There are some pluses to open carry: ease of access, firearm type, ability to use a firearm with a red dot. But there is a major drawback: a person intent on doing harm can target open carriers first.

For a variety of reasons, I prefer outside the waistband (OWB) carry. 2 main reasons are that I can use a higher capacity magazine and I can use my red dot. This means, though, that I don’t tuck in my shirts and use them for cover. I am willing to bet that there are times the bottom of my holster shows or that my firearm prints against my shirt. Where I live, that’s not a big deal.

As far as where you can carry, there are generally 3 areas that are covered. 1 is federal buildings/courthouses. Generally you cannot carry into a federal building, including a post office, but there are questions about the continuing constitutionality of some of those laws. Laws against carrying into a courthouse, though, are going to survive. Many times federal courthouses are in federal buildings. If you ‘forget’ your weapon and bring to a federal building with a courthouse, you’ll get charged with carrying into a federal courthouse. Carrying in a federal building - misdemeanor. Carrying into federal courthouse - felony. Courthouse parking is usually considered part of the courthouse so don’t just leave your pistol in your car.

Various states will prohibit carry into other locations. Schools and courts and polling places are typically on this list. Laws vary from state to state and it’s your responsibility to know the laws in your state. Finally, all states allow private property owners to determine what firearms they will and will not allow onto their property. Generally these businesses will post signs and you should pay attention. Technically the owner can ask you to leave and even bar you from re-entering the property. You might also face trespass charges. But if you have to take a large cash deposit to your bank, for example, you might decide it’s worth it to carry concealed despite the business’ opposition.

The real obnoxious open carry are the Second Amendment ‘auditors’, who will carry semi-automatic rifles slung over their shoulder in public. These are usually stunts designed to interact with cops or people who don’t like guns. I’m a pretty ardent 2A guy but that’s a real dick maneuver.
[Reply]

I conceal carry a library of sharply worded retorts. It's never failed me.
[Reply]

That's not true. Per MO law, anyone over 19 can conceal carry without permit anywhere in the state. 18 if you're in the military. With the normal exceptions of schools, hospitals, banks, etc.

On top of that, MO passed a ridiculous law in 2021 prohibiting anyone in the state from enforcing any federal gun restrictions.
[Reply]

I carry every day, but unless I'm out in the woods in bumblefuck nowhere, I'd never open carry. It's not legal where I live anyway, but even if it was, I wouldn't do it. First off, there are lots of people who, like Ed, will instantly react negatively to it. Second, it paints a target on your ass. Carrying a gun by itself doesn't make you a great shot, or a ninja, or some non-existent movie superhero, or give you eyes in the back of your head. It only takes a second for somebody to come up behind you, bash you in the head, take your gun and kill you with it. I don't want to be that guy.

For me, carrying a gun is like Fight Club. You don't talk about it. And considering the can of horrible worms you open if you are ever put in a position where you need to use your gun in public, you pray that never happens.
[Reply]

Try posting something like kiddie porn and yes, your right to free speech does have limits...

Or the mods can boot people for far less.
[Reply]

If you are that afraid of life, I think you would be safer with a trained Pitt bull or Rottweiler. Bring it everywhere you go. It'll bite dicks off and take a bullet for you.
[Reply]

Sure. You think that applies to everyone else that open carries?
[Reply]

Same dude with lifted truck has a 18" drop hitch so he can haul his 17.9% financed speed boat around.
[Reply]

I would think everyone here has run across people who open carry. LEO's private security or armored guards. Armored guards are the group that makes me uneasy. They are always uneasy if you happen by as they are wheeling the goods out of the truck to a business. It's not without reason but I hate walking by the truck as the back door pops open. You are instantly suspicious to them.
[Reply]

Maybe in a low stakes situation like a pick pocket where you likely couldn't use your gun legally anyways but in a high stakes situation like active shooter, you would 1000% be a primary target.
[Reply]

I used to make stupid jokes to them whenever I saw them loading up an ATM or loading/unloading money for a business.



....they never laughed.
[Reply]

Perhaps in a situation where you stand at the same place everyday and do the same thing.

That's not how these go down. Although I'll admit eventually the danger will evolve.
[Reply]

No of course not. My point was simply that sometimes there are other legitimate reasons why people don’t conceal carry. It’s an extreme example maybe, but it was real. I worried about the guy’s ability to retain his weapon/defend himself . I still find myself thinking about it years later. About whether we helped him enough or at all.

Anyway, it’s not always some jackass trying to be Billy badass. It probably usually is, but not always.
[Reply]

So you would feel better not knowing if they had a big black scary gun strapped to their hip?
[Reply]

I have yet to encounter this - I apparently live in a poor people neighborhood lol
[Reply]