Why Do You Open Carry?

We met one time (forget already?). I moved here NH, TX, NC (Huntersville).

I have no previous ties to any local towns in this area but look at them in the raw. A bit different than locals.
 
We met one time (forget already?). I moved here NH, TX, NC (Huntersville).

I have no previous ties to any local towns in this area but look at them in the raw. A bit different than locals.
That’s why I said what I said.

Wasn’t trying to be a wiseacre. My economy of words in print gets me misunderstood.
 
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That’s why I said what I said.

Wasn’t trying to be a wiseacre. My economy of words in print gets me misunderstood.

It's an issue I run across with text/email all the time. It happens.

Ok, bearing all... Huntersville, west of I77, between exit 23/25. A very migrant area from what my personal communication has revealed is conservative/libertarian.

Update: FG pm'd me with a bit more info. I'll keep what I wrote as it contributes.to the discussion.

Still on topic...
 
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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.


I literally see it every day. I work off Brookshire pretty much in the hood and it doesnt seem to be a big deal here.
 
I literally see it every day. I work off Brookshire pretty much in the hood and it doesnt seem to be a big deal here.
Where you work is way different than several other sides of Charlotte.
 
Years and years ago, when I wanted make a statement, I Used to open carry down there in Florida, Why ? Because I could. But one day I was out fishing and had my 1911 on my hip filled with rat shot. Game warden came by and asked me why I had a pistol ? Being young and stupid, I responded with " It for the cans" He asked what cans? I responded with " Mexicans, portoricans" Then I laughed and told him what it was loaded with and it was cause of all the rattlesnakes in the area.. he laughed and walked away. Came back a min later and asked me if I had a fishing license ? I responded with a yes and if he wanted to walk down into all this mud I could should show him. He said" never mind" and got back in his car..
 
Why? Because i can.

More importantly is why people ask questions about other's decision to exercise a right. I have no duty to inform while open carrying. In fact alot less "BS" makes me wonder why i even pay for the privilege of covering it up.

And before someone chimes in with the "why make a spectacle / target / enemy of yourself....

By and large, people have made up their mind about guns. Idgaf what others think as a few on here that have met me can attest. That being said, I'm mostly a nice guy in public and private. I have know to be courteous even...so a guy like me openly carrying and going about his daily life normalizes it just as much as liberals preaching gun are bad demonizes it. I'm tired of tiptoeing around other peoples feels. If they dont like seeing guns then they can move to one of the many places that they will only see cops and criminals have them like NYC, Chicago, NJ, MD etc. But thats right they most likely fled those places. Welcome to NC!

As far as being the first target....yeah I'm not paranoid but my spidey sense nowadays is stuck on 11 in public. I never shop Walmart or malls anymore, so if I am in a store every one nearby gets eye contact and a smile. Threat assessment. Situational awareness or whatever. Being present instead of just there.

Then there's the practical. On the clock, my draw and fire time open vs concealed on the wizard drills lately drop by about 50% so there's that. And when you get used to drawing from a Safariland paddle its kinda nice.
 
I've OC'd to make a statement. Because it got warm and I removed the over shirt I was wearing. Because I was going hunting/hiking/fishing and not really wearing a concealable holster. Because I knew whatever I was carrying would print with what I was wearing and didn't see the point of bothering. Because I didn't have a permit yet. To let the riff raff around my neighborhood think twice about screwing with me and mine. And because I can.

I want to make the choice, I don't care for Govco making those choices for me.

I've had one negative encounter with a manager at Walmart late one night. Had one funny one where I preemptively ran off some scum bags that were cussing an old lady in front of Walmart late one night. And a bunch of great interactions with folks about all sorts of gun related stuff. And I've gone out of my way to acknowledge or speak to folks that are OC'ing on occasion. I actually see quite a bit of it in Hickory these days.
 
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I've been asked to leave two places because I was open carrying. That's two less places for me to spend money.

I open carry because I think it's good for normal people to see another normal person living their normal life while carrying a gun.
I don't believe I'm making myself a target. I prefer to avoid the trouble all together than to have the "element of surprise" after trouble has started.


ETA: I was asked to leave Foy Mart in Zebulon because I was carrying a gun. I emailed them and they doubled down on their "policy". If any of you are in the area, I urge you to email them and let them know you won't be going there because of their anti-OC policy.
 
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I rarely see anyone OCing in Charlotte. I grew up here and work all over town. I'm on the west side a lot. Sugar Creek, Graham St, Freedom Dr, Beatties Ford, Tuckaseegee and all around. About the only time I see it is a cop in uniform. And I have been here for 60 years.
 
