My view on open carry

[JP171]

A right not exercised is a right lost.
Open carry of a pistol in a holster on the hip is about the best way to get the public to firearms (unless the uninitiated are your friends, in which case a range session is due!). I do not see licensed Open Carry as a fear tactic. I will OC, you can CC, and the guy across the street will go unarmed. Cheers to all and their decisions, as we all have the right to choose.

Furthermore, I wish those who are anti-OC, anti-CC, anti-gun/2A would realize that because of their Hoplophobia or just plain left wing ignorance/faulty logic/faulty ideology are the reason we have gun free zones and how it affects us all by putting us in danger.

I think the other side needs to think about how their right not to choose to exercise their rights, and worse, try to deny others theirs, affects us all.

they do think of how it affects all of us, they firmly believe that guns cause violence and that if guns would go away violence would go away. I agree that this belief is illogical as is man. However their viewpoint however wrong is valid for them no matter what we say or do or even prove should that proof be counter to their belief. man is a violent creature absent self control and logical thought as are all animals.

[RJGold]

I am very happy that open carry got passed. In my perfect world, on Planet TAM, we have Constitutional Carry, and everyone does it.

However, I am VERY unhappy at the antics of some open carry activists which have poisoned the well for the rest of us.

For me, open carry is just another tool in the handgun carrying toolbox. Like others, I think that in most situations for the environment in which I live, open carry is a tactical mistake. In that light, I will probably continue to conceal most of the time. As we have just entered the winter season, and I almost never leave the house lately without wearing at least a light jacket over my shirt, concealed carry is probably the default condition anyway. I can see situations where open carry - at least for brief periods - might make sense.

But the bottom line is that I live in a suburban environment right now, and open carry is probably going to be more noticed by others than if I lived in a rural environment. Furthermore, because I live in a suburban environment, there is a higher probability that those people who do notice my gun are going to be frightened or angered or whatever by seeing it than they would be if we were in a rural environment where guns are more tightly integrated with daily life for people.

I live in a pretty low-crime area. But even though the probability of ever needing to use my gun in self-defense is fairly low, I prefer to be prepared for that possibility than not......and so I carry. But, I don't care to deal with muttered comments and nasty looks, NOR do I care to be the person who instigates the posting of 30.07 by open carrying into places of business where my concealed handgun was previously welcome.

It's not that I care what other people think; it's that I don't want to deal the the friction arising from their insecurities. Avoidance is sometimes a "best practice" when carrying a handgun, and what I am doing is avoiding their nastiness.

Example....... there is a neighborhood forum for my part of Grapevine on nextdoor.com. There is a Grapevine police sergeant who regularly posts public service announcements in this forum about public safety issues, etc. A week or so ago, he posted a reminder to local residents that, as of 1/1, open carry would be legal in Texas. Included in his post was the following:

House Bill 910 Effective: January 1, 2016

Authorizes individuals to obtain a license to openly carry a handgun in the same places that allow the licensed carrying of a concealed handgun. Individuals who obtain a License to Carry (LTC) or have a valid concealed handgun license (CHL) will be able to carry their weapon in plain view, when properly secured in a belt or shoulder holster.

Citizens are urged to call 911 ONLY [emphasis mine, TAM] when encountering a person who is in clear violation of House Bill 910. Violations can include:

Removal of the gun from a secured holster

When a gun holder seems intoxicated

When the gun holder is obviously committing a crime or acting in a reckless or suspicious manner.

A license holder may carry a handgun anywhere in Texas that is not expressly prohibited by law. Those prohibitions appear in several provisions of the Texas Penal Code.

(LINKEY TO HIS POST)

One respondent in the thread implied he was going to call 911 every time he saw someone open carrying, and he had to be reminded that open carry is not a reason to call 911, and that falsely reporting emergencies is illegal. Suburbia is FULL of cretins like this. I don't need their crap, so I don't expose myself to the possibility of receiving any of it to begin with.

If I lived in or near a truly small town in rural Texas - as I hope to some day - it would be different, and my OC practices would likely be different.

