Another perspective on Open Carry

/ hsoi

Today’s issue of The Shooting Wire contained an article from Tiger McKee with his take on open carry.

Tiger is against open carry, at least from a tactical perspective (he spoke in that regard, not a political or “rights” regard).

He mentioned one element that I haven’t heard many people bring up on the topic of open carry.

I also don’t want non-threats to know I’m armed. If something does break out these other people may expect me to save the day. When I use my weapon it’s because I decide based on the situation that’s it is necessary for me to use it. Others, especially those unfamiliar with conflict, may not be very objective when it comes to use of firearms. For example they may be counting on you using your weapon to keep the guy they’ve been mouthing off to from kicking their butt. They may think it’s worth risking your life to prevent a business from losing their money during a robbery. I only fight if it’s worth risking my life for, which is a very short list.

6 thoughts on “Another perspective on Open Carry”

  1. I actually had that discussion in my CHL class last weekend. There could be a misguided expectation by non-carriers do hide behind you, but the law does not require or imply a duty to act even now for CHL holders. I don’t think that would change after open carry passes (at least I would hope not). My own benefit I am looking forward to is to relieve some of the difficulty in carrying “effectively” concealed. Summers in TX are not that conducive to wearing some apparel. Open carry could alleviate some of the “oopsies” during concealed carry.

    • I doubt that the law would change, but public (mis)perception might… and depending if and how it gets reported by the press, who knows where it could go.

      My personal feeling is I’d like open carry to be there because it’s one less restriction. Would I openly carry? Can’t say for sure… there may be situations, but at least for now I envision myself NOT open carrying. But to have the option I believe is a better thing, because I see little reason why good, law-abiding folks should have restriction placed upon them especially when those actions do not cause harm to others.

  2. I’ll take two approaches to this:

    1.) I’m a big guy – 6’2″ and over 200#. No one has every said “Hey, you need to save me from the guy I was mouthing off to”. Not once.

    Why would it be different with a firearm?
    Has anyone, after learning you know martial arts, expected you to be their savior during an argument?

    I find that argument to be his weakest point. It is a point to consider but not since my sister was in elementary school have I been expected to fight a battle for someone else.

    They may think it’s worth risking your life to prevent a business from losing their money during a robbery.

    2.) Let’s turn it around for a moment…would I want or expect someone to step in and help me if I was being mugged or beaten?

    Don’t we have as citizens a responsibility to help stop crime, armed or not?

    I know we have no legal obligation but don’t we have an ethical responsibility to keep the thugs in control?

    I’m not saying we should be vigilantes nor am I saying we should be patrolling the streets. But if a crime happens, what should a civic minded individual do?

    • 1. I’m in the same physical boat and I haven’t had that happen either. But that doesn’t mean it couldn’t happen. Or someone could mistake us for someone of greater authority (e.g. plain-clothes police) and expect more out of us.

      Don’t know, but I don’t think it’s something to dismiss outright.

      2. I agree with you, but everyone has different morals and standards, and how those fit into different situations. We all draw the line in different places. Some may be more selfish than others, some may be out to save the world.

      Often we’re told to only draw our guns if it’s something worth dying over. So you have to ask yourself, is preventing that business from losing their money worth me dying over? For some it may be, for others it may not. It’s a personal choice.

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