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open carry questions
buschmaster
Member Posts: 14,229 ✭✭✭
I'm thinking about open carry. it's legal here without a permit, and rarely do you see a "no guns" sign on stores. but I hardly ever see people doing it and I don't know what sort of reaction I would get walking into stores open carrying. so I thought I would check it out before I spent a bunch of $$ on a holster, belt and mag pouches.
stopped at a string of stores on the way home and asked them. none had the "no gun" sign on the door. here's how it went.
On The Run (gas station):
"open carry... beer?"
"no, a gun. in a holster."
"No."
Amoco:
"No."
Subway:
"No. I don't think so. umm... No. why are you asking these questions?"
Steak 'N Shake: (dude was leery)
"you mean a gun?"
"yes."
"well if I don't know you have it, what can I do about it?"
"on my hip. in a holster."
"there aint no sign saying you can't. uh, as long as it's in your holster."
he didn't really like the idea.
Phillips 66:
"we don't have a sign outside, um, nothing saying you can't." shrugged his shoulders. "it's not a good idea to walk into a gas station wearing a gun, you know."
Sinclair:
"do you have a permit?"
"you don't need a permit."
"do you have a permit?"
"no."
"well then you can't. why do you want to anyway?"
so, while none of them had a sign, none of them would allow it. (except Steak-n-Shake, but I wouldn't count on it depending on the manager)
just what I thought. I would get told to leave at most stores.
what do yall think about this. what are your experiences with open carry?
stopped at a string of stores on the way home and asked them. none had the "no gun" sign on the door. here's how it went.
On The Run (gas station):
"open carry... beer?"
"no, a gun. in a holster."
"No."
Amoco:
"No."
Subway:
"No. I don't think so. umm... No. why are you asking these questions?"
Steak 'N Shake: (dude was leery)
"you mean a gun?"
"yes."
"well if I don't know you have it, what can I do about it?"
"on my hip. in a holster."
"there aint no sign saying you can't. uh, as long as it's in your holster."
he didn't really like the idea.
Phillips 66:
"we don't have a sign outside, um, nothing saying you can't." shrugged his shoulders. "it's not a good idea to walk into a gas station wearing a gun, you know."
Sinclair:
"do you have a permit?"
"you don't need a permit."
"do you have a permit?"
"no."
"well then you can't. why do you want to anyway?"
so, while none of them had a sign, none of them would allow it. (except Steak-n-Shake, but I wouldn't count on it depending on the manager)
just what I thought. I would get told to leave at most stores.
what do yall think about this. what are your experiences with open carry?
Comments
but im 100% with spider myself, if i was a criminal i would go for the person with a gun first
As for making yourself a target I used to think that way until I saw about a dozen different videos on the Internet of crooks robbing banks and stores with a uniformed cop standing next to them. So worked up and focused they don't see a cop in uniform. Doubt he will ever notice a gun on your belt.
Too old to live...too young to die...
While it is legal here to open carry (with a permit) I never do in public. That makes you a target.
I've worn it it Walmart, several restaurants, a liquor/lotto store in Florida, Water and power company offices, probate office, in short, everywhere and no one says jack.
I don't show my * by asking for permission either. I don't dress or act like a thug and yesterday a deputy I didn't know passed me at the Dollar General (another place I forgot), he saw me and DIDN'T crap his pants.
My Italian police flap holster will be here Thursday and then I'll be wearing my 1934 Beretta. People won't even be able to see the actual gun in that.
If you don't make a big deal out of it, it isn't.
Spider, 1911, Ricci- right, right, right. agree with you 100%.
but it's getting too hot to wear a coat over a CCW. so what do you do when it's 90-100-105 degrees outside?
i live probably 20 minutes away from you, i carry a g17 with spare mag, i dont need a coat, i just wear a size or two larger shirt, i also do not wear solid colors for ccw i buy all my shirts with a pattern on them to camouflage the gun should it profile
When you see a person with a gun in a holster how can you tell if they are LEO or not?
They have a badge on
Don
If a business has a sign restricting open carry, or concealed carry they would out of business in short order.
Margaret Thatcher
"There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies and statistics."
