{"id":2347,"date":"2013-02-23T08:00:15","date_gmt":"2013-02-23T14:00:15","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/hammerheadcombatsystems.org\/?p=2347"},"modified":"2013-02-23T08:00:15","modified_gmt":"2013-02-23T14:00:15","slug":"is-open-carry-all-it-is-cracked-up-to-be","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thetacticalhermit.com\/index.php\/2013\/02\/23\/is-open-carry-all-it-is-cracked-up-to-be\/","title":{"rendered":"Is Open Carry all it is Cracked up to Be?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"open<\/a><\/p>\n

With the recent Sidearm Open Carry bills proposed in the Texas Legislature (HB 700<\/a> and HB 1194<\/a>), I wanted to take some time and dig into this subject from the point of view of the CO.<\/p>\n

First, let’s talk about the legal side, I know this can be about as interesting as watching flies fornicate, but as I have always said, the CO needs to be aware and up to date on all laws regarding the carrying and\/or use of weapons in self-defense, especially in regards to Open\/Concealed Carry, since it is a red flag for Police Harassment.\u00a0The Alternative, Sheeple Ignorance<\/em>, is a gloomy prospect, I assure you..READ THIS.<\/a><\/p>\n

There are a few definitions the CO needs to be clear on to fully understand the in’s and out’s of open (and concealed) carry of a firearm:<\/p>\n

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  1. Open Carry<\/span><\/strong><\/span>: The Act of Publicly carrying a firearm on one’s person in PLAIN SIGHT.<\/span><\/li>\n
  2. Plain Sight<\/strong><\/span>: Broadly defined as not being hidden from COMMON OBSERVATION; varies in definition from state to state.<\/li>\n
  3. Preemption<\/strong><\/span>: In the context of open carry, the act of a State Legislature passing laws which limit or eliminate the ability of local governments to regulate the possession or carrying of firearms.<\/li>\n
  4. Prohibited Persons<\/strong><\/span>: People prohibited by Law from carrying a firearm. Felons, Anyone found guilty of Domestic Violence Charges & the Mentally Unstable fit this bill.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Currently in the United States, there are several designations of how the States breakdown as far as Open Carry (Taken from Open Carry.Org &\u00a0Wiki-Pedia):<\/p>\n

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    1. Permissive Open Carry States:<\/strong><\/span> A state has passed full preemption of all firearms laws. They permit open carry to all non-prohibited citizens without permit or license. <\/em><\/strong>Open carry is lawful on foot and in a\u00a0motor vehicle<\/a>. It must be noted that while open carry may be legal in such jurisdictions\u00a0per se<\/a>, persons openly carrying firearms may be detained and cited by law enforcement officials for\u00a0disorderly conduct<\/span><\/a>\u00a0or\u00a0disturbing the peace<\/span><\/a>\u00a0in certain locations and circumstances where openly carrying could cause public alarm.<\/em> <\/span>These states are: \u00a0Alaska, Arizona, Montana, Idaho, Vermont, Wyoming, Nevada, South Dakota, Kentucky and Virginia.<\/li>\n
    2. Licensed open Carry States:<\/strong><\/span> A state has passed full preemption of all firearms laws. They permit open carry of a handgun to all non-prohibited citizens once they have been issued a permit or license.<\/em><\/strong> Open carry of a handgun is lawful on foot and in a motor vehicle. These States are: Oklahoma, Utah, North Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa, Indiana, Tennessee, Mississippi, Georgia, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New Jersey and Maryland.<\/li>\n
    3. Anomalous Open Carry States:<\/strong><\/span> In these states, open carry of a handgun is generally lawful, but the state may lack\u00a0preemption<\/a>\u00a0or there may be other significant restrictions. The limitations and\/or lack of pre-emption may mean that certain areas of these states are, in their judicial system and law enforcement societies, not very friendly towards the practice, although this is not true in all of these states. These States Include: Colorado, Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri, Louisiana, Alabama, Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Maine and New Hampshire.<\/li>\n
    4. Non-permissive Open Carry States:<\/span><\/strong> In these states, open carry of a handgun is not lawful, or is only lawful under such a limited set of circumstances that public carry is prohibited. Such limited circumstances may include when hunting, or while traveling to\/from hunting locations, while on property controlled by the person carrying, or for lawful self-defense. These States Include: Texas, Arkansas, Florida, \u00a0South Carolina, Illinois, New York and Washington D.C.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      OK, so now you know some of the legal stuff, what does the CO gain (or lose) by carrying openly?<\/p>\n

      There is a line of thinking in the RKBA\u00a0and Training community concerning the degree of Deterrence<\/strong> <\/span>that OPEN carry can TRULY<\/strong> exhibit on crime. First to clarify this, we need to separate the ideal of deterrence into two parts: Social and Personal. As far as Social Deterrence, I have always found this type of thinking to border on role confusion, ie “wanna-be-cop”. Since I, as a civilian, unless the crime directly effects me or my property, have no business or authority in regards to Stopping and Investigating crime; \u00a0that is Law Enforcement’s job. If we go any further on this ideal then we risk sounding like some kind of half-ass vigilante and as the Zimmerman<\/a> case has shown, the legal system will steamroll you.<\/p>\n

      As far as Personal Deterrence, does Open Carry improve the odds I WILL NOT<\/strong> have to use my weapon? Listen, one can only go so far to avoid and deter bad situations. If we are following Safety 101 and:<\/p>\n