Open carry

[lovemachine]

What Joe Joe said. I find myself OCing a lot more now. But I'm more comfortable CCing. Sometimes I just don't want anyone to know I'm carrying. Other times I just don't care. A lot depends on what I'm gonna be doing and/or going.

 

[Blue Tile Spook]

OC?
CC?
DC?

Doesn't matter. Carry, and carry safely.

I OC 90% of the time because of my physical health.

When I CC, it is OWB because it physically hurts me to carry IWB.

I am literally physically wasting away due to something from the Persian Gulf. I have lost over 100 lbs in the last year going from a size 48 waist to a 34 waist. An IWB firearm grinds on my hip bones so the easiest and most comfortable way for me to carry is OC.

I don't care how someone carries a firearm as long as it is carried safely. I do not like being told not to carry OC, that it harms 2A rights by presenting a negative image. I have never had a negative interaction with any police department, only one store manager that said it scared her because she was robbed on her job at one time.

 

[ralphb72]

I had not visited this site in a few years

Wait a minute, what? Where have you been??? YEARS??? Welcome back, don't be a stranger!

 

[JDonhardt]

The strongest gun advocates I know will never get a permit to exercise a right.

It's a pity we live in a state that makes people pay to exercise their rights.

You're right about the pitiful state law. But its still a law and they will still punish those who break the law.

Being arrested and fined is a bad way to run a family. Perhaps people like me should be thankful that people like you are willing to disregard the laws openly and accept the punishments so that these ugly rules can be changed.

You do openly break this pitiful law, dont you? Or are you not this strong advocate you speak of?

 

[Que]

I have the same question. It seems that the ones carrying open are having a lot of trouble with the police. So why carry open. Again... I am not arguing one way or another. I am curious as to the reasoning.

Rammer

While I don't OC, I have never seen or heard of an OCer having issues with the police. Where did you see or read about this happening? Not a big deal, but would just like to know.

 

[E5RANGER375]

OC is what any inexperienced to average shooter should do in my opinion. and you will see a lot of experienced trigger pullers OC'ing also, and theres a reason. i OC 90% of the time EVERY DAY because its comfortable and its realiable, but i also cc in some cases for certain reasons.

most CC'ers have this false mental picture that they will be able to slowly stealthily pull their weapon and then use it with "navy seal precision" but most statistics show it will be totaly an opposite situation you will be in. you will need it quick when 1 second will mean the difference in going home or not.

removing clothes that cover your weapon starts to add fine motor skills to a situation that you dont want them in. basicly your adding extra steps to what could be a very metaly tasking situation under stress, even for an experienced shooter whos never faced it. also what happens when your clothing hangs up your weapon??? your screwed. go run a half mile and then try to quickly draw your pistol from a CC point. then try to put some rounds on paper and see how well you do, even if you were OC'ing. you will see how much better OC will be in a real life instance for the un-trained average person, just to get your weapon out and ready (the shooting part is more training). and when i say un-trained i dont mean just range training, i mean stress training and drills, etc. how well you shoot on a range matters very little in a self defense shooting. the guy will probly be less than 3ft from you so what you gonna do when you cant extend to shoot from that one possition that you've only ever fired from? have you practiced for it? probly not. also have you practiced getting your adrenaline under control so you can shoot when your hands are shaking? and this starts to go into a totaly seperate thread, but maybe ive answered some of your question.

ive tried to put this into laymans terms for the average site user to understand. i hate it when people constantly try to show how well they can use abreviations and terms that no normal human shooter or beginner can understand what in the heck they are talking about. probly turns a lot of people away from learning cause they are afraid to ask the "elite" what something means, LOL elite

also: OC is a PROVEN crime preventitive!!! FACT: badguys want the easy target, they dont wanna get shot, and you having a gun that they can see is a definate deterant. people have the false misconception that someone will try and take it from you while your standing there. FALSE. the stories you hear of citizens and even police getting their own weapon turned on them is because they didnt know proper retention techniques to use after they pulled their weapon (once again, more training). or they were already in a life or death struggle, so obviously then the bad guy will go for the weapon. citizens are not the targets like cops are. WHY you ask?? because you arent trying to lock them up, thats why.

im not the poet or the grammar major some people on this site are, but i hope ive given you something to at least think about. ive trained a lot of people and whatever you decide to do, please get training and never stop learning. complaicency = death in the trigger pulling world.

 

[smoking357]

What DON'T we have to pay for? Taxation WITHOUT representation. You would think that they'd have learned from history...

"Turns out taxation with representation wasn't such a good idea, either." -Various

 

[theturtle06]

"Turns out taxation with representation wasn't such a good idea, either." -Various

Would you rather have it the old way?

