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I just received my ltc in my mail today I need advice on rather I should open carry or not

Do whatever makes you feel comfortable. I don't think anyone can really give you advice either way. We might be able to help you out with some pros and cons, but even those are often conflicting based on who you ask. Best thing I can say is whichever way you go, find a good holster and practice often. Good luck and congrats on the plastic.

Thanks

Antbanks_84 wrote:I just received my ltc in my mail today I need advice on rather I should open carry or not

I'm glad you've decided to carry. That is the main point on which we should all be able to agree. What and how you carry is up to you.

As Texas Tornado said, you should carry in a manner in which you are comfortable. Carry a firearm with which you practice and are proficient.

As with most things in life, it comes down to which risks one is willing to manage and which benefits matter most. Do your own risk analysis, consider your own tactical and strategic situation, take into account your own abilities and limitations.

Your choice of carry method will vary depending on many factors. Regardless, your choice should be grounded in fact rather than emotional supposition and fear. Know the law and know yourself.

For me and mine, carrying openly works best. I carry openly where I can, conceal as the situation dictates, disarming only if I must.

Be safe and carry.

There are lots of things to consider.
What kind of holster? Does it have retention?
What's the environment? People bumping into you, stereotypical hostile business.
What do you normally wear for clothing? Me personally hate wearing tucked in shirts. In the cool weather, I typically wear these Duluth shirts a lot. I could wear an AR15 on my hip and it would conceal carry.

Typically I carry concealed, I'm a private person and don't like sharing my business. There are times I open carry, such as early morning walks or if my light weight shirt catches the wind. But normally I just keep it covered.

There's no '"should" in this decision.

I hope I'm wrong, but you sound as if (maybe) someone in your life is pressuring you to OC.

Such a decision is up to you solely and no one else.

I feel more comfortable concealed, I worry if I'm open carry someone could come up and try to take it. Plus if something goes down I want the element of surprise.

As others have noted, it is entirely up to you.

Personally, I carry concealed, I carry openly, and yes, on occasion, I am unarmed. I think a lot of folks also do all three. It really just comes down to percentages for each.

Unfortunately, my work is not gun friendly, so I don't carry for at least half of my waking hours, other than weekends. Let's say 40% of the time I am unarmed.

I carry every other chance I get. When I am out and about, I will try to throw a T-shirt over my OWB holster, partly because my wife gets "nervous" if I OC in public. But I will OC all the time that I am home. If I had to guess, on the whole, I would say it's a 50/50 split (I spend a lot of time at the house versus at restaurants, etc.).

So, net-net, for me, it's unarmed 40% of the time, OC 30% of the time, and CC 30% of the time. As the Twix commercial says, "try both and pick a side", or rather, pick a mix that works for you. The one thing I have not done at all since January 1 is to wear an IWB holster. I just have not seen the need.

I open carry most of the time because it is more comfortable for me, I always wear a shirt big enough to cover my pistol shoul I need to. I live in the general Ft Worth area and also spend sometime in cleburne, 95% of people don't notice or don't care! If your going to open carry really pay attention to those around you, I will always either place space or turn so that just grabbing the gun would require an overt act!

striker55 wrote:I feel more comfortable concealed, I worry if I'm open carry someone could come up and try to take it. Plus if something goes down I want the element of surprise.

Completely

As a new LTC person I would suggest starting out concealed. It takes quite some time to get comfortable even with conceal carry. If after you are comfortable with concealed then your choice as to open or concealed. I personally carry concealed 99.5% of the time.

Thanks for the reply I just wanted some of you guys opinions since my wife suggested I do not open carry because of the dangers

Time to roll out the tired cliches about open carry...

-It will make you a target of the bad guys.

-You are not highly trained in weapon retention and hand to hand combat like all street cops are.

-Someone will sneak up behind you and grab your handgun.

-You will give all LTC holders a bad name by pushing your open carry on people who would like to go through their lives without seeing evil WMD on people.

-You are attention seeking and saying "look at me" by doing it.

-Mas Ayoob and Jeff Cooper always said you will lose the element of surprise making you a worse "gunfighter".

-People will shun you at Church/Temple even if you don't carry or conceal there...and your Pastor/Rabbi will denounce you from the pulpit.

-And...finally...THE CHILDREN!!!! Please conceal and carry only, for the children...

I opened carry and joined my wife and family at the "La Madeline", We had a great light French food, and no one blinked. I met a friend who saw me there and said, I would like to do the same as you, OC.
However, my wife bagged me to conceal or put my gear back in the car, to no avail. It is for the Children sake.

Antbanks_84 wrote:I just received my ltc in my mail today I need advice on rather I should open carry or not

No, you probably shouldn't. Read this: http://preparedgunowners.com/2016/02/11 ... ld-either/