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The Annoyed Man wrote:

anygunanywhere wrote:As I mentioned in my first post I thing women OCing will advance the approval and acceptance of OC more than us guys doing it. The sight of confident women carrying arms will convince a lot of the fence sitters among the women to see that exercising their right to self defense is a positive thing. Have any of the brothers here talked about this with your better halves? Thoughts?

My wife just now told me in response to this question that she would probably OC some of the time, but conceal the rest of the time. She carries all the time anyway, but for her it is just like it is for a lot of us—OC is an added convenience, but might not become her primary means of carry.

When I asked her the following: "If, after OC'ing for a little while, you realized that it was more convenient and just easier for you, would still mostly conceal, or would you start OC'ing all the time?" her answer was, "Yeah, I would probably just OC all the time."

She is a 56...... er, I mean 36 yr old who dresses somewhat conservatively, smiles a lot, and has a trim and no-nonsense kind of bearing.

Recently we went to a local music venue. Mrs Anygun was looking her usual best. One of the ladies seated down from me asked if she was my daughter. The look on her face when I told her Mrs Anygun is older than me was priceless.

They make us look good.

As I mentioned in my first post I thing women OCing will advance the approval and acceptance of OC more than us guys doing it. The sight of confident women carrying arms will convince a lot of the fence sitters among the women to see that exercising their right to self defense is a positive thing. Have any of the brothers here talked about this with your better halves? Thoughts?

In many people's world perceptions are their reality. In the same vein, stereotypes are based on fact. I appreciate TAM's comments. They are very valid. Many already have preconceived notions of us based on recent antics and it will take effort to change their stereotyped vision of us as a group.

EEllis wrote:
Anything can happen anywhere but I did a search and couldn't find a single case of a civilians gun being taken while open carrying. I looked hard and found cases of people being robbed of their guns but none where someone just walked up and grabbed it. This discussion is not about police officers who have much different needs and are placed in much different position. It's about armed citizens who can make whatever calls they want on holster type but right now are being pushed by some towards a solution for a problem that just doesn't exist. The only time I would break out one of my sherpa holsters was if I was doing something avtive like 4 wheeling otherwise I would continue to use the same holsters I do now when I carry concealed. Those holsters by their very nature hold a firearm in closer to the body and make it harder for someone else to remove. I just read a bit about this very issue and the guy made some good points that I'll pass along. http://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/2010/1 ... st-say-no/

Firearm retention training came out of a very real and statistically significant problem to police officers. We don't have that same situation here with civilian carry either open or concealed. We are just not seeing people having guns snatched away. Now if that changes , and it could if more people OC, then my belief may change

anygunanywhere wrote: We are not LEOs. We do not, as part of our job, place ourselves in the position of going out every work day and seeking out the vermin to place them under arrest, physically get close to them, frisk them, and cuff them. I grow weary of this insistence that when we put on our holsters and weapons when and if OC is legal that every Tom, Dick, and Harry BG is going to saddle up to us in the grocery store line and try and snatch our weapon.

I am not a novice OCer. I have OCed in multiple states over many years while traveling. Please save your "I am a LEO and I know what is best" stories for someone else. Thanks.

Pretty much said the same thing.

Charlies.Contingency wrote:

anygunanywhere wrote:

Charlies.Contingency wrote:

Cedar Park Dad wrote:

anygunanywhere wrote:We aren't talking about OCing long arms.

The OC movement as you put it consists of more than just the extremists of which you speak. There are many OC proponents who do not agree with the OCT and OCTC fools.

You're not the guys I'm worried about.
I would actually advise a retention holster if this is expected to be in town, for the primary reason I wouldn't open carry personally. I'm worried about others trying to grab the firearm.

Agreed, IDC if people confuse me for a LEO when I OC, because I am anyway, though I don't want the extra publicity for it. I found you and I think in sync on this topic "cedar park dad," because I hate having to constantly hover my firearm in public places due to the possibility of somebody trying to make a go for it. CC is the way to go in very public places like malls or shopping center IMO, or at least a level II or III retention holster. It would be crapy to go out with a bang, if that bang was your gun stripped from your nylon holster and pointed at your back.

Like that happens every day.

So every other day is good enough for you? Please, you speak of it as it it doesn't happen, because you have not witnessed it yourself I suppose. I hate to say that I've gone from talking to somebody, to have them think they can pull out my glock my level III blackhawk duty holster. I say this, because I've been there, not because I'm some kid thinking I live in COD. Heed my concerns, or ignore them, you don't have to like them, nor do you have to conflict it openly.

We are not LEOs. We do not, as part of our job, place ourselves in the position of going out every work day and seeking out the vermin to place them under arrest, physically get close to them, frisk them, and cuff them. I grow weary of this insistence that when we put on our holsters and weapons when and if OC is legal that every Tom, Dick, and Harry BG is going to saddle up to us in the grocery store line and try and snatch our weapon.

