Open Carry... your thoughts.

[TNMP40]

I am not against open carry and it does not bother me when I see someone who open carries.  That said I have had at least two situations where I thought the person who was open carrying was inexperienced or just being foolish.  If you are going to open carry you should at the very least have a holster that has some sort of security device so that someone can not walk up behind you and take your gun.  Something to make it a little difficult.   

 

The other day I was in Home Depot walking down the isle and there was a man in his 50's carrying open.  I paused for a minute behind him.  He was reading something about a product and had no idea I was behind him.  I notice that his gun was in an open holster and I could have easily snatched it before he knew what was happening.  I was going to say something but decided against that as he might not like my suggestions.   On another occasion I saw a young guy with his girlfriend in a grocery store and he was open carrying around the small of his back... I thought WTH.  He is an idiot kid.

 

What are your thoughts... do you run into this often?

[TrickyNicky]

I wouldn't worry about how a stranger carries. I don't know them or their situation so I'm not really one to judge whether it works well for them or not. Personally I think retention holsters are pointless if your not a cop, but I won't knock anyone for wanting or using one.

[173rdABN]

I used to do it (every once in a while and not that often), realized how silly it was, and haven't in years and years of carrying done it again. I've only seen 1 person since I've lived in TN open carry. And that was also at Home Depot, and it was a woman with an XD about 3.5 years ago. Even in MN I never saw it. Edited August 12, 2014 by 173rdABN

[Raoul]

There's a time and a place for everything. I do both open and concealed carry. Just depends on the circumstances.

[Glock30]

I OC a lot. I live in a fairly rural area where a lot of folks have their permits, so it's not unusual to see OC here.

 

I will admit that I put my shirt over the grip on a regular basis when a store is fairly busy/crowded... not that so many folks really notice it to begin with. If it's semi-covered with a shirt, it's as good as IWB, in a sense, for most of the population's situational awareness. When I'm going into a larger area or out of state (especially out of state), I tend to conceal more often than not. I picked up a pocket 9mm for those occasions when I need to be more dressy or want to travel light and still want to carry.

 

We are privileged in this state to have a choice between OC or concealed, with an AG opinion to match. As long as a person walks, talks, and acts right, let them choose what and how is best for their own situation.

 

:2cents:

Edited August 12, 2014 by Glock30

[gregintenn]

I like open carry about as much as threads about open carry. :ugh: They are both usually done to stir up #### and see how bad you can make it stink.

[Wingshooter]

Lots of inexperienced and foolish peeps out there doing dumb stuff, and I'm not just talking about guns. Every time I go into public, I see AT LEAST one person that makes me scratch my head and say "whaaat?" Lol. I'm not concerned about someone taking an OCer's gun out of the holster. If a BG wants a gun, there are lots of ways for that to happen. I just manage my gun and let others carry as they see fit. Unless someone's about to drop a gun off their belt without knowing it, I'm not going to say anything.

I never use a full retention holster unless I'm in the woods or something and have a high level of activity. For my EDC, they're all open top holsters. I cc almost always unless I'm going to/from the woods Edited August 12, 2014 by Batman

[bvarnell]

I like open carry about as much as threads about open carry. :ugh: They are both usually done to stir up #### and see how bad you can make it stink.

 

+1

[rugerla1]

I used to carry IWB but the water kept dripping, now it's OWB only. Super Soaker Gen III are easier to conceal now :rofl:

[Guest kingarmory]

I prefer OC since the gun tends to ride more comfortably and is more readily accessible, under a jacket or shirt is nice.  Most CCW holsters are just not conducive to quick access, despite what the makers and fanbois will claim.  Trying to get a gun out of a holster that is in my pants and under a shirt is a botched draw waiting to happen.  I carry concealed when discretion is required, outside of that I prefer some form of low-profile OC.

