# Open carry of firearms **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 7, 2011, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/open-carry-of-firearms/588118 "2011-07-07T02:06:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2011, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/open-carry-of-firearms/588118/21 "2011-07-07T15:48:49Z")
> [@Michael\_of\_Lucan](#): > > As a foreigner, I find it weird that any sane person _wants_ to carry a weapon openly on a city street, and even more weird that he might have a legal right to do it. The level of public paranoia (or some other insanity) implied by that right is frankly frightening. Whenever I hear some FEZ talk about how “weird” they view the right to bear arms I just assume they come from a country full of people who are willing to put up with more shit than Americans are. > [@Michael\_of\_Lucan](#): > > If you’re allowed to carry a pistol, why not a lance, a cross-bow or a sword, which are more limited in their effect? I’d probably choose a mace (the old-fashioned club, not the spray). There’s something satisfying about using a mace on the car which took my parking spot. Who said we don’t? In addition to firearms in most states citizens can carry other weapons, including edged weapons, electric (stun gun/taser) weapons, and clubs. > [@AClockworkMelon](#): > > In Arizona you can both open carry AND conceal carry without a permit of any kind. > > 😃 This is commonly refered to as “constitutional carry” and it’s exactly as things should be in the entire country, IMHO. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2011, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/open-carry-of-firearms/588118/22 "2011-07-07T16:13:56Z")
Quoth **pkbites** : > [@](#): > > However, in reality most of the real harassment comes from ignorant citizens asking stupid questions. Wait, that’s harassment? I thought that part of the point of carrying openly was that folks _wanted_ to be asked questions about it. > [@](#): > > Whenever I hear some FEZ talk about how “weird” they view the right to bear arms I just assume they come from a country full of people who are willing to put up with more shit than Americans are. Yeah, like how they’re willing to put up with people walking around with guns, and we aren’t. No, wait, it’s the other way around. What are they putting up with that we’re not? ---
**Author:** ![randomface](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/5fc32e/32.png) [@randomface](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/randomface)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2011, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/open-carry-of-firearms/588118/23 "2011-07-07T16:16:38Z")
They are putting up with being disarmed. ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2011, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/open-carry-of-firearms/588118/24 "2011-07-07T16:27:05Z")
> [@Michael\_of\_Lucan](#): > > …If you’re allowed to carry a pistol, why not a lance, a cross-bow or a sword, which are more limited in their effect? I’d probably choose a mace (the old-fashioned club, not the spray). There’s something satisfying about using a mace on the car which took my parking spot. I have carried many swords in many states and have not yet been bothered. mostly historical costumes, but I pride myself on always carrying real swords. I guess when you are wearing armor people assume it’s for a costume party. A mace _would_ take care of that car. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Michael\_of\_Lucan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/dbc845/32.png) [@Michael\_of\_Lucan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Michael_of_Lucan)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2011, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/open-carry-of-firearms/588118/25 "2011-07-07T17:00:01Z")
> [@pkbites](#): > > Whenever I hear some FEZ talk about how “weird” they view the right to bear arms I just assume they come from a country full of people who are willing to put up with more shit than Americans are. No we’re not willing to put up with shit. When some idiot tries to walk down the street with a gun, we lock him up - often in a mental hospital. What sane person wants to walk around brandishing a dangerous weapon? I guess we don’t need phallic symbols to prove we are men. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2011, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/open-carry-of-firearms/588118/26 "2011-07-07T17:08:47Z")
> [@Michael\_of\_Lucan](#): > > What sane person wants to walk around brandishing a dangerous weapon? Having a handgun secured in a holster is not “brandishing”. Get your definitions correct, please. Also, please tell me what tyrannic country you live in and give a cite Where someone carrying a firearm in a non-threatening manner is placed in a mental hospital. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2011, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/open-carry-of-firearms/588118/27 "2011-07-07T17:27:56Z")
> [@Michael\_of\_Lucan](#): > > No we’re not willing to put up with shit. When some idiot tries to walk down the street with a gun, we lock him up - often in a mental hospital. What sane person wants to walk around brandishing a dangerous weapon? > > I guess we don’t need phallic symbols to prove we are men. :rolleyes: [Moderator Warning] **Michael of Lucan** , this post is insulting and out of line for GQ. This is an official warning. Don’t do this again. Colibri General Questions Moderator ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2011, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/open-carry-of-firearms/588118/28 "2011-07-07T17:34:58Z")
> [@pkbites](#): > > Whenever I hear some FEZ talk about how “weird” they view the right to bear arms I just assume they come from a country full of people who are willing to put up with more shit than Americans are. > > … > > This is commonly refered to as “constitutional carry” and it’s exactly as things should be in the entire country, IMHO. > [@pkbites](#): > > Also, please tell me what tyrannic country you live in and give a cite Where someone carrying a firearm in a non-threatening manner is placed in a mental hospital. [Moderator Note] Political commentary of this kind is not appropriate for GQ. No warning issued, but one may be for further political opinionating on this issue. Colibri General Questions Moderator ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2011, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/open-carry-of-firearms/588118/29 "2011-07-07T17:37:39Z")
[Moderator Instructions] Please restrict yourself to the factual questions in the OP. If you want to debate or express your personal opinions about gun control, take it to GD or IMHO (or the Pit). Violations of these instructions may be subject to an official warning. Colibri General Questions Moderator ---
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2011, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/open-carry-of-firearms/588118/30 "2011-07-07T17:52:51Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > [Moderator Note]Political commentary of this kind is not appropriate for GQ. No warning issued, but one may be for further political opinionating on this issue. Part of my post was asking a question in response to a statement made in a post. Most threads result in other questions being asked by other posters within the thread, do they not? May **Michael of Lucan** please answer my questions without suffering your wrath? ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2011, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/open-carry-of-firearms/588118/31 "2011-07-07T18:10:19Z")
