Why Do You Open Carry?

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We don't have open carry here in South Carolina but, I know that North Carolina does allow it. My question is for the NC residents that choose to open carry. Why do you choose to open carry as opposed to concealed carry? What reactions have you experienced from others when they see you carrying openly?
 
I don’t see it often, even now that I have located out of The Containment Area, where I never saw it before. If we go to CharBroil for burgers after the H20 match there might be 20 of us, and maybe one or two will just leave their match blaster on their belts. This CharGrill is close to the I40 and I95 interchange so there are usually some unsuspecting north-easterners or Floridians in there from the highway. I keep extra napkins on hand when I eat there in case a head explodes.

When I do see it it is usually in smaller towns, and usually not carried in an ostentatious fashion. No different than having a phone on your belt. If I have a gun on my belt and take my jacket off in a diner out in the “hinterlands” I make a point to sit where the least number of people will see it if at all, whether in a booth, or away from the door.

But 99.9% of the time I am concealed.
 
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I have only opened carried a few times so far. Mainly when going to or from the range or a match and didn't feel like switching out holsters so I just wore my regular OWB. So my experience is limited. But I don't remember it ever really being a problem, most people either don't notice, don't care, or don't want confrontation. I do, at times, wear an OWB pancake style holster with a vest or loose shirt unbuttoned over it, and just don't care if it shows or not. Again, never had an issue. Most people I know who do regularly OC do so because they are under 21, don't have a CCW, or honestly...some of them are "in your face show off" types.
 
I know I can in NC, but I would not. The whole purpose of carrying is to have a weapon if needed for self defense. Carrying concealed gives you the advantage of surprise which open carrying makes you a target to an active shooter. And when people talk about open carrying, I am reminded of the time, some years ago when I was perp walked out of BJ's in Briar Creek for concealed carrying ("because someone called") -They probably would have beat the crap out of me for open carrying.But that was (is) Raleigh for you.
 
I should add that nearly anytime I see someone OCing is either they are in working clothes (versus business clothes) and concealed carry is perhaps less an option, or they have the look of off-duty LEO, or .mil.

Otherwise it's usually just working folks, not dressed tactical at all
 
Our "Pukes" bring up Constitutional Carry every year to pacify the masses and then let it die for lack of a vote in time. I can't readily think of a time I would OC but as @Booger pointed out it would be nice to not think about whether somebody saw it or not.
Not against helmets or seatbelts but Damn does it Have to be mandatory!!! I was so happy when we got the helmet law overturned. I still wear a helmet but not because I Have to.
That is why I wish we were OC in SC.
 
On the rare occasions that I do open carry in public it's because either it's too damned hot to wear a cover garment or my gun won't fit under my motorcycle jacket. I've had no reactions or interactions as a result, so there's nothing I can tell you. People are either oblivious or apathetic.
 
While only half joking, I do agree with what wvsig said...most of the time I see OC people they are wearing the most inexpensive nylon junk holster they can find. And I fully get that some people just cant afford super expensive fancy holsters...but I fail to see the logic in spending $500 on a pistol and then carrying it in a $10 holster. I spent more than that on my cell phone cover, and my cell phone wont possibly kill me if it falls out.
 
B00ger said:
While only half joking, I do agree with what wvsig said...most of the time I see OC people they are wearing the most inexpensive nylon junk holster they can find. And I fully get that some people just cant afford super expensive fancy holsters...but I fail to see the logic in spending $500 on a pistol and then carrying it in a $10 holster. I spent more than that on my cell phone cover, and my cell phone wont possibly kill me if it falls out.
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I suppose it’s nothing more than ignorance. Perhaps they own just the one pistol and don’t have enough experience to understand the difference between a generic fabric holster and a serious one with retention.
 
I never understood the point. In my mind I always pictured someone making you target number 1 since you'd be the hardest target.

Only time I've ever done it is either in uniform or on my own property, where nobody would ever see it anyway.
 
I would like to do a study around open carry in North Carolina and how your mode of dress impacts whether peoples reactions change.

I suspect that if you are dressed in khakis and a polo shirt that in anyway could be construed as being Security, nobody would say a thing about it. I even considered buying a polo that says “Bike Patrol” on it (so as not to appear to be impersonating anyone).

I normally wear a shoulder holster because of problems that I have with my hips. There was one occasion when I wore that shoulder holster without a jacket over it because I was going for a walk on a particularly warm day. Someone in my neighborhood “SWATed” me and I had a roadside visit from Durham police.

Now I pocket carry on those warm days.
 
