Open carry confrontations

[julez456]

So you think people doing something LEGAL deserve to be harassed because there are some in society who fear firearms? By this logic you also think it is ok to call the police and have the group of black guys walking towards you on a public street should also be stopped and harassed because someone had a irrational fear of them.

I agree with the OP. If you walk into a room with 100 people openly carrying a gun on your hip, YOU AND ONLY YOU know you're doing everything legally but how are those 100 people supposed to know you're carrying legally or if you're another nut job like that movie theater guy??

Same scenario but you're already in the room with those 100 people and a couple "bad guys" walk in with the intention of doing bad things and they see you in your civilian clothes with a gun on your hip who do you think they'll go after first? I would much rather prefer keeping the element of surprise on my side. It ain't about being harassed for doing something legally..in this day and age everyone is on edge with all the craziness going on in the world and I would rather avoid the BS by carrying concealed.

 

[FauerTL]

I am also in FL, and have been carrying concealed for many years. I completely agree that why ask for a confrontation when one is not needed? As a women, it is easier at times I think... But also harder because if I don't carry certain handbags, then with not being that big, there are only so many places to hide!

Here in Florida, open carry is not allowed under Chapter 790.053 of the Florida Statutes. However, I don't know that I would carry openly even if it were allowed. What would be the benefit to me or anyone else? I've carried concealed for 12 years now with no drama. Why would I want to invite drama into my life by carrying openly even if it were allowed?

Great post, Vern.

 

[~OtisM~]

Open carry is compensating for something else. Ccw and avoid the attention unless you need the attention

 

[Treo]

Standard disclaimer: I don’t object to open carry. I don’t do it because I don’t dress that way but I don’t object to it.

There are good points on both sides of the argument. IMO there are two distinct groups of people that open carry; the first group just happens to open carry and doesn’t make a big deal of it.

The second group is (again IMO) the group that is causing problems, these are the guys that go out video camera in hand looking for a confrontation. Like it or not this group got open carry banned in California and a member of this group got open carry in city owned buildings banned in Colorado Springs.

If you go out looking for trouble, you’ll find it and if you push hard enough the general population will push back.

Of the times that I have open carried I’ve never had an issue because open carrying was incidental to whatever activity I was engaged in.

On the other side of the issue we seem to have quite a few Fudds out there that think anyone who open carries is just looking to raise Hell. And you do sound just like Rosie O’Donnel when you open your mouths.

Any time you are putting for arguments straight from brady.com you are helping the antis not us.

 

[localgirl]

I agree with the OP. If you walk into a room with 100 people openly carrying a gun on your hip, YOU AND ONLY YOU know you're doing everything legally but how are those 100 people supposed to know you're carrying legally or if you're another nut job like that movie theater guy??

Same scenario but you're already in the room with those 100 people and a couple "bad guys" walk in with the intention of doing bad things and they see you in your civilian clothes with a gun on your hip who do you think they'll go after first? I would much rather prefer keeping the element of surprise on my side. It ain't about being harassed for doing something legally..in this day and age everyone is on edge with all the craziness going on in the world and I would rather avoid the BS by carrying concealed.

Um...because you're carrying in a holster, not in your hand, and not spraying bullets into the crowd? I dunno, how do you know when I walk into a room I'm not going to turn to the first person who looks at me funny and start pounding their face into the ground?

Look and act like a responsible citizen carrying a firearm and people will treat you like one.

 

[kwimby]

IMO there are two distinct groups of people that open carry...

One way to identify members of the 2nd group is when they start threads on message boards like this griping about the confrontation they experienced / started / witnessed, whatever.

 

[Tripletap]

If I thought all of you adamant concealed carriers could open your mind to an explanation I would of done so in my first response, God knows how many times we open carriers have logically, factually, and respectfully brought up our position upon deaf ears (or blind eyes in the case of online forums). I grew tired of such things and felt like being "blunt" for a change.