> [@pkbites](#): > > Part of my post was asking a question in response to a statement made in a post. Most threads result in other questions being asked by other posters within the thread, do they not? May **Michael of Lucan** please answer my questions without suffering your wrath? [Moderating] He lives in Ireland, which you could have easily determined by just checking his profile (without throwing in the “tyrannic” remark). Given that I have issued him a warning for his “no sane person” remark, no, you may not further question him on that. If you two can converse civilly without using loaded words, OK. Otherwise drop it or take it to the Pit. Colibri General Questions Moderator ---
**Author:** ![JoelUpchurch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f05b48/32.png) [@JoelUpchurch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JoelUpchurch)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2011, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/open-carry-of-firearms/588118/32 "2011-07-07T18:36:53Z")
> [@Michael\_of\_Lucan](#): > > If you’re allowed to carry a pistol, why not a lance, a cross-bow or a sword, which are more limited in their effect? I’d probably choose a mace (the old-fashioned club, not the spray). There’s something satisfying about using a mace on the car which took my parking spot. What! You can’t carry those either? You SCA meetings must suck. 🙂 Cross-bows are legal for hunting and I think swords are classified with knives and someone mentioned open carrying a machete. I don’t know about lances. The closest I can recall was a friend that used to hunt wild pigs with a spear and a dog. I don’t know if any state has a pointy stick hunting season :), although I have some cousins that would be out in the woods with a pointy stick if there was one, since they go out for rifle, bow and black powder seasons. Of course, all bets are off if you actually threaten someone with any of the above. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2011, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/open-carry-of-firearms/588118/33 "2011-07-07T19:42:56Z")
Back when I was in high school, a friend of mine and I did some research and found that it _is_ legal to walk around in Cleveland, OH with a sword, so long as it’s not concealed. And yes, we did both wear swords on occasion, and yes, we’re both nerds. Why do you ask? ---
**Author:** ![Una\_Persson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/una_persson/32/346_2.png) [@Una\_Persson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Una_Persson)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2011, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/open-carry-of-firearms/588118/34 "2011-07-07T23:11:51Z")
Sword-related laws are strange and sometimes difficult to interpret. Some jurisdictions have a curious gap in the laws about them, others just classify them as knives and leave it at that, even if they aren’t sharpened. Reputedly some fencers have had police harass them over their foils, sabres, and epees, and suburban legends tell of fencers who end up arrested over some cop thinking their completely blunt and edgeless foil is a “deadly weapon.” ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2011, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/open-carry-of-firearms/588118/35 "2011-07-07T23:36:43Z")
> [@BMalion](#): > > I have carried many swords in many states and have not yet been bothered. mostly historical costumes, but I pride myself on always carrying real swords. > > I guess when you are wearing armor people assume it’s for a costume party. > > A mace _would_ take care of that car. > 😃 There [have](http://www.independent.ie/national-news/surgeons-reattach-mans-hand-after-pub-sword-attack-1266354.html) [been](http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/two-injured-in-samurai-sword-attack-28662.html) [a](http://www.herald.ie/national-news/city-news/hero-garda-back-just-weeks-after-samurai-sword-attack-2299041.html) [few](http://www.4ni.co.uk/northern_ireland_news.asp?id=79276) [samurai](http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/4305068.stm)sword attacks hereabouts the last few years, true story braw. 🙂 They even [banned them](http://www.rte.ie/news/2009/0901/samurai.html). ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2011, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/open-carry-of-firearms/588118/36 "2011-07-07T23:46:31Z")
> [@Michael\_of\_Lucan](#): > > No we’re not willing to put up with shit. When some idiot tries to walk down the street with a gun, we lock him up - often in a mental hospital. What sane person wants to walk around brandishing a dangerous weapon? > > I guess we don’t need phallic symbols to prove we are men. :rolleyes: Michael, have you ever actually been in the United States? The only guns I’ve seen in public in the US have been cops’ guns, security guards’ guns, and guns in Walmart and pawn shops. In all the states I’ve visited I haven’t seen someone walking down the street brandishing a weapon. Many normal people do carry guns (in conseal carry states, never been in open carry state) on their person but it’s rarely that obvious they’re packing heat. 🙂 For some context on attitudes to guns here, the police aren’t routinely armed, and although firearms aren’t completely banned or anything, unless you’ve spent much time in a rural setting, or are a member of a gun club, you won’t typically see guns here. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2011, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/open-carry-of-firearms/588118/37 "2011-07-07T23:52:34Z")
> [@](#): > > Sword-related laws are strange and sometimes difficult to interpret. Some jurisdictions have a curious gap in the laws about them, others just classify them as knives and leave it at that, even if they aren’t sharpened. Reputedly some fencers have had police harass them over their foils, sabres, and epees, and suburban legends tell of fencers who end up arrested over some cop thinking their completely blunt and edgeless foil is a “deadly weapon.” IIRC, the Cleveland laws didn’t make any distinction between knives and swords, and just categorized any “blade longer than 4 inches” as a weapon. But you were still allowed to carry them, just not concealed. ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2011, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/open-carry-of-firearms/588118/38 "2011-07-07T23:59:25Z")
Vermont, like Arizona has no restrictions on carrying, concealed or open. No license, no permit. Our murder rate is in the single digits per year. ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2011, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/open-carry-of-firearms/588118/39 "2011-07-08T00:04:17Z")
Is a sword in its sheath concealed or still open carried? ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2011, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/open-carry-of-firearms/588118/40 "2011-07-08T02:35:33Z")
Open, unless the sheath is designed to look like something else. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/open-carry-of-firearms/588118.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/open-carry-of-firearms/588118.md?page=3)