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Is open carry the last taboo of gun owners?
Rack Ops
Member Posts: 18,597 ✭✭✭
We've had a couple of lively discussions the past couple of months about people openly carrying handguns, and honestly the trend in those debates has surprised me......support for the open carrier has been mixed, and in some cases the majority of the expressed opinions are against the carrier.
On other topics, whether it be hi-cap mags, machine gun sales, etc. the forum is vocally (rabidly?) pro-gun.
"I know its not against the law, but you don't need that" is a common argument against Open Carry, but would be met with howls of protest if used in a debate on "assault rifles".
Has Open Carry became the last topic we're willing to cave to pressure on? Or is it just the circumstances of these instances? I'm not trying to debate the merits of OC, just curious as to whether its something we're willing to part with without a fight.
Full Disclosure: I have never openly carried a handgun. I neither want the attention, nor do I have any desire to martyr myself (several open-carriers have came damn close to being shot) for the cause. I do have a certain amount of admiration for those who do, and wish them nothing but success, as I think the idea of people walking around with guns and not opening fire into crowds is a great way to show people that gun enthusiasts are not the hair-trigger nutjobs that we're so often portrayed as in the media.
On other topics, whether it be hi-cap mags, machine gun sales, etc. the forum is vocally (rabidly?) pro-gun.
"I know its not against the law, but you don't need that" is a common argument against Open Carry, but would be met with howls of protest if used in a debate on "assault rifles".
Has Open Carry became the last topic we're willing to cave to pressure on? Or is it just the circumstances of these instances? I'm not trying to debate the merits of OC, just curious as to whether its something we're willing to part with without a fight.
Full Disclosure: I have never openly carried a handgun. I neither want the attention, nor do I have any desire to martyr myself (several open-carriers have came damn close to being shot) for the cause. I do have a certain amount of admiration for those who do, and wish them nothing but success, as I think the idea of people walking around with guns and not opening fire into crowds is a great way to show people that gun enthusiasts are not the hair-trigger nutjobs that we're so often portrayed as in the media.
Comments
But just a few Miles away say Oakridge Oregon they would not bat an eye.
So the one topic the guy doing open carry to a Movie Theater picked the wrong place. And wrong time its just to soon to throw the 2nd in peoples faces. Also Most of the Chain theaters are a gun free zone to begin with.
So the one topic the guy doing open carry to a Movie Theater picked the wrong place. And wrong time its just to soon to throw the 2nd in peoples faces.
I can see the point.....and its certainly not a stunt I'd ever consider pulling, but I wonder if there's a double standard here.
Gun owners were openly up in arms (no pun intended) literally hours after the shooting, loudly proclaiming their intent to hang on to their ARs and hi-cap mags......a good argument could be made that such naked politicking right after the shooting was no more self-serving than the guy open carrying in the theater.
p.s. Waiting to see what Walmart is going to do on open carry.
The problem is the news media.
I imagine it is a regional thing, and perhaps in other parts of the country it happens more frequently then where I live. I think its sends an in your face message that is not to the benefit of gun owners from a PR perspective.
NC is an OPEN CARRY State... Very legal to openly carry in NC.
With exceptions to very specific situations... A gun owner can openly carry by law.
HOWEVER... With that said...
If you openly carry in pubic, anyone who has a mind to, can make the claim...
"He's going armed to the terror of the public." and essentially makes open carry very hard to do.
All anyone has to do is... "LOOK OUT... He's got a gun!" [screamin'like a banchee...]
And cops will haul you in for questioning, etc...
It's much more efficient to discreetly carry concealed... And if you want to do it legally...
NC is a "Shall Issue State" concerning concealed carry. As long as you can pass a NICS check...
You'll be issued a CCW good for five years along with a hefty license fee and finger print record.
While I support Open Carry... and do so upon occasion.
It's not worth my time to look for a fight with city hall at the moment.
There's bigger fish to fry IMO...
My opinion is this: If you don't like seeing my gun, TOUGH! The soccer moms and whiny butts need to suck it up and realize it is a RIGHT. I really don't care what they think.
Merc
It's not "legal" here, concealed only, but, early in the morning (not fully awake) or after I have loaded some things in the truck & unknowingly pulled my shirt up over my holsetr & gun...I have open carried quite a few times..[:D]..in ALL kinds of stores and even my Bank once...nobody raised an eyebrow or said a word, or treated me like a periah...and being in a saddle tan Galco waist holster that does ride some what high (I prefer) with an SS Commander sticking out, no way was it not noticed...it's just that around here being a gun culture, no one gave a damn.
Hey, if open carry melts someones butter, good for them, Ill support them and am all for it, doesnt bother me at all if someone wants to open carry.
Those that oppose and ride the "need" excuse, are the same ones that use "need" for an excuse against hi-caps/AR's etc, total BS, as none of THAT has to do with "need".
Hell, if I only bought the guns I'd need, I'd probably have a whoppin' 4...[:D]
I guess when it gets passed here, Ill make the choice, off hand I cant think of a situation that would require that...but then Ive not thought about it...open carry, concealed carry...JUST carry!...[^]
To those who say its dumb, I think that in some situations you would less likely be a victim as it would be a deterrent. How many people are likely to attack a police officer in uniform vs. a plain clothes cop carrying concealed? Im not saying its a hard rule...just something to think about based on where you live.
Also if you open carry, you are probably more likely to carry a much more capable firearm I think.
I think though that if you decide to open carry you should be careful where you go. Want to walk down the street open carrying fine. People can get away from you if they want. Open carrying inside walmart at 4pm on christmas eve might not be such a good idea.
