Open Carry is it on the Rise?

[snapping turtle]

I wear shoulder holsters much more in the fall and winter with jacket or coat. So I look like a 1970's cop at times.

When not winter I prefer 3 o'clock hold outside waist band with a long shirt normally so I at least print a lot. I am sure I show some also.

So I probably show more open carry in the fall and winter at least if I take the jacket off. I show but less other times of the year.

Semi open carry I guess or hap hazard CC.

 

[wcd]

I wear shoulder holsters much more in the fall and winter with jacket or coat. So I look like a 1970's cop at times.

When not winter I prefer 3 o'clock hold outside waist band with a long shirt normally so I at least print a lot. I am sure I show some also.

So I probably show more open carry in the fall and winter at least if I take the jacket off. I show but less other times of the year.

Semi open carry I guess or hap hazard CC.

While I prefer Milt Sparks IWB I am right with you FFA Hoodie and I am good to go

 

[actaeon277]

One day at dinner at my bothers I uh, well, in the words of my sister-in-law's cousin: Are you a cop? Where I come from there are two kinds of people that carry a gun, cops and bad guys.

Should point out, 1) Hollywood only shows cops and bad guys. 2) criminals mostly conceal.

 

[indyblue]

I know this is an OC thread but just had to put this out there since it does involve carrying.

Handgun owners carrying daily in US doubled in 4 years; self-protection cited as main reason: study​

The number of respondents to the online survey who said they had carried a gun in the last month also nearly doubled from 9 million to 16 million in 2015​

 

[BehindBlueI's]

Allegedly people reporting now carrying "every day" has roughly doubled in the past few years. So, all else being equal (which it isn't, but for the sake of simplicity in the argument...) all types of carry would be on the rise.

 

[Tombs]

I can't say I've noticed a significant difference in the past 5 or so years.

Always been a significant amount of OC around here. It's just not practical to me.

 

[Expat]

I don’t often see it in my hood, so when I do I notice. I have noticed it a little bit more. a couple times they could have passed as off duty fuzz.

 

[NHT3]

I don’t often see it in my hood, so when I do I notice. I have noticed it a little bit more. a couple times they could have passed as off duty fuzz.

Been a while since I heard the term "fuzz", thanks for the memories.. Not seeing a lot of open carry in my area but when I do it's NOT the clean cut with the proper belt and holster type but more like this

 

[LockStocksAndBarrel]

 

[daddyusmaximus]

I normally have an untucked t-shirt to cover my holster so CC has been my method for a long time, but as I've got older, and my dress has evolved, I do tend to tuck my shirts in more. Hazards of being a boomer I guess... lol. As a result, if I'm warm, and I take my jacket off, I often end up in OC mode. Being a fat-ass, and walking with a cane, and a service dog... I doubt if I look like either the fuzz, or a criminal, but I do get stares sometimes. Nobody ever says anything to me though except the occasional "Thank you for your service."



BTW, zero Uncle Mike's either.

 

[Route 45]

criminals mostly conceal

So do most off-duty cops.

 

[wtburnette]

I don't see it any more often, or any less for that matter. It's always been a relatively rare sight.

I don't open carry because IMO, I'd be an easy target. I still cannot grasp the idea that it is a deterrent; but that's just me.

I do enjoy seeing others OC, makes me feel somewhat proud to be an American.

I do not understand the concept of deterrence either. But its a good thing when people lawfully exercise a right.

I'm not sure what's not to understand, or difficult to understand. Criminals mostly go after soft targets. Those who open carry are not only openly displaying a weapon, which makes them a hard target, but will often also carry themselves differently and have much better situational awareness, also marking them as hard targets. There is a chance that some will be crazy enough to go against a hard target in order to get the gun, through various scenarios, but I believe most often criminals would be more likely to give you a pass if you were open carrying. John Lott, Jr. had famously interviewed numerous criminals who were incarcerated and they all said the same thing, like predators, criminals tend to go after the soft targets and let the hard targets be.

 

[Denny347]

Is having the grip sticking out of your front pocket considered OC or just poor CC? I see that A LOT.

 

[wtburnette]

Is having the grip sticking out of your front pocket considered OC or just poor CC? I see that A LOT.

Since you're Denny, shouldn't you be able to Denny that?

