# People who open carry, how much police harassment do you put up with? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 1, 2015, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-open-carry-how-much-police-harassment-do-you-put-up-with/708710 "2015-01-01T20:59:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Orwell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/dfb087/32.png) [@Orwell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Orwell)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2015, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-open-carry-how-much-police-harassment-do-you-put-up-with/708710/61 "2015-01-03T00:47:44Z")
> [@LeaveMeAlone](#): > > I’m a cop and carry a concealed weapon off duty…I don’t understand open carry for the life of me…why advertise that you have a gun? So the bad guy knows who to shoot first? Unless your situational awareness is so good that you are never taken by surprise…sorry seems like grand standing to me… Well, in many cases it is done to make a statement about exercising one’s rights, and to desensitize weenies who pee themselves, er… those who are not used to seeing law -abiding citizens carrying firearms. It IS a mild form of protest, no doubt, though I might stop short of calling it grandstanding. I agree with you completely on a tactical basis, however, and never open carry. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2015, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-open-carry-how-much-police-harassment-do-you-put-up-with/708710/62 "2015-01-03T00:50:33Z")
> [@LeaveMeAlone](#): > > I don’t understand open carry for the life of me. I’m the other way around. I can’t understand concealed carry. It would seem to me that if one is the type that believes in carrying around a firearm for self-defense in public, that it would be important for self-defense that the bad guy knows you can shoot back. Thus the need never arises. ---
**Author:** ![LeaveMeAlone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c4cdca/32.png) [@LeaveMeAlone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LeaveMeAlone)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2015, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-open-carry-how-much-police-harassment-do-you-put-up-with/708710/63 "2015-01-03T01:05:34Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > I’m the other way around. I can’t understand concealed carry. It would seem to me that if one is the type that believes in carrying around a firearm for self-defense in public, that it would be important for self-defense that the bad guy knows you can shoot back. Thus the need never arises. Heh, that reminds me of some of my fellow cops who believe that they can behave like jackasses while dealing with perps or using lousy tactics because they think that the uniform provides some type of invisible shield against getting punched the face. Anyway, why give up the element of surprise while simultaneously scaring members of the public? Seems unnecessary. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2015, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-open-carry-how-much-police-harassment-do-you-put-up-with/708710/64 "2015-01-03T02:04:17Z")
> [@Orwell](#): > > Well, in many cases it is done to make a statement about exercising one’s rights, and to desensitize weenies who pee themselves, er… those who are not used to seeing law > -abiding citizens carrying firearms. It IS a mild form of protest, no doubt, though I might stop short of calling it grandstanding. I agree with you completely on a tactical basis, however, and never open carry. Merely being able to buy and possess firearms IS exercising one’s rights. Carrying them openly is just grandstanding for no reason. Nobody - Obama included - is coming for our guns. Why does anybody need to be “desensitized” by seeing them displayed? I mean what GOOD reason is there for that? Why don’t these same people insist on committing crimes to ensure that their right to a speedy trial is intact, or to show that they can still plead 5th Amendment rights? Why aren’t they crusading to insure that women can vote? Answer: because the Constitution is still intact and without any remote danger of being suspended. That includes all of the amendments, not just the ones that are being cherry-picked by a special interest group. ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2015, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-open-carry-how-much-police-harassment-do-you-put-up-with/708710/65 "2015-01-03T02:11:04Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > Merely being able to buy and possess firearms IS exercising one’s rights. Carrying them openly is just grandstanding for no reason. Nobody - Obama included - is coming for our guns. Why does anybody need to be “desensitized” by seeing them displayed? I mean what GOOD reason is there for that? Why don’t these same people insist on committing crimes to ensure that their right to a speedy trial is intact, or to show that they can still plead 5th Amendment rights? Why aren’t they crusading to insure that women can vote? Answer: because the Constitution is still intact and without any remote danger of being suspended. That includes all of the amendments, not just the ones that are being cherry-picked by a special interest group. Beautifully said. ---
