Why "Open Carry" when you can carry concealed?

[melensdad]

(B) He pulls his concealed gun, blows my head off, and robs the store.

Please comb through the FBI crime data and find me JUST ONE example of a citizen open carrying a gun who has ever been targeted in the way you suggest. I'll save you a bunch of time, its never happened.

There are many examples, however, of criminals who's attempted robberies were thwarted by citizens who open carried.

Basically your fear is based on myth, while fact indicates you are simply wrong.

I spoke with a LEO I work with the other day about this. He is a fairly young man not half my age and definately pro gun. His opinion it that most people who open carry in public places are either showing off or trying to intimidate the public or just draw attention to themselves.

Funny thing is that when I have open carried very few people ever even notice the gun on my hip. In fact I think most people are so wrapped up in their own bubble of consciousness that they never see the world around them. Too busy TEXTing or chatting on their cell phone to ever notice what is around them.

The cop you talked to may believe what he said but I think he is wrong. I certainly have never open carried to show off or intimidate people. I do it for comfort. And clearly since people don't seem to ever notice, I'm doing a **** poor job of intimidating anyone since they can't be intimidated by what they don't see!

I am not trying to pass judgment here at all. I recently went out to eat with my family after work, and I was in full uniform (IU Health Security). My reason for not taking off my duty belt, as requested by my anti-gun mother, was that if someone were to rob the restaurant I would be the first person they would view as a potential threat.

But if you were seated they would only see your uniform and you would be unarmed. That makes you a target that is unable to defend yourself.

 

[Que]

I have a sneaky suspicion we will not see another post from the OP in this thread. I'm not getting trolled so, I'm done with it.

 

[ATM]

I have a sneaky suspicion we will not see another post from the OP in this thread. I'm not getting trolled so, I'm done with it.

Hopefully, he's reading the threads and will realize that there's not much new to say once the myths are gone.

 

[cbseniour]

Damn, I got 2 mods going with a reply to a thread that wasn't even mine.

I believe as strongly as anyone in our rights under the second amendment. I just think sometimes we take ourselves a little too seriously. I love a good discussion on any subject. Forgive me for being the devils advocate.

 

[PoormansMachinegun]

Hopefully, he's reading the threads and will realize that there's not much new to say once the myths are gone.

You hit the nail right on the head!

 

[Bill B]

Why open carry? Because I'm fat and it's really hard to CC an XD40.

 

[gunman]

why not pistol whip the next person who brings up this topic

 

[ATM]

I love this topic.

 

[bassplayrguy]

I have been looking in this forum, and there seems to be alot of Hoosiers that actually "Open Carry" their firearms while out in public. I have never been able to understand the reason why you would want to do this when you can carry concealed in this state.

My concern with open carry for example: I am in the check out counter of a gas station. A guy comes in scoping the place out to rob it, sees me with a gun on my hip.
(A) He gets spooked, and finds an easier target.

(B) He pulls his concealed gun, blows my head off, and robs the store.

I guess my thinking is that if I have a concealed weapon, a bad guy is less likely to view me as a threat. If he does decide to rob the place, I can react if need be, or just be a good witness.

Sorry if this topic has been mentioned.

This is the worst logic you can have. Please provide documented proof that this has actually occured. An overwhelming majority of bg's robbing stores are NOT ready to pull the trigger. That's why most of them don't. They want to get in and get out. If they see that there are people walking around in there with guns that will kill him, guess what. He is going to the next gas station. Carry how YOU are comfortable and be a good witness while someone else actually helps prevent the crime. Not trying to sound abrasive but the way you have come across is that way. I CC and OC whatever I am comfy with not what YOU are comfy with.

 

[IUBrink]

If somebody is going to rob a place and doesn't care if he kills anyone, he will kill the OC'er first. Result: complete waste of LTCH.

If somebody is going to rob a place and does care if he kills anyone, he will not rob the store. Result: crime deterred.

With CC, you're blended into the crowd. If the person is picking off people, you can guarantee you won't be intentionally put to the front of the line like an OC'er would.

 

[Beau]

If somebody is going to rob a place and doesn't care if he kills anyone, he will kill the OC'er first. Result: complete waste of LTCH.

If somebody is going to rob a place and does care if he kills anyone, he will not rob the store. Result: crime deterred.

