The Open Carry Argument

[LockStocksAndBarrel]

 

[cmr13]

why carry open when you have the option of almost always being able to do concealed. no brainer

Comfort and ease. Easier to get to, more comfortable, carry a larger gun easier, etc.

 

[chipbennett]

You went to 2 places that "request" you don't carry there?

And I'm surprised a 5 year old girl didn't take you out first!

In states where signs have the force of law, I avoid stores that post. In Indiana, if I were asked to leave, I would do so. At first, I was pretty miffed at Starbucks for their "open letter". But some considerable time later, I realized: if they meant it, they would do the legally binding things required to enforce it. All such places have really done is sidestep a political mess they don't want any part of. They "gave in" to the Bullying Mommies, by writing "open letters". Fine. If an "open letter" that compels nobody to do anything could get Shannon Watts off my back, I'd consider it, too. (Still, I much prefer Kroger's approach of telling the Bullies to go pound sand.)

 

[protias]

In states where signs have the force of law, I avoid stores that post. In Indiana, if I were asked to leave, I would do so. At first, I was pretty miffed at Starbucks for their "open letter". But some considerable time later, I realized: if they meant it, they would do the legally binding things required to enforce it. All such places have really done is sidestep a political mess they don't want any part of. They "gave in" to the Bullying Mommies, by writing "open letters". Fine. If an "open letter" that compels nobody to do anything could get Shannon Watts off my back, I'd consider it, too. (Still, I much prefer Kroger's approach of telling the Bullies to go pound sand.)

Unless things have changed in IN since I was last there in 2010, signs don't have any force of law. But since I also know what their policy is, I'll give my hard earned money to someone who really wants it.

I too wish more companies would tell the lefties to pound sand.

 

[cmr13]

But since I also know what their policy is, I'll give my hard earned money to someone who really wants it.

I too wish more companies would tell the lefties to pound sand.

Same here. I don't go to Target or Starbucks at all since they had their letters or policies or whatever. I also have gone to Kroger a couple times since they didn't give in.

 

[OutdoorDad]

The last time I went to Target, I open carried by accident as well!

I'd had my car burglarized in their parking lot several months ago, and no way was I going to leave my pistol in my car.

So I holstered it in my IWB hybrid and untucked my shirt rather than unbuckling my belt and getting everything perfect.

Shopped for about 30 minutes and drove home. That's when I realized I had untucked my shirt, but it was behind my pistol. Can't imagine how I could have drawn more attention to myself if I'd tried.


End result? Nothing. No comments. No confrontation. No issues. No small children disarmed me.

In retrospect, I got a few eye contacts from some of the ladies that I assumed was due to my rugged good looks.
But in all likelihood was because they saw my gun.

 

[eldirector]

XYZ,PDQ

Just sayin'

 

[Dwhizzle74]

New to carrying. But been ocing since March no problems no LEO encounters no one screaming mwag! Just smiles. Well one kid asked if I was a cop but that's it

 

[LockStocksAndBarrel]

Good for you!

 

[Dead Duck]

New to carrying. But been ocing since March no problems no LEO encounters no one screaming mwag! Just smiles. Well one kid asked if I was a cop but that's it

Time to celebrate!
Now go to 7-11 and get your free drink.

 

[Dwhizzle74]

I'll give that a shot next time tell em dead duck sent me? But yes on a serious note I'm very pleased I havnt had a bad encounter

 

[cbhausen]

I'm in and around Eagle Creek and Speedway a lot and the convenience store clerks like seeing a good guy with a gun for a change!

 

[JWoodlee]

I live around a bunch of ex-cheerleader soccer moms and they flip if they see a gun because "Johnny" might get the wrong idea. I usually conceal unless I am out later in the evening.

 

[actaeon277]

I live around a bunch of ex-cheerleader soccer moms and they flip if they see a gun because "Johnny" might get the wrong idea. I usually conceal unless I am out later in the evening.

And that would just make me OC.

 

[cbhausen]

I live around a bunch of ex-cheerleader soccer moms and they flip if they see a gun because "Johnny" might get the wrong idea. I usually conceal unless I am out later in the evening.

Sounds like a target-rich environment for Revere's Riders... Hiding that pistol will never change hearts and minds but showing it might start a conversation which has a good outcome like someone learning their rights and learning that MWAG can be a good thing! It's happened many times with me and it's really gratifying.

 

[protias]

I live around a bunch of ex-cheerleader soccer moms and they flip if they see a gun because "Johnny" might get the wrong idea. I usually conceal unless I am out later in the evening.

With such a strong argument against OC, I'm switching CC only from now on!

 

[eldirector]

I live around a bunch of ex-cheerleader soccer moms and they flip if they see a gun because "Johnny" might get the wrong idea. I usually conceal unless I am out later in the evening.

I married an ex-cheerleader soccer mom (yay me!), and I open carry a majority of the time. She even carries (albeit, concealed) on occasion, as do some of her friends. All of our acquaintances know I carry (or they need to pay a BIT more attention), as does my kiddo's new school teacher. All of the "moms" in the neighborhood are quite literally "soccer moms", and the families hang out with each other routinely (having a cookout at my place next weekend, as a matter of fact). I'm sure I was OC the first day I met every one of them. It is almost surprising how little they care about OC, OC, or JFC. Our kids play at each other's house, and no one mentions "guns" when their kids are over here.

 

[LockStocksAndBarrel]

The Truth About Guns recently published an article about OC=bad. The rebuttal came in today.

5 Reasons Open Carry Is A Good Idea - A Rebuttal - The Truth About Gun

 

[cbhausen]

Not sure if this has been posted here but worth a look in the context of this thread:

Concealed Carrier Robbed of Gun in Philadelphia

Make sure you watch the linked video, too.

I do not think my OC pistol could be taken like what happened here. The CCer who lost his firearm might have had a chance had his holstered pistol not fallen to the floor. No matter how you carry, do it right! Get a high-quality holster and belt!

 

[actaeon277]

Gun control groups accused of ?swatting? open-carry permit holders, putting lives at risk | Fox News