Harleys and Open Carry

Originally Posted By: brainiacOddly, many moons ago, a buddy and I were going mushroom hunting and had our handguns in cases tied to our bikes, but were wearing our holsters. The chief of police saw us at the gas station and told us we were breaking the law. He said it was a fine line, but due to the fact that we were in the open, handguns in a case were concealed weapons and we actually should have them in the holsters. He wasn't sure how we should handle it, and told us that a gungho cop could give us a hard time. He didn't really know what to tell us as far as legality went, so he advised us to take a truck instead of our bikes. Go figure.

Your chief of police sounds like an idiot. I carry open all the time on my Harley. Cagers seem to NOT see a guy on a bike....but they sure see that 1911 on your side. I Carry concealed the rest of the time.
 
Originally Posted By: SlickerThanSnotOriginally Posted By: Varminterror I heard a story one time about bringing a handgun to a gunfight being a bad idea...



handgun sounds like the perfect thing to bring to a gunfight?

you got you story a little mixed up. story i remember was a knife.

It was a little tongue in cheek...

The quote I'm referring to is basically that the proper weapon for a gunfight is a long gun. Based on the premise that a handgun isn't a "fighting" weapon, but rather a "save your [beeep]" weapon when your fight has gone terribly awry.
 
Originally Posted By: WlscottOriginally Posted By: brainiacOddly, many moons ago, a buddy and I were going mushroom hunting and had our handguns in cases tied to our bikes, but were wearing our holsters. The chief of police saw us at the gas station and told us we were breaking the law. He said it was a fine line, but due to the fact that we were in the open, handguns in a case were concealed weapons and we actually should have them in the holsters. He wasn't sure how we should handle it, and told us that a gungho cop could give us a hard time. He didn't really know what to tell us as far as legality went, so he advised us to take a truck instead of our bikes. Go figure.

Your chief of police sounds like an idiot. I carry open all the time on my Harley. Cagers seem to NOT see a guy on a bike....but they sure see that 1911 on your side. I Carry concealed the rest of the time.

I think it has more to do with the fact that he lives in Illinois.
 
Originally Posted By: SlickerThanSnotOriginally Posted By: Varminterror I heard a story one time about bringing a handgun to a gunfight being a bad idea...



handgun sounds like the perfect thing to bring to a gunfight?

you got you story a little mixed up. story i remember was a knife.

If your going to a "gunfight" with a pistol your very likely going to lose. Beside a long gun they are pretty worthless.

But yeah, it beats a sharp stick in a pinch & easier to keep near than a bazooka.
 
Originally Posted By: Wlscott Cagers seem to NOT see a guy on a bike....but they sure see that 1911 on your side. I Carry concealed the rest of the time.

what is a cager?
 
Originally Posted By: SlickerThanSnotOriginally Posted By: Wlscott Cagers seem to NOT see a guy on a bike....but they sure see that 1911 on your side. I Carry concealed the rest of the time.

what is a cager?

Car = Cage
 
Originally Posted By: HidalgoCar = Cage

ok. must be biker term? inside car. inside cage. i get it now.

first thought was octagon fighters. that didnt make sense.
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Ya, you have to ride to know the term
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FWIW I always taught rookies that your pistol is what you use to fight your way to a better weapon.

That and if things ever get nasty, fight your way to my trunk. All that is good was there
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I don't get this open carry thing at all. Serves no purpose except to call you out as a target to the bad guys and needlessly provocative to everyone else. Seems to appeal to a small subset of people who like to call attention to themselves. "Look at me! Look at me! Ain't I a bad@ss for carrying this big, bad 'ol gun?"

Regardless of the legality of it, these bikers are other open carry guys are inviting special, loving attention from local law enforcement.

Grouse
 
Originally Posted By: The Famous GrouseI don't get this open carry thing at all. Serves no purpose except to call you out as a target to the bad guys and needlessly provocative to everyone else. Seems to appeal to a small subset of people who like to call attention to themselves. "Look at me! Look at me! Ain't I a bad@ss for carrying this big, bad 'ol gun?"

Regardless of the legality of it, these bikers are other open carry guys are inviting special, loving attention from local law enforcement.

Grouse

I'm split on this Grouse, and I'm gonna pick a lil bit of a fight with you on it. I have seen city, anti-gunner's give the same argument for having a gun rack in a pickup, and or even for hunting, or wearing camo in public..."Oh, aren't you just the big bad gun-wielding/hunting/killing/slaying man in these parts..." blah, blah........

