Open Carry

[DoubleJ]

It has nothing to do about letting him go. You are protecting you and yours. If by a mad guy sees a gun my hip and says not worth it. Good, family safe. People on here and other many pro gun people talk so much how easy it would be to take a human life like they are some bug or animal. Fact of mater is, humans are not a deer, they are HUMAN, your own kind. Evil or not, no mater how deserving they are of a bullet in the chest. You killing a human will haunt you. Cops, military personal are messed up after killing humans and have to live with the demons attached to that moment. I just don't take taking a human as lightly as people here do, I guess. I am pro gun, just anti killing people unless it's last resort... That's my point... People are saying they won't give that person a warning to do the right thing in the moment before killing them. It isn't my job to be judge, joury, executor, unless it is last choice.... Guess I am in the minority on that.

You may be the minority but you are by far not alone. 

[TheHunt]

I wonder if there is a study which reflects the crime verses open carry? 

I know if I was a criminal and I walked into a room or a place for armed robbery I am pretty sure I would not act on my criminal profession if there were people who were had weapons on them.

I also understand that you do not know if the open carry person is insane or mentally unstable.  That makes me nervous as well. 

[boneaddict]

THere is a big difference, walk softly and carry a big stick, or be a "loudmouth" and get your ass kicked. 
Chest thumpers and the like often have the same mentality.    Probably why more people get into trouble shooting themselves in the leg than anything. 

Nothing against owning a firearm, possessing it, etc. but I know what comes to mind in over 85% of the ones I see being toted around in public.    Generally its the ones I don't see that I would be worried about.   

I live in Yakima, argueably just as safe as Portland.

 

[pianoman9701]

THere is a big difference, walk softly and carry a big stick, or be a "loudmouth" and get your ass kicked. 
Chest thumpers and the like often have the same mentality.    Probably why more people get into trouble shooting themselves in the leg than anything. 

Nothing against owning a firearm, possessing it, etc. but I know what comes to mind in over 85% of the ones I see being toted around in public.    Generally its the ones I don't see that I would be worried about.   

I live in Yakima, argueably just as safe as Portland.

 

I just think you're painting incredibly broad strokes by saying that anyone who carries is an over-compensating bully. It's plain untrue and unfair. I don't usually expect unfair and untrue out of you, Bone.

[JimmyHoffa]

I find that those that feel they need to carry openly in public (other than store clerks in a gun shop), are probably compensating for something they are lacking elsewhere, or inadequecies.   

Its just another form of bullying or intimidation.

Unless the law has been changed, I believe it is still ILLEGAL to conceal long guns/AOWs.  Therefore left with no other choice--open carry or no carry.

[MadHatter]

Mad.........i like all this situational and tactical awareness talk....seems you are giving up alot carrying open, seems you acknowledge the dangers of it and the paranoia it causes, seems like a great way to celebrate your freedom, lol..bottom line is this, if i'm having a bad day, if i cant get a gun and want one, and i see you with one, i can take it from you and there is probably nothing you can do about it, unless your a blackbelt in weapons retention, or more likely: just lucky. at the very least we will both be on the ground and you will be desperately fighting for retention and your life.

You will not get my firearm from me, and it will not end well either.  As much work on retention as I have done, I would be a "black-belt in retention" as you call it.  Anyone that carry's should be, CC or OC.  Also, I carry tools to aid in retention.  Kind of hard to take my gun with your arm filleted open...

The real trick though is to get close enough to me without being noticed and getting behind me; because you are not getting it out while facing me.

And I give up nothing by carrying openly, I do the same thing when CC as well.  If you choose to carry a firearm, you change your mindset.  No matter how you choose to carry it.  If you don't change how you think, you will lose the fight when it matters the most.

[Alchase]

There is a big difference, walk softly and carry a big stick, or be a "loudmouth" and get your ass kicked. 
Chest thumpers and the like often have the same mentality.    Probably why more people get into trouble shooting themselves in the leg than anything. 

