open carry. what's the point.

[Heavy_Grinder]

Open Carry. What's the point in carrying a firearm in open public (like to the grocery store or something).

Obviously, The right to keep and bear arms is with every american citizen, but why would you want to carry a piece in public for the rest of the world to see. In the eyes of many, you're either going to be a cop, or in law enforcement if you have a gun to your waist. If you're just the average joe carrying around a firearm openly in public, then that would just seem weird to many people.

For those of you that do carry openly, can you honestly say that if you see something go down, without a shadow of a doubt, will you use your open carry firearm to protect yourself or other people.

[SunriseF150]

Because it's my right to. And as more and more people express this right, people will not think that it's weird.

I don't have a handgun yet (been buying too many evil rifles). But you bet damn well that when I get my handgun, and when I'm carrying (open or CCW) I will use it to protect myself and others if the situation arises.

[Matt C]

Well first off CCW is illegal (at least where I live nobody is getting a permit).

So imagine this scenario;

You are open carrying, I'll use your example of the grocery store. You are picking out a nice porterhouse in the meat department when you hear screaming from the front of the store. You run to the front and see a strangely dressed, large man with a large Japanese style sword hacking away at any employee he can find. (let's say that he is a former grocery bagger at the store, now fired, who has mental problems, of course all you know is the some nutcase is attacking people with a sword.) There is one obviously dead person the floor and he has two other employees cornered.

With an OC piece you could probably save them, unarmed you probably could not.

For those of you that do carry openly, can you honestly say that if you see something go down, without a shadow of a doubt, will you use your open carry firearm to protect yourself or other people.

Yes. In fact I would probably do everything I could to save them even unarmed.

[halifax]

Probably because it's not against the law. I'm fairly certain the first unintended consequence of this will be a another new anti-gun law.

[Matt C]

Probably because it's not against the law. I'm fairly certain the first unintended consequence of this will be a another new anti-gun law.

And one that will likely be invalidated by the post-Heller courts, and in the end force the sheeple to choose between scary open carry and somewhat less scary CCW permits.

[tombinghamthegreat]

I'm fairly certain the first unintended consequence of this will be a another new anti-gun law.

If it does then it will make for a good case for the supreme court since the 2nd amendment allows lawbiding individuals to carry firearms.

[BigBamBoo]

..........

[dasmi]

I don't open carry in California. When I'm in Arizona, New Mexico and Colorado, and I am in those states several times a year, I open carry. I do it because it's comfortable, I don't have a CCW permit, and because it's my right to do so. In short, because I can.

[glockster]

Open carry is not for me thats for sure....I am one of those people who does not like to draw attention to myself.

I think it is great to those of you who do. I have only seen one person here in Redding open carry...and I had to laugh. The only way to describe this person was to say he was a total nerd.

Pimples,funky hair cut,thick glasses,cell phone holster,etc....and he was pack'in a Ruger 45/22...lol.

Anyways.....

Hey, quit making fun of me.....

[99sparks]

Why do I need a point? Its my gun. I should be able to carry it if I want.

[joeyriv]

You are picking out a nice porterhouse in the meat department when you hear screaming from the front of the store. You run to the front and see a strangely dressed, large man with a large Japanese style sword hacking away at any employee he can find.

I remember when this happened, as I was right down the street from the (IIRC) Albertsons. I remember thinking that without a firearm handy, this guy is completely free to slice and dice his way through anyone. This is a darn good example, and I'm sure just about anyone would draw and stop this cat had they been carrying. OC or CC wouldn't have mattered.

Back to the OP's question though, I OC for my own self defense (well, me and mine, but you get the gist). I don't go out trying to be a superhero just because I have a gun. If I'm ever in a situation in which I might be able to save the day for the society at-large, then so be it, but I'm definitely not out looking for opportunities to be Wyatt Earp.

[Heavy_Grinder]

okay..let me paint a picture.

'Say, you're with your family eating at dennys restaurant. Then a bunch of gangbangers (thug lookin people) walk in with clearly visible to the naked eye, firearms to their waists.

Forget about the law abiding calgunner for the moment.

Wait a minute..'it would be their right to do this correct'

[M1A Rifleman]

Open Carry. What's the point in carrying a firearm in open public (like to the grocery store or something).

Obviously, The right to keep and bear arms is with every american citizen, but why would you want to carry a piece in public for the rest of the world to see. In the eyes of many, you're either going to be a cop, or in law enforcement if you have a gun to your waist. If you're just the average joe carrying around a firearm openly in public, then that would just seem weird to many people.

For those of you that do carry openly, can you honestly say that if you see something go down, without a shadow of a doubt, will you use your open carry firearm to protect yourself or other people.

So you look tacticool when checking the mail box or going to safeway.

[guns_and_labs]

I don't open carry in California. When I'm in Arizona, New Mexico and Colorado, and I am in those states several times a year, I open carry. I do it because it's comfortable, I don't have a CCW permit, and because it's my right to do so. In short, because I can.

I was up in Montana recently, p-dog shooting and the like. My buddy (a Montana native, and we were driving a Montana plate pickup) strolls into a gas station minimart with an FN Fiveseven on his hip, pure OC, mostly because he was in a hurry. I walk in a moment later, though my sidearm happens to be concealed, and walk up to pay for gas. I glance over to my buddy, notice his sidearm, wonder what the clerk must be thinking and turn back to the clerk to pay -- not saying a thing. The clerk, having seen me look over, says to me, "yeah, I think he's one of those damned Californians, visiting. Don't worry about him."

[RobG]

okay..let me paint a picture.

'Say, you're with your family eating at dennys restaurant. Then a bunch of gangbangers (thug lookin people) walk in with clearly visible to the naked eye, firearms to their waists.

Forget about the law abiding calgunner for the moment.

Wait a minute..'it would be their right to do this correct'

Sure. Why do you think they do not have the same rights as you do? This is the same logic used to keep law abiding folks in SF public housing from owning handguns.