Since the state I live in has always been an open carry legal state, I've carried that way more than most of the new crop of OCer types.
Is there some kind of special difference between those who open carried a lot and...as you said and I quote..."the new crop of OC'er types"?
That said, there was always some trepidation and a little concern that uneducated individuals would get all stirred up and create a problem that would be blown out of proportion by some overachiever cop.
Odd... my experience OC'ing has shown that after a short period of time the feeling of trepidation goes away and is replaced with the confidence of knowing the laws and having the ability to talk with folks who aren't aware of the laws... and also the confidence to handle interactions with police in a positive manner. And yes... been there/done that/likely will happen again too.
If it's legal, I have no real problem with OC. If there is a concealed option, I place the OC option in the same category as having purple hair or some other "different" personal statement. If possible, I don't care to draw unnecessary attention to myself(especially from anti-gun freaks).
So which is it? OC is fine if it's legal? Or is OC, and by inference those who OC, in the same category as all those other folks who are .... "different"?
While spending a summer in Colorado in 2010, I noticed on multiple occasions, a 60'ish man in Walmart OC'ing a S&W 9mm. The actions of many of the tourist types were borderline hysterical(not the funny kind). Those people would literally run away from this guy who was just trudging around picking up his items and not endangering anyone.
There were people "literally" (the word "literally" means it actually for real happened) running away from a man shopping just because he was wearing a gun? Really? Were the police called to respond to this big disturbance?
I personally do not understand the mentality of folks who think it is their responsibility to make sure they never "offend" or "upset" other people. I don't give two farts in a windstorm if folks don't like what they see on my belt. It is not my responsibility to live my life in accordance to the opinions of others... nor am I responsible to soothe the irrational fears of irrational people.
I have the right to bear arms... and if folks don't like to see a citizen of the United States of America exercising the right to bear arms ... well... they have the right to look at something else instead of looking at me.
I was CC'ing my Ruger 9mm and caused no reaction at all from those same individuals.
So? Does that elevate CC over OC in some manner? Or is that really an indication that society has been indoctrinated to fear guns?
Making a personal statement by having purple hair or flaunting wild tattoos is one thing but OC'ing(if there is a CC option) may have the downside of infringing on my gun rights at some point.
First of all.... (warning... rant follows) a concealed carry PERMIT is NOT "gun rights"!!!! A damn PERMIT is the exact opposite of a gun "right" and actually is a gun PRIVILEGE! controlled by the government that only gives "permission" to those it deems acceptable.(rant over)
And for some folks, myself included, open carry IS a personal political statement (the political statement part is also covered under the first Amendment part about "free speech") protesting the government wanting to increase it's ability to control guns.
Seems like OC often gets attacked because of the fear that someone will do something to endanger that precious carry "permit". That bit of paper that some people not only believe is some kind of "gun right" but even think indicates the person is a cut above all those other lowly folks who don't have the government's blessing as a special class of person with permission to carry a deadly weapon.