**Author:** ![River\_Hippie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/river_hippie/32/26_2.png) [@River\_Hippie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/River_Hippie)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2015, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-open-carry-how-much-police-harassment-do-you-put-up-with/708710/66 "2015-01-03T02:33:04Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > Yet I am the one with the courage to got out in public unarmed. Go figure. I’ve had a concealed carry permit since 1986 and enough handguns to wear a new one every day. I go out in public every day unarmed. I almost never carry a gun concealed or not. My state is open carry and one of the most gun friendly states. The last time I carried a handgun around it was to get a new holster broken in. They are like shoes, they need to be worn a while to fit right. Once I got that accomplished, I stopped carrying again because it’s a pain in the ass. I just like having the option, in case I feel the need. Go ahead and call the cops on me. It’s going to end well for me and for the cops. Do you call the cops when you see someone walking a large dog because it might bite someone? Maybe it doesn’t have the proper shots. How 'bout texters in the car next door on the highway? ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2015, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-open-carry-how-much-police-harassment-do-you-put-up-with/708710/67 "2015-01-03T02:36:16Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > I’m the other way around. I can’t understand concealed carry. It would seem to me that if one is the type that believes in carrying around a firearm for self-defense in public, that it would be important for self-defense that the bad guy knows you can shoot back. Thus the need never arises. I’m a criminal with a gun. Open carry means I target you and have the initiative before you can fire. Concealed carry means I don’t know who is carrying a gun and have to assume everyone is. And while I stay pretty neutral on guns in general, I don’t on open carry. Trying to normalize a deadly weapon is stupid. Doing it as defiance lest your guns be taken away scares me, because it means you are carrying a gun and are out of touch with reality. Doing it as a form of intimidation makes you a jerk, as you don’t just intimidate criminals. Doing it as some sort of social status thing makes me think you have a complex. Open carry has usefulness in hunting and stuff, just because the guns are so big. But small personal weapons do not need to be carried that way. I really can’t think of a pro that outweighs all the cons. ---
**Author:** ![grude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47774/32.png) [@grude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grude)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2015, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-open-carry-how-much-police-harassment-do-you-put-up-with/708710/68 "2015-01-03T02:42:51Z")
> [@River\_Hippie](#): > > Do you call the cops when you see someone walking a large dog because it might bite someone? Maybe it doesn’t have the proper shots. How 'bout texters in the car next door on the highway? It is like calling the cops every time you see a parent with their child, sure they seem to have a parent/child relationship and hell even appear to be related but there is a chance no matter how remote that it could be a pedophile and a kidnapped child! I’ll call every time and let the police find out whether a crime is being committed. That guy with a backpack walking down the street, he could be a student or he could be smuggling a couple of keys of coke, not going to take the chance I’m calling 911 and let the police find the truth. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2015, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-open-carry-how-much-police-harassment-do-you-put-up-with/708710/69 "2015-01-03T02:43:09Z")
> [@AClockworkMelon](#): > > Nope. I’ve never owned a gun but if I had a few hundred bucks I could head down to the store on the corner or one of the gun shows we have pretty regularly, or hell - to the home of a buddy who’s looking to sell - and pick up a gun and carry it out the door under my jacket. Perfectly legal. Careful there, concealed carry is not the same as open carry. ---
**Author:** ![grude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47774/32.png) [@grude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grude)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2015, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-open-carry-how-much-police-harassment-do-you-put-up-with/708710/70 "2015-01-03T02:47:41Z")
> [@Onomatopoeia](#): > > The fact is blacks with guns are assumed to be threats to be handled with deadly force, no questions asked, even in an open-carry state. Whites, in the same circumstances, are assumed to be exercising their constitutional rights. The contrast and double-standard are sickening, to say the least, but I would not be surprised if some of the Dope’s conservative legal beagles find a way to excuse if not defend it. > > * * * > > So the solution is more black people need to be shot until what, some