Is Mainstream America Shifting Towards Open Carry?

[vantec08]

http://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/2012/03/robert-farago/is-mainstream-america-shifting-towards-open-carry/

[mag360]

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."

[vantec08]

I'm not an open carry fan, but it goes with RKBA.

[scarville]

Open carry may be OK in OK but California is home to a more civilized and urbane society. Here we keep our guns decently hidden lest they prompt some member of the gentler sex to have an attack of the vapors.

[a1c]

Mainstream? Not even close.

[stix213]

When Texas starts allowing open carry, then try telling me its going mainstream.

[dustoff31]

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.

[CitaDeL]

To deny open carry as the practical and mainstream practice is to deny the most core elements of individual liberty in exercizing the second amendment.

I point to two reasons to support my assertion. The first is that regardless of how you prefer to carry a firearm, it is essential for it to be displayed to be effective in detering bad actions of an assailant or group of assailants. (If you disagree with this, next time you are being mugged put your hand in your jacket pocket and point the hidden muzzle at the mugger and tell them you have a gun.) Secondly, open carry is as much 1st amendment activity as it is the second. This silent declaration is a message to others (particularly criminals) that you have taken your personal safety seriously enough that you are prepared to protect yourself from others with lethal force. I wonder if detractors would also have you remove the conspicuous alarm and alarm company stickers from your car or home because they do not approve... Or expect our homes to not have obvious security measures like locks on the doors and windows asserting that it is discriminatory or threatening to whomever approaches.

Is exposed carry appropriate under every circumstance? No- but the elimination of the choice to carry because one might offend or frighten an onlooker is precisely the infringement that leads to more onerous restrictions. It is tantamount in my view, to forcing someone to wear a ball gag because their words are offensive or frightening.

As Thomas Jefferson has been quoted;

[1JimMarch]

Yesterday here in Tucson I was coming back from a political event with a Democrat lady I know. We stopped to get something to eat at a local buffet, and I decided to leave the jacket in the car. She assumed I'd take flak for open carry.

Instead:

* One guy sitting across from us asked if my piece was a "Colt 45". I said it was a replica of the 1873 Colt, but it was a modern piece by Ruger in 357 with a modern safety grafted in. "Cool!"

* Later an older lady stopped by and thanked me for OCing, said it was great to see, she was from Florida where it's CCW-only by law.

The lady I was with was astonished. She had no idea that "us gunnies" tended to have such camraderie.

NOTE: I dress at least somewhat upscale ("business casual") deliberately, because the "armed and slovenly" look is more disconcerting. And I carry in decent-looking leather of my own creation...

[VegasND]

It would appear you've never been to Oklahoma. No open carry allowed; if you conceal carry with a permit and somebody sees your handgun you can be cited.

Open carry may be OK in OK but California is home to a more civilized and urbane society. Here we keep our guns decently hidden lest they prompt some member of the gentler sex to have an attack of the vapors.

[wash]

Nope, open carry is something only a small minority practice.

That minority is getting more visible but the bigger minority that carries concealed is pretty much hidden...

As legal strategies go, concealed carry should always come first because fighting for open carry first will give the antis an argument of "if they want to carry, do it openly" when we are trying to fight for concealed carry.

The opposite argument of "if they want to carry, do it concealed" doesn't make sense to anyone and can not be used against us.

Also in California because of the loaded open carry ban and the fact that we have a may issue license to carry law, fighting for LTC is much more winnable at this time.

Everyone wants constitutional carry as the final result but open carry isn't the right first step to get there.

[Liberty1]

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.

[Lugiahua]

It's a well written argument, but even if I had the option, I would still CC.
I am a college student, and not planning to face school discipline yet for my weapons.

but the fact is that I don't get option of any, it's No-carry for me in this county..

[guntrust]

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 have never heard or used that argument for open carry.

The two main arguments for open carry are (1) deterrence and (2) education.

Before the ban, i used it locally as political speech. I also used it for self-defense (and family defense) while visiting Yosemite.

[Mulay El Raisuli]

To deny open carry as the practical and mainstream practice is to deny the most core elements of individual liberty in exercizing the second amendment.

I point to two reasons to support my assertion. The first is that regardless of how you prefer to carry a firearm, it is essential for it to be displayed to be effective in detering bad actions of an assailant or group of assailants. (If you disagree with this, next time you are being mugged put your hand in your jacket pocket and point the hidden muzzle at the mugger and tell them you have a gun.) Secondly, open carry is as much 1st amendment activity as it is the second. This silent declaration is a message to others (particularly criminals) that you have taken your personal safety seriously enough that you are prepared to protect yourself from others with lethal force. I wonder if detractors would also have you remove the conspicuous alarm and alarm company stickers from your car or home because they do not approve... Or expect our homes to not have obvious security measures like locks on the doors and windows asserting that it is discriminatory or threatening to whomever approaches.

Is exposed carry appropriate under every circumstance? No- but the elimination of the choice to carry because one might offend or frighten an onlooker is precisely the infringement that leads to more onerous restrictions. It is tantamount in my view, to forcing someone to wear a ball gag because their words are offensive or frightening.

As Thomas Jefferson has been quoted;

Yup.

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.

Good article.

And yes, LTC first will likely ease the transition. Still don't like the idea of having to get a permission slip to exercise a Right though.


The Raisuli