General Gun Discussion

[Roundeye]

Right or wrong, open carry is a bad idea.  Very bad.  You give away one of your most important tools of self defense....the element of surprise.  Carrying open alerts the criminal that you must be delt with quickly and violently as you are a dangerous mark. 

Many would argue that it would deter attacks.  Maybe so of the average robber/rapist, but it would mean little to a crackhead/drunkard.  It could even make you a target of attack.  A crazed crackhead would see that as an item of high value just hanging there and if he attacks fast enough he can get it and trade it for his next high.  You may end up wasting the guy, but the whole idea is to avoid confrontation to stay safe in the first place.

Say you are in a gas station and a thug walks in with a gun in his pants intent of robbing the place.  If he sees a gun strapped to your side, he may likely pull it and cap you first to eliminate the threat.  You've got to think, criminal drug addicts are not rational people.  A need for quick cash to buy another hit is a very strong motivator.

I come from the "Walk softly and carry a big stick" school of thought.  Look normal and blend in.  Try to avoid dangerous situations and confrontation.  If someone does threaten me and I find myself in imminent danger then its a quick draw and a well-placed shot.  Only when its too late will they know I'm an armed citizen.

[storch]

I completely agree

[SteveBailey]

Right or wrong, open carry is a bad idea.  Very bad. 

NOPE, WRONG. 
 Open carry is a good idea. An armed robber is not going to rob a bank if he sees half the customers carrying guns. If they were all concealed, you'd have yourself a shootout.

Many would argue that it would deter attacks.  Maybe so of the average robber/rapist, but it would mean little to a crackhead/drunkard.  It could even make you a target of attack.  A crazed crackhead would see that as an item of high value just hanging there and if he attacks fast enough he can get it and trade it for his next high.  You may end up wasting the guy, but the whole idea is to avoid confrontation to stay safe in the first place.

Say you are in a gas station and a thug walks in with a gun in his pants intent of robbing the place.  If he sees a gun strapped to your side, he may likely pull it and cap you first to eliminate the threat.  You've got to think, criminal drug addicts are not rational people.  A need for quick cash to buy another hit is a very strong motivator.

  Weapon retention is a simple responsibility.

If someone does threaten me and I find myself in imminent danger then its a quick draw and a well-placed shot.  Only when its too late will they know I'm an armed citizen.

And how many people have you felled with a well placed shot?

[Shamus]

I have got to say that I have never understood these open carry zealots, especially in "shall issue states".

If carrying a pistol is important to you, go through the process for Christs  sake.

Strutting around with a handgun on your side is kind of silly as well as dangerous, I for one, if involved in a crime, would shoot you first.

shamus   

[storch]

I have got to say that I have never understood these open carry zealots, especially in "shall issue states".

If carrying a pistol is important to you, go through the process for Christs  sake.

Strutting around with a handgun on your side is kind of silly as well as dangerous, I for one, if involved in a crime, would shoot you first.

shamus   

or think twice if there were several others armed within the targeted establishment.  here in my beloved florida the gubmint is liberally allowing self defense including the use of deadly force.  if I feel in any way threatened I may shoot.  along with this sensible approach the punishment dealt criminals who use firearms in the commission of a felony has been harshened considerably.  I don't have statistics but in the rough neighborhood where I work armed robberies are way down, way way down.  perhaps people more adept with finding stuff on the web will look up those stats and see if my perception for florida is bourne out by the facts.

I know that not to long after the shall issue permits wee implemented two hispanic thugs attempted to hold up a mostly cash wholesaler and in the process of doing so many patrons drew their concealed weapons.  I was not present at this hold up attempt but a freind who was said that click click click click click click of hammers and slides being worked around and behind the thugs put an end to the assault.

[SteveBailey]

I was not present at this hold up attempt but a freind who was said that click click click click click click of hammers and slides being worked around and behind the thugs put an end to the assault.

