Open carry confrontations

My primary reason for concealing is because I don't want people to know that I'm carrying. Plus, I live in a very liberal, very anti-gun corner of Indiana where open carry may very well result in a hysterical "man with a gun" call to police, resulting in me being thrown to the ground with a police officer's gun to my head and his boot on my neck. Honestly, for me, OC isn't worth all that trouble. Maybe if if lived in Arizona or Virginia I'd feel differently, but alas, I live in Gary, Indiana.
 
My primary reason for concealing is because I don't want people to know that I'm carrying. Plus, I live in a very liberal, very anti-gun corner of Indiana where open carry may very well result in a hysterical "man with a gun" call to police, resulting in me being thrown to the ground with a police officer's gun to my head and his boot on my neck. Honestly, for me, OC isn't worth all that trouble. Maybe if if lived in Arizona or Virginia I'd feel differently, but alas, I live in Gary, Indiana.

I'm sorry man, you need a new police force. Don't forget all the other great states like CO, OR, WA, ID, NV, and others that are similar to AZ and VA. Good luck though.
 
My primary reason for concealing is because I don't want people to know that I'm carrying. Plus, I live in a very liberal, very anti-gun corner of Indiana where open carry may very well result in a hysterical "man with a gun" call to police, resulting in me being thrown to the ground with a police officer's gun to my head and his boot on my neck. Honestly, for me, OC isn't worth all that trouble. Maybe if if lived in Arizona or Virginia I'd feel differently, but alas, I live in Gary, Indiana.


No Offense but if I lived in that smelly crap hole I'd keep my gun covered just to keep it from corroding.
 
A bunch of idiotic OCers is California wanted to make a statement by walking around OCing with unloaded weapons in so many sensitive situations that their tactic backfired and now they can't do it at all. That is the product of some of the idiotic mindsets of some of the folks here. They wanted to shove their right to OC down people's throats well it got shoved right back up their butts. Now how exactly does that advance "the cause?"

So, what you are saying is that it was better in California for the "idiots" to not open carry their unloaded guns out of fear that the government might legislate against it, rather than having the govenment take their stand and make it illegal? Is it possible for you to see how stupid of a statement that is? You know one of the reasons why it is stupid? Because not having the ability to exercise a right out of mere fear of possible government action is extremely difficult to fight in court. An actual statute can be fought and overturned simply because it exists.

I find it very sad how many people think that Americans should live their lives based around what their government MIGHT do to them. I would much prefer to live under the oppression of actual statutes, rather than live in fear of what the government MIGHT do.
 
So, what you are saying is that it was better in California for the "idiots" to not open carry their unloaded guns out of fear that the government might legislate against it, rather than having the govenment take their stand and make it illegal? Is it possible for you to see how stupid of a statement that is? You know one of the reasons why it is stupid? Because not having the ability to exercise a right out of mere fear of possible government action is extremely difficult to fight in court. An actual statute can be fought and overturned simply because it exists.

I find it very sad how many people think that Americans should live their lives based around what their government MIGHT do to them. I would much prefer to live under the oppression of actual statutes, rather than live in fear of what the government MIGHT do.


This reminds me of many of the States in which open carry is legal where people who are otherwise legally OC-ing are arrested as a result of other's emotionally charged reactions and behavior.

Where it is legal, the act of carrying openly is NOT an offense in and of itself. Many jurisdictions have since discovered (via heavy judgments against them) that it is not possible to properly charge OC-ers with offenses like Disorderly Conduct or Inducing Panic because these laws require the commission of an actual offense upon which to base those charges. Remember, OC in and of itself is not, and cannot be used as, a predicate to those offenses since it is a legal act/Right.

If someone, upon seeing a (legally) openly carried firearm, gets a case of the "vapors" that's their fault, not the fault of the party exercising their Right to OC.

Not OC-ing cause we are afraid of "offending" someone's delicate sensibilities is the incorrect response. Those "hysterics-prone" folks need to learn the law, just like they learned all of the other laws that are part of their lives (most of 'em drive so they are fairly capable of the task) and deal with it.
 
