03 Jul Why I Don’t Open Carry
Another question that pops up frequently in all levels of our classes is “should I open carry?” Categorically… We say NO. (Go ahead… Flame away.)
Here’s why:
Reason 1: You become a target. As the adage goes, surprise is an advantage. While many say that you will deter an assault by telling God and everyone else “hey I have a gun, come at me bro” you are also broadcasting “hey I have a gun, come at me bro.” Now I tend to not to frequent areas where someone of lesser character than mine will attempt to disarm me but I do recognize that life happens and that alone will keep me from telling everyone that I’m armed. My own wife has not known that I was carrying until I took my gun off and secured it after returning home. She just assumes that I’m armed regardless but anyhoo… Moral of the story: don’t bring unwanted attention to yourself.
Reason 2: Unwanted attention from Law Enforcement. Unless you’re an open carry activist looking to show how the man is suppressing your 2a rights, you probably don’t want to have Johnny Law busting your stones on the street for carrying a firearm openly. Yeah I get it… It’s your right where it’s legal to do so. As a cop I know that oftentimes, especially in these days of budget cuts and understaffed departments, we honestly have much better things to do than deal with a law abiding citizen who is carrying a firearm openly and legally… Like continue to act like blue and white ping pong balls and resume bouncing from call to call around our jurisdiction. The vast majority of patrol officers are pro second amendment. Just keep that in mind please.
The problem lies in the fact that there are uneducated sheep in our flock that have no idea that simply because a person has a firearm on them they are not going on a shooting spree. Their opinions are influenced by equally uneducated politicians and media drones who obviously have an agenda. They startle easily and tend to bleat loudly when they perceive a wolf in their midst even though it may actually be a sheepdog. Personally, I would rather not give them indigestion and continue to be a silent professional.
Reason 3: Maintaining tactical advantage. I like options. I love options. Options mean that I can make a choice and influence the outcome of a situation. It may be that not drawing my gun and engaging a threat is the best choice. Concealment gives me options. At work I don’t have that choice when functioning in my regular patrol duties and I am expected to take action. No problem! I wear the blue superman suit so its what I will do. Off duty is a different story. (Refer to reasons 1 and 2)
Of course there are a myriad of other reasons but I feel that these three sum up the issue well. We cover this at length in our Use of Force/Home Defense/Concealed Carry Course which we offer monthly. Check it out!
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-Rob
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