Interesting article, and as usual I have to listen to so many of the so-called "experts" tell me why open carry isn't as good as their concealed carry method. I really have zero interest in their philosophy, their preference, or their style of carry. The Constitution of these United States of America protects the right to possess and carry firearms. Nowhere did the Founders, nor the states that ratified this right into this supreme law, ever give directives about their "oh-so-enlightened vision" of which way is best. Yet all these modern day "experts" all have the golden answer, on why their way is best. So the men who emblazoned this right into law stayed silent on preference, allowing all types of carry, while today we get reason after reason why this way is better than that (and most of it is nothing but a bunch of baloney). Like the Founders, I too choose to remain silent on the issue. I will not tell anyone to choose my way, nor that my way is better than theirs, nor give phony info to promote myself as the expert above all experts. I appreciate all who carry - be it open, concealed, or a combination of the two.
Many of them agreed with you and said as much regarding the founders and the legal/constitutional right to open carry. Many of the people quoted support open carry, but emphasize the added responsibility...what's wrong with that exactly? Also, I open carry and support other's right to do so, however from a tactical standpoint they make important points.
For example, if you KNEW for a fact that at some point tomorrow you were going to have to engage a criminal with your weapon, but didn't know when or where would you carry open or concealed? For me, as much as I open carry...if it were strcitly a
tactical argument, I would agree that the benefits of carrying concealed outweigh those of OC. However, on a normal day OC isn't so much about
tactical advantage as it is about deterrence, exercising rights, and of course protection.
But either way, it's an important conversation to have, especially as OC gains in popularity.
I especially appreciate the points about dressing appropriately for carrying in public. I see some of these people on youtube wearing dirty sweat pants, and cut shirts with a flimsy rig holding their gun on and they wonder why people call the police... Heck, they might have called the police if they
weren't armed, just for looking like a loitering deadbeat. As representatives of OC and to many people "the gun culture" in general (yeah it's ridiculous phrase but you know what I mean), we should dress as respectable as possible while OC'ing. The last thing I want to be associated with is the guy walking through a crowded store in sweat pants and ratty hair, with a raging bull on his hip just begging for attention. If you don't believe it happens all the time, youtube open carry videos and you'll come across plenty. If we can stay away from that, it will further the cause of organizations like MOC, and promote a better sense of gun owners and enthusiasts to the public who isn't so inclined.