 

[smoking357]

You're right about the pitiful state law. But its still a law and they will still punish those who break the law.

Being arrested and fined is a bad way to run a family. Perhaps people like me should be thankful that people like you are willing to disregard the laws openly and accept the punishments so that these ugly rules can be changed.

You do openly break this pitiful law, dont you? Or are you not this strong advocate you speak of?

The people I'm referring to live in states where OC is free, but CC is licensed.

As to the first paragraph, how could any cop, in good conscience, arrest for exercising a right, and how could any juror, in good conscience, convict on same?

As for me, I recently stopped carrying. If gun owners expect OC'ers to shrug off having a loaded gun pointed to their heads, I've been run out of the game. If I knew the jury pool would reflexively award the OC'er ten billion dollars both for the trauma and to teach them a lesson, I'd risk it. Sadly, I don't think Hoosiers value the individual above the group, so it's safer to go unarmed.

 

[smoking357]

While I don't OC, I have never seen or heard of an OCer having issues with the police. Where did you see or read about this happening? Not a big deal, but would just like to know.

Well, a poster here had a loaded gun pointed at his head for quite a while, just last week.

You might also want to read this story:

The Liberty Zone: "I don't care what the laws or the Supreme Court say. WE are NOT going to have people running around, wearing guns..."

2theadvocate.com | News | Gonzales settles gun-carrying man?s lawsuit — Baton Rouge, LA

Don't forget this story. This East Palo Alto cop was hoping to kill OC'ers. No lie.

Calif. Cop Takes Heat for Anti-Open Carry Gun Comments on Facebook | Street Gangs Resource Center – Los Angeles and California | The Gang Experts | Crips | Bloods | Mara Salvatrucha | 18th Street

“Sounds like you had someone practicing their 2nd amendment rights last night! Should’ve pulled the AR out and prone them all out! And if one of them makes a furtive movement … 2 weeks off!!!”

He openly admitted that killing a citizen results in nothing more than "two weeks off." It's their code for a killing.

There are lots more. Have a look.

 

[NDguido]

For me, many times I will OC based off of physical comfort. Weather plays a large role in this. Other times, I will OC because I am tired of the mentality that I should "try not to offend others". And for the record, I carry both CC and OC. Please please please can we keep this a civil, informative thread?

I'm with you 100%. I'm still waiting on my LTCH, but when I do finally get it, I appreciate the fact that I'll be able to carry however I want.

 

[Gpfury86]

Who knew ....an Open carry thread would have 4 pages of posts in 4 hours.

OC, CC..... just carry it

 

[U.S. Patriot]

I say carry whichever way is most comfortable for you. Me personally, I try not to draw what I see as unneeded attention. I do not feel like I need to let everyone know that I'm carrying a firearm. That's just my personal preference.

 

[GLV]

Thanks, and thanks to all

Wait a minute, what? Where have you been??? YEARS??? Welcome back, don't be a stranger!

Who took the time to answer my questions. I am still reading the answers so i may add to this post. GLV

 

[ATM]

Just a couple past threads that might help explain the choice for some:

https://www.indianagunowners.com/fo...lf_defense/71996-the_open_carry_argument.html

https://www.indianagunowners.com/forums/carry_issues_and_self_defense/11237-why_i_open_carry.html


And welcome back!

 

[Kirk Freeman]

For me, it is a political statement. Note this is the reason the Brady Bunch condemns open carry as it acclimates people to the idea that people carry guns.

Sort of like how Southerners were upset that blacks were sitting at their lunch counters as it normalized the presence of African-Americans in society. The Brady Bunch is upset that normal, decent human beings are carrying guns and thus influencing how the general populations sees guns (see, guns are not scary, they just sit there).

When I was hassled a year and a half ago, I never intended to make a poltical statement as I just wanted coffee on a warm Indian Summer Saturday. When the IMPD officer pointed the gun at me I knew that I may be shot and die because of his terrifying incompetence. However, freedom is never free and being hassled is part of the struggle to regain our civil rights.

I open carry a lot more than I used to but I am doing so with political motives.