Mark Twain
A right un-exercised is a right lost. Don't make a scene, carry it open, go about your business and don't attract attention. Let people get used to it.
What a concept.[^] It's unfortunate that so many don't see it that way.
I keep mine concealed even though open carry is legal here, too. I don't want to be the first target and I want the element of surprise on my side.
[;)][;)],+1000
okay, I'll take another look at the legal requirements, and try to ccw somehow. I know when I had a lighter jogging coat it looked like I had an Uzi stuffed under my armpit, we'll see how it works with a Hawaiian shirt. better get one with a lot of big pineapples on it. [^]
Then again a hawaiian shirt is a dead giveaway that you are carrying....
Just saying....
I open carry all the time.
I've never gotten a hard time. In fact, only compliments.
Grocery store, in town, restaurant/bar (not drinking)...everywhere.
It's a lot more comfortable...a LOT!
There was a time when I was all proud to have my "concealed" carry, and I went to all lengths to 'conceal' said carry. Now...I'm like "screw it, I'm carrying it on my belt". No one has ever called the cops, no one has ever said anything weird.
Bottom line...open carry is legal (and a constitutional right) in most non-communist areas. Why not? To hell with anyone who doesn't like it...they can go back to their communist commune!
edit...BTW, it's awful nice to be able to carry a full frame 2x stack semi-auto on my belt! (heh, plus spare mag holders too).
Not sure why, but that is what they ask me. No one has ever said a single word against it.
Merc
I open carry all the time.
I've never gotten a hard time. In fact, only compliments.
Grocery store, in town, restaurant/bar (not drinking)...everywhere.
It's a lot more comfortable...a LOT!
There was a time when I was all proud to have my "concealed" carry, and I went to all lengths to 'conceal' said carry. Now...I'm like "screw it, I'm carrying it on my belt". No one has ever called the cops, no one has ever said anything weird.
Bottom line...open carry is legal (and a constitutional right) in most non-communist areas. Why not? To hell with anyone who doesn't like it...they can go back to their communist commune!
edit...BTW, it's awful nice to be able to carry a full frame 2x stack semi-auto on my belt! (heh, plus spare mag holders too).
[^]
All you learned by asking is that if you ask the guy behind the counter, they'll say no.
If you don't want to do it, then don't, but don't believe the hype, either.
If you really want to know the experience of people in your area, go to opencarry dot org and ask around in your state-specific forum.
I know that in places I've open carried regularly, non-issues and positives have outnumbered negative experiences 100-1.
When I'm in an open carry state and I see someone carrying, I can't help but wonder to myself "is this a good thing or is the s__t getting ready to hit the fan.
I think that smart, trained and informed people carry their weapon concealed. No better advantage than that of surprise.
here we go again ???
http://forums.GunBroker.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=686300
Thanks !!!
I Grew Old Too Fast (And Smart Too damn Slow !!!) !!!
To the folks who keep declaring "Open carry just makes you the first target", well show the proof. There must be Hundreds if not Thousands of instances where this has happened, right? Actually, Nope. You are just spouting alarmist speculation with no proof of theory.
You are actually doing the Anti-2A's job for them.
It's pisses Liberals off that I stole it for "Don't like guns? Don't buy a gun".
If you don't like open carry, don't carry open.
Some say it makes you a target. It could just as easy discourage a thug from a criminal act. It's better most people carry concealed otherwise they might be forced to actually take some action. I still can't believe most people here said they would not pull their weapon if they saw a felony being committed.[B)] Why do they even bother to carry? Brag rights? What brag rights? "Yeah Mary Jo got raped while I stood around with my concealed carry weapon". [}:)]
You don't think the Navy makes a show of force by using all stealth ships do you? You pays your money, you takes your chances.
I will say, if I was a bad guy, the guy carrying openly would be my first target, and the guy in the tactical vest my second. I do wear vests for travel because they are so handy.
quote:Originally posted by DirtyDawg
A right un-exercised is a right lost. Don't make a scene, carry it open, go about your business and don't attract attention. Let people get used to it.
What a concept.[^] It's unfortunate that so many don't see it that way.
