Would you "open carry"?

[frankie_the_yankee]

I think using a retention holster would be a fine idea. Yes, sometimes quarters do get close in public.

Agreed.

I guess I envision myself putting my arm down against the weapon in those situations and trying to move to a more open space.

I've been in one of "those situations" while openly carrying in Phoenix. (I was visiting and did it as sort of an experiment.) Too much drama for me. I would have been much more comfortable carrying concealed.

I don't care much for shoulder to shoulder standing room only and usually try to avoid those situations anyway. You won't catch me at a mall in the months of November or December.

I don't care all that much for crowds either. But I need to go where I need to go. If there's a crowd there, too bad. If I need to go, I am going to go anyway. It doesn't make sense to me to choose a carry method that makes me feel LESS secure in some situations. Kind of defeats the whole purpose.

And you can run into a "crowd" at a convenience store or a Mickey-D's. It doesn't take too many people to form a "crowd" if they are the wrong kind of people (i.e. street punk types) and they are behind you.

Even so, I would like the option of legal open carry in TX. As it is, I carry openly on my little spread. I wouldn't mind not needing to cover up on a quick run to the store. But 95% of the time I was out and about I would be carrying concealed.

[Smokewagon]

Nah, I wouldn't open carry but would like to see us get it. That way concealment wouldn't be quite the obsession that it is. Printing and exposing would no longer be a such worry.

[flintknapper]

I suppose it never hurts to "revisit" a topic, it is always good to get new and fresh perspectives.

The subject of Open Carry was discussed at length in an earlier thread, if anyone cares to re-read it:

http://www.texasshooting.com/TexasCHL_F ... open+carry

[kw5kw]

I would if I could but I wouldn't carry open 100% of the time, but neither would I carry concealed 100% of the time.


Place and time would dictate if it would be the correct thing to do; and then only if you feel that it's the right thing for you to do personally!

...it's called Common Sense!

It's just another right that I feel is lost to us here in Texas, one that needs to be reclaimed, a right that was taken away from us since the 1870's. It's time to retrieve that privilege.

[HKUSP45C]

IF open carry were an option I would certainly prefer it to concealed. I, too, do not buy the "they'll just shoot you first" argument. I have, not once, ever, seen anyone back up that fear with any data other than conjecture.

I think armed people provide a tangible reason NOT to commit a crime. I don't see any evidence that they induce a would be robber to become a murderer.

Besides the obvious nicety of getting rid of the printing, shirt blowing back, T-shirt hung on holster thing I'd like to think it provides a real alternative for people who's current mode of carry requires a mouse gun. If your mode of dress is such that you have no real choice but to pocket carry, open carry becomes a very attractive alternative.

So, I'll ask .... Does anyone have any real data linking open carry to dead or shot open carriers or is it just more "blood in the streets" arguments from the very side of the aisle that claims to hate them?

[flintknapper]

IF open carry were an option I would certainly prefer it to concealed. I, too, do not buy the "they'll just shoot you first" argument. I have, not once, ever, seen anyone back up that fear with any data other than conjecture.

I think armed people provide a tangible reason NOT to commit a crime. I don't see any evidence that they induce a would be robber to become a murderer.

Besides the obvious nicety of getting rid of the printing, shirt blowing back, T-shirt hung on holster thing I'd like to think it provides a real alternative for people who's current mode of carry requires a mouse gun. If your mode of dress is such that you have no real choice but to pocket carry, open carry becomes a very attractive alternative.

So, I'll ask .... Does anyone have any real data linking open carry to dead or shot open carriers or is it just more "blood in the streets" arguments from the very side of the aisle that claims to hate them?

No Sir, no data!

Again, here is the consensus from the last time this was discussed:

http://www.texasshooting.com/TexasCHL_F ... open+carry

There was a bit of division concerning Open Carry at first, but after some amount of discussion....there was agreement on a few key points.

You'll probably want to sit down with a cup of coffee (or maybe a bag of popcorn), its about 5 pages long.