 

[GLV]

OC is what any inexperienced to average shooter should do in my opinion. and you will see a lot of experienced trigger pullers OC'ing also, and theres a reason. i OC 90% of the time EVERY DAY because its comfortable and its realiable, but i also cc in some cases for certain reasons.

most CC'ers have this false mental picture that they will be able to slowly stealthily pull their weapon and then use it with "navy seal precision" but most statistics show it will be totaly an opposite situation you will be in. you will need it quick when 1 second will mean the difference in going home or not.
Where would I find these statistics?

removing clothes that cover your weapon starts to add fine motor skills to a situation that you dont want them in. basicly your adding extra steps to what could be a very metaly tasking situation under stress, even for an experienced shooter whos never faced it.
For me, the cover garment helps me on my presentation, and is no slower than an open carry. It makes no difference if I carry IWB or OWB.

also what happens when your clothing hangs up your weapon???
You clear you firearm and continue.

your screwed. go run a half mile and then try to quickly draw your pistol from a CC point. then try to put some rounds on paper and see how well you do, even if you were OC'ing. you will see how much better OC will be in a real life instance for the un-trained average person,
As I approach my 79th birthday, running a half mile is not in the cards, but even with my heart rate at 125, presentation of the firearm and hitting the target is not a problem, at least for me.

just to get your weapon out and ready (the shooting part is more training). and when i say un-trained i dont mean just range training, i mean stress training and drills, etc. how well you shoot on a range matters very little in a self defense shooting. the guy will probly be less than 3ft from you so what you gonna do when you cant extend to shoot from that one possition that you've only ever fired from?
Did you mean 3 yards?


have you practiced for it? probly not. also have you practiced getting your adrenaline under control so you can shoot when your hands are shaking? and this starts to go into a totaly seperate thread, but maybe ive answered some of your question.
Adrenalin, again, at least for me have be after the event I have never been in a face to face gunfight, and pray that I never am. i have been shot at and I have been in combat situations.



ive tried to put this into laymans terms for the average site user to understand. i hate it when people constantly try to show how well they can use abreviations and terms that no normal human shooter or beginner can understand what in the heck they are talking about. probly turns a lot of people away from learning cause they are afraid to ask the "elite" what something means, LOL elite

also: OC is a PROVEN crime preventitive!!!
Do you have some statistics? I would be interested in reading them. Thanks.


FACT: badguys want the easy target, they dont wanna get shot, and you having a gun that they can see is a definate deterant. people have the false misconception that someone will try and take it from you while your standing there. FALSE. the stories you hear of citizens and even police getting their own weapon turned on them is because they didnt know proper retention techniques to use after they pulled their weapon (once again, more training). or they were already in a life or death struggle, so obviously then the bad guy will go for the weapon. citizens are not the targets like cops are. WHY you ask?? because you arent trying to lock them up, thats why.
Does this mean you advocate handgun retention training for all who carry, or just those who carry open? As a former Handgun Retention Instructor, now now current due to age, I can tell you that the training is not easy, and is physically demanding on both student and instructor.



im not the poet or the grammar major some people on this site are, but i hope ive given you something to at least think about. ive trained a lot of people and whatever you decide to do,please get training and never stop learning. complaicency = death in the trigger pulling world.

I agree 100%

 

[Militarypol21]

I don’t own an IWB holster and don't want to keep pulling my shirt over the Glock 23 to hide it if I did. It would be more comfortable to OC rather than CC in my opinion but then again I’ve never had the chance to CC. Plus I feel it's my right to carry, why try to hide it?

Also (just my opinion) most criminals conceal their weapons under their shirt / in their coat / etc because "most" of them don't have a LTCH and are illegally carrying... if someone happens to see him/her "printing" or maybe even a glimpse of the weapon I can just hear what the average American is thinking "he has a gun, he's hiding it under his coat, what is he planning". I for one would feel more comfortable (being on the other side of the line) seeing someone OC'ing because they have to have their cards in order and are 100% legal in order to have a pistol displayed for the world to see. I guess that's just my knowing the average American (who likes to jump to conclusions) doesn't know its legal to carry both ways.
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[rmabrey]

 

[E5RANGER375]

[/b][/size]I agree 100%

ok at first i didnt even realize you added questions to my quoted statement. as far as the research, sorry i dont do that job for people. its easily found on INGO though i assure you. if not, then google it, and make sure you get the statistical facts from a neutral party in the OC or CC arguement. also you being an experienced shooter doesnt fit into most of the points i made geared towards beginners. i know im not gonna change the minds of hardcore shooters, but i was pointing out my opinions. but also some facts will back them up. also it doesnt matter if youve been in combat or not, i bet you will still not react the way you think you will if it happened today. thats complacency that i warned about.
and also, no i didnt mean 3 yards (this isnt CQB) i meant what i said, "3 feet" sorry i missed the reports of a bad guy standing 9 feet from people asking them for their wallets. ?????? can you show me statistics please?

i CC too, but i OC 90% of the time. so i wanna make clear that i DO feel that there is a place for CC but an even bigger place for OC. either way thanks for posting your opinions. at least we will give the guy all sides of the story so he can decide for himself.