Thread: Should Open Carry be Legal?

In my state of Washington State it is Legal to open carry a loaded hand gun ( without Permit and you must be 21) in the public. There are a few off limit areas Like schools, liquor stores, Courtrooms and Police Building and Music festivals. I was wondering how many people here think every state should allow open carry. If so with permit or no permit. I practice Open Carry everyday when I'm back home in Washington State.

Originally Posted by cpgrad08

In my state of Washington State it is Legal to open carry a loaded hand gun ( without Permit and you must be 21) in the public. There are a few off limit areas Like schools, liquor stores, Courtrooms and Police Building and Music festivals. I was wondering how many people here think every state should allow open carry. If so with permit or no permit. I practice Open Carry everyday when I'm back home in Washington State.

after McDonald it should be enforced as a constitutional right in every area under US jurisdiction

Yes it should, I'm on the fence about making a permit required, leaning towards the pro side of that argument. Mainly because it's a good idea to have people know what they're doing if they are going to carry.

I'm for open carry. I'm for concealed carry. I think both should come with basic education/age requirements for public safety reasons, and areas where carrying is prohibited (schools, government buildings, etc...).

The question is obvious.

Yes to open carry

and no to the permit.

It's legal here in Oregon. One of the reasons I was willing to move here.

It's even better in Wyoming, where concealed carry is legal with or without a license. (They issue licenses for States with reciprocity agreements.)

Originally Posted by cpgrad08

In my state of Washington State it is Legal to open carry a loaded hand gun ( without Permit and you must be 21) in the public. There are a few off limit areas Like schools, liquor stores, Courtrooms and Police Building and Music festivals. I was wondering how many people here think every state should allow open carry. If so with permit or no permit. I practice Open Carry everyday when I'm back home in Washington State.

As a matter of principle, I think no-permit carry, open or concealed (ie "Vermont carry", now legal in Vermont, Alaska and a couple other places) is properly in line with the 2A of the BoR.

In practice, I'm okay with carry permits as a compromise. At least you get a little training in legal issues and practical matters, and they impress upon you that you're taking on a substantial responsibility in going armed in public.

In places where it is legal, I have no problem with anyone practicing open carry.

I prefer to carry concealed for several reasons.

1. Least but not trivial, some people are upset by the sight of a firearm openly visible on someone's belt. Personally I think this is a bit childish, but some people do feel that way. Out of respect for their peace of mind, I'm okay with concealing my weapon to avoid upsetting them.
The possibility that people who are alarmed by open carry firearms would pressure more places to "post" against carry is something I think about also.

2. Much more important to me is the tactical considerations. Open carry marks you as someone who is dangerous to mess with, but it also marks you are Target No 1 if the BG's decide to engage anyway. It tells the BGs that if they ARE going to go after you, they need to go in hot and not fool around. If they 'get the drop on you' and take you hostage, the first thing they're going to do is take away your open-carry obvious firearm.
There's also the issue of people getting close to you and grabbing your openly-carried gun. Police officers typically use Level II or III Retention Holsters for this very reason, and still occasionally get disarmed by some perp.

None of these things are a major issue if you conceal your firearm.

I prefer that the first hint the BG's have that I am armed or dangerous is after I've already shot them.

Yes, drawing from an open-carry belt holster is typically a little faster than drawing from concealment. I take a slightly different tack though... while I DO practice fast-draw methods, I have NO intention of ever getting into a Contest of Fast-Draw Skills.... if I ever do, it is an indication that my situational awareness and tactical decision-making have failed miserably, or that something really out of the ordinary has happened. Anytime things look like they may go sideways, I try to position myself and set things up so that I either already have my gun in my hand before anyone else does, or so that I am able to draw covertly without being seen doing so if it is called for.

Just like in military tactics.... if they expect you to attack their base from the north, go wide around and attack it from the south, or go around and attack something else and force them to come to you on ground you picked out for that purpose.

I'm a sneaky sumbeech... If I HAVE to shoot some criminal perp, I'd druther shoot him in the back than the front any day, preferably before he has any idea that I might be a threat. If their last thoughts are wondering who the heck shot them and still not knowing, so much the better.

Concealed carry plays into my preferred tactical methodology better than open carry.

But, let me be clear I have zero problem with legalizing open carry. I'm all for it... but I'll probably go right on concealing my weapons just like always.

Originally Posted by cpgrad08

In my state of Washington State it is Legal to open carry a loaded hand gun ( without Permit and you must be 21) in the public. There are a few off limit areas Like schools, liquor stores, Courtrooms and Police Building and Music festivals. I was wondering how many people here think every state should allow open carry. If so with permit or no permit. I practice Open Carry everyday when I'm back home in Washington State.

Is it common for states to have a no open carry law? I thought open carry was the norm?

As far as a permit goes, I dont mind permits, I know others hate them and I would NEVER argue against saying they violate the 2nd because that argument can be made and I believe its sound. Its just I have no problem with requiring a permit

AS LONG as the permit is quick, in PA my permit check took about 15mins and to get my CWP it took like a month.

Originally Posted by cpgrad08

In my state of Washington State it is Legal to open carry a loaded hand gun ( without Permit and you must be 21) in the public. There are a few off limit areas Like schools, liquor stores, Courtrooms and Police Building and Music festivals. I was wondering how many people here think every state should allow open carry. If so with permit or no permit. I practice Open Carry everyday when I'm back home in Washington State.

Per the Second Amendment, no state, and no other level of government, has the authority to prohibit it. What part of “…shall not be infringed” is unclear?

Originally Posted by Objective-J

Is it common for states to have a no open carry law? I thought open carry was the norm?

As far as a permit goes, I dont mind permits, I know others hate them and I would NEVER argue against saying they violate the 2nd because that argument can be made and I believe its sound. Its just I have no problem with requiring a permit

AS LONG as the permit is quick, in PA my permit check took about 15mins and to get my CWP it took like a month.

Well California Bans Open Carry. One of the reason why I hate being Station in Cali.