Posted: 6/1/2012 6:49:58 PM EDT
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...So there I was, eating lunch in North Park Mall (Davenport, IA) and plain as day, a guy: approx 5 ft 8in. 165 lbs clean cut wearing a tan pull over fleece and blue jeans is carrying a full size glock in a paddle holster on his left hip and both of his hands are full of shopping bags...
Why was I in the mall eating lunch? I opened and manage a kiosk for the organization I work for and also manage another location close by ... it was a promotion and leads to future opportunities... None the less... This is literally the first time that I have seen someone other than an obvious LEO open carrying. Much less in a mall, and with both hands full of shopping bags... If you all aren't familiar with North Park Mall, there are a fair number of shots fired reports filed on the mall premises... The thing I couldn't help but think was..."open carry, OK, I can get that, bold... but I can understand..." ...followed closely by... Shit... If I was open carrying, I sure as hell wouldn't have my strong side hand encumbered with multiple shopping bags in an area where shootings are known to take place... Just thought that I would share my experience and see what my fellow AR15er's impressions were... |
what difference does it make if its concealed or open carry, If your hands are full? either way you have to drop/throw what is in your hands
Please point out where individuals have been targeted by criminals because they were open carrying. I'm not a huge fan of open carry, but as long as you aren't being an ass hat attention whore while doing it, it's fine with me. I will do it from time to time as I've mentioned before, granted it is only for quick runs to places I frequent, and I do seem to protect my right side more while open carrying. I have seen 3 folks open carry in the past year...All 3 had shitty GunShow special holsters, crappy belts that couldn't take the weight, and didn't commit a crime. |
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Quoted:
what difference does it make if its concealed or open carry, If your hands are full? either way you have to drop/throw what is in your hands
Please point out where individuals have been targeted by criminals because they were open carrying. I'm not a huge fan of open carry, but as long as you aren't being an ass hat attention whore while doing it, it's fine with me. I will do it from time to time as I've mentioned before, granted it is only for quick runs to places I frequent, and I do seem to protect my right side more while open carrying. I have seen 3 folks open carry in the past year...All 3 had shitty GunShow special holsters, crappy belts that couldn't take the weight, and didn't commit a crime. It makes no difference to me whether someone carries concealed or open, just an observation on an unusual sight (to me)... Maybe my post sounded skewed, didn't mean it to be, but I wasn't saying that this guy made himself a target for criminals by open carrying... I just thought that it was odd to open carry in a place known for criminal gun violence. I will say that I, personally, make an effort not to tie up my strong hand when carrying...could be I am just over analyzing things but it seems like one more motion or reaction to deal with if in a threating situation... should be avoided. |
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Quoted:
what difference does it make if its concealed or open carry, If your hands are full? either way you have to drop/throw what is in your hands
I'd toss it at the assailant's face. Better to catch them off guard. But I also get your point, but life happens. The only way I would open carry would be with a Safariland ALS on a belt loop. NOT a paddle. |
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Quoted:
what difference does it make if its concealed or open carry, If your hands are full? either way you have to drop/throw what is in your hands
Please point out where individuals have been targeted by criminals because they were open carrying. I'm not a huge fan of open carry, but as long as you aren't being an ass hat attention whore while doing it, it's fine with me. I will do it from time to time as I've mentioned before, granted it is only for quick runs to places I frequent, and I do seem to protect my right side more while open carrying. I have seen 3 folks open carry in the past year...All 3 had shitty GunShow special holsters, crappy belts that couldn't take the weight, and didn't commit a crime. It makes no difference to me whether someone carries concealed or open, just an observation on an unusual sight (to me)... Maybe my post sounded skewed, didn't mean it to be, but I wasn't saying that this guy made himself a target for criminals by open carrying... I just thought that it was odd to open carry in a place known for criminal gun violence. I will say that I, personally, make an effort not to tie up my strong hand when carrying...could be I am just over analyzing things but it seems like one more motion or reaction to deal with if in a threating situation... should be avoided. I find it more odd that people would hang out in a place known for criminal gun violence... Granted in your situation you said its for work, so you cant really help that much. If i find myself saying "this is an area where I really should carry a gun with me" I avoid it at all costs... granted I have my gun most of the time, but still. Also, the odd chance I open carry i wear one of these... given the motion my thumb takes coming down to grip my firearm it unsnaps the holster and I'm good to go. It's kinda odd, and im not going to try to describe it because I'll sound a fool. |
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I too try to keep stuff out of my right hand, first it was so I could render a salute if I had to, now it's so could get to my pistol if I needed to.
I lived a couple blocks north of North Park mall for a number of years. What were you eating, Chick-fil-A? Love that place. ETA: I've only open carried once, and that was to Starbucks on Valentines Day when the anti-gunners were boycotting. |
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I only like to open carry to & from the gun range. The sheep in public just don't understand our rights. Give it a generation. This doesn't happen over night, but rather through continual exposure and training. note: I said that changing it requires exposure. Guess how you get people exposed? Hint: it isn't through concealment. |