I am not a novice OCer. I have OCed in multiple states over many years while traveling. Please save your "I am a LEO and I know what is best" stories for someone else. Thanks.

Charlies.Contingency wrote:

Cedar Park Dad wrote:

anygunanywhere wrote:We aren't talking about OCing long arms.

The OC movement as you put it consists of more than just the extremists of which you speak. There are many OC proponents who do not agree with the OCT and OCTC fools.

You're not the guys I'm worried about.
I would actually advise a retention holster if this is expected to be in town, for the primary reason I wouldn't open carry personally. I'm worried about others trying to grab the firearm.

Agreed, IDC if people confuse me for a LEO when I OC, because I am anyway, though I don't want the extra publicity for it. I found you and I think in sync on this topic "cedar park dad," because I hate having to constantly hover my firearm in public places due to the possibility of somebody trying to make a go for it. CC is the way to go in very public places like malls or shopping center IMO, or at least a level II or III retention holster. It would be crapy to go out with a bang, if that bang was your gun stripped from your nylon holster and pointed at your back.

Like that happens every day.

We aren't talking about OCing long arms.

The OC movement as you put it consists of more than just the extremists of which you speak. There are many OC proponents who do not agree with the OCT and OCTC fools.

Cedar Park Dad wrote:

anygunanywhere wrote:

Cedar Park Dad wrote:

anygunanywhere wrote:The retention issue is a good one and thanks for the suggestion.

I was looking more for how do we present OC in a positive manner? How do we teach the uninformed?

We focus a lot on deescalation here on the forum. I am certain that future Texas OCers will be faced with scenarios where such steps will be required. Not every OC excursion will be a positive one especially in the urban environs where the not-so-gun-friendly live.

You won't. Unless you're in a rural environs, you're going to make yourself and the cause look stupid, like Fatman and Snowboots.
The concept of "educating" others is...misplaced.

Excuse me? Could you rephrase your comment so it is more clear? Not following how trying to educate will make me (us) look stupid.

Because you're not educating anyone. In their view, you're just showing off, like Fatman and Snowboots.
If you're a rural environment its fine, because, like long guns, its tradition and there's an actual reason.
In Starbucks it just looks like 1) you're a cop; or 2) you're overcompensating for not being said cop.

We will not win over everyone and I do not expect to. If we can win someone over that is great. If not, they were lost anyway.

I don't place much in what others think of me anyway. You shouldn't either. Thanks for your comments.

Cedar Park Dad wrote:

anygunanywhere wrote:The retention issue is a good one and thanks for the suggestion.

I was looking more for how do we present OC in a positive manner? How do we teach the uninformed?

We focus a lot on deescalation here on the forum. I am certain that future Texas OCers will be faced with scenarios where such steps will be required. Not every OC excursion will be a positive one especially in the urban environs where the not-so-gun-friendly live.

You won't. Unless you're in a rural environs, you're going to make yourself and the cause look stupid, like Fatman and Snowboots.
The concept of "educating" others is...misplaced.

Excuse me? Could you rephrase your comment so it is more clear? Not following how trying to educate will make me (us) look stupid.

The retention issue is a good one and thanks for the suggestion.

I was looking more for how do we present OC in a positive manner? How do we teach the uninformed?

We focus a lot on deescalation here on the forum. I am certain that future Texas OCers will be faced with scenarios where such steps will be required. Not every OC excursion will be a positive one especially in the urban environs where the not-so-gun-friendly live.

We have had some rip roaring OC discussions over the years. I have my own opinions on the subject but I would like to take a different tack.

We know that we really need to use future OC as a means to teach fellow Texicans that we are not monsters and that our firearms are only tools. I think that in the more rural areas this will not be difficult. The attitude towards firearms and firearms related stuff here in La Grange are different from Kemah or League City but not as much as some think.

Once passed I do plan on OCing occasionally. I already do on our 5 acres when working outside. The neighbors are aware of my stance on freedom and liberty. No one has said anything. They just wave.

I think there are ways we can put our best foot forward and further our cause. Let's talk about it.

First and foremost when I OC I plan on presenting myself in a neat and positive manner. I am a jeans and button shirt guy but will default to tee shirts in the heat. I very seldom venture to town in an unkept manner, usually to an auto parts store or the like. If I am with Mrs Anygunanywhere I want to appear decent. She makes me look good anyway.

Speaking of Mrs Anygunanywhere I think the absolute best move for OC is for the ladies to do so. There is no better example of freedom loving people exercising their right to self defense than carrying a firearm.

We have to change the public image of OC from the dolts with their black rifles to the true law abiding citizens that are the norm in our world.

What else do we need to do?