Open Carry - First One Shot?

[Abraham]

I've read opinions regarding the wisdom (not just the legality) of being certain your handgun is well concealed most especially from the view of the bad guy i.e., if the bad guy knows you're carrying, you're the first one he'll shoot when the manure hits the fan.

So how does open carry reconcile with this perspective?

I'm not against open carry, far from it, but I hope if such becomes law in Texas we CHL holders will still have the option of concealed carry.

Obviously, I'm not well informed on this subject and I seek greater understanding in this arena.

Thanks.

[Furyataurus]

I don't know about you but I'd be even MORE aware/paranoid if I was open carrying. Whenever I'm in line at the movie theaters I'm always thinking of situations where the guy behind me tries to take my gun away while its concealed. 9 times out of 10 they will go for the right side, but I'm a lefty!!!!!! and I carry in the 6 o'clock position, small of back, so the advantage would still be mine. If I was to open carry I'd have at LEAST a level II retention holster.

[boomerang]

I don't see lots of news articles showing unconcealed carriers being shot first by bad guys in states that don't require hiding handguns.

[Abraham]

So what's the benefit of open carry?

Is there a school of thought that open carry will help dampen the enthusiasm of criminals in general?

Or, is open carry simply a second amendment right we ought to be able to enjoy and is presently being denied in most states?

Again, I'm not against the idea. It'd sure make carrying far more comfortable, but I remain uninformed as to it's benefits. I prefer a tucked in shirt, but to remain concealed I have to have a cover garment that I'd rather not have to wear. Open carry would make my preferred clothing style way easier, but I digress...

I remain in the dark on this issue.

[KBCraig]

I've read opinions regarding the wisdom (not just the legality) of being certain your handgun is well concealed most especially from the view of the bad guy i.e., if the bad guy knows you're carrying, you're the first one he'll shoot when the manure hits the fan.

So how does open carry reconcile with this perspective?

Easy: there's nothing to reconcile, because it just doesn't happen.

In a robbery, most BGs have tunnel vision. I've seen a video (can't find it now), where a BG walks up to a convenience store counter and demands the cash, while he's elbow-to-elbow with a uniformed cop who was standing there drinking coffee!

Here's another one, where a bank robber walks right past a uniformed officer without seeing him.

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=f86_1189163768&p=1" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

If robbers have scouted out a place well enough that they know in advanced that someone is OCing, they're either going to wait, or move onto the next target.

[flintknapper]

Easy: there's nothing to reconcile, because it just doesn't happen.

Theres your answer.

[Chemist45]

IMHO the idea behind open carry is that it gives you options.
Ideally, I would carry concealed whenever I carried.
But if circumstances dictate that I remove my covering garment I don't want to be in violation of the law.

Open carry also prevents harassment of CHL people by overzealous law enforcement. Although it has never happened to me, I have heard too many tales of people being harassed by LEOs because their weapon printed or was visible when they reached up or bent down.

Let me say that I am sure 99.9% of all LEOs would not do this, but it only takes a few bad apples to cause a problem.

[jimlongley]

So what's the benefit of open carry?

Is there a school of thought that open carry will help dampen the enthusiasm of criminals in general?

Or, is open carry simply a second amendment right we ought to be able to enjoy and is presently being denied in most states?

Again, I'm not against the idea. It'd sure make carrying far more comfortable, but I remain uninformed as to it's benefits. I prefer a tucked in shirt, but to remain concealed I have to have a cover garment that I'd rather not have to wear. Open carry would make my preferred clothing style way easier, but I digress...

I remain in the dark on this issue.

There are times when I would really like to be able to OC. I scoot out to the grocery for some essential ingredient for something I'm baking, and I spend more time getting concealed than it takes to just grab the keys and go.

And other such times.

[stevie_d_64]

I've read opinions regarding the wisdom (not just the legality) of being certain your handgun is well concealed most especially from the view of the bad guy i.e., if the bad guy knows you're carrying, you're the first one he'll shoot when the manure hits the fan.

So how does open carry reconcile with this perspective?

Easy: there's nothing to reconcile, because it just doesn't happen.

In a robbery, most BGs have tunnel vision. I've seen a video (can't find it now), where a BG walks up to a convenience store counter and demands the cash, while he's elbow-to-elbow with a uniformed cop who was standing there drinking coffee!

Here's another one, where a bank robber walks right past a uniformed officer without seeing him.

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=f86_1189163768&p=1" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

If robbers have scouted out a place well enough that they know in advanced that someone is OCing, they're either going to wait, or move onto the next target.

Excellent points made by my friend here...

Better to have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it...