Interesting perspective TAM. I may get a very good look at the differences between the suburban and rural environments in the coming months. We recently purchased property in the Weimar, La Grange, Schulenburg area and are in the process of making it our weekend place. We currently live in Sugar Land (similar to what you describe in Grapevine) but will be selling our house there and renting in Katy (to be near work during the week). I'll likely get a good feel for tolerance of open carry in all locations.

My views on OC are similar to yours. I won't do it as a general rule for various reasons (tactical advantage, don't want the grief, don't want to be the cause of 30.07's going up, etc) but I already carry OWB at our place to keep from sweating through my IWB holster. OC may become the norm out there.

My two cents...

[Syntyr]

What he tells me is people just don't understand. That they see only what the news reports so they associate firearms with murder or violence. They have a fear of them because of the association with violence.

Carry on my brothers and sisters.

Swoops1,

That is exactly the reason I will OC. Until recently I was of the strict CC camp. However, after all of the hoopla, thanks to OCT OCTC and Mad Mommies Demanding, I have come to the understanding that the situation will never change unless I/We take action. The sheeples are barraged with a negative opinion of firearms day in and day out. The only way I can counteract that is by presenting them with the exact opposite view. Someone who carries daily, dresses nice and acts like a reasonable sane person. Thankfully they will never see us in 3gun matches!

Its going to take a long time to turn this ship around but the journey of a thousand miles begins but with a single step.

Peace and a wonderful New Years to everyone!

[The Annoyed Man]

What he tells me is people just don't understand. That they see only what the news reports so they associate firearms with murder or violence. They have a fear of them because of the association with violence.

Carry on my brothers and sisters.

Swoops1,

That is exactly the reason I will OC. Until recently I was of the strict CC camp. However, after all of the hoopla, thanks to OCT OCTC and Mad Mommies Demanding, I have come to the understanding that the situation will never change unless I/We take action. The sheeples are barraged with a negative opinion of firearms day in and day out. The only way I can counteract that is by presenting them with the exact opposite view. Someone who carries daily, dresses nice and acts like a reasonable sane person. Thankfully they will never see us in 3gun matches!

Its going to take a long time to turn this ship around but the journey of a thousand miles begins but with a single step.

Peace and a wonderful New Years to everyone!

Speaking to that point, I think that the folks with their panties all in a twist are going to eventually calm down when their anticipated blood-bath doesn't happen. 20 years into CHL, and carrying a concealed handgun today is a commonly accepted practice—even if not everybody practices it. Open carry will eventually be the same way. What I think is equally certain is that after a month or two, or maybe the first year, fewer people will open carry than at the outset. My "proof", anecdotal as it is, is my observation that in states where open carry has existed for a while, you just don't see it happening very much. The only person I ever saw open carrying in Arizona, for instance, was myself. And yet, I am certain that there must have been a certain percentage of people within my field of vision at any given moment who were carrying a gun.........just not out in the open........and that is in a state that doesn't even require licensing.

Anyway...... just as I choose not to be the test case whenever concealed carry law has been unclear on a given point, I plan to fly low and avoid the radar of public irritation for a while.

Whatever the tactical disadvantages of OC that might exist in an urban/suburban environment, they are surely minimized in rural environments where the population is less dense. Whatever the social disadvantages of OC that might exist in an urban/suburban environment, they are surely minimized in rural environments where the population is more likely to have grown up around guns and their lawful use.

My prayer is that those of the wadded panties eventually grow up, calm down, and stop threatening to call the cops on anyone they see open carrying.

Maybe I'm asking too much of them...........

Happy New Year back at you.

[Ruark]

I basically agree. I will not open carry as a general rule, but that doesn't mean there might not be times I will.

Same here. I'll CC 90% of the time, but I appreciate having the right to OC. Like, my wife and I have been running around all morning. It's cold, I'm wearing a jacket. We park the car in a lot about noon, step out, and WHOA, it's hot now, I need to take this jacket off! But I see your point about attracting attention you otherwise wouldn't get. I feel the same way you do, but I personally wouldn't let that outweigh my desire to OC at a certain time. I mean, I would have a hard time thinking, "OK, since I'm taking my coat off, I'm going to leave my gun in the car (so it can get stolen), instead of wearing it to protect myself and my family... because some people might stare at it."