I have had a few folks comment but most are very familiar with me and are just making jokes. One guy whom I've known for a long time did make an unwelcome comment about "was I going to shoot someone?". I countered by mentioning that him being a convicted felon, he might not want to stand any closer to my firearm as it might be a violation of his probation. I thought the counter person was going to explode while trying not to laugh.
I've posted in other places that open carry when there is an option is akin to having purple hair and I don't care for that much attention.
im writing down your names to bring this up in random threads later
but i don't intentionally open carry my defense gun(s)
but, there have been times that i've taken off my jacket, exposing my carry gun.
i'm just glad it's an option here.
tom
I open carry in the shower...
Wrong gun Matty.[;)]
Only one person has ever said anything to me about it and that was about 2 months ago. He asked if was prepared enough. I laughed and told him no but they frown on me carrying an ak into the store.
Poppalee the Wal-Marts here don't have any signs and nobody has ever said anything me to about open carrying in there.
""My personal opinion is that it draws unnecessary attention. I encourage everyone to carry a gun to defend themselves and others, for those that feel the need to advertise it its my opinion that they are attention seekers. If you are carrying a firearm for defense why would you tip your hand by advertising it?""
But We have abunch of COWBOYS/WANABEES[xx(][xx(] that read here and walking the streets of America that need to bring attention to themselves because they have no real feelings OF ADAQUECY.. MANHOOD
i SHANT CALL NAMES BUT EVERYONE KNOWS WHO THEY ARE.
I am fully in support of the element of surprise. Crooks have it, so should we.
I open carry every day. Wv is open carry, conceal permitted, and many in my area open carry brush guns every day. I carry open because I do metal detecting in a lot of woody areas.. so.. snakes and bears and such.
You left out feral dogs!
Is concealed now permitted in the woods? I remember WVDNR had problems with concealed carry. Once got a lecture from a conservation officer for having a shot loaded Kentucky pistol 'semi' concealed while berrypicking. (shoved behind my belt and a outing shirt partially covered it) Course that was in Kanawha county. [V]
Allen
quote:Originally posted by mateomasfeo
I open carry in the shower...
Wrong gun Matty.[;)]
Not to worry.
He might be shootin' blanks
[:o)]
In my neck of the woods, there is an upper middle class enclave called birmingham. Some kid decides he's going to wander through town with, if memory serves, a Garand slung on his back.
It's not convenient. It's not for his protection. It's clearly a ploy for attention. He got it, and ended up being charged with disturbing the peace. He beat the rap, but the consensus wasn't "What a travesty that he was arrested, they had no right to do so", but "What a waste of time and money, we get it, it's legal, the cops don't like that he was exercising this right, but what's everyone trying to prove?"
I think open carry in most situations is an invitation to trouble. If I own a jewlery store, and I see some guy walk in with a gun on his hip, don't you think that I'm going to make damn sure that I'm going to have my hand on my gun as well? WTH?
My buddy, many years ago, went through Jackson Hole, WY openly carrying. He knew all the cops, and the store owners. Enough people were freaked out by this (and face it, they had the right to be freaked out - it's Jackson Hole, not Detroit) that the cops came up to him, hands on their guns, saying "Andy, what are you doing?"
He replied that he was exercising his right to open carry.
He was advised to "exercise that right somewhere else - you're scaring everyone!"
Now, I'm not saying it's right to be hassled for excercising a constitutional right. I also won't F--K in public, but I have the right to F--K. Time and place, people, Time and place.
is this true?
i can remember when it was olny in the fields/woods
that you could.
Even my wife open carries.
It is rarely inconvenient.
Open carry is allowed where I live. So is concealed carry. I only open carry when I'm in the forest or BLM country. My concern there is not with humans, but grizzlies and rattlers.
While I have the right to carry concealed in public, I generally do not. It's not yet an issue in these small towns. As our society becomes more lawless, however, that may change in the near future.
Some may think it's cool to carry open in urban areas. I personally believe that's what concealed carry is for, ever since our grandpas had Baby Brownings in their vest pockets. It was, and is, the more civilized way to carry.
IMNSHO, most folk who try it are just looking to have a confrontation.
I prefer to maintain a low profile, and not call attention to myself. If a situation requires that I un-conceal my concealed firearm, I want it to be a surprise.
I don't hear about how often times open carry prevents from an attempt from even occuring. How many people try and attack a cop vs someone who does not appear to be armed? I'm not saying people should not excersize judgement about where to open carry and not. I just wonder if people ever consider the above?
While I would never do it because I try to keep a low profile, I never had an issue with those who did. As much as I hate to say it; like just about anything else it can be taken too far and then it's taken away, period.
That said, it is anyone's right to bear arms, and I see no restrictions in that right as to how they choose to bear them, even stupidly. Furthermore, the 2nd Amendment of the US constitution guarantees that right to Americans, so municipalities that wish to infringe on that right are categorically in the wrong; they are in violation of the highest law in the land.
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
More recently there has been a number of individuals pushing the open carry idea. With the wording of the Permit I can see their angle but personally I hope their actions don't get the wording changed to open carry only (probably not likely here anyway). I have no problem with others that want to open carry but I prefer concealed carry so as to not be targeted and maintain my level of surprise.
I open carry in the shower...
That activity is not what is meant by 'target practise.'
I would have thought concealed carry was the last. Open carry has been legal here for a long time. Concealed is much more recent. Urban open carry is not real common, and often unnoticed. I nearly always carry when out birding or whatever. No one has ever blinked.