In NC the open carry statute has a vaguely defined exception. "Carry to the terror of others." Or something to that effect.
One could find oneself in some doodoo if into walked into a Walmart with a leg strapped tactical holster, dressed in tacticool, with tactical vest holding a dozen magazines.
Or people would just assume you were an on duty cop on a food run.
I wouldn't mind a nice OWB Kydex with paddle for my FNX45. It's a tad big for IWB.[emoji2][emoji2][emoji2]

Sent from my SM-G970U using Tapatalk
 
I open carry because I think it's good for normal people to see another normal person living their normal life while carrying a gun.
I like that.
But I've never done it. I think some heads would explode if they saw a little old fat lady carrying a big ol' gun. Maybe not, though! lol.
 
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.

I agree, one less potential thing to be hassled over would be nice!
 
I see it at walmart fairly often. Usually the same 'type' of person...generally in my experience they are the gun store 'know it all' type that tells you you're dumb if you dont carry 40S&W cause ..."if it's good enough for cops its good enough for me." Or cause it's got more "knock down power"....i usually see them asking for the cheapest ammo they can find because "if i carry 40S&W i dont need anything high quality"

I would say 50% of the time its an ill fitting holster or a knock off Uncle Mike's type soft holster.
 
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In NC the open carry statute has a vaguely defined exception. "Carry to the terror of others." Or something to that effect.
One could find oneself in some doodoo if into walked into a Walmart with a leg strapped tactical holster, dressed in tacticool, with tactical vest holding a dozen magazines.
Or people would just assume you were an on duty cop on a food run.
I wouldn't mind a nice OWB Kydex with paddle for my FNX45. It's a tad big for IWB.[emoji2][emoji2][emoji2]

Sent from my SM-G970U using Tapatalk
GATTOP occurs along public roadways not not private property. Worst thing they could do is ask you to leave if theres no signage
 
I rarely see anyone OCing in Charlotte. I grew up here and work all over town. I'm on the west side a lot. Sugar Creek, Graham St, Freedom Dr, Beatties Ford, Tuckaseegee and all around. About the only time I see it is a cop in uniform. And I have been here for 60 years.
Sounds like the disenfranchised minorities that mainly voted D in that area have fell victim to the Jim Crow mentality. Someone should be the voice crying out in the wilderness
 
GATTOP occurs along public roadways not not private property. Worst thing they could do is ask you to leave if theres no signage
A soldier from Bragg got arrested. Thought it was a good idea to go to the mall for some pictures dressed in full tactical. [emoji1][emoji1][emoji1][emoji1]

Sent from my SM-G970U using Tapatalk
 
A soldier from Bragg got arrested. Thought it was a good idea to go to the mall for some pictures dressed in full tactical. [emoji1][emoji1][emoji1][emoji1]

Sent from my SM-G970U using Tapatalk
Yeah I slightly remember that story. Usually it's an add on charge when someone was being stupid and not just going about his business while armed.
 
I only open carry around the house or when outside the home doing the daily chores.
Even if I'm just running to the local convenience store I put on a cover.
I'd always thought I didn't need a concealed till at a license check In Morganton, a female deputy walked up to the car, I informed her that I was exercising my legal right to open carry and my firearm was on the dash.
Without a word she reached in grabbed my cocked and locked 1911 and shoved it under her sweaty armpit then asked for license and registration. I asked what she thought she was doing since open carry was legal in NC.
Her reply was she wasn't comfortable with me having a loaded firearm during a traffic stop.
I informed her it wasn't a for cause traffic stop, but a license check and that I didn't give a crap what she was comfortable with since I wasn't breaking any laws.
She told me since I was being mouthy I could pull off on to the shoulder and wait till to she decided to give my firearm back.
I watched for about five minutes while she walked up and down the line of cars my 45 still jammed under her armpit .
Finally she came over gave back my firearm and allowed me to leave.
Next day I made two calls, one for my ccw class the other to request a meeting with the sheriff.
In my anger I had forgotten to get the deputies name and badge number, although sympathetic the sheriff said their wasn't much he could do. Which was total BS since she was the only female deputy working the check.
I put it as down a lesson learned.
Now at a license check they only see the permit not the firearm.
Sorry for the length of the post but crap like this is why I don't open carry.
 
