beansbaxter

Which do you support - concealed or open carry?

DerBarbarian

I personally prefer concealed, less of a headache if you get someone that donesn't know we have laws that allow us to carry firearms or are against it and call the cops just to spite you.

RCJIM

i like conceal because i would like people to assume i do not have a firearm, possibly given me the edge if i need it

James

I support BOTH.
Let those who feel the need to 'open carry', do so.
I myself prefer to carry concelled.

mjn

Open carry of a handgun IMO is grandstanding. "hey... look at me. I have a gun". About the only time I open carry is out in the boonies.. For instance, if I'm on my annual campin trip in Central Idaho, and we ride into Elk City for ammo and phone calls.. I just leave it on me. I'm certainly not gonna leave it on the ATV outside. But out there.. no one cares. Firearms are commonplace. Open carry around non-gun people just causes problems.

Besides.. why would you want anyone to know you are carrying? As has been said already, you lose the element of suprise.

nwcid

I support both. In true public I usually conceal carry.

Went on a trip to OR last year on the motorcycles so I had not choice but to open carry if I wanted to carry. Both me and the GF carried the whole time including in National Parks.

It felt a little weird to carry open but my thought is because it is not something people are use to seeing, nor that I am used to doing. If more people did more often I think that perception would change.

I had several good comments about it. A couple of other out of state people asked about legalities that did not know the rules and said next time they would have theirs. I had one mid 20's couple go running for their car when we pulled up. It could have been something else but they sure looked scared of us, it is very sad to see people like that.

BigStick

[QUOTE=mjn;9200] ...Open carry around non-gun people just causes problems...
[QUOTE]

But if more people would open carry as a part of normal daily lives, then it would begin to become less unusual, and people would become accustomed to it.

Both sides have their advantages, but when I am out with my wife and daughter, I don't want the extra attention that sometimes comes with open carry, so it gets concealed.

Bnd1t02

NWCID-

How did you open carry? Leg rig? On the Hip? Just curious

J

ArmedCitizen

I support both open carry and concealed carry. Personally, I prefer concealed carry because it is less hassle and it may provide a tactical advantage. Any law-abiding citizen should be allowed to carry open but it just causes unwanted problems...

chameleon

I definitely support both. My preference is concealed but more power to those that open carry. If it's effective then go for it.

NWSDE

This is exactly how I feel. I also feel that open carry puts you at a tactical disadvantage.

Lets say YOU are the bad guy and are about to rob the store and you see a person open carrying. What would you do? The normal prudent person will say... "I would pick a different place to rob" however, criminals don't think like normal people...

nwcid

Strong side. That is my normal carry. I have carried in a drop leg holster but that is when we are out riding ATV's and stuff where I dotn want the butt of the gun to jab me in the ribs. IMHO if you out out in public you look like an ass if you were wearing a drop leg holster.

Part of carrying and building support is to not look bad. Legal or not, Right or wrong IMAGE from the public DOES make a difference. It only takes one guy looking bad to give a bad image to LOTS of gun owners.

Just my thoughts and opinions take them for what they are wroth.

Here is a pic of how I usually carry, I dont have any pics of me from that day. M&Pc in Uncle Mikes Kydex.



Here is the GF on that trip. She is carrying a Taurus .38 on her weak side since I didnt have an open left hand holster and she only has IWB holster for it.

pnwvolks

This felt like a great topic for my first post. I have been lurking for awhile now so howdy.

I do indeed open carry from time to time, but people up in Sammamish tend to get kind of freaked out by it. I had a lady in a QFC come up to me and yell at me and tell me "You cant have that." I looked at her and said read your constitution and learn you're local laws. She was not happy with me.

Needless to say since that happened I tend to conceal carry as much as I can since I carry a Springfield XD .45 4inch barrel. Not the easiest gun to totally conceal at times.


cheers

nwcid

When people tell me I cant do something I usually ask them nicely "why not"? Then they will usually saw something like "it is against the law" and I simply ask them "what law am I breaking" I ask them to please show me cause I dont want to be breaking the law.

One of 2 things will happen. First nothing with change from the closed minded person. Second is that they will either ask and learn, or look up and learn the truth.

Either way it does not change the truth or the law.

Charro

Concealed for me.

WhiteKnight

I prefer open carry. I did have an incident in San Francisco and was almost arrested for open carrying in a Starbucks, but the cops didnt know that open carry was legal. I usually wear a shoulder harness or a drop leg holster if its cold. That way Im not concealing my weapon in any way.

Brianaintright

Either works for me.

The other day while working I walked into a coffee shop. A guy was sitting with a really nice 1911 on. I walked up to him and I could immediately tell he was getting ready for the "Show me your papers" bullshit but I just asked what make and who did the work.

Not all cops are ignorant. Some of us like guns too.

WhiteKnight

I know that not all officers are ignorant. I was just surprised that the SFPD was. Although, I have had quite a few good comments on my open carry. It hasnt seemed to make a lot of people uncomfortable. Some people have even asked me about because they would like to carry or their husbands want to carry.

Turtle

I conceal when im out in public. I open carry when Im out in the forest or mountains fishing.

Desvio

Concealed, period.

Open carry makes the public act weird, unless you're wearing a uniform that's commonly noted for open carry.

My only exception is if I am somewhere where I need my six-shooter with snake loads.

Firegal

Concealed when we are in the city, open when we are out in the boonies.
Less questions, no weird looks, cops don't hassle us....just the usual. BTW, we are both ex-cops so we know the legalities involved.