I am an avid conceal carrier (not an adamant conceal carrier) I personally don't have any problem with open carry. I just think it's interesting how you somehow see a correlation between open carry (or advocating open carry) and "having balls". That statement kinda proves the point alot of these posters are trying to make (It's all about look at me)......I just wasn't aware you had to have "balls" to be able to protect yourself. That is what it's all about right "protecting yourself"? Ps. Not everyone needs to see this issue your way regardless of how well you have stated your case......Just my opinion

 

[vernsimpson]

My point is there is no good reason to be the "In your face" type. I see nothing good coming out of creating a situation where there is a lot of drama. This will turn people who have no opinion on gun rights and reenforce the ones who are anti-gun rights.
For years people could smoke almost anywhere. Today the anti-smoking crowd has almost stopped people from smoking anywhere except a few places. It was the in your face crowd who ruined it for all the other smokers.
Do what ever you want. OC or CC anywhere it is legal but causing drama will not help our cause, which is keeping our gun rights that we have had for 200+ years.

 

[TlWheatley]

In 10 yrs. Only had 1 small problem...a cop followed me around. a @jcpenney..I was oc. I asked if there was a problem and he moved on. OC is a choice and legal in Ky. When I go to the range I always OC so any stops I make is OC.

 

[TlWheatley]

If more people open carried, it might not be such a stigma to others....we are training society to fear us.

 

[Firefighterchen]

If I thought all of you adamant concealed carriers could open your mind to an explanation I would of done so in my first response, God knows how many times we open carriers have logically, factually, and respectfully brought up our position upon deaf ears (or blind eyes in the case of online forums). I grew tired of such things and felt like being "blunt" for a change.

I am an avid conceal carrier (not an adamant conceal carrier) I personally don't have any problem with open carry. I just think it's interesting how you somehow see a correlation between open carry (or advocating open carry) and "having balls". That statement kinda proves the point alot of these posters are trying to make (It's all about look at me)......I just wasn't aware you had to have "balls" to be able to protect yourself. That is what it's all about right "protecting yourself"? Ps. Not everyone needs to see this issue your way regardless of how well you have stated your case......Just my opinion

Oh that's the correlation you made. I never said you needed balls to open carry out protect yourself. How about you stop putting words in my mouth?

Just for your entertainment, my first post was in regards to his complaining.

 

[Firefighterchen]

I agree with the OP. If you walk into a room with 100 people openly carrying a gun on your hip, YOU AND ONLY YOU know you're doing everything legally but how are those 100 people supposed to know you're carrying legally or if you're another nut job like that movie theater guy??

Same scenario but you're already in the room with those 100 people and a couple "bad guys" walk in with the intention of doing bad things and they see you in your civilian clothes with a gun on your hip who do you think they'll go after first? I would much rather prefer keeping the element of surprise on my side. It ain't about being harassed for doing something legally..in this day and age everyone is on edge with all the craziness going on in the world and I would rather avoid the BS by carrying concealed.

If you walk into a room with 100 people concealed carrying a gun on your hip, YOU AND ONLY YOU know you're doing everything legally but how are those 100 people supposed to know you're carrying legally or if you're another nut job like that movie theater guy??

Yeah, and?? Maybe we should have "ccw check points" where they randomly stop everyone to check if they are carrying a weapon and if they have a permission slip with them. That's the ticket.

As for your other scenario, please, do tell, who will be chosen first? Please, post some links to stories of said scary bad guys killing all of us open carriers. I'll see you in a few decades when you can muster up all the "evidence" that presently is missing.

 

[Tripletap]

Oh that's the correlation you made. I never said you needed balls to open carry out protect yourself. How about you stop putting words in my mouth?

Just for your entertainment, my first post was in regards to his complaining.

Oh gawd, here we go again with the"you put words in my mouth" default comment.....How bout you strap on your gun and go about your business, and quit crying every time someone has and opinion that doesn't jive with yours?

 

[mmckee1952]

That isn't what the Gen said he just brought up a Justifiable concern, "Because You can create a justifiable panic among the consumers of the establishment You are in just with the sight of a gun in public. especially with all the media coverage of the mass shootings that have happened lately". Start thinking with your head thats on your sholders and not the other one for once. Being Pro OC and understanding other peoples feelings, shows that your open minded and considerate of there views. Going around and thinking "Hay look at me I'm a bad ass" isn't the way to go by a long shot, think of other's once and awhile.