kind of epiphany magically occurs in the LEO mindset that an African American with a gun doesn’t automatically equate to ‘criminal’? Yeah, let us all hold our breaths for that one. > > This is a serious problem that no one wants to address, especially whites who consider their right to open-carry to be uninfringable, because, after all, why should my constitutional expression be curtailed just because blacks are getting shot for doing the same thing I am lauded for? And who do blacks think they are anyway, people? With the same rights to life, liberty and all the rest as me? Oh, come on. Could you please link to even one example on this board of an open carry advocate defending racist police killings? In plain language too, I know we have plenty of police apologists here but I haven’t seen any OC advocates saying there should be a melanin test. As for your second point that is a great way to warp my point, and I’m not sure who you’re arguing against. I’m unaware of this board being a hotbed of racist open carry advocates who consider blacks subhuman. For the record I think the unconstitutional gun restrictions that just keep going on inertia in NYC and DC are motivated by racism, the idea of GASP black men walking around with handguns legally in urban areas scares those in power. ---
**Author:** ![grude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47774/32.png) [@grude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grude)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2015, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-open-carry-how-much-police-harassment-do-you-put-up-with/708710/71 "2015-01-03T02:51:08Z")
> [@Bullitt](#): > > Careful there, concealed carry is not the same as open carry. Yea it depends on the state but concealed carry usually requires a license. ---
**Author:** ![WreckingCrew](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wreckingcrew/32/4080_2.png) [@WreckingCrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WreckingCrew)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2015, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-open-carry-how-much-police-harassment-do-you-put-up-with/708710/72 "2015-01-03T02:52:25Z")
I fortunately live in a state where open carry of handguns is only allowed with a permit issued by the Attorney General, which is extremely rare. I have stated on here before, I have never seen anyone who was not a LEO open carry a handgun in RI. And while open carry of long guns is legal here, it just is not something that people do if not actively involved in a shooting activity. So again, I have never seen anyone carrying a rifle around Wal-Mart, or strolling around the neighborhood. So yes, if I saw someone openly carrying a handgun where I live, I would call the police. For those of you who are big open carry supporters, I suggest you do not try it in Rhode Island. With a rifle, you will most likely be stopped and questioned, with a handgun you will be arrested. ---
**Author:** ![grude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47774/32.png) [@grude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grude)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2015, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-open-carry-how-much-police-harassment-do-you-put-up-with/708710/73 "2015-01-03T02:54:16Z")
> [@WreckingCrew](#): > > I fortunately live in a state where open carry of handguns is only allowed with a permit issued by the Attorney General, which is extremely rare. I have stated on here before, I have never seen anyone who was not a LEO open carry a handgun in RI. And while open carry of long guns is legal here, it just is not something that people do if not actively involved in a shooting activity. So again, I have never seen anyone carrying a rifle around Wal-Mart, or strolling around the neighborhood. > > So yes, if I saw someone openly carrying a handgun where I live, I would call the police. > > For those of you who are big open carry supporters, I suggest you do not try it in Rhode Island. With a rifle, you will most likely be stopped and questioned, with a handgun you will be arrested. It kind of goes without saying that if open carry is not legal you will be arrested for it, right? ---
**Author:** ![WreckingCrew](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wreckingcrew/32/4080_2.png) [@WreckingCrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WreckingCrew)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2015, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-open-carry-how-much-police-harassment-do-you-put-up-with/708710/74 "2015-01-03T02:57:18Z")
> [@grude](#): > > It kind of goes without saying that if open carry is not legal you will be arrested for it, right? Yup, but there are some folks who might like to claim their rights are being violated. To which I say, tough shit. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2015, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-open-carry-how-much-police-harassment-do-you-put-up-with/708710/75 "2015-01-03T02:59:34Z")