Whether or not others know it, or see it, in my opinion, does not factor too much into the equation...The fact remains, you take the responsibility for your self-defense seriously enough to own, train, and carry a firearm for this purpose...How you do it is a measure of how accountable you are willing to be to do it...

There are a lot of people here whom I respect and trust my life to, and some of them have very good points to not carry in this manner, and I agree with those points, yet I temper my objections with the knowledge that because the law does not allow us to do so in the state, but we all do very well with the parameters we are given...

The issue to me is a political one, and one that a few elected officials, regardless of their position on the 2nd Amendment and its core meaning, are too squeamish to trust us with an un-fettered, inalienable and moral right to do so in anyway we see fit...

Whether you choose to do so (if the "law" allows you to do so ) is a personal choice, I believe there is a time, and a place and situations where this method is acceptable and the perceptions of those people, by others around them, would be well received and respected...

But that is only my well documented opinion...

As tired as some are of this re-occuring topic are, thats ok, because this issue goes deeper than just a tactical or practical methodology...I'll never tire of the deeper issue this brings up...

[Abraham]

I appreciate everyone's take on this.

I'm also certain I'm not the only one to have heard the idea of the bad guy on the lookout for the good guy who carries and plugging him first before committing his criminal act. I've heard this idea stated more than once and have been advised not to carry in a fanny pack because of it. However, the tunnel vision of a bad guy does make more sense...

I wasn't aware this is a tired topic. As stated earlier, I'm simply trying to understand the benefit of open carry. I'm intrigued by the idea, but I think I would feel a little awkward carrying openly, but I'd like the choice of doing so too.

[flintknapper]

I appreciate everyone's take on this.

I'm also certain I'm not the only one to have heard the idea of the bad guy on the lookout for the good guy who carries and plugging him first before committing his criminal act. I've heard this idea stated more than once and have been advised not to carry in a fanny pack because of it. However, the tunnel vision of a bad guy does make more sense...

I wasn't aware this is a tired topic. As stated earlier, I'm simply trying to understand the benefit of open carry. I'm intrigued by the idea, but I think I would feel a little awkward carrying openly, but I'd like the choice of doing so too.

No problem Abraham (good Biblical name BTW), we are happy to discuss the open carry subject again.

Or, if you like, you can use the search function for (Open Carry) and read to your heart's content. There have been a few spirited discussions, but many good points were made....and the forum as a whole benefits from it IMO.

So...no, you are not the first to have this concern.

Please, please, always feel free to ask sincere questions here. We will do our best to answer them (or direct you to previous threads).

Thank you for your participation Sir.

Flint.

[anygunanywhere]

I suggest you go to opencarry.org if you want to discuss ths open carry stuff. Open carry topics galore over there. Concealed carry topics galore over here.

Anygunanywhere

[shootthesheet]

I agree that the BG "grabbing the gun thing" doesn't happen. The main thing is that most criminals want to get in and out as fast as they can. Another, as mentioned, is that fear and excitement has them fuzzy. As well, there is the issue of them not knowing if that person with the OC firearm is a LEO or not. Part of why I support OC is the deterrent factor. Yes, if the criminal is calm enough to look around and if they see an OC firearm, they will most probably move on or come back later. Their desire is to get what they want and get out as fast as possible. A decent holster will prevent that firearm from coming out easily or at all.

That said, I wouldn't carry OC often. But, I would at times. Not the point. To me, the State of Texas has no authority over the 2A civil rights of Americans except where state level crimes are committed. And then, they can only restrict the rights for a short time, for few reasons, and not permanently. Want violent criminals permanently restricted then do it under federal law. Lock them up and don't let them out until they can be trusted. Then, the vast majority of law abiding citizens are not punished with restrictions because some nuts decide they want to break the law. Just my opinion.

[anygunanywhere]

I suggest you go to opencarry.org if you want to discuss ths open carry stuff. Open carry topics galore over there. Concealed carry topics galore over here.

Anygunanywhere

I seem to have offended the original poster. I did not intend to offend him by suggesting the open carry forum. I just thought he might like it since he brought up open carry on a concealed carry forum.

Anygunanywhere

[soccerguy59]

I view it this way, both are worthy options, so much so that LEO use both. Your typical street patrol PD will open carry while your Secret Service, DEA, undercover agents carry concealed.

My opionion is we should have the choice of either option, it makes better cense to me to conceal as Texas has a large number of people from other states that are not as gun friendly. If it were to pass, it will take time for the Public to become comfortable with the concept of open carry.

I believe that a vast majority of BG's don't consider who is carrying, they plan is to get in and out quickly and quietly.