Open Carry vs Concealed Carry, What Say You?

Concealed Carry vs Open Carry

  • Concealed Carry

    Votes: 60 92.3%
  • Open Carry

    Votes: 5 7.7%

  • Total voters
    65
I OC almost exclusively and I carry every day and everywhere that I go. I had a CHP, but did not renew it and will not be going for another one. I live in Durham county and have had almost zero issues with anyone, including cops. I've been standing next to both sheriff deputies and durham city police officers and never a word was said. I have had two people try to get in my face - one at Lowes and one at Golden Corral. Both times they complained loudly to management and both times the managers had no problem with me carrying whatsoever. Those were both years ago, though.

Most people do not even notice. There have been a few times where some one noticed with wide eyes, but hopefully they left the encounter realizing that they were near a gun and nothing happened. There was one time where a little kid saw my pistol, went wide eyed, and pointed it out to his mother. She calmly told him that there was nothing wrong with it.

Most encounters I've had, though, have been very positive and I do what I can to use it to let people know what their rights are, which is why I made the NC Gun Rights flyer, so I can hand it to them. There are so many people who have absolutely no clue what their rights are.

Any instances where someone was targeted because they were OCing are really just statistical noise. The norm is that an OCer is not targeted.

I am a believer in the idea that OC is a deterrant. There aren't going to be any statistics for this because you can't compile data on non-events. There is no cure all for anything, so, yeah, I'm sure that there are some nut jobs out there that would not be deterred, but I'm willing to bet that the average would rather pick a softer target.

Also, if I do get "targeted" as the first one to be shot, and you happen to be in the same place, you're welcome, you now have a little more time to react.

I won't argue about the CC "element of surprise," but I just don't get that at all.

Anyway, I carry to protect my family and myself and there is a side benefit of being able to talk to people about guns, I guess I'm a bit of an activist that way.
 
Average Joe, tell me you did not just open this thread...:D

Open Carry V. Concealed Carry.
And he puts it just like that, right in front of God and everybody. With a poll!

We've all seen em. 9 vs 45/Glock vs 1911/in the chamber vs not in the chamber/I'm Second Amendment but..

But Open Carry vs. Concealed Carry might be the mac daddy. The only other topic I've ever seen as hot was 'which motorcycle oil is best?' and I'm pretty sure someone died there.
 
Average Joe, tell me you did not just open this thread...:D

Open Carry V. Concealed Carry.
And he puts it just like that, right in front of God and everybody. With a poll!

We've all seen em. 9 vs 45/Glock vs 1911/in the chamber vs not in the chamber/I'm Second Amendment but..

But Open Carry vs. Concealed Carry might be the mac daddy. The only other topic I've ever seen as hot was 'which motorcycle oil is best?' and I'm pretty sure someone died there.

Didn't think it was gonna be a big of topic as 9 vs 45. But I probably should have known better! Now we know what happens when I'm stuck inside reading and thinking for the 4 weeks. I'm going nuts LOL!
 
Average Joe, tell me you did not just open this thread...:D

Open Carry V. Concealed Carry.
And he puts it just like that, right in front of God and everybody. With a poll!

We've all seen em. 9 vs 45/Glock vs 1911/in the chamber vs not in the chamber/I'm Second Amendment but..

But Open Carry vs. Concealed Carry might be the mac daddy. The only other topic I've ever seen as hot was 'which motorcycle oil is best?' and I'm pretty sure someone died there.

  • Boxers
  • Briefs
????
 
I'm all for CC, don't see any benefit to OC other than comfort for some. That said, I essentially OC quite a bit because I don't give two craps about printing or my shirt coming up over my gun.
 
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I really don't want to educate/inform/provoke/intrigue anybody. I just wanna get my crap at Wal-Mart and get out, so I conceal 99.99% of the time. I have considered open carrying an L frame revolver some in the summertime, but have never really bothered.
 
I've done both. But CC most of the time unless I'm in the woods now. When I was having to wrangle young kids it got a bit distracting. I've had exactly one bad interaction while OC'ing. It was with a Mgr at walmart. I've had lots of good interactions with folks while OC'ing.
 
Until this thread I didn't know it was against the law in SC. But I'm not expert in SC laws either, growing up in NC I just assumed that the law would be similar.
Me too. What is is the SC attitude about CC but printing (my usual mode cause I'm getting fat)
 
A few weeks back I saw a guy with an empty OWB holster in the Panda Express in Apex. It isn't posted and I really wanted to ask him what was up. So which one you guys was it?
 
My opinion is that it's your choice if you want to OC or CC, I prefer to conceal, I prefer to draw the least attention to myself and my activities. I don't really concern myself with printing anymore unless I'm somewhere where that could attract unwanted attention.

My biggest issue will people open carrying is every effing ones of them is a walking pile of Derp..... Uncle Mike's Holster, no belt in a dirty wife beater, etc... at least try. Although I did see a guy who was open carrying in a decent holster and didn't look like a hot mess, however he didn't have a magazine in his gun.


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Think he realized there was no magazine?

Maybe he's an amazing shot and had one in the chamber.
 
