Concealed Carry Question

[Skerpokes]

I am not a gun owner and for the most part have not been a big fan of guns. That's just me. However with some recent violent crimes that have hit way too close to home I am slowly entertaining the thought of purchasing a gun for my home. We do own two guns that my wife inherited from her father but I think if I were to have one I would want to investigate and buy one on my own.

My question has actually nothing to do with this and I'm more just looking for people's opinion. I don't really understand the concealed carry law. If I wanted to carry a weapon for protection, I would think that the best way to protect yourself would be to carry that gun right on your hip where everybody could see it. How many people do you think would mess with you then? Why conceal it?

 

[mcro_rave_2001]

i'm with you i prefer to have my gun where people can see this but some don't like that even though cops do it all the time and will look and treat you differently for doing that. I also believe if they know you are armed they are less likely to cause trouble while you're around and this is why you see most mass kills at places where you know guns are not.

 

[MAIZEandBLUE09]

Well, open carrying is illegal in some states, as is conceal carry, so it really depends on your state. Furthermore, the problem with open carry is that people aren't used to seeing it. So you'll get unwanted attention and sometimes the cops are called on people open carrying.

 

[Podunkparte]

The attention and making people uncomfortable is one thing. Personally, I think open carrying is mostly just an ego stroker.

Plus, a guy planning on shooting someone (which is why you'd be carrying in the first place) isn't going to see your gun on your hip and think "Nevermind, I won't do what I was intending on doing." He's just going to shoot you first and take care of that problem. You're drawing unneeded attention to yourself.

 

[da55bums]

The attention and making people uncomfortable is one thing. Personally, I think open carrying is mostly just an ego stroker.

Plus, a guy planning on shooting someone (which is why you'd be carrying in the first place) isn't going to see your gun on your hip and think "Nevermind, I won't do what I was intending on doing." He's just going to shoot you first and take care of that problem. You're drawing unneeded attention to yourself.

In Texas, they open carry...in Texas, they have less crime...those are general knowledge facts...but EITHER way...you are better...unnoticed or noticed...if those who qualify, carry...the good outweighs the bad...by a very large margin.

 

[JDM]

I would personally prefer to concealed carry over open carrying, although I do not currently own a gun and never have. I most likely will at some point down the road.

 

[JDM]

In Texas, they open carry...in Texas, they have less crime...those are general knowledge facts...but EITHER way...you are better...unnoticed or noticed...if those who qualify, carry...the good outweighs the bad...by a very large margin.

Population density. This is why Texas has a fairly low crime rate.

 

[OnlyCrimson]

Open carry is legal here in Alabama for those not prohibited in public places and private property not posted "No Firearms Allowed". A lot of people here carry open but most of them are not carrying for protection they are carrying open trying to instigate an altercation with law enforcement. They are trying to be YouTube tough guys.

In my opinion open carry is catch 22. If you're walking down the street openly carrying its unlikely you will be targeted by criminals. If you are standing in line at your local stop and rob and a criminal comes in to rob the place and he sees your gun he's likely to shoot you before you even see him.

I prefer to conceal carry and I'm always armed with at least one firearm, most of the time I have two. I'm confident with my training and skills and I like to have the element of surprise on my side.

 

[MAIZEandBLUE09]

Open carry is legal here in Alabama for those not prohibited in public places and private property not posted "No Firearms Allowed". A lot of people here carry open but most of them are not carrying for protection they are carrying open trying to instigate an altercation with law enforcement. They are trying to be YouTube tough guys.

In my opinion open carry is catch 22. If you're walking down the street openly carrying its unlikely you will be targeted by criminals. If you are standing in line at your local stop and rob and a criminal comes in to rob the place and he sees your gun he's likely to shoot you before you even see him.

I prefer to conceal carry and I'm always armed with at least one firearm, most of the time I have two. I'm confident with my training and skills and I like to have the element of surprise on my side.

You nailed it. Most people who open carry do it for political reasons - and while I don't have a problem with them doing it, it's not practical as an every day thing simply because of the attention it draws. I have an open carry holster just for when I'm walking around someone's property or camping; situations where it's not necessarily strange to see someone with a gun. Walking down a city street with a gun on your side will just get the cops called on you and then you'll have to spend time, right or wrong, dealing with that.

And as you say, it may just mean you're the first person to get shot.

 

[BF4L]

I am not a gun owner and for the most part have not been a big fan of guns. That's just me. However with some recent violent crimes that have hit way too close to home I am slowly entertaining the thought of purchasing a gun for my home. We do own two guns that my wife inherited from her father but I think if I were to have one I would want to investigate and buy one on my own.

My question has actually nothing to do with this and I'm more just looking for people's opinion. I don't really understand the concealed carry law. If I wanted to carry a weapon for protection, I would think that the best way to protect yourself would be to carry that gun right on your hip where everybody could see it. How many people do you think would mess with you then? Why conceal it?

First off welcome.

IMO the most responsible citizens in this country carry. If that is open or concealed is a matter of choice and the laws that your state has.

As far as protection a gun is only as good as its owner. Should you choose to carry a gun you need to first take a course that shows you the do's and dont's. Basically it gives you a baseline to go to.

Once past that if you purchase a Pistol then you need to practice with that gun and make sure you can hit what you aim at with fairly good percentage.

When I first got my concealed carry permit I carried a unloaded gun for about a month. I had a Mag on the other side of my belt but my gun was not loaded. This was a choice by me to make sure I was comfortable with having a gun on my hip.

Now I carry everywhere. I have been in 2 instances that I pulled my gun. One I had it at my side and was relatively unknown. One was a direct attack towards me. I never had to fire but I sure as hell was ready too...I am talking like 2-3 feet difference before ending someones life. That one rattled my beliefs for a bit but in the end I know I was right.

In summery should you decide to carry a firearm you are entering into a group. A group that you should be proud of but yet very cautious. Having a gun on you does not give you the right to yank it out cause some toolbar cut you off.

It overall is a responsibility that needs you to commit to understanding that you can end a persons life with 1 pull of the trigger.

 

[Podunkparte]

First off welcome.

IMO the most responsible citizens in this country carry. If that is open or concealed is a matter of choice and the laws that your state has.

As far as protection a gun is only as good as its owner. Should you choose to carry a gun you need to first take a course that shows you the do's and dont's. Basically it gives you a baseline to go to.

Once past that if you purchase a Pistol then you need to practice with that gun and make sure you can hit what you aim at with fairly good percentage.

When I first got my concealed carry permit I carried a unloaded gun for about a month. I had a Mag on the other side of my belt but my gun was not loaded. This was a choice by me to make sure I was comfortable with having a gun on my hip.

Now I carry everywhere. I have been in 2 instances that I pulled my gun. One I had it at my side and was relatively unknown. One was a direct attack towards me. I never had to fire but I sure as hell was ready too...I am talking like 2-3 feet difference before ending someones life. That one rattled my beliefs for a bit but in the end I know I was right.

In summery should you decide to carry a firearm you are entering into a group. A group that you should be proud of but yet very cautious. Having a gun on you does not give you the right to yank it out cause some toolbar cut you off.

It overall is a responsibility that needs you to commit to understanding that you can end a persons life with 1 pull of the trigger.

Well said. No such thing as road rage or losing your cool in a situation when you're carrying a gun.

 

[BF4L]

I would personally prefer to concealed carry over open carrying, although I do not currently own a gun and never have. I most likely will at some point down the road.

I agree with this.

If you stumble into a situation and someone notices you have a gun then most likely you will be a victim. They would have the element of surprise.