Are You Kidding Me?? (OC)

[68Charger]

I believe the overall goal of the open carry movement is to change public perception of an armed citizen...

why is it that people don't freak out when they see an armed Police officer, but panic & call one when they see someone dressed in normal attire that's armed?

They're well within their rights, they have no ill intent- but it scares some people.... which is what the open carry movement is trying to change... it would take time, but if it was common, and every time somebody called the police they were told "he's not doing anything illegal, and he has a right to arm himself" rather than dispatching an officer to harass him (if they don't have cause to believe he's a danger, then yes, I think it's harassment), then eventually they would all learn we're not going to accept their behavior of panic, and they've just to go learn to deal with it..

it's a culture change that has to occur- and in some places (as mentioned in this thread) the culture already accepts it... if someone is told it's not illegal, and that we WON'T ask him to put it away, and if you continue to place these complaint calls without cause, you'll be ticketed for false reporting (or other appropriate charge for harassing the police dept)

[Irving]

I didn't read MOST of the posts in this thread, so excuse me if someone beat me to this.

I always get such a laugh out of people saying that someone open carrying would get "taken out" first. What a joke. Anyone who believes that watches too many movies. No one robbing a liquor store wants to shoot anyone. They use a gun because it gives them a force advantage over someone who is unarmed. They don't want to use the gun in most cases, and rely on the unarmed person not realizing that. People robbing places with guns aren't any more aware than the sheep inside. If they see someone inside with a gun, then they'll just move on, the same that they would if they saw a uniformed cop standing in there. I promise you that no one is running into a busy grocery store with a gun, and scanning a crowd, looking at everyone's hips to see if they might be carrying. It's such a stupid comment to make that it is embarrassing.

[CareyH]

I have not carried open for a few years now, but when I did I never had anyone call the cops on me or freak out because I had a GUN!!! like Ryan said it went unnoticed pretty much all the time, and its not like you could easily miss a Springfield 1911 TRP Operator. If an officer told me to put it in the car I would laugh and request he call his SGT out, at which point his SGT would explain to him THE CONSTATUTION!! I have more than one cop in my family so I am not cop bashing.

I got pulled over a few years ago and the officer asked to see my ID, I opened my wallet and when I pulled out my ID he saw my CCW permit, at which point he asked me if I was carrying. when I replied no he looked puzzled and said " why the hell not?"
what a cool cop.

[jackmode9316]

Well, why the hell not then? Inquiring minds want to know.

[ChunkyMonkey]

When you OC, use your judgment. Dont wear a hoodie w/ ripped jeans and have crossdraw holster!

I only OC otw to shooting range, at shooting range and otw back. I have never had any issue. Couple months back in boulder at the quizno's, a plain clothed cop and a uniformed one spotted me in line ahead of them. I told them I was otw to the range at Lyons. They seemed to be annoyed more by the fact they might have to leave their spot in the sandwich line. The plain clothed one told me to be careful because they cannot have anyone complain about it. We ended up sitting next to them and got to chat up light conversation about the ammo shortage etc. Cool guys.

[Irving]

The plain clothed one told me to be careful because they cannot have anyone complain about it.

What the hell did he mean by that? I would have asked him.

[jackmode9316]

I agree, so what if someone complained. Let them whine if they must, after all it is legal.