Who open carries?

[walton6467]

I live in a rural area. I want all the folks in my area to know I carry, so I OC around the neighborhood. When I leave my neighborhood, I conceal.

[glowdotGlock]

I live in a rural area. I want all the folks in my area to know I carry, so I OC around the neighborhood. When I leave my neighborhood, I conceal.

Same here.

[Guest Sgt. Joe]

I only OC while at home for the most part. There have been a few times that I forgot that I was and left to go somewhere still OC'ing, I never gave it much thought as it is legal.

I have only ever had good reactions from folks when I was OC'ing, conversations with strangers about carry guns, going to the range and such things.

The only somewhat negative reaction that I have ever had was last fall after finding myself at Kroger OC'ing. A little boy probably 8 or 9 years old was in there with his mom and saw my pistol and started questioning his mom about it. "Why does that man have a gun, he does not look like a Policeman, is it a real gun mom"?

I simply ignored them and the mom never said a word to him and kinda scurried him away from me but of course we ran into each other several times while shopping and he always asked her something about me and my gun. She never said a word to him and nothing ever came of it.

But I have beaten myself up many times for not saying something to the kid on my own. Something like " Good Guys can carry guns in America" or "It is for my own protection from the bad guys"....something...anything.

But while I do wish I had said something to the kid at the same time if I had it may not have gone over well with the kid's mom as she was obviously not happy with the idea that I was carrying a gun in the grocery store, heck she could not even say anything to her own kid about it. I often wonder just what she may have said to him after they left the store.

All of us make our own decisions and I am very happy that we live in a state that gives us a choice, my choice is to conceal as much as possible but I dont freak out if I find myself having forgotten to conceal before leaving the house.

One thing that I would think that is true for all of us is that when we first begin to carry that we are much more nervous/aware about it than we are some years later, it gets to be much more normal to us over time. I use to worry about even printing badly but I no longer care and like I said I will at times find myself OC'ing without ever giving it much thought at all. That would have never happened when I first started carrying. As has been said, it is amazing what folks do not see or notice in public.

Asking folks here what their thoughts are is a wonderful idea but you will find your way on your own in time my friend. Personally I dont get into the OC vs CC arguments as our state gives us that choice and I dont question other's choices and dont expect that anyone would question mine. Good Luck to ya

[daveW]

I prefer open carry as its waaaay more comfy. However, I'm a big guy and with a t-shirt, the gun/holster are mostly hidden.

I'm polite, try to be a grey man, and I don't spend money anywhere that's posted. It has yet to come up in conversation so I guess it's working out.

I conceal carry when I need to dress up/tuck in my shirt.

So, I voted both but oc 99% of the time.

[RED333]

I carry as the situation dictates. I'm comfortable with either.

Yep, same here, just what ever needs to be done.

[Volzfan]

CC for me. As far as I'm concerned it nobody else's business and it prevents the sheeple from peeing all over themselves!

[LenoirGunner]

Must have been a glitch. I don't see it now. I'm using tapatalk and according to it the topic was started 43 Yeats ago.... haha

Better get back to my DeLorean You are on to me. Darn.

[wstrnrdr]

Carry concealed most always off my property, just occasionaly  off property. Am confortable OC but usually prefer not to advertise. Always carry open at home on farm and at sisters and a couple neighbors, they all have HCP's and shoot with us on our range. I have ran to wally world Food Lion etc several times and did not conceal and have never had a negative experience. Most comments or questions always positive. even had a 5-6 year old behind in check out line ask mom if I was a cowboy, ( boots, hat, jeans, belt, spurs, gloves in back pocket) she told him to ask. daughter and I were just " off the horse " and intrigued the young man. Always polite, friendly and helpfull and never a problem. But overall concealed is my way.

[Guest Wildogre]

Open carry only around the house and heading to the range. Other than that concealed. 

[Raoul]

I usually pocket or holster conceal.

However I OC anytime I am gonna be out at the range, or inspecting a foreclosure or large acreage tract.

[LenoirGunner]

Must have been a glitch. I don't see it now. I'm using tapatalk and according to it the topic was started 43 Yeats ago.... haha

Actually 1 month and 43 years. Month was wrong too.

[Joe357]

Concealed, Don't want to be the first target for the bad guys. 

[Wyldk2]

Concealed mainly. But at home or out trail riding I usually open carry.

[Mdunntn]

I conceal except on quick trips to lowes Wal-Mart the grocery store etc.

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[tercel89]

I carry concealed. When I see most people open carrying , they usually have a "look at me " type attitude going on.  I saw a guy one time with a $800 pistol on his side in a $10 nylon holster and the gun was  flopping around and he was purposely arching his right hip up to everyone he met to let them know he was carrying a gun. That type of crap will cause a disturbance and a possibly attract a thief to steal your gun .

 But then again there are good guys who carry open and are good about it like the guy above named "101" . Be courtious and if the police stop you then show them respect and you may even educate them but dont use it as a way of " proving something" like these youtube guys do .

[LenoirGunner]

Thank you everyone for the wonderful feed back so far. It seems I am leaning more toward open carry due to the comfort. I am not too worried about drawing attention to myself from the bad guys. I don't plan to wear a .44 magnum on my hip that sticks out like a sore thumb. I will conceal carry when needed. But it seems everyone's biggest fear is the bad guy seeing them and targeting them first. Which is no issue to me. Hey if I go down first then that gives someone else time to get away. I am eventually going to make my presence known when I shoot back. I just foresee a lot of tunnel vision when someone is commiting a crime. They are not at the level of concentration where they are looking for who is armed. The just want to get in, do it, and get out and away. But still please keep it coming. Very nice to hear all this info. Thanks again everyone.  

[Wyldk2]

IMO, (and various others) using a firearm should be a last resort. And I would advise against making yourself a target. For both the BG and regular "sheeple".  But you want to open carry, it is your right to do either. I have thought about open carrying before. In the summer, with thinner and less easy to conceal clothing( aside from a holster shirt), I can see open carry as an option. Might since it is getting warmer, wear an untucked shirt over my holster.

[Guest Wildogre]

An untucked shirt is the way that I normally go and it seems to work for for me. I am about 5'10" and about 200 lbs. An extra large tshirt has worked for me in the summer, so far with an Old Faithful (Crossbreed like) IWB. If anyone has noticed, no one has said anything.

[BlackHawk93]

I like OC, just don't like the looks of the sheep. It is much more comfortable. I CC 95% of time in summer. In winter I will OWB carry with a jacket. I dont know why I get so many bad looks. I dress nice, am polite, still wear my hair high and tight, and am always professional.

 

I had an incident in a Wal-Mart where, while open carrying once before I made the change to CC, I attracted the attention of 2 employees and got followed by their "shopper" security guy who tries to blend in as a shopper but is really bad at concealing what he is really doing. When I checked out there were 2 more male employees standing there to intimidate me, I can only guess, and when I walked outside the shopper was out there and when I walked by him he started towards where I was parked. When I got to my vehicle, I saw the PD coming in the parking lot and he went to waving his arms. I just pulled on out and left. This was about 12:30 am, but still a little ridiculous. That was the day I decided to stop altogether. If not for the looks I'd OC everywhere.

[LenoirGunner]

I like OC, just don't like the looks of the sheep. It is much more comfortable. I CC 95% of time in summer. In winter I will OWB carry with a jacket. I dont know why I get so many bad looks. I dress nice, am polite, still wear my hair high and tight, and am always professional.

 

I had an incident in a Wal-Mart where, while open carrying once before I made the change to CC, I attracted the attention of 2 employees and got followed by their "shopper" security guy who tries to blend in as a shopper but is really bad at concealing what he is really doing. When I checked out there were 2 more male employees standing there to intimidate me, I can only guess, and when I walked outside the shopper was out there and when I walked by him he started towards where I was parked. When I got to my vehicle, I saw the PD coming in the parking lot and he went to waving his arms. I just pulled on out and left. This was about 12:30 am, but still a little ridiculous. That was the day I decided to stop altogether. If not for the looks I'd OC everywhere.

 

 

I like OC, just don't like the looks of the sheep. It is much more comfortable. I CC 95% of time in summer. In winter I will OWB carry with a jacket. I dont know why I get so many bad looks. I dress nice, am polite, still wear my hair high and tight, and am always professional.

 

I had an incident in a Wal-Mart where, while open carrying once before I made the change to CC, I attracted the attention of 2 employees and got followed by their "shopper" security guy who tries to blend in as a shopper but is really bad at concealing what he is really doing. When I checked out there were 2 more male employees standing there to intimidate me, I can only guess, and when I walked outside the shopper was out there and when I walked by him he started towards where I was parked. When I got to my vehicle, I saw the PD coming in the parking lot and he went to waving his arms. I just pulled on out and left. This was about 12:30 am, but still a little ridiculous. That was the day I decided to stop altogether. If not for the looks I'd OC everywhere.

Thank you for the insight. I don't mind if people stare. That is their problem. My issue would have been how wal mart reacted. That was uncalled for and totally out of line for company policy, since I worked security there. No police should have been called, and no one should have followed you. Bunch of ignorant sheep. I think in the winter yes I will CC more because it is easier to, but as for summer. Less clothes means lots of OC. I will be armed, and I will be comfortable. As far as the cops getting called go for it. So long as I am not breaking a law there is nothing they can do. Thanks for the input, and the story. Sad things go that way. Have a good one.

[TMF]

The last time I saw someone OCing I was looking pretty hard at his 1911 out of curiosity of who made it. For all I know he interpreted that as a bedwetter freaking out over a gun being displayed, especially since I had my kids with me. Good or bad, OCing will draw attention when noticed.

[Mdunntn]

I've never had any incidents but have seen people give me dirty looks or grab their children and leave the area like I'm a psycho or something. But that's not really my problem. I act like its not there and alot of people don't even notice

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[TGO David]

If you're the kind of person who likes attention, good or bad, then open carry.  If you're the kind of person who prefers that people leave you the hell alone, conceal.

[tercel89]

I always like looking at what the person open carrying is carrying. So far I have seen an XDM , XD, a high dollar 1911 Compact in stainless steel, 2 Glocks, and a M&P Fullsize.  So far I havent see any "junk" guns.

[maroonandwhite]

I OC my Jiminez every day in my Uncle Mikes nylon #2. :rofl: