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If you support open-carry, do you want licensed open-carry or unlicensed open-carry?

Given the choices, I voted unlicensed open carry.

In principle, I support open carry of handguns, long arms, Bowies, swords, switchblades, suppressors, assagais, pepperspray, and hives of African killer bees.

But.

Politically, I do NOT support any version of open carry that has the practical effect of limiting overall firearms carry (specifically, concealed carry). Concealed carry is vastly more useful, and if as you (Mr. Cotton) have argued elsewhere if I understqand you correctly, open carry will result in an explosion of 30.06 signs, then ixnay on OC.

It's hard to get all the nuances in a poll vote.

Licensed to start with (but with the goal of licensed or constitutional carry in the future).

Also with the option to carry openly or concealed.

I believe Licensed Carry would be much easier to "sell" to the public and I think some amount of "training/education" (in a class) would be beneficial as well. There ARE certain aspects of open carry that could be of concern when amongst the public.

I know a lot of people, including myself, that would love to see open carry legalized, BUT would never do it.

I'm cool with my CHL. No one needs to know whether I'm carryin' until they need to know.

While I probably wouldn't practice it, I'm okay with OC by those who have accepted the requirements, responsibilities and consequences of firearm usage in the public arena.

Our Constitution notwithstanding, there are folk who shouldn't be around guns, allowed to vote or to breed. Perhaps an OC license would weed out some of those who shouldn't be around guns?

For me this was a difficult choice. Initially, I thought "licensed carry" and would prevent just anyone from doing it. However, I think that if we had "unlicensed carry" we might better be able to keep it separate from our CHL.

C-dub wrote:For me this was a difficult choice. Initially, I thought "licensed carry" and would prevent just anyone from doing it. However, I think that if we had "unlicensed carry" we might better be able to keep it separate from our CHL.

One uniform class and license to carry. The licensee has the CHOICE of OC or CC.

Oldgringo wrote:

C-dub wrote:For me this was a difficult choice. Initially, I thought "licensed carry" and would prevent just anyone from doing it. However, I think that if we had "unlicensed carry" we might better be able to keep it separate from our CHL.

One uniform class and license to carry. The licensee has the CHOICE of OC or CC.

I agree with this statement.

I vote licensed OC. I do not want felons and violent crimnals to OC, periods. LEOs can check OC/CHL lic with no need to have an positive proof state issued id and and do on-sight background check. But I am not sure if this is an issue for LEOs

flintknapper wrote:Licensed to start with (but with the goal of licensed or constitutional carry in the future).

Also with the option to carry openly or concealed.

I believe Licensed Carry would be much easier to "sell" to the public and I think some amount of "training/education" (in a class) would be beneficial as well. There ARE certain aspects of open carry that could be of concern when amongst the public.

I generally agree with Flint's reasoning here.

I think unlicensed carry would invite too much opposition at this point and we probably wouldn't accomplish anything except spending a lot of political capital on a losing fight.

From a personal standpoint, CC has more tactical advantages for me in most situations and avoids tempting some folks to escalate a situation just due to the known presence of a gun. It also keeps the bad guys guessing unless and until I decide to resolve their uncertainty. This is a good thing in my book. If both OC and CC were authorized, I'd still choose to CC the vast majority of the time.

However, I would like to have the freedom of OC to be able to ditch the covering garment when hiking, fishing, camping, visiting the local convenience store down the road from the deer lease, etc. without having folks faint or call for the SWAT team along the way.

Beiruty wrote:I vote licensed OC. I do not want felons and violent crimnals to OC, periods. LEOs can check OC/CHL lic with no need to have an positive proof state issued id and and do on-sight background check. But I am not sure if this is an issue for LEOs

I didn't think felons could possess a gun in the first place and I thought there were studies and statistics that show criminals in general do not OC. I"m guessing that this would be in those states that already allow OC in the first place.

Unlicensed, definitely.

Good point C-dub.

Anygunanywhere

C-dub wrote:

Beiruty wrote:I vote licensed OC. I do not want felons and violent crimnals to OC, periods. LEOs can check OC/CHL lic with no need to have an positive proof state issued id and and do on-sight background check. But I am not sure if this is an issue for LEOs

I didn't think felons could possess a gun in the first place and I thought there were studies and statistics that show criminals in general do not OC. I"m guessing that this would be in those states that already allow OC in the first place.

Criminals don't open carry, but they do have guns fall out of their saggy britches sometimes. But I guess that isn't illegal as it is accidental unconcelament.

anygunanywhere wrote:Unlicensed, definitely.

Good point C-dub.

Anygunanywhere

In Unlic carrry, can a LEO stop and ask for ID and check if the OCer is not a felon? Or do you allow the violent felons to OC?

Beiruty wrote:

anygunanywhere wrote:Unlicensed, definitely.

Good point C-dub.

Anygunanywhere

In Unlic carrry, can a LEO stop and ask for ID and check if the OCer is not a felon? Or do you allow the violent felons to OC?

Well, the way I figure it, if OC requires a license the police will stop anyone they see open carrying just to check if they have a license. But, if it is unlicensed OC then they have no reason to stop someone unless they are committing a crime. Oh, and I'm not naive enough to think that it still won't happen, but it will cost some departments some money when they do. However, whether a person is violent or not is irrelevant. If they are not committing a crime at that moment then what's the problem whether they OC or CC without a license?

I also think that if and when OC is legal in Texas that a license will be required. Having it be unlicensed is JMHO.