I submit that 70+ years of the Socialistic/anti-gun/liberal/progressive/whatever-the-coolest-name-of-the-moment is has brought even us everyday gun guys to the point of thinking that the sight of a gun in public is bad. And that's a ridiculous thought considering that cars are involved in WAY more non-suicide deaths than guns every have been. I see teenagers with $40,000 cars their parents gave them everyday! Pretty soon I can't have my Leatherman tool on my hip in it's holster cuz I might cut them with it (like the recent outbreak of Chinese mass stabbings in public), or turn someone's screw with it, or.......

Maybe it's just me, but I still see a gun displayed in public as no more a threat than any of a million other things around it at any particular moment. The human carrying it can just as easily kill me with a rock, or pocketknife, or..... I submit that we have been led to fear an inanimate object. I do believe that most shootings occur with a concealed weapon, not an open carried one.

The recent ruling DC may turn out interesting, though!!!
 
Good post.

Originally Posted By: Mike B
I'm split on this Grouse, and I'm gonna pick a lil bit of a fight with you on it. I have seen city, anti-gunner's give the same argument for having a gun rack in a pickup, and or even for hunting, or wearing camo in public..."Oh, aren't you just the big bad gun-wielding/hunting/killing/slaying man in these parts..." blah, blah........

I submit that 70+ years of the Socialistic/anti-gun/liberal/progressive/whatever-the-coolest-name-of-the-moment is has brought even us everyday gun guys to the point of thinking that the sight of a gun in public is bad. And that's a ridiculous thought considering that cars are involved in WAY more non-suicide deaths than guns every have been. I see teenagers with $40,000 cars their parents gave them everyday! Pretty soon I can't have my Leatherman tool on my hip in it's holster cuz I might cut them with it (like the recent outbreak of Chinese mass stabbings in public), or turn someone's screw with it, or.......

Maybe it's just me, but I still see a gun displayed in public as no more a threat than any of a million other things around it at any particular moment. The human carrying it can just as easily kill me with a rock, or pocketknife, or..... I submit that we have been led to fear an inanimate object. I do believe that most shootings occur with a concealed weapon, not an open carried one.

The recent ruling DC may turn out interesting, though!!!
 
I didn't ever open carry when I rode but I did always have one close by. I'm all for the right to open carry, good for you, personally I don't like to attract attention....

Roundcall, I would defiantly ride that bike!!
 
Well...to each his own. Like I said, I carry concealed most of the time. But when I'm on my bike my pistol is usually visible. Seems like the cagers (yep...people in cars) see me better when they can see my gun. I don't do it for attention...I like to be seen so they don't run over me. That's happened to me a lot on my bike. They will look me in the eye, and change lanes right on top of me.

Got a buddy that open carry's everywhere he goes. Says it invites discussion from people who know little or nothing about firearms. He also says that 90% of the time....people don't even notice he's carrying.

I carry overtly at work. I carry big stuff that is very obvious. It's a very different atmosphere and a VERY different place. When I'm home I want to protect myself and my family. I know there are definite tactical advantages to carrying concealed, so that's how I carry (99% of the time). Like I said...to each his own.

Having said all that....I believe that if you live in a free state, you should definitely be exercising your right to carry a gun. If you don't exercise those rights, they can and will go away.

Ok....off my soapbox! I also agree with the above that a pistol is best for fighting your way to your long gun.
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What a load a crap if you think a cager sees your gun before he sees you. I'm sure that works well for you when he's about to make that dreaded left hand turn infront of you as your coming down the road. Most people driving cars probably don't take the time to look hard enough while you pass by to see a holster on your hip. The very few that do might shake in their shoes and give you more room but what about the high percentage of others that can't see it? The ones on the other side! From the back? Oncoming?

If you want to be seen on a motorcycle wear bright colored clothing, a reflective vest for instance. Ride a bright colored bike. Ride with your headlight on. Use proper lane position in traffic, don't hang out in someone's blind spot. Put yourself in the position to be easily seen. I don't think packing a gun on your side is covered as a topic in the motorcycle safety course. It might help if its in a safety orange holster though.

I'm with the Grouse on this one, its for attention not much else. Just like those get back whips these tough guys like to hang off their brake and clutch levers now. Whadda joke.

Originally Posted By: SlickerThanSnotthings are the way they are today because the majority started thinking like grouse.
The world is the way it is. Its not that way because some think that hanging a gun off their side for all to see is a good idea and worth the extra attention it brings.
 