I think that would fall under the "sloppy CC" umbrella. Not sure. Is there a partially CC partially OC category? Is the grip supposed to stick out? Is that intentional?

 

[ECS686]

I don't see it any more often, or any less for that matter. It's always been a relatively rare sight.





I'm not sure what's not to understand, or difficult to understand. Criminals mostly go after soft targets. Those who open carry are not only openly displaying a weapon, which makes them a hard target, but will often also carry themselves differently and have much better situational awareness, also marking them as hard targets. There is a chance that some will be crazy enough to go against a hard target in order to get the gun, through various scenarios, but I believe most often criminals would be more likely to give you a pass if you were open carrying. John Lott, Jr. had famously interviewed numerous criminals who were incarcerated and they all said the same thing, like predators, criminals tend to go after the soft targets and let the hard targets be.

This is not accurate. Most open carriers have zero clue how much they do not know about weapon retention. I delt with Chicago area gang members for 20 plus years. People that open carry are in fact a target of theft.
Chicago gang folks do frequent northern Indiana and do go after folks open carrying or ones that CC but they see they are printing.

They follow them until the time is right and the open carriers alert is down and steal it. It has just recently been shown on several surveillance videos but had been a thing for years!

So unless you are open carrying with several others at a range or gun store not really a deterrent


That said I have seen some slight increase in OC folks since July 1 but it’s 89% of the time a very cheap nylon holster and maybe 1 out if 10 will be a Glock as the best quality firearm. Rest are Taurus of something other than the big 5 or 6 companies

 

[wtburnette]

This is not accurate. Most open carriers have zero clue how much they do not know about weapon retention. I delt with Chicago area gang members for 20 plus years. People that open carry are in fact a target of theft.
Chicago gang folks do frequent northern Indiana and do go after folks open carrying or ones that CC but they see they are printing.

They follow them until the time is right and the open carriers alert is down and steal it. It has just recently been shown on several surveillance videos but had been a thing for years!

So unless you are open carrying with several others at a range or gun store not really a deterrent


That said I have seen some slight increase in OC folks since July 1 but it’s 89% of the time a very cheap nylon holster and maybe 1 out if 10 will be a Glock as the best quality firearm. Rest are Taurus of something other than the big 5 or 6 companies

Yeah, unfortunately I believe you're right, which is why I qualified my statement. Also of note, it's been a while since John Lott, Jr did his study. Things certainly change over time. That's why I'm an advocate of not open carrying unless you are very good with situational awareness. Too many people either have headphones on, have their heads buried in their phones, or both.

 

[breakingcontact]

I see it fairly often by me.

Always a fun topic.

 

[wcd]

I don't see it any more often, or any less for that matter. It's always been a relatively rare sight.





I'm not sure what's not to understand, or difficult to understand. Criminals mostly go after soft targets. Those who open carry are not only openly displaying a weapon, which makes them a hard target, but will often also carry themselves differently and have much better situational awareness, also marking them as hard targets. There is a chance that some will be crazy enough to go against a hard target in order to get the gun, through various scenarios, but I believe most often criminals would be more likely to give you a pass if you were open carrying. John Lott, Jr. had famously interviewed numerous criminals who were incarcerated and they all said the same thing, like predators, criminals tend to go after the soft targets and let the hard targets be.

I guess I should have qualified that with some open carriers. i have seen many totally oblivious to their surrounding, nose in their phone and. Firearm barely retained by the floppy nylon holster. Unfortunately in some cases nothing can be done and fate will take its course regardless.

 

[freekforge]

I've seen it a lot more recently especially in gas city and if its the 4th of July or ducktail you'll see a ton of people OCing in crappy holsters or in their pocket with the grip sticking out. I've educated the guys that will listen at the factory about good holsters and converted a few from uncle Mike's and bulldogs to safarilands or higher end leather holsters.

I personally don't care if I'm concealed or open sometimes I wear aiwb sometimes i owb at 3 o'clock. Usually I have a my 43 in an Als holster because I don't like a lot of weight on my waist or tension on my belt from iwb since I took a nasty tumble down the steep *** stairs at my old house. If folks see it I don't really care. JFC

 

[littletommy]

I couldn’t say, I’m either home or at work. Same people at both places still carry as always.

I really don’t like getting out in society like I used to.