Is Mainstream America Shifting Towards Open Carry?

[dwtt]

http://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/201...ds-open-carry/

No, the country has been headed toward concealed carry. Look at the number of states that prohibited conceal carry 10 years ago and the numbers now. In many states where ccw is essentially shall issue, such as Virginia, very few people open carry since those who want to carry a firearm have a CCW and conceal carry. The only folks hot for open carry are CA open carry advocates because it's so difficult to get a CCW in CA. If CA was shall issue for CCWs, then it's likely noone will open carry since those who want to carry will do it legally with a CCW.

[M. D. Van Norman]

[J.D.Allen]

Not in NW Arizona. People OCing around town is not a common sight.

Out in the desert, going to the range, gun shops, etc, in other words, where you might expect to see people carrying guns, it's not unusual.

Well in SW AZ, while it may not be a "common" sight, it certainly is not "uncommon". I OC quite a bit around town, and have seen many others doing so as well. At Starbucks, Wally world, Barnes and Noble, the grocery store, etc... no one even bats an eye at me or anyone else I've seen. No one cares or thinks its a big deal at all.

I don't think I would call it mainstream, which in my opinion is unfortunate. But it is generally accepted as normal.

[meaty-btz]

My favorite topic. OC is my tactical choice for all the reasons spelled out at my favorite link http://www.usacarry.com/forums/open-...-argument.html . It's a great read please click and see if you aren't converted!!!

For strategic reasons I think easing CA in to Carry via LTC will smooth the cultural transition.

However, I've been carrying concealed for over a decade and it's, IMO, a PITA! Love OCing in AZ and NV and have seen OCers every time I visit.

Best link in ages. I am, and remain an OC (not unloaded) proponent for every reason mentioned in that link.

[r3dn3ck]

There's no place quite as polite and civil as a gun show and all of those guns are unloaded. Imagine how polite life would be when we are all forced to assume that everyone we encounter is our genuine equal. Sam Colt's legendary tag line was not a joke or a gimmick. It was an astute observation of the human condition in all its complexity. Colt made them all equals.

I don't care if it's on the hip or under the shirt or worn in a fancy 18lbs headdress with 6 foot tall feathers and a chandelier. I think however you want to carry it, carry it that exact way. When you need it, it'll be right there and the first person to thank you for the chance to go home will be you.

[diggersdarling]

I am absolutely astonished at how some of the people in this thread (which, regrettably, is a a reasonably accurate sampling of the Calguns population) are so close-minded about RKBA and simply don't get history.

California more "urbane and civilized"? You have to be joking.

[M. D. Van Norman]

He was clearly joking.

[MudCamper]

Is Mainstream America Shifting Towards Open Carry?

Nationally, yes. California, no. We will be last to accept it, like all things relating to gun rights. As this thread clearly illustrates, even many "pro-2A" Californians are against open carry, albeit for different reasons than the general public. The "pro-2A" but anti-open-carry Californian is afraid of the blow-back that OC generates.

[newbee1111]

I know this is an echo chamber but really? Mainstream America is not shifting anyway at all toward open carry. The only people that the average American expects to see openly carrying a gun is a cop or a security guard. Now there are plenty of places where openly carrying a gun when you aren't wearing some type of uniform is accepted and people don't immediately think they should call the cops. But those places are still in the minority and they are in the overwhelming minority when you consider population. Even in places where open carry is allowed most people aren't doing it. The open carry culture is basically gone, its not coming back.

[Mulay El Raisuli]

No, the country has been headed toward concealed carry. Look at the number of states that prohibited conceal carry 10 years ago and the numbers now. In many states where ccw is essentially shall issue, such as Virginia, very few people open carry since those who want to carry a firearm have a CCW and conceal carry. The only folks hot for open carry are CA open carry advocates because it's so difficult to get a CCW in CA. If CA was shall issue for CCWs, then it's likely noone will open carry since those who want to carry will do it legally with a CCW.

There might not be a lot of people Open Carrying, but there will be some. I will be one of them.

The permission slip is to keep you out of jail, not to let you exercise a right. That’s a subtle difference perhaps … but also an extremely important one.

Too subtle to have meaning. If the exercise of a Right lands me in jail, than it ain't a Right.


The Raisuli

[voiceofreason]

I support OC for 2 reasons.

1. sometimes while CCing, clothing moves, people forget, and I don't want them getting in trouble because somebody saw the gun

2. some people due to disability, petite frames, other reasons struggle with CCW and OC is simply a more practical alternative for them.

I know a woman who is 4'10" about 80#s. She's not a little person or anything, just incredibly petite. A j frame on her hip looks like a 686 on anyone else's. A full size autoloader IWB... not possible to hide unless she's wearing a heavy coat. To restrict her to CCW and a small gun (which she is might struggle with shooting accurately) seems discriminatory to me. I recommended that she NOT use a bag or fanny pack, but she decided that those are the only 2 methods that she can utilize effectively to conceal her SP101 for daily carry. (Rule 5)

If OC were legal, she's carry in an OWB leather holster daily.

Her personal life experience is such that not carrying is not an option.

[M. D. Van Norman]

Not a civil

[Wherryj]

I much prefer concealed to open carry. I hate the argument "If they are going to carry, I'd rather it be in the open than concealed."

I'd prefer making it the person's choice.

[Smokeybehr]

I'll throw in with those that want legal LOC backed with shall-issue CCW.

The number of people that will OC is going to be small at first, but with SI CCW, there are going to be plenty of people that would rather CCW than OC, even given the no permit necessary OC.

[CEDaytonaRydr]

I much prefer concealed to open carry. I hate the argument "If they are going to carry, I'd rather it be in the open than concealed."

+1

Open Carry was never anything I was interested in. That being said, it has freaked out the antis enough to make some headway in the CCW department, so it has been an effective tool in our RKBA struggles...