First Time Open Carry

[ADulay]

I live in Texas where open carry is not yet legal (but we are working on it). A couple of weeks ago I had business in Phoenix, Arizona and took my Glock with me. Knowing that Arizona is one of the friendliest open carry states in the nation, I decided to go ahead and do it...meaning open carry. One of the factors was that it was 110 degrees out and I was dressed in attire that would not conceal. When dressed like that I usually have to conceal in my backpack which is less than ideal.
I will have to say that I was very nervous although I knew it was legal. I did not want to have to call back to work to say I was in jail because some uninformed, ambitious cop hauled me in. Although legal, no one ever said one would never have to experience the judicial system! I went into a Wal-Mart, two restaurants and then conjured up enough courage to stroll into a convenience store. It was really nice to experience open carry especially in that heat. Perhaps I shouldn't have been surprised but I was amazed that no one seemed to even look in my direction. I purposed to carry on about my business as though I've been doing it forever which may have caused me to escape notice. Who knows...
Anyway, I just wanted to share my experience of first time open carry and thank the fine folks in Arizona for allowing me to do it there.

Cowbilly32,

You will find that the more you open carry, the more comfortable it becomes. It's very similar to when you first started to conceal carry and the more you did it, the more "natural" it felt to when you get to the point that when you're NOT carrying, you feel naked!!

Congratulations on your open carry experience.

AD

 

[ADulay]

In Florida we can't open carry, but in October I'll be spending 4 days in Virginia. I plan on giving it a try while I'm there.

Lakeland Man,

Well, that's not quite true. You can open carry in Florida (I do it daily) but there are limitations, of course.

Florida statute 790.25(3)(h) and (j) are the relevant statutes in case you need to check them out.

In my case I shoot or fish pretty much every day so I'm open carrying a lot and most of the travel time is on a motorcycle so the visibility is there.

AD (open carry advocate and daily practitioner)

 

[Ruger SR9c]

NavyLCDR, I was reading the exchange in one of the other threads and can't understand why some can't just accept an answer as given, and not have to have everything nit picked to death.

I am from Texas (exiled in OK, for the time being, ya goes where the jobs are) and was visiting my daughter and her family in Ft. Worth. We took the grandkids to the Cabela's just off I-35W, and was using one of the courtsey carts provided. As mentioned before, OK just passed OC and since TX hasn't I had mine under my shirt. Not realizing it, when I sat down, the tail of my shirt had come up and hooked on the grip of my SR9c. One gentleman walked over and very politely and quitely mentioned it to me.

Many of the people seem to get all up in arms (no pun intended) about someone carrying a weapon, and it's definately nice to have one who just wants to help someone to stay out of trouble.

I enjoy reading the posts you send, and hope to read more in the future.

Keep Checking Six!

 

[carracer]

So, the CC'ers admit that their SA is down compared to us OC'ers!

 

[Firefighterchen]

So, the CC'ers admit that their SA is down compared to us OC'ers!

I've been touching on that point a lot recently. B-)

 

[Ringo]

Anyway, I just wanted to share my experience of first time open carry and thank the fine folks in Arizona for allowing me to do it there.

You're welcome Cowbilly. Glad you enjoyed the "FREEDOM" experience of our great state, come back anytime.

~ Yesterdays Prophecies-Today Headlines ~​

 

[mappow]

I've been touching on that point a lot recently. B-)

You just know I can't let this dog lay down. "So, the CC'ers admit that their SA is down compared to us OC'ers!" NEVER said that, what I did say was “I do notice that my senses are heightened (if that's possible) concerning those in close proximity around me when I do OC.”
+
I'll simplify it for you.......IF ya got your thing in your hand, out there for everybody to see or is it zip up?........ Ya gotta grasp on the concept now?

 

[Bikenut]

Originally Posted by Firefighterchen View Post
I've been touching on that point a lot recently. B-)

You just know I can't let this dog lay down. "So, the CC'ers admit that their SA is down compared to us OC'ers!" NEVER said that, what I did say was “I do notice that my senses are heightened (if that's possible) concerning those in close proximity around me when I do OC.”
+
I'll simplify it for you.......IF ya got your thing in your hand, out there for everybody to see or is it zip up?........ Ya gotta grasp on the concept now?

If your senses are "heightened" when you OC... then your senses aren't as "heightened" when you CC. And the level of situational awareness depends on the level that your senses are "heightened".

So even if your senses are just a little bit "heightened" when you OC above when you CC then...

....When you CC your situational awareness IS LESS than when you OC.

If there is any difference... any difference at all... no matter how small... concerning your level of awareness (level your senses are "heightened") when you OC as opposed to CC then your situational awareness is lower when you CC than when you OC.

Doesn't matter what the reason is for your senses to be "heightened" (feeling self conscious because your sidearm is exposed perhaps?)... all that is necessary is for a higher level of awareness when OCing to make it a lower level of awareness when CCing.

 

[dusterdude]

I oc'ed the other day,first time in a right good while.went to wal-mart,nothing unusual at all happened

 

[Firefighterchen]

You just know I can't let this dog lay down. "So, the CC'ers admit that their SA is down compared to us OC'ers!" NEVER said that, what I did say was “I do notice that my senses are heightened (if that's possible) concerning those in close proximity around me when I do OC.”
+
I'll simplify it for you.......IF ya got your thing in your hand, out there for everybody to see or is it zip up?........ Ya gotta grasp on the concept now?

Refer to bikenuts post.

Your post only said what happened when you oc, so....here's a simple question to clarify, are your senses as heightened about those in proximity when you cc?

 

[28kfps]

I open carry 98% of the time. Everywhere in Las Vegas, the rest of NV, AZ, Utah on the interstate on a motorcycle. Most casinos do not allow OCing however not a law just their property rule. They more than likely will ask one to leave and lock it up. I almost never go in the casions when I do I go CCing. Check out open carry dot org your state for thousands of postings of open carrying.

 

[tricolordad]

I open carry 98% of the time. Everywhere in Las Vegas, the rest of NV, AZ, Utah on the interstate on a motorcycle. Most casinos do not allow OCing however not a law just their property rule. They more than likely will ask one to leave and lock it up. I almost never go in the casions when I do I go CCing. Check out open carry dot org your state for thousands of postings of open carrying.

Just don't let em suck you into their form of "activism." You'll get arrested.

 

[AzBanks]

Just don't let em suck you into their form of "activism." You'll get arrested.

The patriots who fought and gave their lives to give us a free country would not be impressed. They gave everything for freedom. You are afraid of getting arrested to protect the most important freedom.

 

[28kfps]

Just don't let em suck you into their form of "activism." You'll get arrested.

Not sure what you are referring to. In our state, they are a great bunch. Very knowledgeable some have been responsible for positive changes in the local gun laws. I have meet many of them and been to several public functions the last 4 years and read hundreds of postings. Certainly never seen anyone arrested at any of the functions and do not remember anyone posting about being arrested. Some of the get togethers we do end up with law enforcement checking us out with the occasional non-eventful conversation. I can say I do not agree with all of the posters however not aware of any activism arrest. It is not a gang, freethinking is allowed. No lose of statist if one disagrees. If one is weak on their freethinking and your anti suckage ability needs a boost I can understand the concern.

 

[tricolordad]

In Florida we can't open carry, but in October I'll be spending 4 days in Virginia. I plan on giving it a try while I'm there.

Same as your job, just in your people clothes.

Sent from my Clear using USA Carry mobile app

 

[tricolordad]

The patriots who fought and gave their lives to give us a free country would not be impressed. They gave everything for freedom. You are afraid of getting arrested to protect the most important freedom.

Ummmm....I'm a veteran and I OC daily. My cousin, a brother and a few friends gave it all for freedom. Don't preach to me about sacrifice when I relive the worst evil mankind has to offer every night. I am not afraid of another man's fear of an inanimate object. I was simply referring to the bad attitude and confrontations that group attempts to provoke, notwithstanding encouraging others to commit federal offenses in attempts to change school zone laws.

Not sure what you are referring to. In our state, they are a great bunch. Very knowledgeable some have been responsible for positive changes in the local gun laws. I have meet many of them and been to several public functions the last 4 years and read hundreds of postings. Certainly never seen anyone arrested at any of the functions and do not remember anyone posting about being arrested. Some of the get togethers we do end up with law enforcement checking us out with the occasional non-eventful conversation. I can say I do not agree with all of the posters however not aware of any activism arrest. It is not a gang, freethinking is allowed. No lose of statist if one disagrees. If one is weak on their freethinking and your anti suckage ability needs a boost I can understand the concern.

In ours, they antagonize and carry to shock and scare people. I haven't met anyone from wisconsin carry who doesn't do it to "send a message" to somebody. I'm sure there might be a few, but I wouldn't be shocked if they were all the same way. I open carry because its more comfortable than cc. As soon as i get dressed, i'm armed. I also cc a backup...or do I???

 

[28kfps]

In ours, they antagonize and carry to shock and scare people. I haven't met anyone from wisconsin carry who doesn't do it to "send a message" to somebody. I'm sure there might be a few, but I wouldn't be shocked if they were all the same way. I open carry because its more comfortable than cc. As soon as i get dressed, i'm armed. I also cc a backup...or do I???[/QUOTE]



Well that is not the mission of Open Carry. Org. I open carrying for comfort as well. Obviously, self-defense is on top. When we get together in a group, we do try to be good stewards of open carrying with the mission hopefully to make those less concern about our firearms. Gives us a chance to do some pro-gun PR. Some will come up to us and start asking questions. We have been able to correct some of the public on the laws, which so many get wrong.
Regress the reason for open carrying; like it or not, you carry for comfort you are also making a statement in most eyes. One can have an attitude and first impression that will help the pro-gunners or hinder. Leaving the on-looker to think, look at that showoff, O M G!! a man with a gun, there goes one of those gun nuts, or he appears to be nonthreatening.

 

[dogshawred]

Message perceived/received.

If anyone of us walks into an establishment legally open carrying a firearm just like we do every other day we carry open, acting normal just as we would had we not been carrying a weapon open for the public to see, a message is sent/perceived.
~
After having worked in the public eye in the service industry for more than 35 years, everything we do in public has some sort of perceived message to those who observe us. With regard to firearms openly carried, all the political ramifications, previous horrendous evil acts, and personal likes or dislikes rear their ugly heads and influence the thinking of those who are around us at the time.
~
I don't care what your own personal intention is that brings you to carry open. The public is going to perceive what they will all on their own without any help from us. This is inescapable, there is nothing we can do to evade this end result. But to say that you are NOT sending a message to those who see you is fool hearty. You have NO real control regarding public perception other than to NOT open carry, which I AM NOT conveying with this post, as I OC every time I leave the house with the full understanding that the public will read something into my OC'ing. To my thinking that, is their problem not mine, but because of the possible negative perception by the public, I conduct myself in a proper civilized manner at all times. Not that I have to make any special effort at this, but I do make an extra effort to be civil, polite and friendly to all I may have dealing during my outings.
~
You may not have any intention of sending a message when OC'ing but the public will make up their own.

 

[28kfps]

If anyone of us walks into an establishment legally open carrying a firearm just like we do every other day we carry open, acting normal just as we would had we not been carrying a weapon open for the public to see, a message is sent/perceived.
~
After having worked in the public eye in the service industry for more than 35 years, everything we do in public has some sort of perceived message to those who observe us. With regard to firearms openly carried, all the political ramifications, previous horrendous evil acts, and personal likes or dislikes rear their ugly heads and influence the thinking of those who are around us at the time.
~
I don't care what your own personal intention is that brings you to carry open. The public is going to perceive what they will all on their own without any help from us. This is inescapable, there is nothing we can do to evade this end result. But to say that you are NOT sending a message to those who see you is fool hearty. You have NO real control regarding public perception other than to NOT open carry, which I AM NOT conveying with this post, as I OC every time I leave the house with the full understanding that the public will read something into my OC'ing. To my thinking that, is their problem not mine, but because of the possible negative perception by the public, I conduct myself in a proper civilized manner at all times. Not that I have to make any special effort at this, but I do make an extra effort to be civil, polite and friendly to all I may have dealing during my outings.
~
You may not have any intention of sending a message when OC'ing but the public will make up their own.

Just wondering which poster said (One is NOT sending a message to those who see you open carrying.)

 

[eagleks]

Sounds like how it was when I was a kid..... before the 1968 Gun Control act and everyone got stupid. The most you'ld hear is .... "George, you ever going to sell me that gun", or "Frank, you got a new gun , which one did you get ? ".