Guff

Support both, but I currently don't carry either way.

snarlywino

I am the oposite from most of you as I prefer to OC in public, everywhere except for work. I inevitably have great conversations with either curious or supportive people. I have OC'd for almost 2 years in Spokane and have never had a negative experience. I OC because it is more comfortable, promotes responsible gun ownership, and has far more evidence of being a criminal deterrent than otherwise.

These arguments that the public is un-accepting are clearly made by those who do not speak from experience. Try it and you will be surprised by how many people still have no idea you are carrying.

This is not to say that there are not times when CC is more appropriate. This is not to say that OC is for everyone. This is only to say "Don't knock it till you try it" and to suggest backing up opinion with experience.

Snarly

John805

Support both but tend to concel

Nutty4Guns

I prefer concealed. I am sort of a shy person and prefer not to be bothered by ignorant people. I have nothing against open carry however. If it works for you then go for it.

SPLATT

I'll carry either way or depending on situation or location.

Steve

just in joy

I like both ways I do not carry in public either way as I don't need the extra headaches involved laws or no laws I like to keep a simple life. and tend to keep to my own business i never needed a gun and a situation where I may need it I can use my hands if needed.

with my glock I got pulled (las vegas)over all the time and sitting explaining to cops when it was perfectly legal to have a weapon in a vehicle loaded and concealed or not be harrassed for 4 hours is not my idea of fun. all because of the way I looked was the reason I was pulled over. 4 hours of my last night on vacation to visit my family while I was in the military. it was too much headache and I didn't trust my brother in laws to keep my gun in the house as they are knuckle heads and will shoot steet signs and lights with it, Fing Idiots sorry rany over

but yeah both ways for me also if i was to do either or when huntng comes around I will carry open and thats what I am leagally able to do.

badkarma

Support = Both
Prefer carry method = concealed

I will go to the Open Carry event this year. As a right, we should all support the ability to do it. Even if you choose not to do it.

just in joy

I agree for an event I would support as there would be alot of people and also it is for a reason. to show we still want our rights and we do not want them removed (or stripped from us) I do not carry either way in my everyday life as less headache even though I have my rights to do so.

rodney king beat for no reason no gun!

Me with a gun Beat or shot for no reason naw I will pass. Some cops just need a reason to shoot you. I do not want to leave my family because i just had to walk around with a pistol just because. I steer clear of trouble now and with a gun I would do the same. NO BIG MAN COMPLEX here!

Nutty4Guns

I find it interesting that you are more scared of the police than the criminals. If you obey the laws, there is no reason for the police to be "talking" to you in the first place.

sixgun

I "support" neither. I carry a weapon because the constitution says I can. There is nothing to "support" However in the whole open vs. concealed debate I look at it this way. I carry concealed, because it is nobody's business what I am doing, but if my jacket comes open, or I simply dont put one on when I run into a store, or get out of my car, and my weapon is exposed, then so what.

Booga

We all know that isn't 100% true. How many times have we all seen discussions and personal accounts of people who were hassled by the cops for open carry? It's too many to count.

As for which carry mode I support: Yes.

Nutty4Guns

Okay, how many legally carrying citizens that were stopped by police have actually been shot during the process?

jaweber

i prefer both i believe we need to open carry so we don't lose our rights. but some time's you don't want people to know you have you're pistol on ya.

Kolat

Have blackhawk serpas for all my normal carry guns, also have IWB holsters for them as well.

I prefer to rock out with my glock out, generally have quite a bit of cash on me and I figure that crimans are'nt gonna fuck with a known armed target.

T

martinclaybold

I've always preferred concealed carry holsters. many people may get offended seeing you carrying the gun openly.

Little Bear

When you carry a gun, (IMO) it's supposed to be about you. What other people "think" should not be important to what you do. In this society we've been raised to care for other people, I understand that, but you can care for another person no matter how you're dressed.

Martin, that wasn't a rant against you your words just started my thinking.

Fossilman

concealed

DeadPool

I prefer open carry because I will be identified as a person of resistance to criminals, police will not be surprised if they search me, and its easier to access. I don't think a concealed weapon will give people the advantage they think it will because an ambush is a surprise that nobody sees coming and digging around in your waistband for your equalizer will give you just enough time to get pistolwhipped by your assailant who already has his gun out. Its best to advertise your options and let any potential criminals know what they are getting into.

archdruid9

i have seen a few comments that open carry does not give a tactical advantage, and one post even said what would a criminal do if he saw a person with a weapon. well id imagine most would go pick an easier target, but if everyone open carried there would be no easier targets righ? and if there is a visible deterrent than there is no tactical advantage nessesary besides better training than the bad guy. i also see alot of posts say that concealment is preffered because they dont want to be hassled. well, isnt that letting ignorant people dictate to you what you are going to do (i dont know about everyone else here but i think personally that allowing an ignorant person to dictate my actions makes me ignorant too) if everyone who carries suddenly open carried im sure people would find out the laws pretty quickly. if your carrying concealed all the time are you doing anything to educate and further the cause or just avoiding uncomfort? anytime i get hassled about a weapon i calmly explain what our laws are regarding carry and then ask the person " if you are still uncomfortable because you think its dangerous id be more than happy to take you to an appleseed shoot so you can learn what guns are really about and so you understand the safety and marksmanship training i have gone through to be safe and profficient with my guns. and lastly i saw one post saying that open carrying is just showboating. well i vehemently disagree. im sure there are always gonna be some who do think that open carry just makes them cool. i personally do it because i am morally, socially, and politically opposed to my rights being eroded or flat out taken. the only reason we as gun owners have the problems that we already do, is too many years of allowing ourselvs to be convinced that the rights and privacies that weve had taken already are nessesary sacrifices. for the people that dont like to be hassled, didnt you feel hassled going into the sherriffs station to get fingerprinted like a criminal so you could have you "papers"