It amazes me how people react towards me when they see that I have a pistol by my side
When ever I go the bigger cities around me,I'm always packing heat.
The other day I went into a Home Depot to pick up some building materials that one of my customers bought, and my CZ was showing from under my jacket.I didn't realize it until I heard some people walk by and say:"That Guy Has A Gun".When I looked around,there were other people staring as they walked by,and I noticed a guy wearing a HD jacket staring at me from about six isles down.
I decided that to cover it up might look suspicious,so I just carried on with my business.I have a CCW,even though we don't have any laws against OC in my state,I was advised that it would be a good thing to get by the local chief LEO in town.
I wish more people would OC in my state so it would not be such a shock to people when they do see someone with a gun in a holster strapped to their belt.
Anybody else ever had a similar situation like mine?
yeah there are a lot of sheep out there that panic whenever they see a weapon .
unfortunately that will not change in our lifetime i dont think.
i live in a state where OC is not legal so its even worse here but if you look like off duty LEO they generally wont say anything .
someone on the forums uses the term sheeple which really applies.
In my kommunist city if one is open carrying the police will take you down, disarm you and then decide whether you have a reason to open carry. I know, the State AG said that open carry is legal and the police have no right to do that, but......
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OC will probably catch on in this country now that 45+ states ... that’s up from just 2-3 less than two decades ago ... now have CCW laws. I have to admit though, as a prior law enforcement officer who spent almost my entire career carrying concealed, I would feel a little out of place, but nothing I couldn't get used too. Right now, most of my scenario training is based on my having a "concealed" weapon. I have always thought it best to go on the offensive during a threat either undetected or unexpectedly. The problem in my area is the intense heat and humidity. The summers here dictate that I carry a .38 J-frame Taurus Model 85 snub nose revolver because practically nothing else is truly concealable. I refuse to wear any concealed weapon under clothing that I have to rip off to get to, and I’m not one to walk around in an untucked shirt. Fortunately, we do have 3-4 cool and windy months by the ocean when I can carry a .45 ACP 1911A1 Government Model on a belt holster under a leather flight jacket or wind parka. I guess if "a lot" of people start to OC, I'll feel less like a target and do the same.
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Last edited by SightNSqueeze; 10-20-2009 at 08:35 PM.
It amazes me how people react towards me when they see that I have a pistol by my side
When ever I go the bigger cities around me,I'm always packing heat.
The other day I went into a Home Depot to pick up some building materials that one of my customers bought, and my CZ was showing from under my jacket.I didn't realize it until I heard some people walk by and say:"That Guy Has A Gun".When I looked around,there were other people staring as they walked by,and I noticed a guy wearing a HD jacket staring at me from about six isles down.
I decided that to cover it up might look suspicious,so I just carried on with my business.I have a CCW,even though we don't have any laws against OC in my state,I was advised that it would be a good thing to get by the local chief LEO in town.
I wish more people would OC in my state so it would not be such a shock to people when they do see someone with a gun in a holster strapped to their belt.
Anybody else ever had a similar situation like mine?
I guess so many South Carolinians carry weapons, few people notice or really care if a concealed weapon is accidently exposed. It's just not an issue around here. Once a waiter at a Hilton Head Island restaurant starting acting uncomfortable because my dinner jacket was unbuttoned and he saw the .45 1911 (not my duty weapon) that I was carrying. He was more at ease when I saw and greeted the owner whom I knew from across the room. My wife being with me and being her usual chatty self probably helped too. This issue really is touchy with some people, especially if they are new to the area and are not into a culture of armed and responsible citizens.
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OC my 1911 in Arizona when I lived there. By the way people were looking at me, I just thought they liked the way I stuck the fule nozzle in the truck gas tank, LOL
I must say that the upside of the whole thing was that the customer service was great when it came to helping me load my truck.They probably thought that I was a cop or something.
It amazes me the amount of crime in my area of the state,it is getting bad.Just the other day,there was an armed robbery about 25 miles from my town,and some kids broke into a woman's house and killed her and severely injured her daughter.That was about 15 miles from my house!
