Posted: 9/1/2011 3:38:51 PM EDT
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Hey everyone, I'm going to open carry for the first time in my life tonight, I've practiced retention, drawing etc. I am mentally and physically prepared. I'm going to be using a Safariland 6820 with my FNP 45. I was just wondering if there were any last minute things I should know, I'll only be going to Walmart and my storage unit. I'm just afraid the Police department might not know the law that people under 21 are allowed to open carry in AZ and start grilling me etc.
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Good for you man. We need more responsible open carriers out there. You have all your bases covered I've been to wal-mart hundreds of times open carrying and never had a problem. If someone asks you to leave somewhere don't even argue just immediately leave, they just lost your business. |
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Quoted: OK It is legal and fairly common in AZ isn't it? Yes it is common, if you go to work everyday the chances are you will probably see at least one person open carrying somewhere. The problem is you can't open carry to work so for the most part everyone has to concealed carry during the day. It's not that they are afraid or opposed of open carrying its that they need to earn money to pay the bills. When I open carry which is only 1-2 times a week I normally get in friendly conversations with cashiers at stores or people in line about guns. Pro-gun/ Pro-rightwing t-shirts also go over very well here. I get comments on my gadsden shirt all the time. People asking me where to buy it and what not. |
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Just carry yourself with confidence and don't OC like the guy I saw the other day wearing no shirt and basketball shorts OCng a 1911 with a full leather gun belt. That is too funny! I was at Kohls and a guy had a Glock, it looked like a 19, clipped to his pocket in the open. He was in the shoe department and every time he turned a corner he was hitting his pistol on the edge of the shoe storage. I'm thinking he had to knock the sight loose! |
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If the police stop you, ask, "Am I being detained?"
If no, walk away. If yes, ask, "For suspicion of what crime are you detaining me?" No only is that grammatically correct, which will confuse almost any police officer, but it subtly reminds the officer that he needs reasonable articulable suspicion to detain a citizen (Terry stop). If carrying a firearm is lawful, it is a violation of your civil rights for the officer to seize you to 'check you out' or whatever lame justification he or she might give. |
Well that was fun! I'm really glad I am in a state that allows Open Carry and plan to do it often as well as training. My friends were with me and one of them creeped a few photos which I am kinda happy that she did now that I have em.
Thanks for all the info arfcom, otherwise I would have never known I could do this under the age of 21. |
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Good on ya!
The #1 thing wheather your OC, CC, or in the case of the latter- you accidently expose your weapon you do ALL of it with CONFIDENCE. If you act like your doing something wrong then people around you will assume you are doing something wrong. If you conduct yourself in a calm, collected, professional manner and act like its a completley normal occourance youll win out all of the time. Even if youve got some sheep bleating at you- remain calm. People will be able to see who the real unhinged maniac is. |
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Good on ya! The #1 thing wheather your OC, CC, or in the case of the latter- you accidently expose your weapon you do ALL of it with CONFIDENCE. If you act like your doing something wrong then people around you will assume you are doing something wrong. If you conduct yourself in a calm, collected, professional manner and act like its a completley normal occourance youll win out all of the time. Even if youve got some sheep bleating at you- remain calm. People will be able to see who the real unhinged maniac is. +1 It's the person's own conduct that raises suspicions. |
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Quoted: How can you OC when you can't own one til 21? or is the law 18 now there? You can open carry at 18 in a lot of places. There is a federal law that someone can't buy a handgun from an FFL until they are 21 it doesn't say anything about buying a handgun in a private sale or carrying a handgun. |
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Good for you man. I remember my first OC. It was a little nerve wrecking but now it is almost as comfortable as CC. I am 25 but could pass for 18 so I am always a little worried cops won't know the law and stop me because I look young. So I make sure I know the law.
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Quoted:
Good on ya! The #1 thing wheather your OC, CC, or in the case of the latter- you accidently expose your weapon you do ALL of it with CONFIDENCE. If you act like your doing something wrong then people around you will assume you are doing something wrong. If you conduct yourself in a calm, collected, professional manner and act like its a completley normal occourance youll win out all of the time. Even if youve got some sheep bleating at you- remain calm. People will be able to see who the real unhinged maniac is. I always tell people that ask me; If you act like you are supposed to be carrying, most people will not assume otherwise. Fidgeting, touching, or constantly adjusting your belt or holster, concealed or open, only draws attention to yourself. |
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I can't believe no one has posted this yet. Did you blade anyone, OP?
http://www.ar15.com/forums/t_1_5/700116_Wal_Mart_Employee_Tried_to_Forcibly_Disarm_Me_ETA__Pics_Pg_9__MSPaint_Pg_15.html |
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Need better belt, more leather (holster), and spare mags.