Nothing against owning a firearm, possessing it, etc. but I know what comes to mind in over 85% of the ones I see being toted around in public.    Generally its the ones I don't see that I would be worried about.   

I live in Yakima, argueably just as safe as Portland.

 

So do you feel this way about LEOs as well? Just curious.
How about during hunting season, when everyone is carrying a rifle and quite a few open carry as well?

Open carry is legal, as long as it is I will support it. Having said that, the only time I open carry is while hunting or hiking. And sometimes hiking I still throw a shirt over my BlackHawk Serpa or go concealed. Totally depends on my mood and what I am wearing at the time. Outside of hunting and hiking, I am always concealed. I feel being concealed gives me an advantage (what they do not know helps me) but that is just my preference.

 I can't say I have ever ran into anyone open carrying who acted like they were trying to intimidate or bully, usually it is just the opposite. Most I have met are just utilizing the open carry law to their comfort and benefit. In fact only a couple I have ever ran into were even trying to draw attention to the fact they were carrying, and those were in protest of 2ND amendment law changes proposed, and trying to bring attention to how absurd our firearms laws are.

All the others I have come a crossed who were open carrying were basically just going about normal every day to day business, they just happened to be wearing a side arm.

 

[boneaddict]

Its just a generalization pianoman.  There are exceptions to everything, and its just an opinion.     There are some that think strapping their deer to the hood of their jeep or the grill of the vehicle is ok as well.   Some think they have the right too, yet I doubt its the best thing to do. Are they showing off?  Do they have something to prove?  Are there any ramifications?   Are they compensating for something?  Does it bother me?   Will people do it?  Does it put everyone at ease when JDoe shows up at the soccer match with a gun strapped to them?   How about when he decides to argue with the ref?   How about when he flips you off in traffic and you see it strapped to his chest.  Do you think it does anything to escalate a situation?  How about the idots that pull their weapon out at the first sign of confilict?   Every person has a different background/lifestory, motive.     There are no takebacks.....

No ALchase, I am not saying every situation or every person warrants this.  Whats better, run into Bi-mart packing after a day of snakehunting, or shoving your gun into the glovebox, or how about tucking it under your seat while the 5 year old is watching and go pump some gas.

Do you think a soccermom in the grocery Aisle can tell the difference between an off duty LEO, vet with PTSD or a gang banger from the local Crypts or bloods when standing in line at the checkout stand.   Do you take any ownership in how uncomfortable it might make her, or does it matter becasue its your right.   How long do you retain those rights?

[pianoman9701]

Its just a generalization pianoman.  There are exceptions to everything, and its just an opinion.     There are some that think strapping their deer to the hood of their jeep or the grill of the vehicle is ok as well.   Some think they have the right too, yet I doubt its the best thing to do. Are they showing off?  Do they have something to prove?  Are there any ramifications?   Are they compensating for something?  Does it bother me?   Will people do it?  Does it put everyone at ease when JDoe shows up at the soccer match with a gun strapped to them?   How about when he decides to argue with the ref?   How about when he flips you off in traffic and you see it strapped to his chest.  Do you think it does anything to escalate a situation?  How about the idots that pull their weapon out at the first sign of confilict?   Every person has a different background/lifestory, motive.     There are no takebacks.....

No ALchase, I am not saying every situation or every person warrants this.  Whats better, run into Bi-mart packing after a day of snakehunting, or shoving your gun into the glovebox, or how about tucking it under your seat while the 5 year old is watching and go pump some gas.

Do you think a soccermom in the grocery Aisle can tell the difference between an off duty LEO, vet with PTSD or a gang banger from the local Crypts or bloods when standing in line at the checkout stand.   Do you take any ownership in how uncomfortable it might make her, or does it matter becasue its your right.   How long do you retain those rights?

I think that the soccer mom's discomfort is her problem and I'm not concerned with it. Her discomfort is not a result of poor firearm handling or of people abusing their 2nd Amendment rights. It's the result of the media making guns evil when you and I both know that's not true.

