Why open carry instead of CPL? Why do people insist on openly carrying when they can most likely get a CPL. Is there some reason that they are afraid to get their CPL or that they have been denied or will be denied? That worries me a bit. Then again, maybe people are in my situation... as follows...
I open carry to promote the carry of firearms. I believe hiding your firearm consistently is teaching more and more generations that guns are evil and belong hidden. They are not evil, they belong with me, just in case I ever need it. I open carry to promote carry, to promote the issue in a positive light, and to promote the right of self defense.
What is involved in getting CPL? Class, I know... $125ish... permit fee $125ish.. Finger printing? Background check I'm sure... I don't understand why you have to be treated like a criminal to beable to defend yourself and why you have to drop 2-300 bucks on it. Frankly, I can't afford it on my VERY limited budget. After child support, house payment, credit card payment, etc... now don't get me wrong.. I'm not whining about my situation.... I'm where I am because of choices I made... but it is what it is. I can't afford to drop that kind of money to carry.
$125-$150 for a class plus however many rounds of ammo the instructor requires you to bring. I think mine was 30, but went through 100 or so as we had an hour of range time after the class to ourselves.
I'm pretty worried about what the ex will think too if I start open carrying... as well as run in's with police should I do so and how all of this may effect my children.
Runs ins with the police do happen, but they are not the normal happening. I didn't carry openly with my baby for her first year with that same thought. I now do carry with her around and nothing has ever gone wrong, that will be a personal decision for you and you alone, as will what the ex thinks. If you carrying openly regularly is going to push her to push custody issues, then perhaps you should make a different choice then some of us.
Regarding your CPL question. An easy way to understand it is a CPL enhances your ability to open carry. You lose no rights to carry or open carry by obtaining and possessing a CPL. In addition, if you are open carrying and get in a vehicle, you are still legal. Other examples are that CPL holders are exempt from all pistol free zones, so you may open carry legally in places that sell alcohol, schools, churches, etc. You still may not conceal in some places though.
You mentioned discouraging criminals by showing your concealed firearm, as I understood the question. If you are concealing legally and your firearm becomes accidentally exposed, you have broken no law, as it is legal to open carry. If you are carrying concealed and get in a verbal altercation, walk away or get the confrontation to end peacefully. Displaying your gun while in a confrontation to me would be a threat, as a matter of fact a death threat in my eyes. If you are open carrying that is one thing, but to threaten to use a firearm is another. Your weapon should remain wherever it is until it is time to draw and fire, it is not something used to threaten with. My personal opinions based on my interpretation of the law.
Good luck to you in your decisions.
-jason r. aka northofnowhere
