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Guns: Why Not Non-Concealed Carry?

lunamoth

Will to love
I brought this up in another thread, but I really am interested in the answer to this question and I was thinking it would get lost as off-topic in the other thread.

Why not make it a law that you can have your guns (registered, safely stored and cared for, with some kind of training etc.), but also require that when you carry it you need to have it displayed in plain sight.

I would rather know who is carrying a gun, and it seems suspicious to be carrying it hidden.
 

Tarheeler

Argumentative Curmudgeon
Premium Member
Many states are open-carry states (they allow people to carry firearms provided they are in plain sight).

opencarrymap-Nov1-2012.png


http://www.opencarry.org/?page_id=103

As for why concealed carry over open carry, there are many reasons. Personally, I choose to carry concealed beacause of the overwhelming numbers of idiots out there, including police officers, who are either ignorant of the law or who like to harass people who exercise a right they don't approve of.
 
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Tarheeler

Argumentative Curmudgeon
Premium Member
Thanks Tarheeler. Can you clarify for me, is concealed carry illegal in these open carry states (i.e., you can't even get a permit of any kind to carry a weapon unless it is in plain sight)?

It would vary by state. Some only allow one or the other while some allow for both.

In North Carolina, there is a lengthy and costly permitting process for concealed carry but there isn't anything involved with open carry. If you can legally posses a handgun you can carry it in plain sight.

In Texas, from what I understand, it is illegal to open carry and permits are issued only for concealed carry.
 

lunamoth

Will to love
It would vary by state. Some only allow one or the other while some allow for both.

In North Carolina, there is a lengthy and costly permitting process for concealed carry but there isn't anything involved with open carry. If you can legally posses a handgun you can carry it in plain sight.

In Texas, from what I understand, it is illegal to open carry and permits are issued only for concealed carry.
Thank you. I couldn't quite get that from the nice figure you provided.

What do you think - does it seem safer to you if people are required to display any weapons they carry? I think I would prefer to know who is armed, and with what.
 

Tarheeler

Argumentative Curmudgeon
Premium Member
Thank you. I couldn't quite get that from the nice figure you provided.

What do you think - does it seem safer to you if people are required to display any weapons they carry? I think I would prefer to know who is armed, and with what.

No, it don't think it would be any "safer". I've carried my firearm both ways, and I'd much rather have it concealed. I've been harassed by regular citizens as well as the police while open carrying; people seem to either be completely ignorant of the law or just like to cause trouble.

Why do you think that having that knowledge would make you any safer?
 

Revoltingest

Pragmatic Libertarian
Premium Member
MI is legally an open carry state, but the cops still don't allow it.
The problem with open carry is cultural, ie, it scares the bejeezus out of many people.
They're more comfortable not knowing.
 

lunamoth

Will to love
No, it don't think it would be any "safer". I've carried my firearm both ways, and I'd much rather have it concealed. I've been harassed by regular citizens as well as the police while open carrying; people seem to either be completely ignorant of the law or just like to cause trouble.

Why do you think that having that knowledge would make you any safer?

I think they gave you a hard time because we are not used to seeing most citizens armed. Really, that would change if everyone were required to open carry.

I would much rather know who around me is armed. In fact, this seems as obvious a fact as wanting to know what goes into my food and where my doctor was educated.

If it is someone I judge to have good character and has a track-record of being sharp and dependable, I would have no issue at all that they are armed.

If I have a student in my class who is erratic in their behavior, and is not happy with the grade I just gave them, I also would like to know if they are carrying a gun.
 
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lunamoth

Will to love
MI is legally an open carry state, but the cops still don't allow it.
The problem with open carry is cultural, ie, it scares the bejeezus out of many people.
They're more comfortable not knowing.

Guess I am strange because I would MUCH rather know.

This is coming from a person on the same campus as the Aurora shooter, BTW.
 

lunamoth

Will to love
Strange is good when normal is weak.
I like knowing too, but not out of worry.

The more I know about what is around me, the better I can protect myself and family. If there is a need for a weapon, I want to know who has what.

I do not own a gun but have no problem with people having weapons for sport, self-defense etc.
 

Tarheeler

Argumentative Curmudgeon
Premium Member
I think they gave you a hard time because we are not used to seeing most citizens armed. Really, that would change if everyone were required to open carry.

I don't think it's nearly that simple. The police should certainly know better, and I've had a guy walk to me and try to taunt me into drawing. He apparently thought the gun made me "big and bad". Some people see someone carrying, and they think it's their job to intimidate them or to challenge them. I never really got that; they're disturbed to see a guy or a gal with a firearm, and they react by trying to force a confrontation. Where is the logic in that?