It's a decision only you can make, and I can see how sometimes it would be a somewhat difficult one.

[Ruark]

Good comments on this thread, and it's nice that nobody is posting about how they think OC is silly, people who OC are just showing off, etc. We dont' need that division in our ranks.

I'm wondering if Chas would be justified in creating a new forum topic, something like "OC experiences" where people could post about what happened or didn't happen when they OC'ed. I bet it would accumulate some interesting posts over time.

[JRG]

We winter in southern Arizona in our 5th wheel, and have for the past 7 years since retirement. Arizona is an open carry state. I can count on one hand the number of times I have seen anyone open carry in Tucson in the 7 winter seasons we've been here. I have done it a couple of times, but could not get comfortable. I prefer CC. When we return to Texas in April, I am anticipating much larger numbers of folks doing the OC thing.

Joe

[Countryside]

I know people who are actually getting ready for open carry by getting a nice "show" handgun and holster. Their words...not mine. They're looking forward to actually showing off their gun and holster...to whom I'm not sure.

[Syntyr]

I know people who are actually getting ready for open carry by getting a nice "show" handgun and holster. Their words...not mine. They're looking forward to actually showing off their gun and holster...to whom I'm not sure.

Not saying I would wear this but it sure is purdy!

[Richbirdhunter]

I know people who are actually getting ready for open carry by getting a nice "show" handgun and holster. Their words...not mine. They're looking forward to actually showing off their gun and holster...to whom I'm not sure.

Not saying I would wear this but it sure is purdy!

I ordered the bottom one about a month ago, I should get it in March. I added a mag pouch and my initials. I'm thinking my Les Baer will look really pretty in that rig.

[Countryside]

I know people who are actually getting ready for open carry by getting a nice "show" handgun and holster. Their words...not mine. They're looking forward to actually showing off their gun and holster...to whom I'm not sure.

Not saying I would wear this but it sure is purdy!

I gotta admit...that IS purdy!!

[oljames3]

I could not find an automatic retention holster to fit my Tanfoglio BTA-90. Uncle Mike's to the rescue! I bought a new holster for open carry. I usually carry concealed at work. Otherwise, I prefer to carry openly. I wanted a paddle holster with a strap to keep my pistol in place while I recovery my rockets. This holster is extremely adjustable, fits my pistol and covers all but the grip. The thumb break works well and I can wear the paddle all day in comfort.

[txbirddog]

I put this on another site and will put it here as well


Well it is almost here. It will soon be legal to open carry with a CHL/LTC. There are going to be some growing pains on both sides of this issue. The media nationally is in a tizzy with reports on their news shows and are just waiting to see what will take place between citizens and law enforcement and open carriers. It is almost like they want adversial events to take place.

I know many are upset that Constitutional carry wasn't allowed. This is a start and I am sure that many legislators are watching what will be happening at the get go with open carry. Let me encourage those that are going to be open carrying at 12:01, take the high road with each encounter and be as nice and cordial as you possibly can. After the first couple weeks a lot of the newness will have passed and other issues will be at the forefront of the press's stories if there have been very few confrontations.

I truly feel if it becomes a non-event like it has been in the other states, we will have a MUCH better chance of getting Constitutional carry with the next legislative session. Our actions will also affect business owner's thoughts and they will be pleased if they did not post 30.07 and had no arguments between their customers.

Texas is always has a allure about it and this could continue that position.

Y'all be safe and have a great new year.

[T.Chaney]

I agree with T.A.M. completely.There are some that are so rabidly Anti gun that they will make up stories;example : this man was walking down the sidewalk waving his weapon around.You know that you didn't but the anti jackass is gonna cause trouble when he can.I can't afford to have to prove my innocense in court so I am gonna keep it covered for awhile,but I can't wait to walk around with my beautiful single action army out for all to admire.

[Beiruty]

In less than 24 hrs, OC is a legal matter. OC or CC. Just stay calm, dress nicely and enjoy your day.