I love OPEN Carrying...its tactically smart for self defense and that is the reason why I carry it in the first place.
I'm a former LE officer still work as an Armed Tactical Officer and of course have several Firearm Instructor Certifications and although OPEN carry is not for everyone I do it as often as possible.
With the rare exceptions in Iowa where its stated in the Statutes that I cannot carry (although most of those places you can make a formal request to do so...and hope you get a yes) SIGNS are NOT law.
I've let my students know of some of the NO GUN businesses I've come across that post signs but there are places WITHOUT signs that can still get their panties in a knot when/if they see you open carry at their location.
Sign or No sign they can ask you to leave and in doing so your not breaking a law.
I'm not akin to entering places where they post signs of stupidity (hey everybody inside is not supposed to carry come on in bad guys) as they don't deserve my business but there are instances when I do business out of "convenience" to me and I still carry...usually concealed in those places.
I have pumped gas and had a lady stare at me and say "I am not comfortable with you carrying a gun" to which I replied "then I guess we shouldn't have a problem that we can not resolve by talking".
...not exactly the best way to drum up business but I don't ever pretend that 1. I can satisfy everyone and 2. That everyone is someone I should service anyway. I've refused to instruct only 2 students and as a business owner I have the right to refuse service.
Most times someone says something like "wow, you carry a gun like that" to which I reply " yes sir/mam everyday almost 24/7 and if your interested in learning why and getting more info here is my card".
...at best they call sign themselves up at worst they pass the card to someone who calls relays the story about getting my card from that friend and I sign them for a course or two.
OPEN carry is NECESSARY to some degree. If we want to get the general public back on track to understanding that MOST people who OPEN carrying (not to mention in a holster) are Good Guys that it makes a good deterrent because bad guys don't like getting caught or hurt and when they see someone armed there is a likely hood of one or both.
Tactically...its logical because its instant access no lifting or sweeping of clothing and I am trained to protect it carrying IWB or OWB with a locking device on the holster.
I also don't have a "physique" that most people are likely to come at me even if I did not open carry but with one or more possible assailants, the added deterrent I convey open carrying majority of the time makes it feasible to me...again, not for everyone.
We have to be mindful in the winter of the multiple layers of clothing etc. so again that will play a role as well...not much point carrying if you cannot access it fast enough or at all.
Given that most attacks happen within 0-6ft 73% of the time and inside of 15ft 88% of the time you have about 1.5-2secs to draw and acquire the threat...not allot of time and why additional training to fend of an attacker (when escape is not an option) with the focus on getting to your tool asap is needed as well.
The laws in Iowa have changed drastically starting Jan 1st 2011...its now Shall Issue which means as long as your 21yrs+ (with very few exception to security/le/military personal) have a clean criminal background and no mental health admissions (voluntarily or involuntarily) the State has no reason to decline your permit.
Sheriff's are not allowed to use their "judgement" any longer as its not a may issue and if you have issues I highly suggest contacting DPS who are the ones of actually interpreting the State Law while the Sheriff's are the ones who impose it. A lawyer would be good to if you have issues in Iowa.
I instruct in Colorado as well as other states and CO has a very "grey" shall issue background. Its still very much more like MAY issue as the legislation has loop holes for sheriff's to discriminate however they are supposed to follow CSOC rulings and CSOC suggests to follow the STATE mandates/requirements.
The rare sheriff in CO that does not follow state requirements verbatum have usually been "advised" by County Sheriff's Of Colorado and C.B.I. (the ones in charge of interpreting the law) to follow the state law and as a fail safe RMGO.ORG seem to have a lot of added help to those who are wrongfully declined while passing state requirements.
In any case, the fact that one needs a permit is completely lame.
As much as I appreciate that its another income stream for us firearm instructors it really lets EVERYONE know that we have indeed lost our right.
A right is to be exercised WITHOUT a requirement of a permit/license to exercise said right...if you have to get one then your stating that we lost it!
Again, I open carry about 95% of the time with exception of winter, mainly due to the fact that I have to wear a winter jacket like anyone else would. Of course their are other options of concealment that are actually even faster than open carry for deployment (think pockets) just as I usually have other weapons more accessible anyway depending on which State I may be visiting at the time.
I do have to give CO temporary props for the fact that they do have and allow Conceal Carry at their University Campus and actually have a portion of student dorms dedicated to conceal carry students only.
Not likely to be a virginia tech happening over there but until we have nationwide reciprocity or actual CONSTITUTIONAL CARRY in every state its all a bunch of political BS that shows how corrupt things are.
I think most of us would be better served having to get a permit for the 1st Amendment rather than the 2nd....far to many stupid people (think anti-gun idiots) that are better off keeping their mouth shut until they educate themselves on certain topics.
J
