Where else can you walk into the Safeway supermarket and see a guy with a .45LC SAA revolver, open carry, on a western cartridge belt rig? The tourists' eyes get as big as saucers. "He has a GUN!!", they whisper. "Yes, I see that. It's a nice one, too. I wonder if it's a Ruger?"
Ya gotta love Arizona!
- Thread starter Kevan.62
- Start date
Dogboy
New member
I love it when I go to Arizona and see that. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
Here in Kalifornia everyone could not dial 911 fast enough if they saw that, and the cops would be runnin each other over to get to the guy.
Just goes to show you the state of mind some folks have.
Here in Kalifornia everyone could not dial 911 fast enough if they saw that, and the cops would be runnin each other over to get to the guy.
Just goes to show you the state of mind some folks have.
A few months back, there were three guys at the McDonald's, all carrying Glocks. Some tourist woman in line turns to me and says, "Pssst!! Those guys have g-u-n-s!" (That's how I knew she was a tourist. She figured we couldn't spell.) I says, "Yes, I see that. So?" "Well, shouldn't someone call the police?" "For what? To come admire their handguns? It's legal to carry guns here, ma'am." "Well! I'm from Massachusetts and we don't carry guns!" "Well, I'm sorry to hear that. But remember back in the 1980s that wackadoo that walked into a McDonald's and wiped out the whole place? That doesn't happen around these parts because people like that flat get killed by armed citizens. If you're happy dialing 911, which is just government-sponsored dial-a-prayer, hey, that's up to you. But we pack here."
I quite often was the guy the tourists pointed at & whispered about. When I lived in Phoenix I usually carried openly. Sometimes a 4 inch GP-100 in 357 with beautiful cocobolo hardwood grips, more often a Glock 17.
The only time a stranger ever said anything directly to me was to ask where I'd gotten my gun leather, as he was looking for some.
The only time a stranger ever said anything directly to me was to ask where I'd gotten my gun leather, as he was looking for some.
Frankie B.
New member
That's really wonderful. I wish open carry was allowed here in Florida, even though concealed carry is. My .45 chaffs my side when using an inside waistband holster. Maybe I'll move to Arizona.
Frankie B.
Frankie B.
Welcome to Arizona M'am. The Livery is around the corner and the general store is just down the street. By the way, that ornry lookin fella over there packin that .45 just might save your worthless liberal tree huggin skin if some no account, snake bellied bushwacker decides to releive you of your valuables and take a peek under that there petticoat of yours. When you get back to Massachusetts, call your Uncle Ted and tell him all about it.
Mostly I don't mind carrying concealed. Mostly. But there are times when it's just a pain in the ass.
Running, for example. When I go out for a run here, I have to wear something to hide the gun. That's OK when it's colder, but now that the heat -and more importantly, humidity- is up, it sucks. I'd rather not wear a T-shirt and radiate the heat. But that would mean leaving the gun behind.
But until I move again, I'm stuck with it, as there's no movement here for open carry.
Running, for example. When I go out for a run here, I have to wear something to hide the gun. That's OK when it's colder, but now that the heat -and more importantly, humidity- is up, it sucks. I'd rather not wear a T-shirt and radiate the heat. But that would mean leaving the gun behind.
But until I move again, I'm stuck with it, as there's no movement here for open carry.
Jack Roberts
Moderator - Deceased
Open carry is legal in Nevada except for Clark county(Las Vegas). Not many people do carry because rural Nevada is just not a threat likely environment. Most serious crime is out-of-staters passing through and they rarely get over 1/4 mile from the interstates.
Jack
Jack
crapshoot
Well-known member
I live in Henderson and open carry is legal in Clark County except North Las Vegas. I open carry my glock 27 and S&W 686 6" often. You do get funny looks and the police are likely going to question you. There is always the slim possibility you may get arrested for disturbing the peace or creating a public nusence if you dont have a valid reason to be carring, but I'll take that chance to support my rights. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
AllPredatorCalls
Active member
Arizona's still not free enough -
1. Cant carry in places that serve booze
2. No night hunting of predators
3. Cant trap on public land
4. Cant bait bears
Yet our liberal lezbo govener makes sure
1. Our borders are wide open for drug runners and illegals
2. 2 men can get a marrage license
3. We continue the tree hugger management of our forests (very little logging or thinning)so we have massive fires
AP
1. Cant carry in places that serve booze
2. No night hunting of predators
3. Cant trap on public land
4. Cant bait bears
Yet our liberal lezbo govener makes sure
1. Our borders are wide open for drug runners and illegals
2. 2 men can get a marrage license
3. We continue the tree hugger management of our forests (very little logging or thinning)so we have massive fires
AP
DogBeGone
New member
Not a huge fan of open carry, kinda seems like letting everyone at the poker table see your hand.