Walked in restraunt OCing, patron tells me to cover my gun with my shirt. angrily

Myself and my wife just went to a local Restrauant/bar with a buffet, I was Open Carrying a S&W Sigma 40 side carry, I open carry 99% of the time and we walked in people were sitting and eating. As we walked by a table a older man and women were sitting; my wife was in front of me and the Restrauant was semi-full. As I pasted the table the man said excuse me, again excuse me, very loud, now I turned toward him and the whole restraunt was looking at him and me, I said excuse me and he stated loudly put your shirt over your gun and cover it up, I didn't say anything, he then said so your going to open carry it, I then responded, yes! And then proceeded to my table., at the same time he was barking the order his wife said he is legal, he's ok. He didn't say anymore and I and my wife enjoyed our dinner, I then noticed behind me an old friend with two Her friends, senior citizens. One of her friends said why are you wearing a gun if you work for a TV station and I replied I don't want to be a victim or you either. She said ok. I said have a great night, bye and they left. The upset man and his wife left shortly after they left. I would have talked to the man but due to his anger I didn't want to instigate anything more. We left and that was that.
 
he stated loudly put your shirt over your gun and cover it up, I didn't say anything, he then said so your going to open carry it, I then responded, yes! And then proceeded to my table.

Which do you think he was, a concealed carrry only snob, or an off duty LEO that has a problem with armed citizens?
 
Reply to my QUESSING who he was?

I am almost sure he was not a LEO, I know most of them from the different departments around here, I used to be one here in my county, but I have seen this guy around before in town. I think just a guy who doesn't like guns is all.
 
Open carry when you are in a civilian position, and out of uniform, is kind of stupid anyway, I think. 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. plus you give any robber, or unknowing police officer, a FIRST target. I would reccomend to always cc to avoid panicking the public, and removing Your element of surprise in a defensive situation.

You live in fear of someone else's fear. I do not. The only element of surpise you will have carrying concealed is the "he has a gun too" after you've already become a victim. Maybe after you're already dead, in which case, he now has your gun.

Open carry gives you advantages over concealed carry. You're not going to catch your gun on clothing, your gun was visible and the criminal knew you'd fight back, you can carry a higher capacity weapon without worrying about "printing," faster draw...I can go on for a long time.

As for the media, the people who matter and vote regularly, unlike Obama voters, dont usually buy into the media garbage. Ask me for proof? How many states allowed carrying of a weapon in 1990? How many allow it now?

Shocking...
 
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.

What you are saying is that it is ok for a person to carry concealed.
But it isn't ok for that same person to carry openly.

Is this because the public is safer when they are ignorant of the fact that someone is carrying?

Walk me through your "common sense" logic, if you wouldn't mind.
 
MY 2 cents

I first WANT TO SAY IS I OPEN CARRY 99.5% OF THE TIME AND KNOW WHAT I AM DOING, I HAVE BEEN A LEO and served in the Corp. I have been trained for years and I am aware of people that are afraid of guns thats why I am educating them by letting them see it "legally" and i wont be a victim and you have to try and understand one thing, if you dont like people OCing , great why are you not open minded to the fact that negativity is ok but constructive criticism is better with the upmost respect to you and all others and for everyones opinions positive or negative try walking away by thinking outside the box. thank to my fellow OCers. we mostly are the good guys and have a common goal together in one way or another, to each his own. believe it or not!
 
Until the media shows Americans with weapons in a better light, I believe one is just asking for trouble if OC'ing. I dont judge anyone who does. I just think its more trouble than its worth.

I have received many, many more positive experiences while open carrying than negative. And the majority and most vehement of negative experiences have come from concealed carry only snobs who seem to relish the opportunity to tell me they carry concealed.
 
Open carry when you are in a civilian position, and out of uniform, is kind of stupid anyway, I think. 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. plus you give any robber, or unknowing police officer, a FIRST target. I would recommend to always cc to avoid panicking the public, and removing Your element of surprise in a defensive situation.

