AZSATT
New member
Kinda like getting bHo to let go of his socialist health care dreams, despite ever increasing public opposition to the idea.
By the way, welcome to the site and congrats on setting your CCW class. Great to have you with us.
How Many Of You Open Carry?
- Thread starter tattedupboy
- Start date
Kinda like getting bHo to let go of his socialist health care dreams, despite ever increasing public opposition to the idea.
By the way, welcome to the site and congrats on setting your CCW class. Great to have you with us.
ecocks
New member
After converting to OC I find things are more, well, "open" nowadays.
No warm jacket or vest in this hot weather the last month or so, no worries about printing and my righside elbow is now used to maintaining contact with my gun while I stroll around.
No confrontations (police, business or civilian), several positive conversations concerning legality and make/model, all combined with the increasing feeling that people in places I regularly go are growing more comfortable in the presence of other citizens who are armed.
Sure, every now and then there is occasionally a somewhat startled look in a store clerk's eyes, the retention holster isn't my favorite one and with the gun around in the 3 o'clock position I've bumped some shelving and the occasional door jamb as I walk, but all-in-all it's been pretty smooth sailing.
I'd say my percentage is about 85% OC/15% CC these days.
No warm jacket or vest in this hot weather the last month or so, no worries about printing and my righside elbow is now used to maintaining contact with my gun while I stroll around.
No confrontations (police, business or civilian), several positive conversations concerning legality and make/model, all combined with the increasing feeling that people in places I regularly go are growing more comfortable in the presence of other citizens who are armed.
Sure, every now and then there is occasionally a somewhat startled look in a store clerk's eyes, the retention holster isn't my favorite one and with the gun around in the 3 o'clock position I've bumped some shelving and the occasional door jamb as I walk, but all-in-all it's been pretty smooth sailing.
I'd say my percentage is about 85% OC/15% CC these days.
I never even considered open carry until recently reading, I think it was Mainsails, arguments for it in the open carry forum. Now, I'm intrigued. I've carried concealed for quite a long time, but am having a hard time envisioning myself strolling around with my 1911 for all the world to see (I don't like people looking at my 1911, you see). Anyway...the political and tactical arguments seemed very persuasive.
Mainsail
Member
Although I bought it primarily for hiking, I've been OCing my Glock G20SF lately.
No drama.
This you, Mainsail? You da man.
Seriously, I guess I'm gonna have to try open carry pretty soon. I find I like the arguments for it, especially the political ones. It's gonna take some balls on my part, tho, as I KNOW it's gonna draw lots of looks, questions, etc. I'm not worried so much about LEO as they pretty much know me but all the everday folks I run into are gonna comment. For the record, NOBODY open carries in the small city I live in (about 50,000), so I'm betting it would make the local paper. Because I'm attuned to "running under the radar", it's gonna take a different mindset on my part. I'm working on it....
Seriously, I guess I'm gonna have to try open carry pretty soon. I find I like the arguments for it, especially the political ones. It's gonna take some balls on my part, tho, as I KNOW it's gonna draw lots of looks, questions, etc. I'm not worried so much about LEO as they pretty much know me but all the everday folks I run into are gonna comment. For the record, NOBODY open carries in the small city I live in (about 50,000), so I'm betting it would make the local paper. Because I'm attuned to "running under the radar", it's gonna take a different mindset on my part. I'm working on it....
Be sure to check your local laws before deciding to OC. In some places it may not be legal.
gf
I believe the state says you can open carry or conceal carry as long as you have a concealed carry permit. I will recheck that, for sure, before I OC. I haven't thought to check the city law as I just assumed that state law superceded. I'll have to check that also.
More and more I'm liking the idea of OC. Guess you can teach an old dog new tricks.
More and more I'm liking the idea of OC. Guess you can teach an old dog new tricks.
edstephan
New member
Hello All
I've been OC'ing for 20+ years, Pennsylvania is an OC state and on the most part OC friendly.
Here is a picture from a Tea Party at Bushy Run Battlefield 4 July 2009.
I'm the old fat guy in the Gadsden flag shirt
And the OC crew Bushy Run Battlefield Tea Party 12 September 2009
We even had some of the crew ride their bikes
Link Removed
We hold most of our OC discussions at Pennsylvania Firearm Owners Association
An OC Activist and 1 of the 3%
Ed Stephan
I've been OC'ing for 20+ years, Pennsylvania is an OC state and on the most part OC friendly.
Here is a picture from a Tea Party at Bushy Run Battlefield 4 July 2009.
I'm the old fat guy in the Gadsden flag shirt
And the OC crew Bushy Run Battlefield Tea Party 12 September 2009
We even had some of the crew ride their bikes
Link Removed
We hold most of our OC discussions at Pennsylvania Firearm Owners Association
An OC Activist and 1 of the 3%
Ed Stephan
Last edited by a moderator:
edstephan
New member
Actually, In Pennsylvania we use OC'ing as activism
Here are some pictures of the South Western PA T.E.A Party Rally at Bushy Run Battle Field.
This year alone we affected a change in Pa LEO's annual training on the aspect of OC. See: Link Removed
Not only did we have the folks from PAFOA but we had folks from opencarry.org, ar15.com, and the ronpaulforums.com
I'm the fat old guy in the Gadsden Flag shirt and was carrying my S&W 659 sidearm and my AR15A2 engraved with a PAFOA(Pennsylvania Firearms Owners Association) logo
First Picture is 4 July 2009
Link Removed
Part of the OC crew 12 September 2009
Link Removed
A Couple guy's rode their bikes and OC'ed
Link Removed
Our OC Dinner at Moon township 11 July 2009 because one of our members were hassled by Moon Township LEOs
An OC Activist and 1 of the 3%
Ed Stephan
Here are some pictures of the South Western PA T.E.A Party Rally at Bushy Run Battle Field.
This year alone we affected a change in Pa LEO's annual training on the aspect of OC. See: Link Removed
Not only did we have the folks from PAFOA but we had folks from opencarry.org, ar15.com, and the ronpaulforums.com
I'm the fat old guy in the Gadsden Flag shirt and was carrying my S&W 659 sidearm and my AR15A2 engraved with a PAFOA(Pennsylvania Firearms Owners Association) logo
First Picture is 4 July 2009
Link Removed
Part of the OC crew 12 September 2009
Link Removed
A Couple guy's rode their bikes and OC'ed
Link Removed
Our OC Dinner at Moon township 11 July 2009 because one of our members were hassled by Moon Township LEOs
An OC Activist and 1 of the 3%
Ed Stephan
Last edited by a moderator:
ajcampbell2000
New member
Here in Utah OC and CC or both legal. I open carry a lot in my car, home and yard. I still open carry about 30% of the time. So if you broke down the numbers 30% open carry, 40% casual conceal(shirt over gun) and 30% deep conceal(usually only at work).
Yes, North Dakota is a permit only open carry state and does have state preemption of firearm laws so the state law would be the most restrictive.
If you don't have a CC license/permit, there are times where your firearm needs to be "Utah Unloaded". Be careful out there, don't want anyone to get into any unnecessary hassles.
gf
Thanks, NavyLT, always nice to have confirmation.
melloyello
New member
Back in the 80's wasn't Georgia an open carry? (otherwise I broke the law for almost 15+ years)
When I lived in there, I both open carried and concealed carried (required a permit to conceal).
It was hard not to open carry on a motorcycle, my main mode of transportation.
I live in South Carolina now which is permitted concealed carry only.
When I lived in there, I both open carried and concealed carried (required a permit to conceal).
It was hard not to open carry on a motorcycle, my main mode of transportation.
I live in South Carolina now which is permitted concealed carry only.
It depends on the circumstance. As a teacher I have to wait till I am off work and off campus here in Dayton Ohio. I can't even keep it in the car on campus so I leave it at home. First thing I do when I get home is put on the holster and gett the gun out of the safe. If my shirt tail is tucked in I OC for the rest of the day. Otherwise I CC.
hopnpop
sheepdog
Michigan here. I sometimes OC. I have a CPL (CCW,LTCH,CCP, whatever) but sometimes OC when it's hot out or if I'm bike riding - don't like having it concealed under a t-shirt because I don't like sweating all over it. Whenever it's cool enough to wear something over a shirt I CC. I'm for OC just because I do think it can be an effective deterrent. I'd rather a thug see me wearing and move on than not see it and end up shot. In that respect I think it would lessen the chance of having to use it. OC should never be casual OC - openly carrying, alone, should have you on orange, maintaining a heightened state of awareness, etc. If I'm not biking and I'm at a OC function or something, I often have a concealed BUG.
In Michigan there are places that someone isn't allowed to CC even with a CPL but may OC, only with a CPL. With a CPL, someone's exempt from most PFZ's but must OPENLY carry, as CC is not allowed there period. I do see the advantages of maintaining the element of surprise and it holds merit. But it is also true that criminals pick easy targets and seeing someone wearing a gun, I have to say, would definitely influence their choice of potential vics.
I say to anyone who wants to OC to get your concealed license if you can and carry a concealed BUG.
In Michigan there are places that someone isn't allowed to CC even with a CPL but may OC, only with a CPL. With a CPL, someone's exempt from most PFZ's but must OPENLY carry, as CC is not allowed there period. I do see the advantages of maintaining the element of surprise and it holds merit. But it is also true that criminals pick easy targets and seeing someone wearing a gun, I have to say, would definitely influence their choice of potential vics.
I say to anyone who wants to OC to get your concealed license if you can and carry a concealed BUG.
hopnpop
sheepdog
You mean it's against POLICY to keep it in your car on campus? Or against LAW? I know the Supreme Court ruled it unconstitutional for employers to forbid employees to keep firearms locked in their vehicles at work because it empedes their RKBA to and from. I would think that would qualify but there may be a possibility of campus' being exempted from that. I just read that, I think it was U of Arizona just passed ruling that employees and students, etc. may have their guns on campus but locked in their vehicles. But that's policy, not law... (?)