Also, telegraphs to a bad guy exactly who he has to neutralize first in order to carry out his deed.
Granted, most criminals would be deterred by the presence of an armed individual, but a determined opponent will be unfazed.
Heh, not like they let us carry ANYTHING here in the NYC area!
Kind of a joke, I have reciprocal carry privileges in 19 states, just not my own.
Also, telegraphs to a bad guy exactly who he has to neutralize first in order to carry out his deed.
Granted, most criminals would be deterred by the presence of an armed individual, but a determined opponent will be unfazed.
Heh, not like they let us carry ANYTHING here in the NYC area!
Kind of a joke, I have reciprocal carry privileges in 19 states, just not my own.
DaisyCutter
New member
Bingo. I carried open on two occasions prior to getting my first CCW ~6 years ago. IMO it's good open carry is legal, but I don't think it's smart to partake in it (with a few exceptions).
I don't wanna disrupt/scare others and would prefer to determine my involvement in a drama if anything goes down. With the pistol concealed I can choose whether I use it or not. If I'm in a store that's getting robbed and I'm carrying open I probably won't get the option.
I generally don't have much regard for many people I see carrying open. A good percentage of the open carriers I see are kinda scummy IMO. PM-board members excluded of course.
Camping and hunting (outdoor rural activities in general) are very acceptable times for open carry since it's more comfortable than having a chunk of iron pressed into your hip for a whole day.
There are places that you're not supposed carry concealed, but if you conceal the firearm properly you won't get arrested ordering a beer in Applebee's. I would never advocate getting drunk in a bona-fide bar with a piece concealed. I don't go to bars. When travelling to CA I've been known to break the law. My choices, I don't advocate them.
When jogging I always have my folding knife in my waistband. Sometimes I fold a towel over the pistol and run with it in my hand, usually not. I'm a decent sized guy in my mid-20s, who is relatively athletically gifted. If a couple guys initiate a garden variety problem I'm not justified to use deadly force anyway. I'd rather take a whippin.
When riding my motor-bike in the desert I put the pistol in my camelback. It's not very accesible but my first option on the bike would be to escape from a problem. With the pistol on my hip, a good wreck could leave me with a busted pelvis, so the gun doesn't go on my hip.
I do love that AZ has a "shall issue" stance on the concealed carry issue.
The funny thing about that theory is that it just doesn't seem to happen. Think about it: There are quite a few states with open carry. When's the last time you saw a report on a crime where the criminals walked into a bank or store, spotted someone carrying openly, and took him out?
It might happen, but I'd say it's pretty rare. I don't recall seeing one such case in my lifetime.
I have a different view on open carry. I think it serves useful functions in society. For one, any goblin considering can see the weapon and knows that he has a person who is not willing to become an easy victim to contend with. They may have to back up their actions with their lives, so they have a reason to consider what they're willing to do.
For another, when I go about my business peacefully with my wife and young daughter in tow, shopping, banking, etc, it is a visible communication that guns do not always get used for bad things. Women and children do not need to automatically be afraid at the sight of one, because mine are not.
BTW, I read last year that AZ had reduced carrying concealed without a permit to a petty offense. Equivalent to spitting on the sidewalk. You now have defacto VT style carry, for all intents and purposes.
It might happen, but I'd say it's pretty rare. I don't recall seeing one such case in my lifetime.
I have a different view on open carry. I think it serves useful functions in society. For one, any goblin considering can see the weapon and knows that he has a person who is not willing to become an easy victim to contend with. They may have to back up their actions with their lives, so they have a reason to consider what they're willing to do.
For another, when I go about my business peacefully with my wife and young daughter in tow, shopping, banking, etc, it is a visible communication that guns do not always get used for bad things. Women and children do not need to automatically be afraid at the sight of one, because mine are not.