You are entitled to your OPINION ..... but DON'T "recommend" it to others !!!

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.

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I first WANT TO SAY IS I OPEN CARRY 99.5% OF THE TIME AND KNOW WHAT I AM DOING, I HAVE BEEN A LEO and served in the Corp. I have been trained for years and I am aware of people that are afraid of guns thats why I am educating them by letting them see it "legally" and i wont be a victim and you have to try and understand one thing, if you dont like people OCing , great why are you not open minded to the fact that negativity is ok but constructive criticism is better with the upmost respect to you and all others and for everyones opinions positive or negative try walking away by thinking outside the box. thank to my fellow OCers. we mostly are the good guys and have a common goal together in one way or another, to each his own. believe it or not!

^ Exactly!
I OC and CC
 
I first WANT TO SAY IS I OPEN CARRY 99.5% OF THE TIME AND KNOW WHAT I AM DOING, I HAVE BEEN A LEO and served in the Corp. I have been trained for years and I am aware of people that are afraid of guns thats why I am educating them by letting them see it "legally" and i wont be a victim and you have to try and understand one thing, if you dont like people OCing , great why are you not open minded to the fact that negativity is ok but constructive criticism is better with the upmost respect to you and all others and for everyones opinions positive or negative try walking away by thinking outside the box. thank to my fellow OCers. we mostly are the good guys and have a common goal together in one way or another, to each his own. believe it or not!

Thats exactly my same experience. You will always get that one anti who has to voice their opinion in an extremely loud voice. Usually you get no response, and more often than an anti, you get somebody who has a question and wants to carry themselves but wasn't familiar with the law or doesn't own a handgun. Yeah, Ive had the cops called on me. But it was because I responded to an anti's idiotic question and she couldn't come up with a logical answer to "can my gun jump up and pull its' own trigger?" And she had a hissy fit and called 911 well after I left. Hours actually. That probably won't happen to any of you. In 6 years of OCing, its happened to me twice and the public perception has changed enough that it's now a non issue.
 
I can see that. Learn something new every day. What about the police? A lot of them do not know the OC law and its not something that is taught in the academy from experience.

I have had three encounters with LEO involving my firearm. One was negative. The officer said that I "had" to leave a restaurant where I was eating dinner because of my gun. When the owners of the restaurant heard about the incident they were livid because the officer acted on his own to run off their paying customer. The officer was responding to a call made by another patron, not by any employee of the restaurant. The owners apologized and invited me, my friends and family, and our firearms to return. The next weekend about 8 members of OpenCarry.org, our guns and our families had a luncheon at the restaurant. I sent an email to the Chief of Police explaining how his officer's actions violated the 4th Amendment to the US Constitution, Washington State Constitution, and was a gross misdemeanor under the Revised Code of Washington. He and his officers were invited to join us socially for the luncheon, but was warned that any official intervention with our function as invited guests of the restaurant would be met with court action. Nobody from the PD showed up in any capacity. At no time during the encounter was my firearm removed from me.

The other two encounters were in situations where the officers had legitimate reasons to ask me to conceal my firearm, they explained their reason for approaching me in a professional and polite manner, I concealed my gun, that was it - not even a verbal request for my name.

Before I started paying attention to my driving, during 4 seperate traffic stops my gun nor my license was ever mentioned by me or the officers.
 
What does honesty have to do with anything? They are requesting I do not go into their establishment without my weapon. I respectfully deny that request because there is no law in place which states I am unable to do so. If they don't see my weapon, then I continue with my business. If they do see it, they can ask me to leave at which point I am obligated to which I will immediately. It's not like I'm stealing from them. They asked me to not come in armed. My answer is no

I have to respectfully disagree with you on this. In my opinion, if they ask you not to come in armed, your options are to do so OR not shop/enter their place of business. To me, our right to carry ends at the property of someone who's wishes are that we do not carry in their establishment, in which case, we exercise our right to not support their business, not ignore their rules.

I fully support our rights under the 2nd Ammendment, but do not agree that we have the right to disregard property owners wishes on their property.
And a business is their property.
 

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