There's a huge difference between strapping a deer to the hood of your car and open carry. The major difference is that I have no right to hunt that deer and have to work everyday to make sure I can keep it. I have to be politically correct and I have to hide it like I'm ashamed of it because hunting isn't a right. Not so with firearms. I'm not a felon, a crazy person, under a restraining order, nor have I been convicted of or am under investigation for domestic abuse. Carrying is my right. Do you worry who you offend when you go to chruch? When people ask you if you're a Christian, do you cover your mouth so no one would hear? I would suggest not. If the answer is no, there's no reason you should be any different regarding your next right in the Bill of Rights.

[boneaddict]

and you don't describe that as chest thumping     I think the word I am looking for is discretion.

There is a time and place,  if you haven't lost the right.  Lose the right and then what?

[Ice Cap]

How long are rights retained that are rarely exercised?

[pianoman9701]

and you don't describe that as chest thumping     I think the word I am looking for is discretion.

There is a time and place,  if you haven't lost the right.  Lose the right and then what?

That's the difference between you and me in this debate, Bone. You think if we're really quiet and non-assertive, everything will be all right. I believe that being really quiet and non-assertive has lost us ground and we need to realize that we don't need to be sheepish with our rights. It's not chest thumping. It's exercising your rights. It's no more chest thumping than telling a police officer you don't consent to search. And as far as losing the right is concerned, there'd need to be a Constitutional Convention for that to happen, or a state by state ratification of a new amendment. That just aint going to happen. There's no way there's a super majority of voters in a super majority of states that want to end our gun rights, at least not yet. If we gun owners stay quiet while the antis scream, the antis will eventually get their way. We should be carrying enough to be clicking against each other's guns in Freddy's as we pass in the aisles. And, I guarantee at the same time that the crime rate at Freddy's would drop precipitously.

[runamuk]

I am going to respond from my old days as a "soccer mom" who was anti guns in my house... It still was more comforting to me to see a gun openly in a holster on a hip than a thug with his pants sagging talking smack maybe packing .... all the guys that were outlaws when I grew up carried inside pocket in leather jackets......oddly it always made guns you couldn't see scarier than ones you did see.  Then many years of the only people I knew when they talked about guns talked all tough n stuff further sealed my belief guns were bad.  A few instances camping with drunken gun handling added fuel to my belief guns were evil.  It wasnt hard I had been scared by actual situations ad a little media hype and I was down for it....no one needs semi autos what you gonna use them for other than people killing anyway?  And funny thing was the answer I often got wasnt well you can shoot targets and it is fun the answer I heard was .yeah well they look cool.....oh ok so guns=making you a bad ass.....more reason to not like guns. 

I gave up to pressure and let the guys have shotguns .... and eventually it was a hunters ed class and instructors that started the ball rolling to undo my fears... a few people on this site helped me along and now I kick myself in the ass for letting all those years of being surrounded by double tap pop a cap look at me I am a *censored* types having kept me from what is a damn cool hobby....

Open carry however has never made me feel threatened  the guy in Seattle who open carried a sword and the guy hiking in the olympics open carrying a sword that was a little weird......

[dscubame]

I conceal carry a great deal. 

However even in the woods I want to be concealed and it is in the woods I am more aware of coming across folks than in town. 

I am all about open carry and do not even take a second look when I see someone exercising that right.  I just choose to keep my element of surprise and not show my cards, nor want the attention.

[boneaddict]

by the way, you mentioned being a Christian.  No I don't hide it, nor do I run  up to every person I see announcing it either, nor do I wear a sign on my chest .  I believe if I did possibly you and any other person would immediately form an opinion. Next time I see you in Freddys, I'll follow you around the store and read the bible at you.   I'll see if you enjoy my right of free speech.     If asked I will not hide the fact that I am a christian, just like I won't hide the fact I own a gun and have no problem putting one between your eyes if I needed to.  I don't believe Ihave a positive effect on people immediately screaming I'm a christian and ram it down their throats.  Just a difference of opinions.

I just choose to keep my element of surprise and not show my cards, nor want the attention.

Yep.