Sharp as a Marble - I have a 9,000 word post about this

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I have a 9,000 word post about this

Open Carry

But you’ve heard it all before. So, I’ll just keep it short.

To say Open Carry makes you a target based on one or two incidents every few years is the same as the anti’s saying one or two CCW holders committing crimes represents all of us. Like Uncle says, as OC becomes more prevalent, there will be more cases of people having their gun taken from them, but to assume that OC is dangerous is just as silly as saying carrying a gun is dangerous and therefore you shouldn’t do it!

The added danger is dwarfed by the benefits, just like the added danger of carrying a gun is overridden by the security it provides.

Socially? Feel free to not OC because you don’t like the confrontation that it does create. It’s not normal (as much as I wish it was, wishing doesn’t make reality. If it did, I’d be Occupying Somewhere in a tent) and therefore going to have social implications that you may not want.

Tactically? Puhleeeeeease. Surprise is an offensive tactic, not defensive. Someone who will attack you because they know you have a gun is not going to not attack you because they’re not sure. Using the turd filled M&M’s analogy – if you have a bowl full of M&M’s but you know some of them could be filled with candy coated crap, you’re going to be less likely to try to grab some and pop them in your mouth. You’re going to ABSOLUTELY avoid the M&M that are clearly marked as containing poop.

I’m not saying Concealed Carry is crap or that you’re a coward for wanting to hide your pistol or that OPEN CARRY IS THE ONE AND ONLY TRUE WAY SUPPORTED BY RON PAUL, THE ONLY MAN WHO CAN SAVE AMERICA!!! or anything. I realize there are legitimate reasons for avoiding OC, I’m just not convinced that the ‘danger’ of having someone swipe your piece is one of them. This guy failed his situational awareness test then decided to lose extra credit by chasing after the thieves, neither of which had anything to do with OC.

posted @ 12/7/2011 9:13:00 AM

Incoming Links

learning from others | walls of the city on 12/9/2011 7:03:18 AM

Comments

j t bolt says:

on 12/7/2011 9:36:32 AM

You OC enthusiasts sure are excitable. I get yelled at everytime I say, "I'm all for YOU OCing, but it is not my preference." Watch. Even though I am saying this RIGHT NOW, I will get yelled at in this comment string for being nigh unto a Fudd for not full-throat endorsing OC.

That Guy says:

on 12/7/2011 9:40:01 AM

DANG IT, T BOLT!!! I TOTALLY AGREE WITH YOU! I FULLY SUPPORT OC, BUT WOULD ONLY CHOOSE TO DO SO IN VERY RARE CIRCUMSTANCES!!

Sorry, I wanted to make sure you got yelled at immediately.

PT says:

on 12/7/2011 9:42:39 AM

And my blackhawk serpa is supposed to be the worst thing ever. There's a reason retention holsters exist.

Tam says:

on 12/7/2011 10:12:48 AM

At the same time, Robb, it would be nice if people would realize that

"If you open carry, you should pay close attention to people within grabbing distance of your gun, use a holster that offers at least some protection from a quick snatch, and consider getting some of the same training in retention that police officers do."

and

"ZOMG! Open carry is teh suXX0rZ and ghey! U shouldn't do it!"

are not the same sentence, nor do they even mean the same thing.

The first is just being prudent, and, if you're not into being prudent, then why carry a gun in the first place?

Robb Allen says:

on 12/7/2011 10:40:45 AM

Tam, there are plenty of thoughtful responses to why OC isn't for certain people. However, as someone who has been active in trying to get OC legalized here in Wrinklesville, I can honestly say the most vitriolic opposition we had was from gun owners who feel OC is a threat to the very fabric of the Second Amendment.

Let's look at some of the comments from Uncle's

I don’t criticize people for open carry, but this is one reason that I don’t do it.

This is why I concealed carry when I open carry.

And THAT is my whole argument against open carry.

Those are less hyperbolic than OMG!!!! OC IS THE DANGER!!!! but say the same thing.

As I'm mentioning over at Uncles (copy & paste can make thinking so much easier!) the mindset that OC is somehow dangerous tends to lend itself to actually fighting against it when it comes time to legalize it. It's natural, even to us gunnies, to want to protect people from themselves. So many of the arguments I heard from gun owners on why we shouldn't allow OC here in Florida came from the perspective that "it's just not safe!" or "it's better to surprise your attacker who already has the jump on you with lightning fast ninja-skills and a concealed pistol".

Wolfman says:

on 12/7/2011 11:39:29 AM

I've gotten a handful of comments on my OC out in meatspace... mostly ambivalent, but one was a conversation about legalities (teachable moment!) and one elderly lady was quite pleased to see it. I actually had a security guard notice my empty holster (yes, I realize this is a 'stop touching it' fail) and had a very polite conversation with him. He was, I'll wager, one of the sharpest individuals I've come across. Saw the holster/mag pouch combo, engaged the conversation, got to his feet in non-threatening manner, and established the likelihood of threat (zero). Pretty sharp dude. I'm pretty happy with OC. It gives me a chance to talk to people.

One of the reasons we win, as gunnies, on the political stage, is by being the calm and collected ones, while the antis are foaming at the mouth and looking dangerous. Would that we could remember that fact when dealing with each other, eh?

McThag says:

on 12/7/2011 4:43:28 PM

I pine for the day that choosing between OC and CC is a social one and not a legal one.

You don't wear cut-offs to a formal occasion, for example.

Wolfman says:

on 12/7/2011 7:37:38 PM

All about where you live and where you go. In MT, CCW permits are only needed inside the city limits. Most places you go are going to be fairly ambivalent, but sometimes it'll make sense to CC. There's still a free USA out there somewhere.

Craig says:

on 12/8/2011 8:07:51 AM

Robb,
Over here on the right coast most of the opposition from the gunnies has revolved around the assumption that OC mite scare the sheep and tourists and cause the shop owners to post 'Defense-Free Crime Zone' signs, thus negating all of the gun-restoration gains (and facts) that we have made in the past few years.

A Critic says:

on 12/8/2011 5:27:27 PM

I've read of 2 people targeted for OC, and dozens if not hundreds targeted for CC. Perhaps it is because CC is more popular...or maybe there really is a deterrent effect?

Mark says:

on 12/10/2011 1:15:37 PM

I personally would not OC until I have obtained (and can document in a court of law) that I have received the same training sworn LE get in weapons retention, and I can obtain a quality Level II retention holster.
That is not to day that I would support in any way making it illegal to do so.
If you are going to do something, do it right. Just sayin'

Marty says:

on 12/14/2011 2:10:11 PM

If we are going to carry, then it is our responsibility to do so safely and legally. Get trained and be aware of your surroundings.That applies whether you OC or CC with a concealed carry license or where a permit is not required.

Comments have been closed on this topic.