Why Carry Concealed (Instead of Openly Carrying)?

LouisianaCarry · Mar 1, 2008

The old debate about CCW vs. OC has long been a staple of gun boards. Since those that carry firearms tend to be an opinionated lot, these conversations can get quite heated. In an effort to give people a places to voice their thoughts and opinions, this sticky is open to any who would like to post about the positives of Concealed Carry as opposed to carrying openly. This is a subject worthy of thought, and newcomers to the conversation should have a chance to hear both sides without the strife that usually attends the debate.

Be advised! Any posts displaying a lack of respect for other's choices in this thread will be summarily deleted. This thread is SOLELY for those who believe in the merits of CCW, and would like to RESPECTFULLY enunciate their reasoning.

Have fun, and be respectful of others and their choices!

For those with the contrasting viewpoint, click here: Why Open Carry (instead of Carrying Concealed?)

LouisianaCarry · Mar 1, 2008

I carry concealed and openly at alternating times every day. I am not biased towards one or the other. Generally, when I conceal my weapon, I am doing it because I would not like to "mess things up for the next guy."

By that I mean, for example, I conceal my weapon when I go into Best Buy. They do not have a sign prohibiting weapons, so legally I may do what I want (until told otherwise), but that store seems to me (just my impression) to be a place where, if the management see someone with a gun- it might occur to them to buy a 'No Weapons' sign and stick it in the door. Then the next CCWer that wants to shop there is put in a precarious predicament.

Most places are not like that, in my experience. It is just in certain, usually larger stores, that I mitigate the risk.

Also, if I am working in, say, a counseling center where there might be, for example, women who were recently raped and have some serious phobias and issues from recent events- I conceal, so as to not set their counseling back.

Other times, it is as simple as wanting to wear a jacket and preferring 3 o'clock carry.

Kraut · Mar 1, 2008

I would have to advocate, and encourage, concealed carry. I would really like to see Vermont's version (just do it if you want until you forfeit your right to do so by becoming a felon, or going nuttier than a squirrel turd). As a law enforcement officer, being familiar with how little most people pay attention to and bother to learn basic laws that affect them and the rest of civilization, I think lots of people open carrying would swamp LE agencies with panicked fools calling possible robberies day-in/day-out. We already get enough of the calls about some guy walking down the street who just "looks like he doesn't belong there". If they were packing visible guns the soccer moms would be so breathless they couldn't even talk to dispatch coherently. Sure, eventually that would decrease, but it would never go away. Also, concealed makes more guesswork for predators as to which old lady is unarmed and which is a pistol-packin' mama. Why make their victim selection easier?

LouisianaCarry · Mar 1, 2008

I absolutely agree the VT version would be better. The AK version would be best! No permit is required for OC or CC, but they will issue you one if you want it, so that you have reciprocity with other States.

WhiteRabbit22 · Mar 2, 2008

Yes, Alaska is awesome, I wish the whole country was like that!

operator223 · Jun 8, 2011

Here's how I go about it...... I do BOTH !! (let me explain.....) I have a full size 1911 in a full size level III safariland duty holster. I just put an oversized caribbean pattern shirt over the whole thing unbuttoned. If it flaps open with the breeze, well too bad. If you make that big blob on my hip and the grip poking out from under the shirt .... too bad. If you see part of the holster when Im reaching up, down, or sideways,..... too bad. I got my CCW permit on me and so I am covered both ways...... so if you are liberal and a hoplophobic....... well that's too bad as well.

eman2k5 · Jun 8, 2011

CC everyday all day. Only time I open carry is if Im outdoors on the buddies property then I OC.

gsneff · Jun 8, 2011

Open Carry provides a tactical advantage of not drawing attention to yourself. If a badguy walks into a store and and whips out a pistol to rob the place and as he does that he notices a gun on your side, guess what the situation just escaliated and he has the advantage of already having a gun out and you still have to go throught the whole seeing, recognizing, and reacting to what is happening. By the time you go through this you could be dead.

spanky · Jun 8, 2011

gsneff said:
Open Carry provides a tactical advantage of not drawing attention to yourself. If a badguy walks into a store and and whips out a pistol to rob the place and as he does that he notices a gun on your side, guess what the situation just escaliated and he has the advantage of already having a gun out and you still have to go throught the whole seeing, recognizing, and reacting to what is happening. By the time you go through this you could be dead.

Do you mean concealed?

LongGoneDays · Jun 8, 2011

I only carry concealed for several reasons.
I'm not always in a social mood, I wouldn't "help the cause" by cursing some wordy hippy.
I don't want to be at a tactile disadvantage.
GUN GRABS
Nobody's business
Fradulent "he threatened me with his gun" claims
When I'm shopping I want to get in get out. The last thing I want is LEO holding me up making sure my gun isn't stolen or asking me about my business. I especially don't want guns pointed at me.
I have no need for a new motorcycle.

