each his own."

Person 6: "Well, what it all boils down to is that if your way is right, then none of this matters to any of us, but if my way is right it matters a bunch to all of us..."

Person 7: "You know what? I don't really give a damn whose way is best - all I'm interested in is which way is best for me."

Person 8: "I'd attempt to inject some humor into this free for all but I'm afraid that you'd all turn against me. Then again, what the hell - at least you'd be united on something!"

I could go on (and on and on...) but I won't. We're all, as gun owners/HCP holders, supposed to be on the same side, and yet it seems that a little thing like how or where to carry continues to divide us.

The CC guys talk about the impression that OC may leave with the uninformed public and don't take into account the occasional down right vitriol that threads like this one contain - Wanna' turn someone against gun ownership? Let 'em read one of these threads! And the OC guys talk about how honest they are and how they never have any problems because they continually comport themselves in such an aboveboard manner of decency as to garner the respect of the general public - Wanna' lose the gp's respect? Let 'em read one of these threads!

From here on out, the long and short of it for me is that I no longer give a damn (not that I ever really did) who carries what or how they carry it, so long as it's done legally. I'm no longer going to state my particular preference or the reasoning behind it or the fact that said preference might change depending upon circumstances. Heck, from here on out, I may not even admit to carrying at all just because I'm tired of the vitriol exhibited on both sides of the fence. (Almost takes us back to the religion thing, doesn't it?)

Bottom line, you wanna' carry concealed, do it! You wanna' carry open, do it! You wanna' go both ways and stick it up your @ss with a flag tied to it, please feel free. I promise to give absolutely not a damn - and I further promise follow my own advice and keep my nose out these threads in the future.

Have a great week, everyone!

[gjohnsoniv]

Well said, Timestepper.

I do have to ask about one thing though. When you go into a stressful situation they say you often get tunnel vision or similar. To those who say a bad guy is going to single you out if they were robbing something like a bank, would they not get tunnel vision as well and likely miss a person carrying, or are they immune to this? I'm not trying to start anything or disprove anyone's ideas, I'm just wondering. Also as Timestepper said, I don't care how you carry so that's that. Let's not become the Republican's of the gun carrying world.

Edited May 7, 2012 by gjohnsoniv

[Patton]

^That is a valid point but if a would be assailant is anything like a cop, a firearm stands out like it has spot lights on it. I go back and forth all the time on wether or not looking like a cop is an advantage or disadvantage.

[JayC]

Well, I try and stay out of these discussions... but, I'll point it out again...

Carrying a firearm to protect yourself is the key issue here... don't discourage people from carrying just because they can't easily conceal the firearm, OC is better than NC (no carry).

There are a lot of people who for whatever reason can't easily conceal... I'm one of those people, my business dress does not lend itself to concealed carry of my Glock 19 even more so during summer months. I'm wearing slacks and a dress shirt tucked in... it's the middle of the day and I need to run into the gas station to pick up something... I'm better off leaving my pistol in the vehicle than on my person just because it's not concealed? Hogwosh

More importantly, what does it matter? It doesn't hurt me if somebody carries concealed, nor does it hurt me if somebody carries openly... At the end of the day they're a law abiding citizen who is old enough to know better. It's not my place to judge them on what works best for their personal safety.

[Guest Baron]

Very rarely OC. I have never had any issues when I did. However, I guess I look like a LEO and was never able to get some in my old neighborhood to believe that I am not. My occupation keeps me clean cut and in dress clothes.

In the area in Memphis known as Binghampton (and many other areas), I am already a target for hustlers, crack heads, prostitutes and other annoyances who will be within arms reach before you can get out of your car. Pumping gas is a challenge and is where I do change over to OC. They still hassle you, but from a comfortable distance.

Edited May 15, 2012 by Baron

[ted]

Witch one do you use open holster or a holster with a thumb brake

[hornett22]

gas stations in Knoxville are getting bad too. Many of them hand out needing "a couple gallons" or a few bucks. I have caught a few of them in a lie.

Don't get me wrong ,I don't mind helping someone out but it's very hard to tell who actually is down on hard times or a scamming junkie these days.

If you have several hundred dollars worth of Tattoos showing,I'm not gonna feel sorry for you.

[Guest Nologic]

I like to open carry

[Q-tip]

Witch one do you use open holster or a holster with a thumb brake

I would say whichever you feel more confortable drawing from and in your ability to retain your firearm. For me, anything below Level II is not an option for OC, regardless of the type of retention.

Edited May 15, 2012 by Q-tip

[Guest Nologic]

What does level 2 mean? I currently have a Tagua belt holster.

[gjohnsoniv]

It's the level of retention the holster has.

Here is what Safariland has to say: http://www.safariland.com/DutyGear/info/retention/Levels%20of%20Retention%20Details.pdf

Edited May 15, 2012 by gjohnsoniv