*Stolen fair & square from another 2A site I frequent.*
There are very good and valid points made on both sides of the argument. If you are someone who prefers concealed carry you may have points such as: If my gun is showing Im the first one a criminal will come after in an attack. Or I dont want the extra attention my gun will get if everyone can see it. If you are someone who prefers open carry your points include: I am able to draw my weapon faster if and when its needed, and A criminal is less likely to attack someone they know can fight back and possibly win. I recently had an OC friend say during a conversation that if more people OCd then the general public would become more accustomed to seeing guns on hips and it would go from out-of-the-ordinary to common place.
Like I mentioned, these are all very valid points. If you are somewhere, say a bank, and a criminal is hell bent on robbing the joint he is going to take out the perceived threat first. And, unfortunately, if youre open carrying that may mean you. But, on the flip side, if a criminal were to walk into an establishment and notice that there are customers who are also armed chances are that he/she is going to turn around and chose another establishment. I was at a restaurant just this past weekend while OCing and had a member of the staff tell the group I was with about that very scenario happening, where 2 men walked in, scoped out the place then left only to rob the restaurant a few doors down. The first restaurant welcomes and encourages its patrons to openly carry. It has been my observation that the average criminal is a coward, much like the average bully is a coward. A bully isnt going to pick on someone who will fight back and give as many licks as they take, the bully is going to pick on someone who will cower in fear and make them feel powerful. The average criminal is the same way, looking for the easy score, not wanting to take an unnecessary risk by attacking someone who is armed.
How about the unnecessary attention that openly carrying your gun will draw? I practice both concealed and open carry on a regular basis. It is entirely situational as to which I do, sometimes both at the same time. I can tell you, purely from my own experience, that most of the general public is so wrapped up in their own issues they dont notice what is on my belt. Any feeling that everyones eyes are on me is all in my head. I get as many double takes with a 1911 on my hip as I do a .380. It may be because my .380 is pink, but it has been mistaken for a cell phone and a lighter. (dont ask me about that one it still confuses me). The times my sidearm has been noticed and pointed out it was always done respectfully and gave me an opportunity to discuss our glorious 2nd Amendment and how we must exercise our rights or lose them.
It is easier and quicker to draw from an open holster than a concealed one, but both draws take practice to master and practice you must! There are plenty of holster options for both concealed and open carry depending on where you carry and there is no one better than another, just ones that are better for a particular gun owner. I recommend trying out several holsters and carrying styles before you choose one that is right for you.
Is there a right way to carry? In the grand scheme of things, yes! Definitely! The right way is TO DO IT!
There are very good and valid points made on both sides of the argument. If you are someone who prefers concealed carry you may have points such as: If my gun is showing Im the first one a criminal will come after in an attack. Or I dont want the extra attention my gun will get if everyone can see it. If you are someone who prefers open carry your points include: I am able to draw my weapon faster if and when its needed, and A criminal is less likely to attack someone they know can fight back and possibly win. I recently had an OC friend say during a conversation that if more people OCd then the general public would become more accustomed to seeing guns on hips and it would go from out-of-the-ordinary to common place.
Like I mentioned, these are all very valid points. If you are somewhere, say a bank, and a criminal is hell bent on robbing the joint he is going to take out the perceived threat first. And, unfortunately, if youre open carrying that may mean you. But, on the flip side, if a criminal were to walk into an establishment and notice that there are customers who are also armed chances are that he/she is going to turn around and chose another establishment. I was at a restaurant just this past weekend while OCing and had a member of the staff tell the group I was with about that very scenario happening, where 2 men walked in, scoped out the place then left only to rob the restaurant a few doors down. The first restaurant welcomes and encourages its patrons to openly carry. It has been my observation that the average criminal is a coward, much like the average bully is a coward. A bully isnt going to pick on someone who will fight back and give as many licks as they take, the bully is going to pick on someone who will cower in fear and make them feel powerful. The average criminal is the same way, looking for the easy score, not wanting to take an unnecessary risk by attacking someone who is armed.
How about the unnecessary attention that openly carrying your gun will draw? I practice both concealed and open carry on a regular basis. It is entirely situational as to which I do, sometimes both at the same time. I can tell you, purely from my own experience, that most of the general public is so wrapped up in their own issues they dont notice what is on my belt. Any feeling that everyones eyes are on me is all in my head. I get as many double takes with a 1911 on my hip as I do a .380. It may be because my .380 is pink, but it has been mistaken for a cell phone and a lighter. (dont ask me about that one it still confuses me). The times my sidearm has been noticed and pointed out it was always done respectfully and gave me an opportunity to discuss our glorious 2nd Amendment and how we must exercise our rights or lose them.
It is easier and quicker to draw from an open holster than a concealed one, but both draws take practice to master and practice you must! There are plenty of holster options for both concealed and open carry depending on where you carry and there is no one better than another, just ones that are better for a particular gun owner. I recommend trying out several holsters and carrying styles before you choose one that is right for you.
Is there a right way to carry? In the grand scheme of things, yes! Definitely! The right way is TO DO IT!
ala the first news on six hatchet-job supposedly pro open carry news story.
