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Jaguar wrote:Maybe it is a larger problem than I presumed, I stand corrected. I was not been able to find anything with a cursory search on Google.

Still, I don’t see a large problem unless you are one of the few examples listed. There is no “blood in the streets” due to people who are open carrying getting shot with their own guns. 42 other states allow it, 26 of which do not require a license.

My BBQ and range holster is open top, but I doubt I have much to fear in my own back yard. I would not feel comfortable open carrying without a retention holster secured on my belt, especially in large cities. I don’t feel comfortable in large cities anyway which is probably why I’m a country bumpkin, and OC would not be an issue out here in the sticks.

Pretty much what I've said before; concealed in urban/suburban environment, more likely to open carry in a rural environment.

Jaguar wrote:Do you really believe petty criminal and street toughs would attack a man with a gun on his hip? I guess it could happen, but I have not heard any horror stories from other states with open carry. Are there any news articles you can point to and say, “here is an example of what I am concerned about.”

If it didn't happen in Kalifornia when you could open carry only unloaded, I don't see happening. It is always possible, not not very probable.

It's not real probable that I'll be in a store while it's getting robbed, yet I've done it twice in safe parts of town, once bu two armed fellows, once by 5 armed fellows, I carry for the rare instances. Otherwise, why bother carrying... statistically you'll probably never need a gun so why bother?
It happens, even Batman gets captured sometimes..

I don't flash a Rolex and Diamonds around like I used to ... My worth doesn't come from showing off and making me a target for thieves, I'd rather keep my custom Glock I've got over $1,000 in on concealed too.

It DOES happen.
[youtube]http://youtube.com/watch?v=zx_YUO4SzcY[/youtube]

Jaguar wrote:Do you really believe petty criminal and street toughs would attack a man with a gun on his hip? I guess it could happen, but I have not heard any horror stories from other states with open carry. Are there any news articles you can point to and say, “here is an example of what I am concerned about.”

I know police train in weapon retention, but since I am not a cop I don’t see the need. I don’t plan to arrest anyone, I am not fighting with anyone, and I seriously doubt someone would want to fight a person who is carrying openly. I would hesitate to walk around a bad neighborhood at night with a firearm visible, but then again, I hesitate to do that at all. Situational awareness is key, armed or not, open or concealed. Also, I would not use a holster without retention for open carry, but that’s just me.

So unless you can point to people who are open carrying and being assaulted (not police, it is their job) I will not worry about it.

This is the same argument that many folks against regular people being able to carry concealed use. They say the chances of being robbed or attacked are so remote that there is no reason to carry a gun. However, we know better and there are people robbed and attacked all the time and many of them that do have a gun are able to defend themselves. I think the reason you don't hear of many people getting their guns taken away from them is that not too many people that are carrying a gun get attacked compared to those without guns and even fewer people OC, which cuts that probability way down. The simple fact that people do try and take a LEO's gun away should be enough of a reason to think that it could happen to you. True, the circumstances are different, but I also haven't heard of anyone just flat out attacking an officer out of the blue to try and take their weapon. However, they are in uniform and likely have friends nearby. I think a non-LEO openly carrying a gun around makes themselves more of a target than an LEO. I still don't think this happening is very likely, just more likely and not contemplating how to retain your weapon or practicing how to do that is a bit irresponsible for someone openly carrying. IMHO

You often hear people say the following about open carry:
1. It normalizes firearms.
2. It marks the open carrier as the first person to be shot in a shooting situation.
3. Its quicker and easier to draw an openly carried firearm than a concealed one.
4. It makes the open carrier a target for gun snatchers.
5. It's my right and can be a political statement.
6. It can make you a target of house burglars who follow you home to get your gun.
and so on...

The truth of the matter is that there is some truth to each of those points and concerns, but in the end I will support a good bill to legal open carry while I will stand firmly against a bad bill. I really don't think it's my business what another person does as long as it doesn't affect me, even if it might somehow do so in some ultra rare situation. To be perfectly honest I do not support <insert group of choice here> rights, but I'm not about to tell people what they can and can't do in their <insert place where said group does what they do here> either. With that said, I'm done here.

Life is replete with choices. Sometimes a choice has the result we expect and sometimes the results are unanticipated.

It is still better to have the liberty to make the choice for oneself.