[stoneface]

I would definitely like the option, if for no other reason than that it would represent an expansion of our freedom to exercise our rights. I think there are definitely places I would never open carry, simply out of a measure of courtesy and to avoid mass disruption (i.e., I probably wouldn't open carry to take my 5 y.o. daughter to a friend's birthday party). However, there are times for convenience it would be nice to just run an errand or go to a movie or something while enjoying the relative comfort of open carry. Of course, a retention holster is a must.

[135boomer]

I am all for open carry. I would probably still keep my pistol concealed but see the option as a legal pad. One more thing the anti's have to take before they get our CHLs.

[Big Calhoun]

I don't know, I think it would depend on where I lived and the areas I frequent most. I open carry inside my home and while on the balcony. Visitors and nieghbors seem to freak out just by seeing the straps of my shoulder holster and I swear one day someone is going to call Irving PD. Has already happened once while I was out cleaning a gun and had gun parts sitting on my balcony wall.

If I lived in a more rural area, not a lot of foot traffic, etc., I probably would open carry.

[Right2Carry]

IF open carry were an option I would certainly prefer it to concealed. I, too, do not buy the "they'll just shoot you first" argument. I have, not once, ever, seen anyone back up that fear with any data other than conjecture.

I think armed people provide a tangible reason NOT to commit a crime. I don't see any evidence that they induce a would be robber to become a murderer.

Besides the obvious nicety of getting rid of the printing, shirt blowing back, T-shirt hung on holster thing I'd like to think it provides a real alternative for people who's current mode of carry requires a mouse gun. If your mode of dress is such that you have no real choice but to pocket carry, open carry becomes a very attractive alternative.

So, I'll ask .... Does anyone have any real data linking open carry to dead or shot open carriers or is it just more "blood in the streets" arguments from the very side of the aisle that claims to hate them?

I don't think there is any data on individuals open carrying being targeted. If there is any data I would think it would support open carrying being a deterrant more than an invitation to a crime.

Bad Guys prey on the weak and those unable to defend themselves, open carry presents to a bad guy a person who is not weak and is willing to defend themselves.

IMHO concealed carry can invite a robbery because the person appears to be weak or unable to defend themselves. Surprise is great if the Bad Guy allows you to surprise him but in most cercumstances they are the ones doing the surprising.

If a bad guy is looking for a victim and he spots two potential victims, one who is open carrying and one who is not open carrying, who do you think the bad guy is going to go after? IMHO I think the bad guy chooses the guy who appears to be unarmed but hey that is just my .02 worth.

I would open carry if we had the right, but not 100% of the time.

[Cipher]

My fear is not that I'd become a target, as in shot first.

My fear with open carry is that I could become a target for ambush type attacks. In other words, BG sees me then sees my weapon. BG has had a bad day and decides he wants to get money the easy way. BG needs a gun.

Next thing I know I'm attacked from behind and my weapon is removed from the holster before I can react - this has happened to LEOs. Now, BG has my weapon and he may kill me or other innocents with it.

That's my concern with open carry.

I also think open carry would act like a visual 30.06 posting. We are all concerned with "gun free zones", rightly so, but in unposted buildings there is always the element of the unknown for the BG. With open carry all it takes is a quick glance by the BG to determine if the area he is in is gun free or not.

[RHZig]

I would rather them do away with 30.06 signs with the exception of a jail/courthouse.

[capttjk]

I used to open carry on occasion in AZ back when I was in college. Its accepted by the people pretty much anywhere in the state, especially the small towns.

I remember this old guy in Prescott, AZ who would even walk into the bank with his cowboy hat on and his two six shooters, pearl handles and all, one on each hip. Everyone knew him and nobody cared that he did it. Kinda funny.

[HKUSP45C]

I would rather them do away with 30.06 signs with the exception of a jail/courthouse.

I'd just as soon the 30.06 signs were done away with entirely.

Why is it again that licensed, back ground checked, trained, qualified, law abiding individuals shouldn't be allowed to carry in a courtroom or a jail again? Provided guns are carried by personell there as well. If it's truly a "clean" environment then I'd agree.

It strikes me that if guns are allowed in a place, at all, CHL holders should be allowed to have them too.

But hey, I'm a purist.

[elwood blooz]

I would not open carry. No need to make myself a target for BGs.

I do however think that we should have that option in Texas.