[Guest kingarmory]

And I too tire of the OC/CC arguments, they're akin to the Fudd/EBR arguments.  A right that is regulated by gov't or indirectly dictated by the scrutiny of others isn't a right.  If I determine that I need to OC then I OC, if I determine that I need to CC then I CC, I've never had anyone complain to me about either and I'm not carrying for their happiness anyways.

[Guest kingarmory]

Also, the folks that cry so adamantly about how counterproductive OC'ing is the "gun cause", "gun rights", "public perception", etc, need to look carefully at what happened here in AZ. Although the gun laws here are probably the best in the country, OC'ing used to be very common and didn't even raise an eyebrow until we had a massive influx of CA soccermoms and liberal douchebags. They moved in, started bitching about OC'ers and a lot of folks stopped OC'ing to appease these asshats. These same idiots then assume that guns aren't what is keeping the peace here (since the aren't seeing them) and start clamoring for gun control. Tucson is a good example of this, the CA douchebaggery has become so prevalent there that gun rights are frowned upon by a large chunk of the populace. OC'ing is good liberal repellant, be sure to use it often enough to make them not want to relocate from their liberal state ;)

[Glock30]

I like open carry about as much as threads about open carry. :ugh: They are both usually done to stir up #### and see how bad you can make it stink.

 

My Glock is not a spoon. It does not stir pots. It does not, in turn, smell like what's in the pot. But it is dishwasher friendly.

 

Why are you so convinced that ALL OCers have a purposely negative agenda?

[Raoul]

I like open carry about as much as threads about open carry. :ugh: They are both usually done to stir up #### and see how bad you can make it stink.

I have to disagree. I definitely go a few places in the course of my work where OC is the prudent call. It has nothing to do with pretending to be a macho dumbass or stooge hauling an AR into a Chilis.

As I said, there's a time and a place.

[Guest stinkfoot]

Love it! So much more comfy and accessible. Those which seek to regulate our rights effectively oppress in the same motion.

[Grand Torino]

I think carrying either way should be up to the individual.....not the government. That being said I prefer not  to broadcast to the entire world that I'm armed. Like so many other things in life I feel it's nobody's business.

[TNMP40]

This topic sure took a fork in the road....  my point (I think) was that if you choose to OC don't you think is wise to use a holster that has at least some form of

firearm retention device?  It just makes sense to me.  What would the liability be if a kid grabbed your gun and shot someone?  I am guessing the attorneys would certainly bring you into the law suit.  

[deerslayer]

  Trying to get a gun out of a holster that is in my pants and under a shirt is a botched draw waiting to happen. 

 

It's called practice.

[dawgdoc]

To be honest, when I see people open carrying, I have never noticed if the holster has some type of special retention or not.  Today, I opened carried a 1911 while walking the dog around my neighborhood; the holster has a retention strap, but mainly to act as a hammer block.  Also, I doubt anyone even noticed.

 

I have an open-top leather holster for my LC9; the gun is so hard to notice that I have to really try to open carry it (almost anything I normally wear conceals it).

[Tuffus]

I spotted a guy in Walmart yesterday carrying a Taurus 1911 just stuck in his belt not even IWB. He wasn't worried too much about retention. I could never do that.

[Guest kingarmory]

It's called practice.

Yeah, I can juggle too, doesn't mean practice is going to make it easy to do when someone is fixing to shoot at me. When it comes to bullets flying I like to make things as easy to do as possible since its hard to think during those times. Considering that you will most likely be drawing in reaction to someone else, you don't need any additional delays in favor of the bad guy. Draw time from a hip holster vs. draw time from an IWB holster......every second counts. Like I said previously, it all depends on the situation. If I'm going somewhere that there is an abnormally high probability of needing a gun, I will carry openly where it is quickly accessible (this also allows comfortably carrying a larger gun also, carrying my G21 in an IWB rig is NOT comfortable). If I am going somewhere with a low probability of needing a gun, I will carry concealed and it will usually be something like one of my Airweights or my G30. If I am going somewhere with a distinct likelihood of needing a gun then I'll carry openly, plus have a backup....and probably the Rem870 SBS or a carbine nearby.

