I ask why?

[dj12midnit]

I was attempting to read another thread in the forum; however I now can not remember what it was about because it got so hijacked. What I do remember is people arguing about Open vs concealed. Now I know that I prefer concealed because I don't want to walk around as a target. Bad guy, LEO doesn't matter I don't want to be a target. I personally have no problem with open carry. But Why do you do it? This is strictly an informational question. Call me curios.


Edited to make sure that I state clearly that I am all for your right to OPEN CARRY your firearm. I truly just wanted to better understand.

 

[dbelcher282]

Good question. I live in an OC state and often see people exercising that right and I'm glad they can. Like you, I prefer to CC because it's less conspicuous and OC makes a lot of unenlightened people in comfortable as well as making me the primary target. For the same reason I very seldom wear one of those "fishing" or "travel" vests that seem to shout, "Shoot me first!"

I have also noticed that some who OC seem to enjoy the shock factor.

 

[wolf_fire]

I was attempting to read another thread in the forum; however I now can not remember what it was about because it got so hijacked. What I do remember is people arguing about Open vs concealed. Now I know that I prefer concealed because I don't want to walk around as a target. Bad guy, LEO doesn't matter I don't want to be a target. I personally have no problem with open carry. But Why do you do it? This is strictly an informational question. Call me curios.

Most people in the OC crowd would say their firearm, out in the open would actual deter crime. The BG is going to pick on someone unarmed. But then the CC crowd says... Ah ha, my element of surprise. Well, what if the BG got the drop on you... now your dead. Where as the OC crowd will say, hmmm, that poor guy got dead while no one bothered me today.

That's generally how most of these OC vs CC threads go in a short synopsis.

 

[wolf_fire]

Good question. I live in an OC state and often see people exercising that right and I'm glad they can. Like you, I prefer to CC because it's less conspicuous and OC makes a lot of unenlightened people in comfortable as well as making me the primary target. For the same reason I very seldom wear one of those "fishing" or "travel" vests that seem to shout, "Shoot me first!"

I have also noticed that some who OC seem to enjoy the shock factor.

Ah, I forgot, the OC crowd will also say... hey cite where OCers have been targets by BG's. That usually is the other part of the OC vs CC debate.

 

[Firefighterchen]

I open carry for the tactical advantage. Concealed carriers are chosen as primary targets far far far more often, I do not wish to be one of those guys. There has been one "unenlightened" individual who didn't like me open carrying, he was a Texan, so it wasn't surprising.

So, you ask why I carry openly. I ask you, why do you perpetuate lies about firearms owners? Is the Government and the Brady campaign not good enough at it?

As far as shock factor, it's not there, but I wouldn't expect those who bad mouth a method of carry they never have tried to understand. But hey, you guys can "shock" the bad guys after they pick you over me.


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[telpinaro]

Most people in the OC crowd would say their firearm, out in the open would actual deter crime. The BG is going to pick on someone unarmed. But then the CC crowd says... Ah ha, my element of surprise. Well, what if the BG got the drop on you... now your dead. Where as the OC crowd will say, hmmm, that poor guy got dead while no one bothered me today.

That's generally how most of these OC vs CC threads go in a short synopsis.

Too bad the arguments are never that short... lol

Both sides, of course, claim tactical advantage in some form or another. Occasionally the CC side tries for "someone might try to take your gun!" or something like that.

 

[dj12midnit]

I open carry for the tactical advantage. Concealed carriers are chosen as primary targets far far far more often, I do not wish to be one of those guys. There has been one "unenlightened" individual who didn't like me open carrying, he was a Texan, so it wasn't surprising.

So, you ask why I carry openly. I ask you, why do you perpetuate lies about firearms owners? Is the Government and the Brady campaign not good enough at it?

As far as shock factor, it's not there, but I wouldn't expect those who bad mouth a method of carry they never have tried to understand. But hey, you guys can "shock" the bad guys after they pick you over me.


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I ask why? I am not attacking anyone and I told no lies.

I understand why people debate. I also understand that it is hard to ask this question with out creating a debate, but I would really only like to hear from people that OC, as I already have my beliefs on CC. I am an open minded person, so I really just want to better understand.

 

[NavyLCDR]

What do the majority of the criminals want? They want items that are easy to sell, cash, or credit cards in the easiest manner to obtain with the least likely chance of getting caught, arrested or shot. Does attacking the guy that they can see has a gun fit into that goal? Not at all. Why in the world would your average criminal attack the guy they can see has a gun when they could just wait 5 minutes for that guy to leave, or go down the street one block to the next convenience store? Criminals are more lazy than they are stupid. If they want a gun - first it means they probably don't have one and second - it's a hell of a lot easier just to steal money and buy one, or steal a gun left alone by itself - then it would be to try to take it from the person carrying it.