 

[gvaldeg1]

I have been reading posts from people who legally open carry and get into a confrontation with businesses. I would compare them to a woman whose attire leaves little to nothing to the imagination and then complains about the “unwanted” attention. It is my opinion that both are saying, “Hey, look at me!”
Businesses are places where businesspeople earn a living for themselves and their families. The businessperson may be a gun rights advocate, but must protect his business and his livelihood when his customers object or are uncomfortable knowing a firearm is in their midst. How would you feel if someone threatened your families’ livelihood? I know I would not be happy about it.
I do not ever plan on OC. It has not happened as yet, but if any business objects to my CC I will respect their right to make a living. I will not be belligerent, confrontational or vocal about it. If they are polite I will just leave. But if they are in my face, I will politely inform them that I am sorry but I will take my business elsewhere.
This part may step on some toes but I do not know how to say it other than being blunt. Anyone, while standing up for their gun rights, who would be confrontational, belligerent and loudly vocal may not have the proper temperament to carry a firearm. I would agree that we should always stand up for our gun rights. But I do not think the way to do it is to make a scene in public. The only thing that is proven that way is that there are some people who should not have a firearm. The Left is trying to make hay out of the Trayvon Martin case. We do not need a couple of hotheads pouring gasoline onto the fire.

Great post Vern. Very eloquent! Most of the people who are vociferously objecting are very much like those who don't understand that even the 1st Amendment has reasonably limitations. Rights also require responsibility. The great Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes basically said that freedom of speech doesn't entitle one to cry "fire" in a crowded theater. Resposible use and/or display of a firearm also requires common sense.

 

[maine04619]

I agree with the OP. If you walk into a room with 100 people openly carrying a gun on your hip, YOU AND ONLY YOU know you're doing everything legally but how are those 100 people supposed to know you're carrying legally or if you're another nut job like that movie theater guy?? Same scenario but you're already in the room with those 100 people and a couple "bad guys" walk in with the intention of doing bad things and they see you in your civilian clothes with a gun on your hip who do you think they'll go after first? I would much rather prefer keeping the element of surprise on my side. It ain't about being harassed for doing something legally..in this day and age everyone is on edge with all the craziness going on in the world and I would rather avoid the BS by carrying concealed.

You have missed the point all together. The point is YOU have the RIGHT to open carry. If you have this right then that is your choice. It has ZERO to do with intention or what people think. LE's must have a reasonable cause to stop and harass someone. Simply having a firearm were gal is NOT a crime thus the person carrying shoudl not be bothered. I agree with you on the concealed option and I tech people to carry this way as do I. However if it is legal and you WANT to then more power to you. Where I live a person with a firearm is no big deal nobody looks twice. Of course when the flatlanders come to play in the summer there are a few from the anti states who freak when they see a armed person but when they call the local LE or 911 they are asked is he doing something bad or do they just have a firearm? The majority of time there is not even a car sent out.

 

[mmckee1952]

It's sad to see more gun owners against our right to carry a firearm. I dont understand you anti's. This isn't the Brady Campaign forum

NO it's just that Being Pro OC and understanding other peoples feelings, shows that your open minded and considerate of there views. Going around and thinking "Hay look at me I'm a bad ass" isn't the way to go by a long shot, think of other's once and awhile.

 

[mmckee1952]

If more people open carried, it might not be such a stigma to others....we are training society to fear us.

I really can't belive I read this' "we are training society to fear us" what a BIG steaming pile of crap is this? You want to be understood and then you say something stupid like this. WTF.

 

[Firefighterchen]

Oh that's the correlation you made. I never said you needed balls to open carry out protect yourself. How about you stop putting words in my mouth?

Just for your entertainment, my first post was in regards to his complaining.

Oh gawd, here we go again with the"you put words in my mouth" default comment.....How bout you strap on your gun and go about your business, and quit crying every time someone has and opinion that doesn't jive with yours?

Please, do quote me where I said, "you need balls to protect yourself." Until then, yes that is exactly what you did. Maybe we all wouldn't have to go through this again if people didn't put words in each other's mouths so often (had to clarify so you wouldn't get confused).

How about you strap your gun to yourself and quit crying about how I carry mine? Then maybe we wouldn't have to put you guys in your place?

 

[localgirl]

BOYS! Can you please try to play nice?