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Dress code for open carry
- Thread starter jsquared
- Start date
?????
Nope, most noteable one was a couple that were self proclaimed private I's and dressed like they just came from filming the remake of New Jack City. Another felt like getting argumentative/defensive instantly, the other wanted me to have his DVD of the trade center/bush conspiracy and that it was impossible for the twin towers to have collasped due to fire fed by jet fuel, list goes on. We get LEO's in our shop all day, many plain clothes carrying for duty so it's doesn't alarm us unless the person is a bit off center, which most folks I've encountered open carrying are, to me it's like wearing see through pants and having a see through wallet "hey everybody, this is what I got!"
No thanks, not for me. I'm all for it being legal and so forth, but open carrying is beyond my scope of reason in day to day public affair.
I agree that I do see some of the guys that open carry doing it just for the "Hey I got a gun, wanna see it?" childishness of it, SOME not all. I normally CC, unless it's just a quick stop for fuel or a Slim Jim run. I normally dress in business casual anyway so I don't dress up or down for the occasion. I'm a large fellow, with very short hair and a goat tee, most folks think I'm a Police Officer anyway, simply because I carry myself that way, most of the time, I'm not a slouch. I learned at a very young age that if you dressed nice and acted like you have a purpose, most of the time you did not get hassled by anyone, some folks never figure this out and that works for them, but not me.
Example, 2 young men walking through downtown in opposite directions, one dressed fairly decently, slacks, button shirt, neat close cut hair, the other in torn dirty jeans, ripped and stained t-shirt and in dire need of what my PawPaw would call a man's haircut. One of the youths picks up a rock and busts out a window, which one is more likely to get closer scrutiny from the police? Both should get equal treatment, but the well dressed kid is polite and courteous to the officers, says yes sir, no sir, the other gets down right indignant wanting to know why he's being hassled by the pigs, says it ain't against the law to walk down the street through a contempt sneer and has a generally bad attitude about the cops that stopped him. Dressing nice and acting the part can and does go a long way toward an innocuous appearance and playing the system, especially if you have contempt for those enforcing the law like the well dressed kid that busted the window.
CAD
Example, 2 young men walking through downtown in opposite directions, one dressed fairly decently, slacks, button shirt, neat close cut hair, the other in torn dirty jeans, ripped and stained t-shirt and in dire need of what my PawPaw would call a man's haircut. One of the youths picks up a rock and busts out a window, which one is more likely to get closer scrutiny from the police? Both should get equal treatment, but the well dressed kid is polite and courteous to the officers, says yes sir, no sir, the other gets down right indignant wanting to know why he's being hassled by the pigs, says it ain't against the law to walk down the street through a contempt sneer and has a generally bad attitude about the cops that stopped him. Dressing nice and acting the part can and does go a long way toward an innocuous appearance and playing the system, especially if you have contempt for those enforcing the law like the well dressed kid that busted the window.
CAD
Some good points being made, keep them coming.
No open carry for me.
yeah that thing at that place that one time... but not the time before that which happened while that other thing was going on.
my stance on the topic of dress and carry
1) When I dress bummy or casual, typically its adidas pants/ shorts which are not conducive to slapping a fancy elephant leather hipholster on. That instance would be a shoulder holster under a hoodie or light jacket (depending on weather)
2) Dress up...possibly open carry if it matched my shoes and my outfit.
3) Ultimately if I ever go through the process and get a carry permit... most likely will carry concealed or not at all.
Just dont feel the need, nor have the desire where I live and frequent the most.
I have quietly watched this thread unfold and there have been several comments that bother me. First off, there are several comments insinuating that all people that open carry look like idiots. While I don't Open Carry all the time, there are times that I do Open Carry and I know plenty of people that carry opening all the time. Out of all these people, I don't know any that look like idiots but I have seen some that use some guidance. Yes, I've seen some younger fellows out there with big ugly looking nylon holsters and cheap handguns but I wouldn't call them idiot looking. Rather, in almost all cases, they were doing the best they could to exercise a right that we all have but on a limited budget.
My oldest boy, went out and got his GFL earlier this year. With his family, the best that he could afford is a Sigma and one of those $15 Uncle Mikes ugly holsters. Was it as attractive looking as my Custom 1911 in my custom leather? No, but he was doing the best that he could at the time. With a little time and guidance, he's moved to a better holster and it looks much better. Personally, I think the time spent downing these individuals would be better spent, but spending time with them and showing them a better way or helping them acquire something better.