One study:
http://www.gunfacts.info/pdfs/gun-facts/6.2/gun-facts-6-2-screen.pdf

Printed page 29:

60% of convicted felons admitted that they avoided committing crimes when they knew the victim was armed. 40% of convicted felons admitted that they avoided committing crimes when they thought the victim might be armed.

So, if I have a 20% less chance of being the victim of a crime because they know I am armed, then why would I not take advantage of odds that are in my favor? It's not about absolutes. I am not going to be dumb enough to think the criminal will not attack me ever because they see my gun. But common sense would tell you that the criminal is less likely to attack me, vice the 99.5% of the rest of the population that is not visibly carrying a gun.

And, maybe I am an attention whore, but I like the attention I get because of my gun. Every once in a while, probably about 1 or 2 times/month I will have a conversation with someone because they noticed my gun. 95% of these encounters are positive or at a minimum educational. Of the few negative reactions I have encountered - 3 out of 4 of those have been from "concealed carry only snobs" that can't resist telling me that they have a CPL and carry their gun concealed and so should I.

In addition, if I do happen to have to use my gun, it is quicker to draw, with less movement, from open carry than it is from concealed carry.

Also, I can carry a larger caliber, higher capacity gun if I don't have to be concerned about hiding it.

 

[vernsimpson]

I prefer CC to OC. I was against OC but have since changed my mind. I really do not care how you carry. JUST CARRY, however you feel most comfortable.

 

[telpinaro]

...

Also, I can carry a larger caliber, higher capacity gun if I don't have to be concerned about hiding it.

When/if I start OC, my first priority will be getting a full-size .45 something or other.

Excellent reasoning, though... thanks to all the "discussions" it's not often it all gets laid out clearly in one post. :smile:

 

[Firefighterchen]

Now I know that I prefer concealed because I don't want to walk around as a target.

I ask why? I am not attacking anyone and I told no lies.

I understand why people debate. I also understand that it is hard to ask this question with out creating a debate, but I would really only like to hear from people that OC, as I already have my beliefs on CC. I am an open minded person, so I really just want to better understand.

I took the line from your first post saying open carriers are going to be targeted as if concealed carriers won't be as a lie. Maybe it was just not having knowledge on the subject, or it was willful ignorance...either way it paints an incorrect and negative picture of open carry.

I don't need an open mind to see the truth, but it is a good thing to have anyways.

I do open carry in Washington and all the states on the west side, with the exception of California since its out of my zone, I travel to for work. There are a bunch of us on here that do as well.

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[dj12midnit]

I took the line from your first post saying open carriers are going to be targeted as if concealed carriers won't be as a lie. Maybe it was just not having knowledge on the subject, or it was willful ignorance...either way it paints an incorrect and negative picture of open carry.

I don't need an open mind to see the truth, but it is a good thing to have anyways.

I do open carry in Washington and all the states on the west side, with the exception of California since its out of my zone, I travel to for work. There are a bunch of us on here that do as well.

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What I stated is fact. Link Removed

You edited out the part were I said by the BG or the LEO for those who dont know LEO is short had for Law Enforcement Officer.

 

[TrapperBob]

I was attempting to read another thread in the forum; however I now can not remember what it was about because it got so hijacked. What I do remember is people arguing about Open vs concealed. Now I know that I prefer concealed because I don't want to walk around as a target. Bad guy, LEO doesn't matter I don't want to be a target. I personally have no problem with open carry. But Why do you do it? This is strictly an informational question. Call me curios.

Short answer: for convenience.

I open carry when I have the gun on for some other reason, usually on my way to or from hunting or fishing, like if I stop somewhere to get gas or go to Walmart or whatever errands I'm doing on the way to or from. Concealed carry is prohibited on all the State Game Lands around me, but open carry is ok with some limitations as to caliber in some times of the year. Since I'm open carrying at my destination (fishing or hunting) I just don't bother to conceal while I'm on my way there or back. Every now and then I get an odd look or two, but my wife says that's most likely because of the way I'm dressed for those activities. She says I look disreputable. :laugh:

 

[Mainsail]

...I don't want to walk around as a target. Bad guy, LEO doesn't matter I don't want to be a target.

Poor logic. You're already are a target, right along with everyone else. When a bad person has decided to do a bad thing, he or she needs to select a victim against whom to do those bad things. So it comes down to; how do I make myself a less likely target?