[Guest theconstitutionrocks]

I will beg your indulgence up front as it is early, I have been away for a while, so my debate skills are about as sharp as a brick at this moment. I know I'm gonna get flamed for this but here goes...

 

The obvious purpose of carrying a weapon is to have a lethal means of self defense should, God forbid, the need ever arise. Using that line of thought there are a few ways I see that happening..

 

1. You and yours are being personally targeted by someone who wants something you have. If that is the case, given the safety in numbers mantra, you are then likely in a place that common sense says you shouldn't be (in the hood at 1 am), or you have exposed something that you shouldn't have in the first place (large sums of money, fancy electronics, etc) which make you stand out.from the rest of the crowd. 

 

2. If you are thinking "active shooter" scenario the concern then switches to "is this guy smart enough to identify and eliminate potential threats before engaging everyone else"? Given the creeps that seem to do these things lately I agree that thought is questionable, however in that case it would seem that OCing might single you out for pre-emption. If that scenario occurs it would SEEM that, given the target rich environment, you would have time to draw and return fire or seek a good covered defense position before you are personally engaged.

 

3. If the issue is worrying about the group of young thugs walking down the street, OC/CC could cut either way. OC could deter or it could alert them on how to deal with you. Situational awareness and common sense in ANY of these cases is just as important, maybe even more so, as the weapon you are carrying.

 

In any case...I agree with some on here...the debate seems like a means to stir the pot but hey...this is a frank forum where thoughts/opinions are openly aired. If you don't have a thick skin...oh well. In the end, it does boil down to personal preference and what you are individually comfortable with.

[Cruel Hand Luke]

I'll wade into this......I CC 99.9% of the time. The .1% I OC is when I'm doing something around the house or maybe just driving around doing things that don't require me to get out of the car.  I'm not out to make political statement or "spook the herd". I tend to keep it covered up and avoid problems....out of sight out of mind. 

 

With regards to the "slowness" of CC.....drawing a gun is a skill set that, like any other skill set, is a combination of actions that need to be practiced to be done effectively , efficiently and quickly.  It does not just "happen". You have to know how to clear the cover garment, grip the pistol, lift and drive it to the target. 

 

People who actually practice this can draw so fast you cannot see it. It looks like they wave their hand and a gun appears. I shoot IDPA matches(and carry in everyday life)  with a glock 34 in an IWB (INSIDE the waistband ) holster covered with a closed front garment......yet my draw to first shot time is usually in the .70 to .90 of a second time frame on an idpa target at 5 yards or less. So I don't buy the whole "CC is too slow".  EVERYTHING is slow...if you don't devote time to practicing it.

 

The bigger issue really is awareness and picking up on what is happening and doing something BEFORE you get so deep in the hole that whether you live or die is determined by whether your draw is faster from OC or CC.....most victims say the same thing after an assault/robbery...."I never saw it coming ...I looked up and there they were".... that is probably not where you want to be if the determined BG sees your gun before you see him.....

 

And the generally accepted # is that about 10% of police officers killed are killed with their own guns. Police carry their guns openly and because of that they use a retention holster and are trained in disarms and weapon retention. How many typical OC guys have been trained in disarms and weapon retention? Or even carry in a retention holster? 

 

So carry however you wish, but at least be educated about the issues.

[wjh2657]

I don't have to compensate for the size of any of my organs with a really big gun visible so I Conceal Carry. It presents a neater appearance, keeps people friendlier and I want those three shots Center Mass to come as a complete surprise!

[K191145]

I've seen a couple of people open carry before, the only time i really thought anything about it is when this dude with a black polymer frame gun in a cheap loose fitting nylon holster bouncing on his belt walked right into the post office. I just said to myself, hey dude, it's illegal to carry in a federal building, but didn't tell him that. I don't have a problem with open carry.