Many of us, older people have forgotten what we started with. I know my first new pistol was a Llama 1911, it was all that I could afford at the time. I wouldn't own one now, but will not knock anyone that has one. I had rather see someone that is carrying a reliable Llama in .45 than a Beretta in .25. In fact, just last night, I was asked for some advice on purchasing a pistol for HD, he was thinking of a .22 or .25 and my advice was to put a few more dollars with it and get a lower end .40 cal. Glocks can almost be had for nothing and while I am not a big Glock person, their reliability can't be argued. On top of that most of us have good extra holsters just lying around, I know I have a drawer full of them, why not offer them something that you don't need, rather than downing them.
The other thing that blows my mind is the perception that LEOs know are the experts of carrying and use. Just how little most LEOs know about weapons is mind boggling. I had a LEO in Alabama take my "Cocked and Locked" 1911 from my holster and stick in his belt like Billy the Kid. I politely asked him to place it on the hood of the car before his shot himself in his man hood and I got blamed for it. More over, most would be surprised at just how little most LEOs actually shoot and the trouble that some have qualifying on a very simple 30 round course of fire. One that I might add, could be completed by my eight year old.
We could all argue till the cows come home as to the tactical advantages of Open Carry versus CC, but the fact is there is no evidence to prove either way is better. I know personally, I have carry both ways through out my life and have found that I was never "shot first" because I was OCing. The thing that I don't know is just how many times that the presence of an armed professional looking man has prevented some wrong doing. Maybe it's not as much as would would like to think, but we will never know.
To address the question asked of the OP, I personally like to see anyone that chooses to carry, to do so responsibly and that includes dressing in a fashion that makes you look responsible, training, and becoming familiar with the mechanics of the weapon that you choose to carry. Having said that, the right to be armed is not an exclusive right of the well dressed.
Luke
My oldest boy, went out and got his GFL earlier this year. With his family, the best that he could afford is a Sigma and one of those $15 Uncle Mikes ugly holsters. Was it as attractive looking as my Custom 1911 in my custom leather? No, but he was doing the best that he could at the time. With a little time and guidance, he's moved to a better holster and it looks much better. Personally, I think the time spent downing these individuals would be better spent, but spending time with them and showing them a better way or helping them acquire something better.
Many of us, older people have forgotten what we started with. I know my first new pistol was a Llama 1911, it was all that I could afford at the time. I wouldn't own one now, but will not knock anyone that has one. I had rather see someone that is carrying a reliable Llama in .45 than a Beretta in .25. In fact, just last night, I was asked for some advice on purchasing a pistol for HD, he was thinking of a .22 or .25 and my advice was to put a few more dollars with it and get a lower end .40 cal. Glocks can almost be had for nothing and while I am not a big Glock person, their reliability can't be argued. On top of that most of us have good extra holsters just lying around, I know I have a drawer full of them, why not offer them something that you don't need, rather than downing them.
The other thing that blows my mind is the perception that LEOs know are the experts of carrying and use. Just how little most LEOs know about weapons is mind boggling. I had a LEO in Alabama take my "Cocked and Locked" 1911 from my holster and stick in his belt like Billy the Kid. I politely asked him to place it on the hood of the car before his shot himself in his man hood and I got blamed for it. More over, most would be surprised at just how little most LEOs actually shoot and the trouble that some have qualifying on a very simple 30 round course of fire. One that I might add, could be completed by my eight year old.
We could all argue till the cows come home as to the tactical advantages of Open Carry versus CC, but the fact is there is no evidence to prove either way is better. I know personally, I have carry both ways through out my life and have found that I was never "shot first" because I was OCing. The thing that I don't know is just how many times that the presence of an armed professional looking man has prevented some wrong doing. Maybe it's not as much as would would like to think, but we will never know.
To address the question asked of the OP, I personally like to see anyone that chooses to carry, to do so responsibly and that includes dressing in a fashion that makes you look responsible, training, and becoming familiar with the mechanics of the weapon that you choose to carry. Having said that, the right to be armed is not an exclusive right of the well dressed.
Luke
You have the right to stand on a street corner and yell that the end is near and all should give themselves to the god wachkadoody. Is this something you would do? I hope not. If you did you would be creating a poor impression of yourself in the minds of those around you. Just because you have the right to do something does not mean it is a good idea.