Concealed carry doesn't and cannot make you a less likely target when a bad person is selecting a victim. Open carry can and does.

Open carry assumes it's better to avoid the fight altogether. People assume that bad people doing bad things means they're stupid; that's debatable. Nevertheless, they have the exact same degree of self preservation that you have regardless of their IQ, and that's the important part. Whether an imbecile or an evil genius, they want to live as much as you do.

Concealed carry assumes it's better to wait until you're already the victim of a bad person doing bad things, and then try to fight your way out. Even if you're successful, did you really win? Did you really want your child to witness you killing someone? Do you seriously believe that you'll just shoot someone tonight and head off to work tomorrow morning like normal?

I open carry because I don't want to fight. I don't want to fight and prevail against the attacker, I don't want to fight.

 

[NavyLCDR]

What I stated is fact. Link Removed

You edited out the part were I said by the BG or the LEO for those who dont know LEO is short had for Law Enforcement Officer.

OK.... so one more reason to open carry. I might get to buy myself and my wife new motorcycles and have the city pay for them, like MSG Leigae (I can never spell his name right) did. I know him personally and live about 45 minutes from him. I consider that to be a positive .

Funny story - before this incident, someone else was harassed by a police officer in a Bellingham city park for open carry. So about a dozen of us from our group with our families and our guns had a picnic soon afterword in the same park. A little bit into the picnic, we saw two police officers on foot circle us once and approach us. Immediately all the cameras came out and started recorded video. They approached one member of our group who had a couple of dogs with them and informed them that after a certain time (I think it was 9:00am), dogs were no longer allowed in the park. . That was all. Not a single word about our guns. Shame they had to take their dogs home, though.

The first incident in the park sparked a negotiation with the City of Bellingham where they agreed to train their police officers that open carry is legal and not grounds for what they call "investigation", which we call "harassment". It was after that training supposedly occurred that the MSG had his encounter in the park; and that is why the city paid him $15,000.

Another incident of someone being "targeted" for open carry, as you like to call it:
Link Removed

That guy got $21,000. I wouldn't mind being the "target" every now and then!

I am not going to modify my legal behavior based upon what one or two cops might think of it...

 

[Firefighterchen]

What I stated is fact. Link Removed

You edited out the part were I said by the BG or the LEO for those who dont know LEO is short had for Law Enforcement Officer.

What you stated was you conceal carry because you don't want to be a target.

I edited out the predator because it's non essential information on the statement you made.

For every open carrier that was targeted you can muster up, I'll give you two concealed carriers who were targeted.

Canton Ohio Police Officers Daniel Harless and Ma…: http://youtu.be/2zdLctr7Bo8

Link Removed

Concealed carriers do get targeted, so to say you conceal because you don't want to be a target is not true.

I agree that open carriers are targeted, just like concealed carriers are, with the exception that concealed carriers are targeted much much more frequently, thus making your original statement false. Plus, everything I wrote in my post before about painting more firearm owners in a negative light.

You want to increase the risk of being chosen as a victim, go for it. You want to talk negatively about firearms, not so much.

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[Eidolon]

I was attempting to read another thread in the forum; however I now can not remember what it was about because it got so hijacked. What I do remember is people arguing about Open vs concealed. Now I know that I prefer concealed because I don't want to walk around as a target. Bad guy, LEO doesn't matter I don't want to be a target. I personally have no problem with open carry. But Why do you do it? This is strictly an informational question. Call me curios.

Thus begins another pissing contest

 

[BC1]

I've always flown under the radar. I'm the hand up Mona Lisa's skirt. I've lived my entire life that way. Personally, I don't want anyone's eyes.
.
I asked my wife if she thinks I'm cagey. She said cagey, evasive, elusive, wary, hesitant and unpredictable. Qualities she loves in a man (sarcastically).

 

[Cherokee]

Their are benefits and downsides of both, but like was said before, just carry. I personally do both depending on the situation. I like the fact that my OC holster allows me to carry an extra magazine and is easier to draw from, but at times discretion is key.

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[farsidefan1]

I have a couple of what I guess some refer to as "shoot me first vests". I like them so I wear them. They are especially convenient for driving or sitting at a desk. I've not yet been shot first or second nor even third. For those that dislike them please feel free to continue not wearing them.

I haven't given much of a rats butt about what others think of my clothing since about 9th grade. For a few years as a very young man I took care of those that indicated they were not happy with my lack of 'branded clothing" but for the last 40+ years or so I don't give them that much of my energy. Keeps me out of the principals office:hang2: