# Do you support open carry firearms laws? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [November 23, 2008, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-support-open-carry-firearms-laws/474072 "2008-11-23T04:10:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2008, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-support-open-carry-firearms-laws/474072/1 "2008-11-23T04:10:57Z")
I do. 100 percent. If you are going to carry a firearm, then display it in a holster. Arizona is an open carry state and the only time I’ve ever seen a firearm in Phoenix is with a late hour convenience store worker. Open carry seems to be the most sensible interpretation of the 2nd amendment. ---
**Author:** ![1010011010](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/1/ea666f/32.png) [@1010011010](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/1010011010)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2008, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-support-open-carry-firearms-laws/474072/2 "2008-11-23T04:43:22Z")
I’d support a law protecting the option to open carry. I would not support a law making open carry the only option. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2008, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-support-open-carry-firearms-laws/474072/3 "2008-11-23T04:51:48Z")
Why? I support open carry for all except for law enforcement and military. Open carry for all is better than CCW permits. You have the weapon, you show the weapon. There is a far less chance you will ever have to use the weapon. If you have a pistol and you’re working the late shift at the Circle K, I’m not going to rob you because I see your pistol right at your side. Also, I’d much rather grab a gun in a holster than one stuck in a coat pocket. ---
**Author:** ![PaulParkhead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@PaulParkhead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PaulParkhead)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2008, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-support-open-carry-firearms-laws/474072/4 "2008-11-23T04:59:54Z")
I’m not an American, so I don’t know, but does the 2nd speak to whether the weapons should or shouldn’t be concealed? ---
**Author:** ![Fubaya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c2a13f/32.png) [@Fubaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fubaya)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2008, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-support-open-carry-firearms-laws/474072/5 "2008-11-23T05:37:45Z")
> [@dalej42](#): > > If you have a pistol and you’re working the late shift at the Circle K, I’m not going to rob you because I see your pistol right at your side. I see it a different way. They’re more likely to kill you outright than just sticking you up. I prefer having an ace up my sleeve, but that’s just me. ---
**Author:** ![LawMonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d6d6ee/32.png) [@LawMonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LawMonkey)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2008, 6:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-support-open-carry-firearms-laws/474072/6 "2008-11-23T06:18:12Z")
> [@PaulParkhead](#): > > I’m not an American, so I don’t know, but does the 2nd speak to whether the weapons should or shouldn’t be concealed? [QUOTE=U.S. Const., amend. II] A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed. [/QUOTE] While hardly a model of clarity, I think it’s fair to say that text doesn’t speak directly to the issue. I can think of an argument that open carry might at least be implied, but it’d be based on what is essentially a guess about how people would’ve understood ‘bearing’ a weapon in Colonial times. I’d be in favor of open carry as well. I’ve never understood the emphasis on concealment in carry laws, unless it’s purely a tactical political choice. ---
**Author:** ![1010011010](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/1/ea666f/32.png) [@1010011010](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/1010011010)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2008, 6:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-support-open-carry-firearms-laws/474072/7 "2008-11-23T06:23:48Z")
> [@dalej42](#): > > Why? If you know there’s a good chance you’ll run into someone that’s uncomfortable around guns, open carrying is a bit of a dick move. Concealed carry allows you to avoid that social awkwardness but still practice your right to be able to defend yourself and others. > [@dalej42](#): > > Open carry for all is better than CCW permits. You have the weapon, you show the weapon. There is a far less chance you will ever have to use the weapon. An open display of wealth may attract criminal attention. I’d no sooner flash around a $500 hunk of gold than I’d want to show off a $500 piece of blue steel for that reason. “Open carry or nothing” may make people _less safe_ by allowing criminals to readily identify when someone is unarmed. With concealed carry a criminal doesn’t know if it’s relatively safe to rob/rape/etc. just because they don’t see an obvious weapon. And anyway, nice looking holsters are expensive and they don’t necessarily coordinate or accessorize with everything in my wardrobe. I’m happy most days if my shoes and belt match. And where the hell do you put a holster while wearing a dress? A gun in a purse is usually considered concealed. ---
**Author:** ![Bobotheoptimist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/919ad9/32.png) [@Bobotheoptimist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bobotheoptimist)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2008, 7:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-support-open-carry-firearms-laws/474072/8 "2008-11-23T07:15:46Z")
I support carry. If someone feels better concealing, then they should be allowed to conceal. If they want to open carry, that should be allowed as well. Kind of like how it is in Colorado, but I’d prefer to do without the interference of hoplophobes. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Antinor01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@Antinor01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antinor01)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2008, 7:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-support-open-carry-firearms-laws/474072/9 "2008-11-23T07:52:02Z")
No. But then, I’d prefer that people didn’t carry weapons around in public at all. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2008, 7:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-support-open-carry-firearms-laws/474072/10 "2008-11-23T07:53:04Z")
> [@dalej42](#): > > Why? Because it’s rude, as our binary friend points out. ---
**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2008, 8:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-support-open-carry-firearms-laws/474072/11 "2008-11-23T08:18:06Z")
I do not. Open carry may be legal in certain areas, but I do not approve of it because of the potential price that may be paid for “making a point”. It is far easier to conceal the weapon and go about your business, and it does not offend the sensibilities of those who might see an openly carried weapon and panic. The right to carry is far to tenuous to risk over such a principle. Cover it up and preserve your rights for another day. ---
**Author:** ![PatriotGrrrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9dc877/32.png) [@PatriotGrrrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatriotGrrrl)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2008, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-support-open-carry-firearms-laws/474072/12 "2008-11-23T13:55:34Z")
I support open carry, but concealed should be allowed as well. There are many argument for carrying either way, depending on the situation, so a person should be able to make their own choice. But to me, the most important argument for allowing open carry is so that a person carrying concealed won’t get arrested if their gun accidentally becomes partly visible, or its outline becomes visible through their clothing. That’s one of the nice things about where I live - when I carry concealed, I don’t have to worry much about how perfectly concealed it is. In some states, you could theoretically do prison time if your shirt rides up. ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2008, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-support-open-carry-firearms-laws/474072/13 "2008-11-23T13:58:49Z")
I support open carry, provided there is a CCW license as well, for various reasons, including ‘I put a coat on and it covered my pistol’. However, I don’t support it over a certain population density. Let’s say, in any large city. Put people too close together, they get tweakier. ---
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2008, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-support-open-carry-firearms-laws/474072/14 "2008-11-23T14:18:18Z")
To the OP - what other states have open carry aside AZ? I rememeber when I lived in Phoenix [Tempe] and the first time I saw an open firearm was in Albertsons. She was shopping with her kids, and she had a damn hand cannon on her hip. I smiled as I walked by, my wife on the other hand :eek: was very confused. Hey - we’re from CT. ---
**Author:** ![ExTank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@ExTank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ExTank)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2008, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-support-open-carry-firearms-laws/474072/15 "2008-11-23T14:20:30Z")
I support open carry, with concealed carry being a licensed option. To the people whose sensibilities might be upset by seeing a gun: Phuck 'Em! There are people who are upset at seeing a woman nurse her child in public. There are people who are upset at seeing an interracial couple in public. There are people who are upset at seeing a cross while driving down the road. There are people who are upset at seeing other people in restaurants consume meat. If open carry were legal everywhere, then, yes, some ninny is going to make a fuss about it the first time they see an _E_-eeeeevil! gun sitting in a holster. Then they’ll move on. And get over it. Or not. Tough shit. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2008, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-support-open-carry-firearms-laws/474072/16 "2008-11-23T17:25:22Z")
Is this open carry as opposed to concealed? I’m in favour of both, I think if you have a gun licence, you should be able to choose either option whenever you want. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2008, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-support-open-carry-firearms-laws/474072/17 "2008-11-23T19:24:59Z")
> [@Phlosphr](#): > > To the OP - what other states have open carry aside AZ? I rememeber when I lived in Phoenix [Tempe] and the first time I saw an open firearm was in Albertsons. She was shopping with her kids, and she had a damn hand cannon on her hip. I smiled as I walked by, my wife on the other hand :eek: was very confused. Hey - we’re from CT. [Here](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_carry) is a map which shows which states allow open carry. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2008, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-support-open-carry-firearms-laws/474072/18 "2008-11-23T23:32:07Z")
> [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](#): > > I do not. Open carry may be legal in certain areas, but I do not approve of it because of the potential price that may be paid for “making a point”. It is far easier to conceal the weapon and go about your business, and it does not offend the sensibilities of those who might see an openly carried weapon and panic. > > The right to carry is far to tenuous to risk over such a principle. Cover it up and preserve your rights for another day. I think you’re wrong in many ways. It is common to see people who might be robbed, such as late night workers in a convenience store with a handgun in a holster. That sends a message to the person who might want to rob that store. You’re a member of the military and I don’t mind if you have a CCW (which I think should be recognized in every state.) But, for daily use, I think the average person should be able to carry and display the weapon openly. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2008, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-support-open-carry-firearms-laws/474072/19 "2008-11-23T23:45:28Z")
I not only support open carry laws & concealed carry laws, I think the vast majority of people should be armed at all times. That would be evolution in action, man. ---
**Author:** ![LouisB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@LouisB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LouisB)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2008, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-support-open-carry-firearms-laws/474072/20 "2008-11-24T02:06:38Z")
I have a CCW and I think open carry should go hand in hand with concealed; there were certain places I went when I was delivering medications where I illegally went open carry; recovering a concealed weapon was too difficult for the potential thieves. In fact, in a couple of locations, I made my way to the door with the gun in my hand and I made my way back to my car with the gun in my hand. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-support-open-carry-firearms-laws/474072.md?page=2)