NC mostly CC (90%+)
NH (50/50)
MA (never)
The OC was to/from a match/hunting (most) or the range (least). Had a CC permit in NH/MA/NC at those times

Why? My convienence, no thought of anyone else.
 
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Jeppo said:
I suppose it’s nothing more than ignorance. Perhaps they own just the one pistol and don’t have enough experience to understand the difference between a generic fabric holster and a serious one with retention.
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Oh, I have no doubt it is ignorance...and to preface, I am pro-open carry...I see no real issue with it. But I will also admit that most of the people I have met who do it do tend to have a more "in your face" attitude. Not all of course...but enough personally to make a distinction.

As far as the "it makes you a target" thing...I am going to have to disagree. Considering the amount of times I have seen people OC'ing, I would expect to see the news awash with stories about open carry owners being blasted left and right with their own pistols, or singled out first. And while not "proof", most of the self defense shootings I have watched where people rush in and rob a place the perpetrator is too focused on getting in and getting the loot than casing the joint for long enough to pick out targets. Again, not saying it doesn't happen, or cant happen, I just think that if it really WAS that big of an issue with OCers being nailed first, we would have had it shoved down our throats by the main stream media by now.
 
I’ve heard of people open carrying on the second of every month. I thought about it but don’t have a fancy leather holster yet.

edited to add: I think it was referred to as “every second matters”
 
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B00ger said:
As far as the "it makes you a target" thing...I am going to have to disagree. Considering the amount of times I have seen people OC'ing, I would expect to see the news awash with stories about open carry owners being blasted left and right with their own pistols, or singled out first
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Don't confuse the issue with common sense.;)
 
I do it all the time..... cuz ‘Murica!! Especially in WalMart.

Reactions? Mostly from small kids that don’t have their own cell phone otherwise it seems mostly invisible to your average everyday sheeple.

Makes me a target?? I’m not seeing it.

concealed carry? Just about as often. Situation dictates... Need to be low key, no brainer. Otherwise it’s more comfortable OC to me.

I too see a lot of ignorance/wasted money on cheap holsters and don’t get it.
 
I never purposely OC anywhere other than fishing or hiking. I have forgotten that I had it on my belt and gone into the local convenience store but it is the kind of place where I am known and no one would care anyway. I rarely see OC in public in my town. I used to see it in Wal-Mart and it always seemed to be a young guy with a huge semi-auto in a drop leg holster. I have no issue with OC but its just not something I feel comfortable doing everywhere.
 
I don't do it that much, but I believe it is important to do from time to time . I believe you should definitely have a retention holster if you OC and not the floppy worn out nylon holster as mentioned above by someone else.
 
I open carry because I am not into fooling myself that no one notices me carrying a SIG P226 or P220 while wearing a T shirt . No one cares. To be more precise I really dont care what they think. I frequently see people OC'ing near my work in North Carolina . No one cares. Not in South Carolina though. Not allowed.

Back when I lived in Yakima I'd frequently go shooting out in the desert and wouldnt even bother taking my gun belt off for the trip home. I'd get a look every now and then when stopping by the store on the way home while packing a couple of Colt SAA's but there were always thumbs up involved.
 
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Armed4defense said:
I know I can in NC, but I would not. The whole purpose of carrying is to have a weapon if needed for self defense. Carrying concealed gives you the advantage of surprise which open carrying makes you a target to an active shooter. And when people talk about open carrying, I am reminded of the time, some years ago when I was perp walked out of BJ's in Briar Creek for concealed carrying ("because someone called") -They probably would have beat the crap out of me for open carrying.But that was (is) Raleigh for you.
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Not Charlotte. Open carry is very common here in the west side hood where I work.
 
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I OC when hunting or going to/from. At that me little convenience store near the land, at lunch there will be several of us getting something to eat, and we’re all OC’ing. Nobody cares, but then we’re all wearing head to toe cammo and orange hats.

I think OC is legal in SC while hunting or fishing.
 
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To and from the range and around the house or out back grilling but most of the time in public I CC. But I also don’t get freaked out if while walking in or out of a store the wind blows my jacket open to reveal my gun. I do see some open carrying but mostly in sports stores or at gas stations in rural settings.
 
wired said:
Not Charlotte as in it doesnt seem to be an issue in Charlotte.
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Ok, thanks. I've not OC'D in CLT as that city is not in line with where I live in regards to RCWA or the other two places I compete: Wilkesboro, Boone.

It would be a tough decision for me to OC in CLT. Depends upon the circumstances I guess.
 
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