SpeedRacer · Jun 8, 2011

I carry a gun to defend myself, not to attract attention, prove a point or be a hero. I can walk away from an incident without anyone ever knowing I was armed. Open carry eliminates that option.

In a different time, open carry was the norm. I get that. But in our current reality, open carry (if concealed is an option for you) is silly from a tactical standpoint. Anyone who truly carries a gun for self defense knows this. Open carry is for attention whores.

Emperor · Jun 8, 2011

This is a stupid debate! We are gun rights advocates! All gun rights! Right?

To think that there are heated debates about why some one is or isn't a knucklehead because of one of the other is completely assinine. Unless it's for comedic affect.

Folks, we better come to grips with we needing all the gun rights advocates we can get and we ain't ever got enough. I am actively trying to encourage as many as I can to get involved. If they are thinking about a CC permit but just never took the time to apply yet, shouldn't we encourage them to OC until then? Just to have another addition to the brotherhood of gun rights?

Come on! This is pointless.

Edit: But to discuss the the tactical side of one or the other, or provide tips, or expose new ways to be a gun advocate is a good thing.

sraacke · Jun 8, 2011

I'm an attention whore. 'Nuff said.

sraacke · Jun 8, 2011

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G2eUopy9sd8[/ame]

olivs260 · Jun 8, 2011

I conceal carry because I see no need to inform anyone else that I'm carrying, whether it's my co-workers, or the guy in line next to me at Wally World, or the criminal who is just looking for some quick cash.

As for the criminal walking into the bank scenario- if it's not my business, I don't want to be pushed into being involved. This is the same reason that very few of my friends, and only my close family, know that I have a permit. I could just see one of my buddies yelling, "You have a gun, why don't you do something about it?"

Russo · Jun 8, 2011

i'd love to open carry everywhere, but until i know certain establishments are ok with citizens protecting themselves, i'll conceal carry...

rob52 · Jun 9, 2011

I carry concealed almost exclusively. I do so to protect myself and family. I support open carry, believe 100 pecent in the second amendment but really don't care to draw attention to myself with a gun on my side. One could make the argument that having the gun tucked under a shirt or jacket may cause some hesitation in the event of needing to draw it however I have also trained myself to be aware of my surroundings and people in my vicinity and am always looking for escape routes.
I consider myself capable of defending myself but I would rather not be in that position if I could run first.

MOTOR51 · Jun 9, 2011

Yale, the picture you posted a while back with the full duty belt is the way you open carry most of the time?

RobFMJ · Jun 9, 2011

Lived in Texas before moving here, so when I got here, I just had to try open carry. Thought it was going to be sooo nice to not have to wipe sweat off the gun at the end of the day, or be able to read the words "Sig Sauer" impressed into my right hip after driving somewhere. Tried it once and never did it again. It was a bit more comfortable, but that's about it... nowhere near worth the disadvantages that were listed earlier (won't bore yall with a paragraph retyping them up

).

If I had to put a finger on what bugged me the most, though, it would be the lack of control I had at any given moment over the retention of the gun. Sure, I guess I could have bought a SERPA holster or something with a thumb break, but that doesn't change the fact that if you go out in public, you will find yourself in situations where it's not realistic to believe you have the final say on who is standing around you.

Is this a valid concern? I honestly don't know. Perhaps I'm just uncomfortable not having any weapon retention training. That said, to me its enough to change the gun from an item whose presence is reassuring into something to be worried about and kept watch on, and that defeats the purpose of carrying in the first place. As long as concealed carry is legal, I have no plans to open carry in public again.

Sin-ster · Jun 9, 2011

I CC exclusively, for all of the practical reasons mentioned already-- specifically, avoidance of unwanted attention.

Thanks to body type and a lack of wardrobe restrictions, I can get away with CCing a full sized pistol. The best of both worlds, IMHO.

I believe OC is a good choice in select circumstances (outdoor activities of several natures), and for those waiting on or unable to get a CCW (due to age, residency, etc). I firmly believe OCing to make a point-- political or otherwise-- is a counter productive strategy, and reflects negatively on pro-2A people often enough for me to frown at it.

Why Carry Concealed (Instead of Openly Carrying)?

The Best online firearms community in Louisiana.

Member Benefits:

Tactibilly

Tactibilly

LEO

Tactibilly

US Navy, Belle Chasse LA.

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Mine. Not yours.

Well-Known Member

Seriously Misunderstood!

*Banned*

*Banned*

Well-Known Member

*Banned*

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Texan Transplant

GM of 4 Letter Outbursts

Log in

Forum statistics

Banned

Banned

Banned