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I only open carry around the house or when outside the home doing the daily chores.
Even if I'm just running to the local convenience store I put on a cover.
I'd always thought I didn't need a concealed till at a license check In Morgantown, a female deputy walked up to the car, I informed her that I was exercising my legal right to open carry and my firearm was on the dash.
Without a word she reached in grabbed my cocked and locked 1911 a shoved it under her sweaty armpit then asked for license and registration. I asked what she thought she was doing since open carry was legal in NC.
Her reply was she wasn't comfortable with me having a loaded firearm during a traffic stop.
I informed her it wasn't a for cause traffic stop, but a license check and that I didn't give a crap what she was comfortable with since I wasn't breaking any laws.
She told me since I was being mouthy I could pull off on to the shoulder and wait till to she decided to give my firearm back.
I watched for about five minutes while she walked up and down the line of cars my 45 still jammed under her armpit .
Finally she came over gave back my firearm and allowed me to leave.
Next day I made two calls, one for my ccw class the other to request a meeting with the sheriff.
In my anger I had forgotten to get the deputies name and badge number, although sympathetic the sheriff said their wasn't much he could do. Which was total BS since she was the only female deputy working the check.
I put it as down a lesson learned.
Now at a license check they only see the permit not the firearm.
Sorry for the length of the post but crap like this is why I don't open carry.
Hell that sounds like success to me
 
Where in the Sam Hill is Foy Mart? I've never OC'ed there because I don't even know where - or what - it is! I'm eager to edumacate them.


Nowhere near Sam Hill, that's for sure. It's off state road 1737 along Hwy 64 outside Zebulon. About 30 ish miles east of Raleigh.
 
I see it quite often at the local Walmart here in L-Town. A good mix of nice steel in equally nice leather and cheap plastic in cheaper nylon. I have only oc'd once a few years back. I was wearing khaki's and a tucked polo carrying an LCR in a nice leather pancake. I don't think anyone gave me a second look.
 
In NC the open carry statute has a vaguely defined exception. "Carry to the terror of others." Or something to that effect.
One could find oneself in some doodoo if into walked into a Walmart with a leg strapped tactical holster, dressed in tacticool, with tactical vest holding a dozen magazines.
Or people would just assume you were an on duty cop on a food run.
I wouldn't mind a nice OWB Kydex with paddle for my FNX45. It's a tad big for IWB.[emoji2][emoji2][emoji2]

Sent from my SM-G970U using Tapatalk

There is no statute that allows OC in NC. We have the right to OC because of our Constitution and Supreme Court precedence in defining that.

GATTTOTP is also a common law offense which is why it's rather vaguely defined.

A person guilty of this offense

(1) arms himself or herself with an unusual and dangerous weapon

(2) for the purpose of terrifying others and

(3) goes about on public highways

(4) in a manner to cause terror to the people.

NC Supreme court has defined a gun as an "unusual and dangerous weapon" for GATTTOTP but has also said that a person has the right to carry their gun for any purpose as long as it's not meant "cause terror." Not the cleanest definitions in the world but if that guy wasn't doing anything stupid I'd imagine it got dropped. It normally does. I can only think of a handful of cases I've heard that stuck. Those were in addition to breaking other laws or outright threatening people with a weapon.
 
There is no statute that allows OC in NC. We have the right to OC because of our Constitution and Supreme Court precedence in defining that.

GATTTOTP is also a common law offense which is why it's rather vaguely defined.

A person guilty of this offense

(1) arms himself or herself with an unusual and dangerous weapon

(2) for the purpose of terrifying others and

(3) goes about on public highways

(4) in a manner to cause terror to the people.

NC Supreme court has defined a gun as an "unusual and dangerous weapon" for GATTTOTP but has also said that a person has the right to carry their gun for any purpose as long as it's not meant "cause terror." Not the cleanest definitions in the world but if that guy wasn't doing anything stupid I'd imagine it got dropped. It normally does. I can only think of a handful of cases I've heard that stuck. Those were in addition to breaking other laws or outright threatening people with a weapon.

Pretty sure the mall guy openly carried either an AR or something else passed a gunbuster while dressed like a retard Larperator. He deserved as much as he got.

https://abc11.com/825699/
 
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Only around the house, or out in the woods. Otherwise, it's nobody else's business, IMO. Only time I've OC'd outside those parameters was coming home from a hunt & had taken off my coat 'cos it was kinda warm that day. Big ol' 5 1/2" single action .41Mag in a chest rig worn over my camo overalls. Had to stop at Sheetz in Mebane for gas & a drink & not a single soul so much as noticed that hog leg on my chest.
 
