A question for those who open carry

[Sigarms]

I carry concealed. Open carry has never appealed to me for various reasons.

Then it dawned on me the other day, the BIGGEST reason why I would never carry concealed is something that I actually never gave much thought until the other day sitting on the hopper in a rest room.

If you open carry and you want to go shopping or anywhere else off your property, how do you know who exactly will allow weapons on their premises? You wear a gun and everyone can see it, you come up to a store that doesn't allow weapons, what do you do? If you go in you're busting the stores request and there is a good chance you can get the law called on you.

The reality is unless you come across a metal detector and you carry concealed, no one knows, period.

 

[JRobyn]

In my experience, those who are of the mindset to open carry have NO problem not patronizing establishments that limit firearms in any way.

p.s. Sorry, I do NOT open carry.

 

[Raspy]

If you are carrying concealed, and doing it legally and you go into a store that has a no guns sign, you are not breaking state law, at least here in Nevada. And you'll probably get away with it no problem. But if an employee notices the gun and asks you to leave, you'll be trespassing if you don't. At least that is the way I interpret it here in Nevada. Of course, concealed means concealed. If someone spots it, it's not concealed.

As I travel around I see "no gun" signs here and there on doors. I assume this applies to either open or concealed. So, it's cool unless there is a sign on the door and even then it's not against state law, it's just against the store's policy.

Of course, that does not apply to government buildings or schools where there will be no guns on the premises or within some distance of schools.

 

[Welshman]

If you are carrying concealed, and doing it legally and you go into a store that has a no guns sign, you are not breaking state law. And you'll probably get away with it no problem. But if an employee notices the gun and asks you to leave, you'll be trespassing if you don't. At least that is the way I interpret it here in Nevada. Of course, concealed means concealed. If someone spots it, it's not concealed.

As I travel around I see "no gun" signs here and there on doors. I assume this applies to either open or concealed. So, it's cool unless there is a sign on the door and even then it's not against state law, it's just against the store's policy.

Of course, that does not apply to government buildings or schools where there will be no guns on the premises or within some distance of schools.

This varies from state to state. Currently, in Ohio, if you carry into an establishment that is posted no firearms, and get caught, you can be charged with a crime. There is legislation pending in Ohio to "decriminalize" the act and make it similar to what you describe.

Sigarms, did you mean to say you would never open carry? I would not open carry either. I see it as too much of a nuisance. It does make some people obviously uncomfortable and then there are those that want to talk to you about your gun.

 

[k0ua]

I don't open carry. But I do see it fairly regularly here. I don't know what they are thinking, as I don't bother them and they don't bother me. I would just as soon the bad guys don't know I am armed. And some people are still "bothered" by seeing people open carrying. Although it is common in this area. Here in Branson, of course we have a lot of people from other states as this is mainly a tourist magnet.

 

[Raspy]

Welsh,

Thanks for the correction on state to state rules. I edited my earlier post.

 

[atsah]

I see people open carrying all the time, grocery stores etc, I hold a CCW but only open carry walking the dog due to the high population of moose in my area, they hate dogs and will go out of there way to kill them because they think we are a pack of coyotes. Open carry is more comfortable for me walking the dog. I do not open carry otherwise.

 

[jjkrueger]

I recently decided to give open carry a try, mostly because I really like my full size P320, and haven't gotten around to picking up a smaller kit yet. While certainly not impossible to conceal, it's definitely not designed as a concealment weapon. I'll probably go back to concealing after I pick up a carry or compact grip for it.

I could carry a smaller pistol, but this one's my current preference. I can open carry legally, so I do. It's also just easier as I don't have to worry about putting on different clothes to conceal anything when I leave my property.

If I have to make a trek to St. Louis, or anywhere that I can drive for work, I'll take something a bit smaller and more concealable, however. It just depends on what the day calls for.

Most days, I'm not going to stray too far.

Sounds like MO is similar to NV, where signs are to be posted when guns aren't welcome in an establishment, but don't carry the force of law, unless you choose to not comply when someone asks you to leave.

I tend to avoid those kinds of places out of convenience. But when you can't avoid it, you can't avoid it. I have a vault in the truck to provide that little extra bit of security when I'm not carrying. Then I just look silly with an empty holster.

I definitely don't carry open or concealed if the place is prohibited by law, either federal or state.

 

[Raspy]

Then I just look silly with an empty holster.

That is funny....... Wander into a store or federal building with an open holster.

What kind of responses do you get in stores with an open holster?

 

[Bird]

I open carried for many years . . . . but only when I was wearing a police uniform.:laughing: In the early days, we were required to go armed at all times away from home. But even as police officers we were required to have the weapon concealed when not in uniform. Maybe I'm just too old fashioned, but I can't imagine myself open carrying in civilian clothes.

 

[jjkrueger]

That is funny....... Wander into a store or federal building with an open holster.

What kind of responses do you get in stores with an open holster?

Funny you ask - I don't think anyone's ever noticed, or ever said anything. Every morning when I drop the boy off at preschool, I walk in with an empty holster, and it's never been mentioned.

 

[Deere Dude]

At Walmart in our small town I noticed a tall stud looking guy carrying two revolvers on the hips with handles facing forward. To cool for me so I went the other way.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

I have NO problem with open carry, although I "generally" don't do it...

The way I see it, the more open carry people see, the more they will get use to it.

We go to a fairly big Chinese buffet in the city, There's guys that come in open carry, no one seems a bit bothered by them that I can see.

SR