Think he realized there was no magazine?

Maybe he's an amazing shot and had one in the chamber.
Was going to ask but was too busy deciding if I should take a picture before he moved off.

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I'm another one that doesn't really want to draw any attention to the fact I'm carrying, so I usually carry concealed. I'll sometimes open carry in more rural areas, though. I understand the arguments for both OC and CC, such as being a target if you OC and the element of surprise when CCing, but don't think that they are that big of a factor either way. Like some others have said, the reason I carry is for personal defense of me and my family. I usually CC because don't really care about making any statements or educating anyone or causing any snowflake heads to explode (although that's really the least of my worries). I'm just more comfortable with my little "secret".
 
Anyone can carry however the he!! they want...I don't care. Just dont be a giant douche about it lol.
When I see someone OC, my first thought is 'Awesome...wonder if it's a Smith or a Glock or actually something cool?'
 
A few weeks back I saw a guy with an empty OWB holster in the Panda Express in Apex. It isn't posted and I really wanted to ask him what was up. So which one you guys was it?
Not me. But I'll admit I did it today, kinda.

Left my OWB holster on, but dropped the pistol into cargo pants pocket. Just because you see an empty, doesn't mean they're not armed. ;)
 
On a family trip at lake lure and just saw some girl ride by on a rice rocket.... OC a glock on her hip. Can't lie that was hot :D

Did your wife notice you noticing?

;)
 
I used to OC alot... Then I bought a King Tuk... :D I really don't care what anyone else thinks. I am grown enough to realize that whatever my actions the consequence is my own and not anyone else's especially those armchair operators who would try to sway my opinion one way or the other by damning me to hell if I disagree with them(facebook is SLAP FULL of them)... Do what you want. Carry what caliber you want, but by all means be ready willing and able to use whatever in the hell you have on you.
 
Jeeze, if you can draw half as fast as you can think, you're always gonna come out ok!
 
My biggest issue will people open carrying is every effing ones of them is a walking pile of Derp..... Uncle Mike's Holster, no belt in a dirty wife beater, etc... at least try. Although I did see a guy who was open carrying in a decent holster and didn't look like a hot mess, however he didn't have a magazine in his gun.

Got that beat. Stopped for lunch with the family last weekend and while we're waiting for our food in walks The Operator, cocked and locked 1911 in a drop leg holster wearing jorts and a t-shirt. But who am I to judge, at least the dude was carrying.
 
I used to OC alot... Then I bought a King Tuk... :D I really don't care what anyone else thinks. I am grown enough to realize that whatever my actions the consequence is my own and not anyone else's especially those armchair operators who would try to sway my opinion one way or the other by damning me to hell if I disagree with them(facebook is SLAP FULL of them)... Do what you want. Carry what caliber you want, but by all means be ready willing and able to use whatever in the hell you have on you.

Thanks for all the responses. I really don't judge your decisions right or wrong. Muddy said it well. Do what works for you, just make sure you carry. The only thing of importance other than carrying a handgun, is training with the handgun you carry the way that you carry it and having the proper mindset!
 
I open carry 99% of the time. Never had a problem.

I don't buy into the "element of surprise" argument. If things go sideways, I'll be involved from the get go.

I also don't buy into the "OC makes you a target". I read that a lot, but nobody has any real examples.

When I was still in Texas, the week they allowed open carry, a guy in a WalMart in Washington state attacked a guy open carrying, with a baseball bat. He did manage to get out of the situation and hold the attacker for police.

https://bearingarms.com/bob-o/2015/04/16/man-attacked-walmart-wont-open-carry/

That single example did it for me. If the guy had been carrying concealed, it would never have happened, and whether it was luck or skill that saved him, I'd prefer not to go there if I didn't have to.

On another occasion, I was food shopping and a guy came into the grocery store wearing ratty head to toe camo, with an AR over his shoulder on a sling. While he did have the advantage of having any aisle in the store to himself, he was certainly conspicuous and made himself a target IMHO.

CC is the only way I'd carry, unless I'm hunting, or working on my property (When i was in TX, carrying snakeshot was popular in summer, while working ion rocky areas :)
 
I am a "casually" concealed carrier. I have on a hawaiian or other untucked buttondown on covering my belt line. If the cover garment rides up or blows open i dont care. I choose to carry a full size gun so i sacrifice "complete" concealment. On a side note, i saw a guy rolling out of the walmart in Madison (i think) with a revolver, in an ankle holster, outside his pants leg.???? Why? Who knows.
 
On a side note, i saw a guy rolling out of the walmart in Madison (i think) with a revolver, in an ankle holster, outside his pants leg.???? Why? Who knows.
What's wrong with that? I often rock dual 33rd sticks on my ankle. :D

IMG_7763.JPG
 
On a side note, i saw a guy rolling out of the walmart in Madison (i think) with a revolver, in an ankle holster, outside his pants leg.???? Why? Who knows.

I know...

If it wouldn't have been outside, nobody would have known how cool he was.

Actually, maybe that was his version of OC (i.e., no CHP)?
 
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