With CC, you're blended into the crowd. If the person is picking off people, you can guarantee you won't be intentionally put to the front of the line like an OC'er would.

Maybe try reading a thread before you post your opinion..??

 

[norman428]

If somebody is going to rob a place and doesn't care if he kills anyone, he will kill the OC'er first. Result: complete waste of LTCH.

If somebody is going to rob a place and does care if he kills anyone, he will not rob the store. Result: crime deterred.

With CC, you're blended into the crowd. If the person is picking off people, you can guarantee you won't be intentionally put to the front of the line like an OC'er would.

If your just hanging out in a "line" to get killed, I'm concerned for your reason to carry in the first place. If you OC, and don't draw your weapon in such a situation, why did you buy it in the first place?
I oc, I cc, its very mood dependent. Either way, If a guy comes at me with a gun, who I think is going to inflict harm, OC or CC, He better be a better shot than me, because I'm not just shooting to injure.

Edit: I love how this comes up at least once a month.

 

[Vince49]

Pinch an inch?

Shoot,these days I'm getting so fat it's concealed anyway along with the rest of my belt!

 

[b0r0b]

If somebody is going to rob a place and doesn't care if he kills anyone, he will kill the OC'er first. Result: complete waste of LTCH.

If somebody is going to rob a place and does care if he kills anyone, he will not rob the store. Result: crime deterred.

With CC, you're blended into the crowd. If the person is picking off people, you can guarantee you won't be intentionally put to the front of the line like an OC'er would.

I'm not sure if it's a geographical thing, but I noticed something today in my neighborhood: Every store I was in today (and it was a lot with the wife) all of the checkouts had my pistol facing away from the front door. While not entirely relevant, I just thought it was funny. I am right handed so my pistol is obviously on my right hip and the front door to everything was always on my left.

Fact of the matter is, the thought that OC'ing and being shot first is absolutely the worst point to attempt to bring up. 99% of all "gas station thieves" are not going to kill ANYONE and 70% of those probably don't even have bullets in their gun.

Let's put this thought process into perspective. On the BUSIEST of friday nights, a gas station has what..under $5k and a time lock safe? So you turn attempted robbery or robbery into: Murder, Discharging a firearm within city limits, possession of a firearm without a license, attempted murder to anyone else in the store, robbery and a host of other charges anyone wants to make up.

It's just not worth it. Worth being the key word. Besides the fact that this doesn't happen, lol. Pull up the news article, I'll be here all night.

 

[Benny]

85.6% of all statistics are made up 97.2% of the time.

 

[b0r0b]

This is correct and I applaud your clear ability to be so observant, however, the 0% statistic is 100% correct.

 

[IUBrink]

Maybe try reading a thread before you post your opinion..??

Don't get angry at me, girlfriend.

If your just hanging out in a "line" to get killed, I'm concerned for your reason to carry in the first place. If you OC, and don't draw your weapon in such a situation, why did you buy it in the first place?

I'm seriously replying to this? The line is a metaphor for him picking you out of the crowd first BECAUSE he saw you had a gun and he most likely was CC'ing.

99% of all "gas station thieves" are not going to kill ANYONE and 70% of those probably don't even have bullets in their gun.

So you turn attempted robbery or robbery into: Murder, Discharging a firearm within city limits, possession of a firearm without a license, attempted murder to anyone else in the store, robbery and a host of other charges anyone wants to make up.

It's just not worth it. Worth being the key word. Besides the fact that this doesn't happen, lol. Pull up the news article, I'll be here all night.

I agree definitely not worth it, but my scenario covers other locations outside of gas stations and people of different psychological makeup.

 

[usaguy2006]

I do not think open carrying is a good idea at all.. In any situation the element of surprise is the best thing to have on your side.. And as far as those statistics go, about gas station robbers not killing anyone?? LMAO Criminals have no concern for innocent life. Unarmed people die everyday in robberies and what not. You would be ridiculous to think an armed robber would not hurt you.. (and likely to be the guy who gets hurt due to under estimating the stupidity and non caring nature of a criminal)

 

[sj kahr k40]

Since the guy OCing gets shot first I'm sure there are news stories about this everywhere on the net, how about some of you that believe that BS find some.

I'll wait, it's such a common thing I'm sure it won't take long!

 

[usaguy2006]

Searching... lolhttp://www.foxlexington.com/newsroom/top-stories/videos/vid_507.shtml