In most cases I would agree.shootthesheet wrote: It can be better for a criminal to not know someone is armed.
About 7 years ago I visited Phoenix on business, accompanied by a colleague. The trip was arranged on very short notice, and the only hotel available was a Travelodge that was described by our admin as being "almost brand new".shootthesheet wrote: In other circumstances the sight of the weapon will deter criminals. It is like trying to choose the right carry ammo, for me. Nothing is perfect so I make an informed decision and am aware of the possabilities.
The colleague was also a good friend and knew I had a RI CHL and that I regularly carried. I brought my carry piece at the time, a Ruger SP101, because I knew that open carry was OK in PHX.
The Travelodge turned out to be "almost new" as advertised, but we realized as we approached it that it was located in a rough part of town. Lots of graffiti, people hanging around, litter, etc.
When we went out to do our business, I kept the gun in the car. Afterward, we went out for dinner. I wore the gun in an IWB holster when walking around (in a nice area near ASU) and while dining. Even though I didn't see anyone else carrying openly (and I looked), no one gave us so much as a second glance.
Later on, we headed back to the Travelodge. As we neared it, I decided to pick up some stuff to munch on while watching TV, so we stopped at a quickie mart. There were some people who looked like they were loitering inside, and they did not look like very nice people. The Ruger was in a Galco holster from which I had cut off the thumb break. (I normally carried concealed, and didn't really need it as the holster held the gun firmly.) So the holster had no retention features of any kind.
I was INTENSELY aware of the possibility of a snatch, and briefly debated with myself whether to leave it in the car. I decided to take it with me.
I went inside and picked out a few items. The loiterers were near the check out counter, and I would have to walk right past them. I pinned my right arm to my side and approached the counter. I was at a very high state of alert, and was mentally running through how I would respond if any attempt was made at a snatch. (Drop all the munchies, backpeddle some, draw down and, depending on what THEY did, perform the indicated response.)
Then, as I got to within a few feet of them, one of them said to the others, "Hey! Spread out. Give the man some room. Can't you see he needs to pay for his stuff?"
It was like Moses parting the Red Sea, as the group (4 or 5 people) moved aside and gave me PLENTY of room.
I paid for my stuff and left.
I'm pretty sure they noticed I was carrying. And I'm pretty sure they either had no intention of attempting a snatch to begin with, or were more worried about getting shot in a snatch attempt than I was about them trying it in the first place. (Most likely the former.)
All that said, I prefer open top holsters, and I prefer to carry concealed. The exception is on my own property (I have a small spread.), where I can exert total control over access. (i.e. no crowd is going to gather without my permission.) When people come over to visit, they think whatever they want to think. Mostly, there are no comments of any kind.