I OC whenever I'm off duty/off post and out of uniform. I like running into fellow OC'ers Few tips, if you can snag up something that is all black in a black holster - it tends to draw less attention. I tuck in an under shirt, and wear another shirt over that, that is one size too big, it doesn't cover my pistol, but drapes around it and keeps more inconspicuous. Just my opinion, take it or leave it. |
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I tuck in an under shirt, and wear another shirt over that, that is one size too big, it doesn't cover my pistol, but drapes around it and keeps more inconspicuous. Almost certainly he needs to be careful to not inadvertently conceal the carried handgun. If he's under 21 and can't carry concealed (no permit or whatever reason), that would likely be a crime, possibly a felony depending on the jurisdiction. |
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I tuck in an under shirt, and wear another shirt over that, that is one size too big, it doesn't cover my pistol, but drapes around it and keeps more inconspicuous. Almost certainly he needs to be careful to not inadvertently conceal the carried handgun. If he's under 21 and can't carry concealed (no permit or whatever reason), that would likely be a crime, possibly a felony depending on the jurisdiction. I was until recently in the same boat. I'm in the process of signing up for a CCW class right now, so I'm still OCing, and probably will most of the time even after I get my CCW, anyhow, I make sure my gun is never covered up, I'm continuously adjusting my shirt to make sure, I've had a run in with an over zealous cop, and I'm not looking for BS criminal charges if they can be avoided. I wasn't advising OP to cover his carry up, just to . . . disguise it. It doesn't really matter for going to the grocery store, but I hate going out to dinner and getting    the entire time I'm eating, So I generally wear an under shirt with a black polo of some sort and dark jeans, it makes my pistol pretty hard to see unless your actually paying attention, which most people aren't.
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I tuck in an under shirt, and wear another shirt over that, that is one size too big, it doesn't cover my pistol, but drapes around it and keeps more inconspicuous. Almost certainly he needs to be careful to not inadvertently conceal the carried handgun. If he's under 21 and can't carry concealed (no permit or whatever reason), that would likely be a crime, possibly a felony depending on the jurisdiction. Yea, and OCing without the option to CC is annoying. Know how hard it is to keep a Carhartt tucked in behind a 1911? |
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I tuck in an under shirt, and wear another shirt over that, that is one size too big, it doesn't cover my pistol, but drapes around it and keeps more inconspicuous. Almost certainly he needs to be careful to not inadvertently conceal the carried handgun. If he's under 21 and can't carry concealed (no permit or whatever reason), that would likely be a crime, possibly a felony depending on the jurisdiction. Yea, and OCing without the option to CC is annoying. Know how hard it is to keep a Carhartt tucked in behind a 1911? I do, actually. It is quite annoying. (not a 1911, an XDm, but they're of comparable size) |
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OP, good for you. I carry every day, and I OC unless I'm wearing a coat/jacket/etc that makes it a PITA to make sure the gun isn't concealed. I carry in a brown leather holster and the pistol is an OD SR9, so there are a decent number of people that notice it.
My previous carry guns were all black, and a black gun is much less obvious to people. It makes my day though when a cashier as a grocery store in a super liberal college town tells me "Nice gun! I wish I could do that here!" 
All in all I've had more positive experiences and introductions to people OCing than negative. |
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Little guy, big gun... I might have gone with something slightly less bulky if I was only 130lb soaking wet, haha 
ETA: At least it's not a Tac model with Doctor sight and Osprey attached. Then you would be super-mall-ninja-y Kinda reminds me of this: http://www.halforums.com/xenforo/attachments/gurkhas-jpg.1418/?embedded=1 You did great, but that is a huge rig. Go with galco. A pancake or some other close in holster. You are teasing bears by having a SL duty holster. Open Cary Elelegantly. Not Obviously. |
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Little guy, big gun... I might have gone with something slightly less bulky if I was only 130lb soaking wet, haha
ETA: At least it's not a Tac model with Doctor sight and Osprey attached. Then you would be super-mall-ninja-y Kinda reminds me of this: http://www.halforums.com/xenforo/attachments/gurkhas-jpg.1418/?embedded=1 You did great, but that is a huge rig. Go with galco. A pancake or some other close in holster. You are teasing bears by having a SL duty holster. Open Cary Elelegantly. Not Obviously. Yeah, if you can throw a jacket on, and it STILL looks like you have an anchor on your hip, you need a smaller rig... You're one step short of a drop leg rig, and you really don't wanna be that guy... I like some Galco and Don Hume belt and paddle holsters, ride high and tight and you won't whack it on everything as you're walking around... |
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If the police stop you, ask, "Am I being detained?" If no, walk away. If yes, ask, "For suspicion of what crime are you detaining me?" No only is that grammatically correct, which will confuse almost any police officer, but it subtly reminds the officer that he needs reasonable articulable suspicion to detain a citizen (Terry stop). If carrying a firearm is lawful, it is a violation of your civil rights for the officer to seize you to 'check you out' or whatever lame justification he or she might give. OP, I like where your head is at. Seems you've prepared to do this rather than just to be attention whore! If you are stopped, rememeber your rights, be polite, courteous, and professional and I'm betting your encounter will be pleasant, and you may even make a new friend. Sadly lots of nutjobs shooting up public places hastaken its toll on the publics attitude towards firearms, so a cop will be most likely be inquisitive. Good luck, and please let us know how it works out. P.S. Pix of FN?
You were way ahead of me! |