Nice.. gun owners w/ cool heads. It's funny, the OC and CC crowd commit almost no violent crimes yet people get their panties in a wad over this so easily

[Shamus]

or think twice if there were several others armed within the targeted establishment.  here in my beloved florida the gubmint is liberally allowing self defense including the use of deadly force.  if I feel in any way threatened I may shoot.  along with this sensible approach the punishment dealt criminals who use firearms in the commission of a felony has been harshened considerably.  I don't have statistics but in the rough neighborhood where I work armed robberies are way down, way way down.  perhaps people more adept with finding stuff on the web will look up those stats and see if my perception for florida is bourne out by the facts.

I know that not to long after the shall issue permits wee implemented two hispanic thugs attempted to hold up a mostly cash wholesaler and in the process of doing so many patrons drew their concealed weapons.  I was not present at this hold up attempt but a freind who was said that click click click click click click of hammers and slides being worked around and behind the thugs put an end to the assault.

Of course...and you are talking about concealed weapons are you not? that is an unknown that would cause pause, open carry is a whole different matter.

Open carry proponents from what I have seen are trying to make a constitutional point or trying to fill some unfulfilled emotional void.

shamus

 

[SteveBailey]

Open carry proponents from what I have seen are trying to make a constitutional point or trying to fill some unfulfilled emotional void.

shamus

 

Go ahead and explain that one.  Or are you just randomly spouting negative things? 

[Shamus]

Go ahead and explain that one.  Or are you just randomly spouting negative things? 

Its a personal observation not really random, you may have different personal experiences.

 

[lasersailor184]

I have got to say that I have never understood these open carry zealots, especially in "shall issue states".

If carrying a pistol is important to you, go through the process for Christs  sake.

Strutting around with a handgun on your side is kind of silly as well as dangerous, I for one, if involved in a crime, would shoot you first.

shamus   

Yeah!  How dare these people exercise their Federal and State Constitutional rights?!  HOW DARE THEY!?!  WHEN WILL THEY LEARN TO SUBMIT!?!?!?!

[Shamus]

Yeah!  How dare these people exercise their Federal and State Constitutional rights?!  HOW DARE THEY!?!  WHEN WILL THEY LEARN TO SUBMIT!?!?!?!

Good!!!lets keep the Bill of Rights front and center!!!, but don't you guys forget the 4th, 5th and 8th.

shamus

[Marshal]

Just an FYI.
When you are OC'ing please remember that if you then enter a vehicle it is considered concealed. If you do not have a CCW permit you would have to unload and put gun in one place and shells in another. 

[SteveBailey]

Just an FYI.
When you are OC'ing please remember that if you then enter a vehicle it is considered concealed. If you do not have a CCW permit you would have to unload and put gun in one place and shells in another. 

Actually this varies greatly from State to State.  IN AZ you may carry in a vehicle, loaded and unless you have a CCW, the gun must be visible and holstered or contained, if it is in the passenger compartment.

[Reschke]

In Alabama if you have an open carry permit...not easy to come by here for some reason in Jefferson County...the gun must be visible and if stopped for a traffic violation you must tell the police officer when he comes to your vehicle. Otherwise they try to get you on attempted assault of a law enforcement officer up here.

[Roundeye]

NOPE, WRONG. 
 Open carry is a good idea. An armed robber is not going to rob a bank if he sees half the customers carrying guns. If they were all concealed, you'd have yourself a shootout.
 

Now if everyone had one strapped on, thats different.  Of course every town would be like the OK Corral with as many irresponsible/hotheads as we have today.

To be realistic, it would be more like maybe one customer out of a group of ten that would have an open carry showing....if that.  Even though it would be legal, this isn't the old west.  Lets be realistic for a moment:

To beat a criminal, you must think like a criminal.

With that in mind, if I were to rob a bank, upon walking in I would look for anyone who looks like they would ruin my plans.  The open carry guy would be imediately picked out as a threat.  I would casually ease over in line behind him like any other customer and as soon as he looked forward to await his turn, I'd pull my gun out of my pants and put it against the back of his head and take his gun as a trophy, or even easier, just cap him in the base of the skull and be done with it. 

It would be the normal, casual looking customers with a gun concealed about them that would ruin a criminals' plans.