If you are having dinner in a restaurant, are you the type that has no problem being very loud and disturbing those around you? If you think this is rude, why would you think that it is not rude to make those around you uncomfortable by indulging in open carry? Whether you think they have reason to be uncomfortable or not is irrelevant. The fact is that most people do feel uncomfortable when they see someone with an OC weapon. I have carried for over 30 years and the first thing I think when I see someone that is OC is "belligerent" regardless of how they are dressed. Folks, in most cases OC is just bad taste, discourteous to those around you and does not help the public's' impression of gun owners. There are just to many ways to carry concealed comfortably in any weather conditions for comfort to be a reason for OC.
If you are having dinner in a restaurant, are you the type that has no problem being very loud and disturbing those around you? If you think this is rude, why would you think that it is not rude to make those around you uncomfortable by indulging in open carry? Whether you think they have reason to be uncomfortable or not is irrelevant. The fact is that most people do feel uncomfortable when they see someone with an OC weapon. I have carried for over 30 years and the first thing I think when I see someone that is OC is "belligerent" regardless of how they are dressed. Folks, in most cases OC is just bad taste, discourteous to those around you and does not help the public's' impression of gun owners. There are just to many ways to carry concealed comfortably in any weather conditions for comfort to be a reason for OC.
Some very good points made, IMO.
I have no dominion over anyone carrying openly, and if they so wish and are doing so legally, so be it. And, I won't worry myself too much about what your mode of dress is, how clean cut you are, or any other visual impact you may make.
I will be worried, though, if you are carrying openly, not "to protect" so much as to intimidate, or impress. If you are trying to intimidate law abiding others, even subtly, or to impress your friends or a hoped for sexual mate, then you are far too immature to even OWN a gun, much less to carry one among the public.
Sad to say, there are quite a few that DO open carry for those exact purposes.
Whether or not your exposed handgun will stop a criminal episode from ever occuring, I cannot say --- perhaps it will, perhaps it won't.
If a not so highly motivated robber sees your weapon BEFORE they start their act(s), maybe such will remove their motivation, or at least encourage them to go elsewhere to "ply their trade".
But walk in on something like that, already in progress, with your weapon clearly visible, and I'll bet the farm you'll be in a shootout ---maybe where one was not truly necessary.
Or be somewhere when MOTIVATED persons "come to play", openly displaying a handgun, and you are a prime and first target.
I'll send flowers.
All will do as they like, but, for myself, I will maintain EVERY possible advantage I can, especially the tactical one of surprise.
I will not, by open carry, perhaps take an amateur, nervous and panicky armed robber, who otherwise might just take the money and leave, and create a gun battle, where other innocent people may be, and risk their lives.
A gunfight or shooting may be unavoidable, but if I can avoid it, I will ---and CC may give me that option.
I carry SOLELY for the purpose of self defense, and while open carry can work to that end, IMO, it does not foster as much chance that I will survive a poor situation, or that I can keep, by remaining circumspect, from causing one to escalate to deadly violence.
I have no dominion over anyone carrying openly, and if they so wish and are doing so legally, so be it. And, I won't worry myself too much about what your mode of dress is, how clean cut you are, or any other visual impact you may make.
I will be worried, though, if you are carrying openly, not "to protect" so much as to intimidate, or impress. If you are trying to intimidate law abiding others, even subtly, or to impress your friends or a hoped for sexual mate, then you are far too immature to even OWN a gun, much less to carry one among the public.
Sad to say, there are quite a few that DO open carry for those exact purposes.
Whether or not your exposed handgun will stop a criminal episode from ever occuring, I cannot say --- perhaps it will, perhaps it won't.
If a not so highly motivated robber sees your weapon BEFORE they start their act(s), maybe such will remove their motivation, or at least encourage them to go elsewhere to "ply their trade".
But walk in on something like that, already in progress, with your weapon clearly visible, and I'll bet the farm you'll be in a shootout ---maybe where one was not truly necessary.
Or be somewhere when MOTIVATED persons "come to play", openly displaying a handgun, and you are a prime and first target.
I'll send flowers.
All will do as they like, but, for myself, I will maintain EVERY possible advantage I can, especially the tactical one of surprise.
I will not, by open carry, perhaps take an amateur, nervous and panicky armed robber, who otherwise might just take the money and leave, and create a gun battle, where other innocent people may be, and risk their lives.
A gunfight or shooting may be unavoidable, but if I can avoid it, I will ---and CC may give me that option.
I carry SOLELY for the purpose of self defense, and while open carry can work to that end, IMO, it does not foster as much chance that I will survive a poor situation, or that I can keep, by remaining circumspect, from causing one to escalate to deadly violence.
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