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Anyone here actually open carry?
- Thread starter Mike
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Howard Stiffy
Getting Dialed In
Not so much anymore... back in the day I did regularly, mostly uneventful... more folks would thank me than get scared.
Was accosted by an 'ex' cop in supermarket... right after Sandy Hook... clearly out of control (think steroids?)... resolved peacefully with management... once I realize what was going on I ignored him and worked things through w/management... no harm or foul.
At Pennsylvania Farm Show trooper ran my papers, even though I was clearly within the law at the venue...I was new to it at the time and acquiesced.
In today's climate I generally conceal except when I'm in an area that really doesn't give a hoot!
Was accosted by an 'ex' cop in supermarket... right after Sandy Hook... clearly out of control (think steroids?)... resolved peacefully with management... once I realize what was going on I ignored him and worked things through w/management... no harm or foul.
At Pennsylvania Farm Show trooper ran my papers, even though I was clearly within the law at the venue...I was new to it at the time and acquiesced.
In today's climate I generally conceal except when I'm in an area that really doesn't give a hoot!
Curmudgeon
Getting Dialed In
Yes, for almost 20 years, everywhere, every day. If I can't carry I don't go to that place.
Never once a negative encounter with anyone. Countless encounters with LEO, city,
county, regional, state - every single one was very positive, like old friends positive.
Some people: "Is that legal? Can I do that too? What do I have to do?"
> And we have a great conversation. I always make time.
Most people: "Hey alright, open carry, 1911, very nice, Is that a Kimber?"
> How do they know it's a Kimber? And they're right 90% of the time. They just shrug
and say "It looked like a Kimber". I have aftermarket grips that look nicer than the ones
it came with, so, maybe? I did have factory grips on one day and a guy got it right. Weird.
I'm not crazy though. If it's freezing and I want a coat I wear a coat. Typically the coat will
cover it but I'm still carrying OWB. I don't even own a CC holster so I would have to find and
buy one first.
I live in an suburban area and the largest population area is 4-5 miles away with about
35,000 - 40,000 people. I strongly suspect things would be different if I lived in a city.
Never once a negative encounter with anyone. Countless encounters with LEO, city,
county, regional, state - every single one was very positive, like old friends positive.
Some people: "Is that legal? Can I do that too? What do I have to do?"
> And we have a great conversation. I always make time.
Most people: "Hey alright, open carry, 1911, very nice, Is that a Kimber?"
> How do they know it's a Kimber? And they're right 90% of the time. They just shrug
and say "It looked like a Kimber". I have aftermarket grips that look nicer than the ones
it came with, so, maybe? I did have factory grips on one day and a guy got it right. Weird.
I'm not crazy though. If it's freezing and I want a coat I wear a coat. Typically the coat will
cover it but I'm still carrying OWB. I don't even own a CC holster so I would have to find and
buy one first.
I live in an suburban area and the largest population area is 4-5 miles away with about
35,000 - 40,000 people. I strongly suspect things would be different if I lived in a city.
I agree, I don't visit places where they restrict it, unless what I am wearing certainly covers it and I don't like IWB carry. Offsets the 5th wheel carrying capacity.
Howard, it just amazes me even today police actually go out looking for trouble, even over stepping civil rights violations just to get that 'fix' of the ID card.
Howard, it just amazes me even today police actually go out looking for trouble, even over stepping civil rights violations just to get that 'fix' of the ID card.
Curmudgeon
Getting Dialed In
There is a hospital near me, it has 5 entrances for the public and only 2 have "No Weapons" signs. They
are tiny and not at all "likely to come to the attention of the casual passerby" as state law requires.
Of those 5 entrances only one has a security point with magnetron. I knew this and left my pistol home.
I was there for a MRI, and an MRI machine is the natural enemy of a firearm.
are tiny and not at all "likely to come to the attention of the casual passerby" as state law requires.
Of those 5 entrances only one has a security point with magnetron. I knew this and left my pistol home.
I was there for a MRI, and an MRI machine is the natural enemy of a firearm.
Now that you bring that up, I wonder what would happen if a firearm just happen to get close to one while it was on?There is a hospital near me, it has 5 entrances for the public and only 2 have "No Weapons" signs. They
are tiny and not at all "likely to come to the attention of the casual passerby" as state law requires.