Only around the house, or out in the woods. Otherwise, it's nobody else's business, IMO. Only time I've OC'd outside those parameters was coming home from a hunt & had taken off my coat 'cos it was kinda warm that day. Big ol' 5 1/2" single action .41Mag in a chest rig worn over my camo overalls. Had to stop at Sheetz in Mebane for gas & a drink & not a single soul so much as noticed that hog leg on my chest.
it's so common to see firearms in Sheetz I'm pretty sure it's more that no one cared instead of noticing because i'm sure they noticed lol
 
I only open carry around the house or when outside the home doing the daily chores.
Even if I'm just running to the local convenience store I put on a cover.
I'd always thought I didn't need a concealed till at a license check In Morganton, a female deputy walked up to the car, I informed her that I was exercising my legal right to open carry and my firearm was on the dash.
Without a word she reached in grabbed my cocked and locked 1911 and shoved it under her sweaty armpit then asked for license and registration. I asked what she thought she was doing since open carry was legal in NC.
Her reply was she wasn't comfortable with me having a loaded firearm during a traffic stop.
I informed her it wasn't a for cause traffic stop, but a license check and that I didn't give a crap what she was comfortable with since I wasn't breaking any laws.
She told me since I was being mouthy I could pull off on to the shoulder and wait till to she decided to give my firearm back.
I watched for about five minutes while she walked up and down the line of cars my 45 still jammed under her armpit .
Finally she came over gave back my firearm and allowed me to leave.
Next day I made two calls, one for my ccw class the other to request a meeting with the sheriff.
In my anger I had forgotten to get the deputies name and badge number, although sympathetic the sheriff said their wasn't much he could do. Which was total BS since she was the only female deputy working the check.
I put it as down a lesson learned.
Now at a license check they only see the permit not the firearm.
Sorry for the length of the post but crap like this is why I don't open carry.

I had a liscence check with a CHP. Got pulled out of the car and the numbers ran on the guns. Next morning the chief of police got an ass chewing of epic proportions. The following week another liscence check. Handed my permit and DL and I got a Thank You and have a good night.

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I had a liscence check with a CHP. Got pulled out of the car and the numbers ran on the guns. Next morning the chief of police got an ass chewing of epic proportions. The following week another liscence check. Handed my permit and DL and I got a Thank You and have a good night.

Should've taken down officer's full name and badge number.
What you dox/do with that information is up to you. It works both ways.
 
I do, not often but sometimes on occasion when I think my travels will take me to places where I won't cause undue alarm. Having said that, my goal for open carrying is to expose the masses to normal looking people legally carrying guns. I think it's important to bring that forward in our society, so many people live in their bubble of zero thought about guns until it's presented to them by the media in a negative light.

Please do open carry occasionally when you can. Be clean and respectably dressed and above all be even more respectful and polite than I know you already are. :D And please no mega tactical crap (drop leg holsters, tactical vests, etc.).
 
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Pretty sure the mall guy openly carried either an AR or something else passed a gunbuster while dressed like a retard Larperator. He deserved as much as he got.

https://abc11.com/825699/


This just proves my point that GATTTOTP is not a stand alone charge. It was dismissed because he didn't threaten anyone with the gun.

FAYETTEVILLE (WTVD) -- Cumberland County District Attorney Billy West said Monday that the case against a soldier who brought a gun to Cross Creek Mall in Fayetteville last year has been dismissed.


https://abc11.com/news/case-dismissed-against-soldier-who-brought-gun-to-mall/1582368/
 
This just proves my point that GATTTOTP is not a stand alone charge. It was dismissed because he didn't threaten anyone with the gun.

FAYETTEVILLE (WTVD) -- Cumberland County District Attorney Billy West said Monday that the case against a soldier who brought a gun to Cross Creek Mall in Fayetteville last year has been dismissed.


https://abc11.com/news/case-dismissed-against-soldier-who-brought-gun-to-mall/1582368/
Lets just call it what it really is a catch all like "disorderly conduct" and any 3rd rate attorney should be able to defend an otherwise law abiding citizen from it pretty easily. The fact that it was dismissed and never made it to a courtroom is telling.

I have had multiple local and CMPD LEOs say that openly carrying is not something that makes them suspicious of someone. I specifically mentioned GATTOP and they said the person has to be menacingly acting with the firearm
 
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Lets just call it what it really is a catch all like "disorderly conduct" and any 3rd rate attorney shoulxbe able to defend an otherwise law abidinf citizen from it pretty easily. The fact that it was dismissed and never made it to a courtroom is telling

Pretty much exactly what it is. Mostly a scare tactic, threat, or add on charge. The only case I can think of it sticking was a guy in Asheville standing on the side of the road waiving a sword at cars as they went by and yelling threats.
 
This time if year you'll catch me on the farm wearing a sholder holster, my choice of carry is a g48 running s15 mags. If I have to go to town I throw on a hoodie or light jacket and them bam I'm now canceled.
But around the farm is the only time in open carry, never in public, In the words of the man,the myth, and a legend Clint Smith a why would you ever ruin the element of surprise and a fight.
20200126_145524.jpg
 
I dont OC because I feel people staring at me whether they are or not. I do CC a lot in cool/cold weather. Sorry, most folks I see OC'ing are carrying junk guns in junk holsters. If they were carrying something interesting I would try and strike up a conversation.
 
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