THIS^^^^^
In Colorado, and state resident can OPEN CARRY without any kind of permits, licenses, or other legislative B.S. Other than government buildings, you can OPEN CARRY anywhere. Even places with a "no weapons" sign can only ask you to leave; you're not breaking any laws.
But just to do it everywhere because you can, is problematic. Like others have said, I do not want to flaunt the fact and be the first target. Then there are always the LEO or libturd that will take offense to seeing a weapon.
I was in a Lowes recently to return something and there was a guy standing there beside me at the counter. I didn't even notice at first but after speaking to him several minutes, I realized he had what appeared to be an HK in a belt holster fully exposed. I guess the reason I did not look down was he had a prosthetic leg and a crutch and I did not want to appear curious about that. No one seemed to be paying attention or concerned he was heeled. In another place, that would not be the case. So why invite attention if you don't have to?
(I was toting concealed by the way.)[8D]
I have seen many videos of bad guys walking by or standing next to a police officer in full uniform, and never noticing, because they are focused on what they want.
I carry open about 25% of the time. One big reason is heat. I am fat and a few meds I take make it hard to stay cool, the fat is more than likely the biggest problem. [:)] But I have yet to even have anyone say a word to me about the pistol.
That is why above I asked how would you know if the person that is open carrying a LEO. Here if the LEO is on duty and in street clothes he needs to have a badge in view, many of them carry a small badge on their belt, hard to even notice.
I understand the people who do not want to open carry, but what confuses me are the numbers of CC'rs that insist I should not be allowed to OC. We as gun owners just cant stand together on anything.
As to the OP, if I am not sure of a stores policy on weapons I just go in, I have yet to be asked to leave and not a single problem of any type. If I am asked to leave or remove the gun I will just go, their store, their rules, no big deal to me.
quote:Originally posted by DirtyDawg
A right un-exercised is a right lost. Don't make a scene, carry it open, go about your business and don't attract attention. Let people get used to it.
What a concept.[^] It's unfortunate that so many don't see it that way.
True....when you are calm, don't make a big deal out of things other people tend to follow suite.
And fiery auto crashes
Some will die in hot pursuit
While sifting through my ashes
Some will fall in love with life
And drink it from a fountain
That is pouring like an avalanche
Coming down the mountain
I pretty much carry anywhere that won't end me up behind bars, and there are a few places that while not marked, I am sure it would be frowned upon.
I do agree with what others have said about that if you do, just act like it is totally normal and no big deal. Back when I was using cheap clip IWB holsters trying to find what I would like before spending big money (so glad I did because my pre-conceived notion was way off). I was eating at a restaurant and went to get my wallet and somehow from within my pocket lifted my gun right up and out of the holster and it crashed to the floor. I picked it up, stood up and reinserted it since that was the only way it would go back in, then sat back down and finished my meal. The people that saw it, really didn't appear to have any concern but I bet if I would have freaked out they would have been more worried.
I was eating at a restaurant and went to get my wallet and somehow from within my pocket lifted my gun right up and out of the holster and it crashed to the floor. I picked it up, stood up and reinserted it since that was the only way it would go back in, then sat back down and finished my meal. The people that saw it, really didn't appear to have any concern but I bet if I would have freaked out they would have been more worried.
Reminds me of dealing with toddlers... when they stumble and fall, they look to see your reaction. If you freak out, they start crying and copying your reaction. If you say, "No big deal, get up, you're fine" most times they just carry on (unless there was a legitimnate injury).
Open carry is a bad idea all around. Makes you the first target of good and bad guys alike and in general, makes everyone feel uncomfortable.
When I'm in an open carry state and I see someone carrying, I can't help but wonder to myself "is this a good thing or is the s__t getting ready to hit the fan.
I think that smart, trained and informed people carry their weapon concealed. No better advantage than that of surprise.
I disagree.
Only people scared of guns are uncomfortable. If more people open carried, more people would be used to it.
If I was a bad guy, I would think "I'd better not try anything here!"
As far as a tactical advantage....see my last sentence......
I have seen open carry here but almost every time Cops were asking the guy all sorts of Questions. But it is legal here in most places.
I've never ever seen an open carry here and I wouldn't do it for the above reason. Its legal here some one WILL see you and then you have to explain to the cops. That's how our police chief sees it.