Of those 5 entrances only one has a security point with magnetron. I knew this and left my pistol home.
I was there for a MRI, and an MRI machine is the natural enemy of a firearm.
Curmudgeon
Getting Dialed In
.
Define "close". Rhetorical. When I enter from the hallway I have dentures, a wrist watch, folding pocket knife,
flashlight, a metal buckle on my belt, glasses, metal eyelets on my boots for the laces, and a wedding ring.
They let me keep the dentures (100% plastic) and the ring (100% not ferrous metal), but everything else
goes in a little locker. I strip down, they give me their disposable socks, boxers, and gown. Nothing else
gets within about 50-60 feet I'm guessing. Interesting question because their is nothing in the outer
hallway to advise people that there is an MRI machine nearby. The biggest concern is probably keeping
things out of the same room. The 2 professionals are right in the next room, must be some metal in
there with them, controls, computers, etc.
They have a LONG list of questions about whether or not you have any metal in or on your person. Piercings,
surgical, pacemaker, etc.
For the last one they even gave me an IV to inject a dye halfway through. I asked how are you going to do that
without metal. She smiled, said the IV needle was metal with a plastic sleeve. Once the IV was inserted the needle
was removed leaving only the plastic sleeve in my arm.
Over the years I've seen pics (no video) of what can happen when ferrous metal is in the room when that thing
is energized and it is not pretty. The MRI machine is a total loss. I have read but not seen what happens to
people + metal + MRI, and those descriptions are the stuff of nightmares. And I don't ever want to see it.
I very seriously doubt a firearm would discharge in such an event anymore than it would if dropped from a
height onto a solid surface. But the firearm and the MRI would probably both be destroyed.
Unless said firearm was a P320
Right, I've heard of weird things exiting the body during MRI's. It's a scary thought what could happen even if you have a safety pin inadvertently stuck somewhere on you. I've had only 2 done so far in my life(just turned 50).
Right, I've heard of weird things exiting the body during MRI's. It's a scary thought what could happen even if you have a safety pin inadvertently stuck somewhere on you. I've had only 2 done so far in my life(just turned 50).
I open carry very infrequently these days. Thwarting a gun grab is something I've trained in, but with age I feel less capable of being successful than say ten years ago.
My draws from concealment are still pretty quick, and that can be practiced without needing a simulated "sparring partner".
My draws from concealment are still pretty quick, and that can be practiced without needing a simulated "sparring partner".
color of law
Constitutional Originalist
Age and happenstance always plays into how you carry. Being seventy six years old definitely controls how I carry. I now pocket carry a S&W bodyguard 2.0. Pocket carry has many disadvantages, especially in this summer time. In the winter time it's a lot easier to slip it in your coat pocket. At my age suspenders become your friend.
I'm seeing a general consensus here, appears the older we get, the more cautious we are in how we carry, all based on our abilities to scan our AO and physical abilities to retrieve our CC in a timely manner.
Even at this point, my wife and I just don't go to certain places in town, especially during voting season.
Even at this point, my wife and I just don't go to certain places in town, especially during voting season.
Howard Stiffy
Getting Dialed In
... especially during voting season...!
As local constable my statutory requirement is to at least be at my polling place... fortunately my small borough has yet to see shenanigans... mostly catch up and say hi!
AMCIT
Getting Dialed In
I don't open carry as much as I used to when I lived in Virginia, now that I'm in Texas. Primarily, I'm restricted by clothing. In cooler climates, I could wear jeans, pants with belt loops, etc. In Texas, where much of our year is over 95 degrees, I wear scrubs, shorts, and other items without belt loops. A shoulder holster, while comfortable and convenient elsewhere, also gets sweaty. And I don't particularly care for off-body carry, but most of my options involve carry in some kind of bag now.
I miss Virginia's open-carry breakfasts and dinners, taking a group of open-carry folks to a gun-control meeting in a library in Fairfax, testifying in Richmond while open carrying .... But not enough to move back.
I miss Virginia's open-carry breakfasts and dinners, taking a group of open-carry folks to a gun-control meeting in a library in Fairfax, testifying in Richmond while open carrying .... But not enough to move back.
AMCIT
Getting Dialed In
Yes, but we had moved from San Antonio to Virginia in 2001, so we knew what we were getting in to.
Only we were much younger then <grin>