BTW, I read last year that AZ had reduced carrying concealed without a permit to a petty offense. Equivalent to spitting on the sidewalk. You now have defacto VT style carry, for all intents and purposes.
Tackdriver
New member
On a serious note, a man got his brains blown out 5 blocks from where I work a few days ago.
I dont have my permit yet, but signing up in the class is on the VERY near term adjenda.
Until I get my permit and a smaller piece, I will have my Blackhawk on me, openly.
If that makes the visitors nervous, I guess that is their problem.
I dont have my permit yet, but signing up in the class is on the VERY near term adjenda.
Until I get my permit and a smaller piece, I will have my Blackhawk on me, openly.
If that makes the visitors nervous, I guess that is their problem.
None of the folks I've seen open-carrying were "scumbags". But I do know of a guy with a CCW who, in my opinion, shouldn't even carry a squirt gun. Not saying all CCW holders are like that, because they're not. People that open-carry, in my opinion, are going the extra mile for gun rights. They're out there proving VISIBLY, day after day, that armed citizens are regular law-abiding folks. That goes a long way to convincing the fence-sitters on the issue.
On the thugs "taking out the armed guy", sorry, that's not so. I've lived in some real charming neighborhoods in Smell-A and once word gets out on the "street" among the regular thugs that you're armed, you get left alone. Criminals are bullies by nature. Bullies only prey on people they can victimize. They don't want to end up taking a permanent dirt nap. They want to live to enjoy their next fix of crank. They avoid the armed. Chances are, you are more likely to have to use a weapon you have concealed than one that is visible.
As far as being able to choose when to use a weapon, well, wha are the parameters of that statement? You mean, like, you see a guy raping a child at knifepoint, but since he's not threatening you, you just walk away? Sorry, I don't buy that line of reasoning. Will I put my butt on the line for a storekeeper's money? No. Will I put my butt on the line for another human being who is in danger, even if I am not threatened? Yes, and I have.
All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.
On the thugs "taking out the armed guy", sorry, that's not so. I've lived in some real charming neighborhoods in Smell-A and once word gets out on the "street" among the regular thugs that you're armed, you get left alone. Criminals are bullies by nature. Bullies only prey on people they can victimize. They don't want to end up taking a permanent dirt nap. They want to live to enjoy their next fix of crank. They avoid the armed. Chances are, you are more likely to have to use a weapon you have concealed than one that is visible.
As far as being able to choose when to use a weapon, well, wha are the parameters of that statement? You mean, like, you see a guy raping a child at knifepoint, but since he's not threatening you, you just walk away? Sorry, I don't buy that line of reasoning. Will I put my butt on the line for a storekeeper's money? No. Will I put my butt on the line for another human being who is in danger, even if I am not threatened? Yes, and I have.
All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.
DaisyCutter
New member
That line of reasoning is idiotic. Who offered that scenario? Would I shoot a guy raping a child at knifepoint? NO. 'Cause it ain't legal genious. The law states that you may intervene with the minimum amount of force necessary to stop the attack. Not to mention that shooting the guy would put the victim very close to the target you're aiming at. I'm not a trick shooter. I'd likely kick the **** out of the offender, or use the threat of shooting to stop the attack.
Generally when I see open carry it's in the Apache Junction Walmart. Generally it's a grubby unkept dude. I don't presume that all open-carriers are dirty, just enough to cause me to form a stereotype.
BTW I've had far fewer incidents since I've carried concealed. I've learned how to look at the potential evil-doers in a way the makes them think twice or go elsewhere for a target. IF I carry open I believe that I present a different type of target to them. AND in my experience carrying open creates more problems than it solves.
Personally I don't want to worry about retaining an exposed open firearm every time I venture outside. I don't want to put up with the looks that are given to open carriers.
You can claim that open carry is good for gun-rights. I can claim that it intimidates the sheep and will cause them to vote for more gun bans.
It's all opinion, and it's fruitless to argue it. I'm not going to convinve you to change your way of life and vice-versa. But if you do want to make an argument, at least make one that exceeds a sophmoric mentality.
For those of us that carry openly, do you carry into areas/stores that have "No Firearms" signs posted. I've seen the gun with the red slash through it at malls, and retail stores. I don't think you would get into Bank-One Ballpark with an exposed firearm? I generally carry concealed in these places. Not that I'm overly worried about a problem inside the structure, but more so about the walk back to my car with my family late at night.