I never thought about carrying a gun on me 20 years ago,but the way the crime rate is climbing around here,I never know what might happen.
LOL where I live...people would just ask what it was and want to look it over. Hillbillys are a gun-loving bunch! I would say that less then one percent of the houses in my county are gunless...and probably 50% of the vehicles have a gun in them...about 98% of the trucks do! I know only one person who hasn't got a firearm..and he's considering it. Shucks, I know little ol' church going blue haired ladies who would pull a shotgun or .38 on anyone stupid enough to break in their house. The violent crime rate here is almost zero...we have petty crime and theft, but no muggings or home invasions.
"An Armed Society Is A Polite Society!"
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That is pretty much the case here too. We are an "armed and polite society" where the criminals mostly prey on each other. Regrettably, some tourists get preyed upon but that is rare. A large proportion of the population is military with two good size Marine bases and a major Navy medical facility. Of course that just increases the proportion of gun people in the area. We do have a little higher crime rate in the summer months because of the tourists and the drug and prostitute crime that follows; but in the cooler months, things get pretty quiet. I can safely say that ever since CCW was enacted by the South Carolina General Assembly in the mid 90s, violent crime in South Carolina has gone down and the rate of gun related accidents has not gone up at all.
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Last edited by SightNSqueeze; 10-21-2009 at 12:13 AM.
I have to admit though, as a prior law enforcement officer who spent almost my entire career carrying concealed, I would feel a little out of place, but nothing I couldn't get used too. Right now, most of my scenario training is based on my having a "concealed" weapon. I have always thought it best to go on the offensive during a threat either undetected or unexpectedly.
I've wondered about the pro-cons of Open Carry vs Concealed Carry. I think there is something to be said for the element of surprise and going about one's business undetected. On the other hand, I wonder if although a 1911 on my hip would draw attention, it wouldn't also act as a deterrent. It would probably allow for quicker access in most senarios as well.
With the Texas heat and often wearing tucked in clothing, Open Carry would also go a long way for comfort as well.
I've wondered about the pro-cons of Open Carry vs Concealed Carry. I think there is something to be said for the element of surprise and going about one's business undetected. On the other hand, I wonder if although a 1911 on my hip would draw attention, it wouldn't also act as a deterrent. It would probably allow for quicker access in most senarios as well.
With the Texas heat and often wearing tucked in clothing, Open Carry would also go a long way for comfort as well.
No doubt OC is more comfortable. If more people were carrying OC, we would "really" see a deterrent effect on crime. More people, including CCW holders would have to get over the social stigma and fashion faux pas associated with OC. Until then, the few people who would OC would be setting themselves up as targets. Perhaps OC could be encouraged, kind of like “Red Ribbon Week” or “Wear Something Green Day” to get more people used to it. It sounds silly, but it might work.
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The way I see it you're a heckuva lot less likely to be accosted by the less than honorable members of our society if they know without a doubt that they'll get shot for their troubles. Nothing against CCW but in states where OC is legal why spend the $ and jump through the legal hoops to get a permit if you can just strap one one and go? Because wether you open carry or carry concealed you still can't carry in certain places, In kansas you can carry (concealed) so long as the place doesnt have one of those "No gun" signs, Kansas also doesnt generally prohibit open carry, as long as you know for a fact you're legal, that's the way I'd go, just my $.02 .
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In all honesty, I don't find concealed carry uncomfortable, even in AZ heat. I prefer no one knowing I'm carrying as I don't have to deal with any of the people trying to make a fuss about it when it's not their business in the first place. When I go hiking, I usually OC the .45 and I've had people comment on it before when I was in an area that posted multiple warning signs for mountain lions and there's no way a ranger or police will ever reach you in time if you have to deal with a predator of the two or four legged variety.
The way I see it you're a heckuva lot less likely to be accosted by the less than honorable members of our society if they know without a doubt that they'll get shot for their troubles. Nothing against CCW but in states where OC is legal why spend the $ and jump through the legal hoops to get a permit if you can just strap one one and go? Because wether you open carry or carry concealed you still can't carry in certain places, In kansas you can carry (concealed) so long as the place doesnt have one of those "No gun" signs, Kansas also doesnt generally prohibit open carry, as long as you know for a fact you're legal, that's the way I'd go, just my $.02 .