I’m another Doper who has open carried, although very infrequently. I didn’t do it to intimidate or to brag. But my preference is to carry concealed - in the states where I am permitted to, of course. I’d rather not advertise to anyone when I am armed. When I did open carry I was never hassled by anyone. No LEOs. Once when I was in a restaurant I overheard a lady in a nearby table ask her server about our group who was all (or mostly, my wife wasn’t) open carrying. The server explained it was perfectly legal, and that was the end of that. Oh, and I’m not white either. If that matters. I’m an American. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2015, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-open-carry-how-much-police-harassment-do-you-put-up-with/708710/76 "2015-01-03T03:04:43Z")
> [@WreckingCrew](#): > > I fortunately live in a state where open carry of handguns is only allowed with a permit issued by the Attorney General, which is extremely rare. I have stated on here before, I have never seen anyone who was not a LEO open carry a handgun in RI. And while open carry of long guns is legal here, it just is not something that people do if not actively involved in a shooting activity. So again, I have never seen anyone carrying a rifle around Wal-Mart, or strolling around the neighborhood. > > So yes, if I saw someone openly carrying a handgun where I live, I would call the police. > > For those of you who are big open carry supporters, I suggest you do not try it in Rhode Island. With a rifle, you will most likely be stopped and questioned, with a handgun you will be arrested. If it was in AZ, or your neighboring state of Vermont where just about anyone can carry, open or concealed, would you call the police? Gotta love Vermont! ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2015, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-open-carry-how-much-police-harassment-do-you-put-up-with/708710/77 "2015-01-03T03:20:25Z")
Maybe a better question is how do people who don’t open carry feel like a “big man”? ---
**Author:** ![Orwell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/dfb087/32.png) [@Orwell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Orwell)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2015, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-open-carry-how-much-police-harassment-do-you-put-up-with/708710/78 "2015-01-03T03:30:23Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > Maybe a better question is how do people who don’t open carry feel like a “big man”? By belittling others? ---
**Author:** ![Octarine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/22d042/32.png) [@Octarine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Octarine)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2015, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-open-carry-how-much-police-harassment-do-you-put-up-with/708710/79 "2015-01-03T03:36:20Z")
The level of concern you should have with people who open carry depends on where you are. If you’re in Arizona, which for some reason seems to be married to this thread, you probably wouldn’t be too shocked since it’s fairly common. If you’re in Massachusetts, it would be far more unusual and might warrant some level of concern. If you’re in Paris, where open carry is illegal (though concealed carry is fine, funnily enough) and you saw some guy with a handgun on his belt, you’d call the police because he’s probably up to something. Nothing’s black and white. ---
**Author:** ![Orwell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/dfb087/32.png) [@Orwell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Orwell)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2015, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-open-carry-how-much-police-harassment-do-you-put-up-with/708710/80 "2015-01-03T03:53:00Z")
> [@WreckingCrew](#): > > I fortunately live in a state where open carry of handguns is only allowed with a permit issued by the Attorney General, which is extremely rare. I have stated on here before, I have never seen anyone who was not a LEO open carry a handgun in RI. And while open carry of long guns is legal here, it just is not something that people do if not actively involved in a shooting activity. So again, I have never seen anyone carrying a rifle around Wal-Mart, or strolling around the neighborhood. > > So yes, if I saw someone openly carrying a handgun where I live, I would call the police. > > For those of you who are big open carry supporters, I suggest you do not try it in Rhode Island. With a rifle, you will most likely be stopped and questioned, with a handgun you will be arrested. And thankfully I live in a state where people have more freedom and liberty. Open carry is legal without permission from nanny, and we are a “shall issue” state for concealed carry, which means the state has to have a reason to not issue a permit, not the other way around. Vermont and Alaska are even better, of course, as you don’t even need to grovel or pay to exercise your constitutional rights. A free person shouldn’t have to seek permission from an attorney general or bureaucratic agency to lawfully carry, open or concealed. But while I support those who choose to open carry, I have no desire to do so. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-open-carry-how-much-police-harassment-do-you-put-up-with/708710.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-open-carry-how-much-police-harassment-do-you-put-up-with/708710.md?page=5)