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I don't have a problem either way. If you want to carry openly, go for it. It would suit me fine if any permit holder could carry any way they please. My thoughts are that I don't want anyone to know I'm armed. A criminal is going to shoot the guy with the obvious gun first because he thinks they're off-duty LEO. I don't want to draw any attention to myself in any way. I want the advantage of surprise if at all possible. As for riding, FurHunter nailed it. A gun on your hip isn't going to be noticed by anyone except the emergency personnel when they arrive to investigate the wreck.
 
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Originally Posted By: FurhunterWhat a load a crap if you think a cager sees your gun before he sees you. I'm sure that works well for you when he's about to make that dreaded left hand turn infront of you as your coming down the road. Most people driving cars probably don't take the time to look hard enough while you pass by to see a holster on your hip. The very few that do might shake in their shoes and give you more room but what about the high percentage of others that can't see it? The ones on the other side! From the back? Oncoming?

If you want to be seen on a motorcycle wear bright colored clothing, a reflective vest for instance. Ride a bright colored bike. Ride with your headlight on. Use proper lane position in traffic, don't hang out in someone's blind spot. Put yourself in the position to be easily seen. I don't think packing a gun on your side is covered as a topic in the motorcycle safety course. It might help if its in a safety orange holster though.

I'm with the Grouse on this one, its for attention not much else. Just like those get back whips these tough guys like to hang off their brake and clutch levers now. Whadda joke.

Originally Posted By: SlickerThanSnotthings are the way they are today because the majority started thinking like grouse.
The world is the way it is. Its not that way because some think that hanging a gun off their side for all to see is a good idea and worth the extra attention it brings.


i agree with this "What a load a crap if you think a cager sees your gun before he sees you." and this "The world is the way it is. Its not that way because some think that hanging a gun off their side for all to see is a good idea and worth the extra attention it brings."

i dont know what i was trying to say except that i dont think the majority and there pc thinking is always right. thats all.
 
I equate open carriers to the urban youth of today with their boxers showing above their britches or their gold basketball shoes and pimped out "grills", look at me! Look at me! Look at what I got that you don't have.

There is NO "Tactical" advantage to open carry, perceived or real.

My pickup gun rack is behind the seat, even that is concealed.


Chupa
 
Originally Posted By: Mike B
I'm split on this Grouse, and I'm gonna pick a lil bit of a fight with you on it. I have seen city, anti-gunner's give the same argument for having a gun rack in a pickup, and or even for hunting, or wearing camo in public..."Oh, aren't you just the big bad gun-wielding/hunting/killing/slaying man in these parts..." blah, blah........

I submit that 70+ years of the Socialistic/anti-gun/liberal/progressive/whatever-the-coolest-name-of-the-moment is has brought even us everyday gun guys to the point of thinking that the sight of a gun in public is bad.

Maybe it's just me, but I still see a gun displayed in public as no more a threat than any of a million other things around it at any particular moment. The human carrying it can just as easily kill me with a rock, or pocketknife, or..... I submit that we have been led to fear an inanimate object. I do believe that most shootings occur with a concealed weapon, not an open carried one.

Mike, I don't disagree with a lot of what you're saying. I'm just applying a common sense test. While you and I and the real hunters and sportsmen out there don't see gun = threat, there is a large body of people out there who DO.

While a lot of people get all red-assed about it, public perception DOES matter when it comes to preserving our gun rights. The other side is constantly portraying gun owners as dangerous Rambo-wannabies with itchy trigger fingers and no common sense. Having a bunch of "Open Carry" idiots taking their ARs for a stroll at Walmart does little to counter this stereotype.

As I said in another thread about this subject, I don't see being an openly provocative jackass as a good way to advance our agenda. There's a big difference between having a gun rack in a pickup truck or a Leatherman on you belt and walking into a restaurant with your AK47 or pulling up to a gas station with a couple of pistols strapped to your motorcycle.

Again, like my dad always used to tell us as kids, just because you CAN doesn't mean you SHOULD.

Originally Posted By: SlickerThanSnotthings are the way they are today because the majority started thinking like grouse.

I'm glad that the majority of people agree with me, behaving like a jackass is a bad idea. BTW, on the subject of open carry, there's another group that agrees with me as well: The NRA.

Now why don't you run off and meet your Open Carry buddies down at Chipotle? Is that you on the left?


gunschipotle.jpeg



Grouse
 
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