The reason that I got my CCW is that if you don't have one,and you get pulled over in your car you can get arressted for concieling a weapon.It doesn't make sense to me but that's what the local police chief told me.
He said that N.H. doesn't require you to get a permit,but if you are going to the range,or hunting,etc..,most people don't want to have their weapons out in the open on the front seat or in plain site.However,if you cover it up and you get pulled over while driving for some reason,the cop can ask you if you have any weapons.If you say yes,and it is covered up,that could be considered concieling a weapon.But if you have a permit,there won't be an issue.
It's a strange idea to me,maybe some of you cops or ex-cops that are on here,could weigh in on this.
The reason that I got my CCW is that if you don't have one,and you get pulled over in your car you can get arressted for concieling a weapon.It doesn't make sense to me but that's what the local police chief told me.
He said that N.H. doesn't require you to get a permit,but if you are going to the range,or hunting,etc..,most people don't want to have their weapons out in the open on the front seat or in plain site.However,if you cover it up and you get pulled over while driving for some reason,the cop can ask you if you have any weapons.If you say yes,and it is covered up,that could be considered concieling a weapon.But if you have a permit,there won't be an issue.
It's a strange idea to me,maybe some of you cops or ex-cops that are on here,could weigh in on this.
This is what has got me worried the most. I live in WI and you're allowed to open carry, but CCW is not legal here yet, and we can't apply for a permit to open carry in a vehicle like MN does. I'm often worried about carrying my guns around, they're cased and unloaded, and i usually put the bow case right on top of the normal guns, so I usually don't have to worry about people, just that I might get pulled over by a cop someday and get questioned. I was driving through a small town once and a cop pulled me over because I was missing my front license plate, it got knocked off one winter when it was real slick out and I love-tapped a semi. Didn't realize my plate was gone by the time I got home and it was the next day. Luckily I was not carrying any weapons in my vehicle at that time. I'd like to open carry more often, but I don't want to become one of those people someone calls the cops on, then they say I can't open carry when I know I can.
When I lived in Georgia I used to OC but around Atlanta where I worked.
The looks and people getting managers started to be an inconvenience.
Had no problems outside of the metro area which is where I leaved.
A lot of people recommended (as well as LEOs) a concealed permit.
It was a good investment but still prefer OC.
In South Carolina we don't have public OC, just Concealed Carry Permits.
It's a strange idea to me,maybe some of you cops or ex-cops that are on here,could weigh in on this.
Quote:
Originally Posted by melloyello
In South Carolina we don't have public OC, just Concealed Carry Permits.
For people who have no CCW, getting pulled over in a vehicle has different requirements in different states. Here in South Carolina, anybody can carry a gun in their glove box with or without a CCW permit. The only thing the police would ask is that you announce that you have a gun in the glove box before you retrieve your registration and vehicle insurance information. Of course a resident of the state, or resident of a reciprocity state, could just wear the weapon on their person in the vehicle and be in compliance. There are exceptions of course. In our area where there are a lot of military bases, no guns are allowed on any military base unless the person is going to the base pistol range and the weapon is documented by the PMO office aboard the base. In other states, the rule might be that the weapon is exposed and not concealed anywhere in the vehicle. I find that a little odd since that opens up the problem of accidental discharges during a vehicle accident; not likely, but possible. There is also the greater likelihood of theft if the vehicle operator forgets to lock the doors. This is a subject that I wish the states would get together on and agree on some uniform guidelines.
As for no OC in South Carolina, melloyellow is right. Ironically though, open and exposed pistols can be carried in rural areas on private land, or when hunting the big deer hunting clubs like I used to hunt on. Sometimes, especially around the holidays, pistol armed hunters would go into town to buy groceries for their club house kitchens or retrieve hounds wandering on the public highways and the police would grant unofficial exception. Since OC in South Carolina is "unofficially" accepted in certain "traditional" cases, it stands to reason that we may see an OCW bill go before the General Assembly one day. I have a feeling though that I will continue to carry concealed if and when OC is allowed.
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