Open carry is pretty common where I'm at, and people should be fairly used to it. A trip to the local Wal-mart will usually turn up a couple people openly carrying.

I would much rather know who around me is armed. In fact, this seems as obvious a fact as wanting to know what goes into my food and where my doctor was education.

If someone I judge to have good character and has a track-record of being sharp and dependable, I would have no issue at all that they are armed.

If I have a student in my class who is erratic in their behavior, and is not happy with the grade I just gave them, I also would like to know if they are carrying a gun.
But how would that information help you? You don't have the power or authority to determine who does or does not get to carry, nor do you have the ability to disarm someone if you believe them to be unfit to do so. You can always can the police if you feel threatened, but you can do that whether they are armed or not.
 

lunamoth

Will to love
I don't think it's nearly that simple. The police should certainly know better, and I've had a guy walk to me and try to taunt me into drawing. He apparently thought the gun made me "big and bad". Some people see someone carrying, and they think it's their job to intimidate them or to challenge them. I never really got that; they're disturbed to see a guy or a gal with a firearm, and they react by trying to force a confrontation. Where is the logic in that?
That is pretty stupid, and not logical. But the police are just as influenced by the cultural milieu as anyone else. I think if open carry were the norm, that would change.

Open carry is pretty common where I'm at, and people should be fairly used to it. A trip to the local Wal-mart will usually turn up a couple people openly carrying.

But how would that information help you? You don't have the power or authority to determine who does or does not get to carry, nor do you have the ability to disarm someone if you believe them to be unfit to do so. You can always can the police if you feel threatened, but you can do that whether they are armed or not.
It would help me because I could know who to turn to if I see a situation where knowledgeable use of a firearm would help. And I could stay well clear of the people I don't trust who have a gun.

And I would call for help one hell of a lot faster if I know the person threatening me is carrying a gun.
 
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England my lionheart

Rockerjahili Rebel
Premium Member
I brought this up in another thread, but I really am interested in the answer to this question and I was thinking it would get lost as off-topic in the other thread.

Why not make it a law that you can have your guns (registered, safely stored and cared for, with some kind of training etc.), but also require that when you carry it you need to have it displayed in plain sight.

I would rather know who is carrying a gun, and it seems suspicious to be carrying it hidden.

I think that if you carry a gun whether its concealed or not that you are willing to use it,if you feel the need to carry a gun whether its concealed or not you are either paranoid or live in a **** society IMO.
 

lunamoth

Will to love
I think that if you carry a gun whether its concealed or not that you are willing to use it,if you feel the need to carry a gun whether its concealed or not you are either paranoid or live in a **** society IMO.

I personally do not see why people feel they need to carry guns on campus. I would be interested to know why they do this.

I can see why one might carry a gun if you go into a city on a regular basis, or for any number of reasons where you might routinely be in a place that is not very secure.
 

Father Heathen

Veteran Member
I think that if you carry a gun whether its concealed or not that you are willing to use it,if you feel the need to carry a gun whether its concealed or not you are either paranoid or live in a **** society IMO.

Are people who wear helmets when riding their bike, or wear a seat belt when driving their car, keep a first-aid kit handy, or keep a fire extinguisher in their home paranoid? People don't do these things expecting to be in an accident or have a fire, yet no one with any sense would suggest that these cautionary practices are unreasonable.

As for "**** society", yes it is true that the U.S. isn't a quaint little hobbit island. It is large, complex, and culturally, socially, economically diverse.
 

lunamoth

Will to love
If someone had ulterior motive, they would hide it regardless of legalities.

Right, but then they would also be breaking the law just by carrying the weapon. Right now those with ulterior motives can legally carry their guns.

Granted, you can't stop craziness and someone trying to subvert the law. But, I still would much rather know who around me is armed.
 

Tarheeler

Argumentative Curmudgeon
Premium Member
That is pretty stupid, and not logical. But the police are just as influenced by the cultural milieu as anyone else. I think if open carry were the norm, that would change.

But that's just it: It does happen where open carry is the norm.

It would help me because I could know who to turn to if I see a situation where knowledgeable use of a firearm would help. And I could stay well clear of the people I don't trust who have a gun.
I get what you're saying; we all want to know as much about our environment as we can. We also want to have as much control of it as we can. I think that's just basic instinct.

But you have no control of the people around you. In the states that do allow concealed carry, permit holders have to go through a pretty lengthy background check and clear other hurdles before they can carry. I"m all for universal background checks and permiting for carriers, but I don't think that forcing open carry is necessarily a good idea. And certainly not for the reasons you're giving. Flocking towards someone who is armed in a bad situation isn't nearly as good an idea as is getting out the area, and you should probably avoid someone you don't trust even if they don't have a gun.
 
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