Does OC make you a target?

Bellum_Intus said:

Bad guy comes into store to rob it, he sees the barrel of my firearm before he even gets the chance to react...
(of course, as most here know, I train almost daily)

--Rob

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Rob are you sure about that? From what I read in the newspaper nobody ever trains with their firearms and if they had to ever use them they would miss the bad guy and the bullet would blow up a day care center killing all children within 3 miles.

On topic - from what I have been able to discover, that number of times that an OC'er has been targeted because they were an OC'er is so miniscule that it is insignificant.

SA is your friend

Phoenix David said:

Rob are you sure about that? From what I read in the newspaper nobody ever trains with their firearms and if they had to ever use them they would miss the bad guy and the bullet would blow up a day care center killing all children within 3 miles.

SA is your friend

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LMAO!!!

--Rob

cgutierrez0688 said:

I guess I'm just still not comfortable yet OCing, and I've never seen anyone OC anyplace I've been. I guess I just need to get more practice in till I'm fully confident in my actions.

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Howdy Amigo!
If you need somebody to tag along with to get comfortable with OC'ing, I'd be happy to help you over that psychological hump that most new carriers cope with.
I believe it is more cumbersome to cope with that alone, and often will spend a day with a newbie to help them learn that it isn't so quite so daunting.
Once a new carrier spends a day running around town with me OC'ing, and discover it really isn't too big a deal, they soon find their apprehension evaporating.

Wanna give it a whirl? PM me and I'll be happy to help. I have a couple of days off this week, and would be happy to escort you on an outing.

Blessings,
M-Taliesin

cgutierrez0688 said:

So would it be better to OC with a round in the chamber and ready to fire, or not ready just in case some thug decides to try to take it from me?

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Howdy Pardner!
If your life hangs in the balance, and you are carrying for your own lawful self defense, there is no time to rack the slide.
The couple of seconds it takes to rack a round into the chamber can prove fatal.
Obviously, you want safety engaged. Most firearms today are really very safe to carry with a round in the chamber.

Of much greater concern is the ability of an OC'er to be aware of everything around him.

Blessings,
M-Taliesin

This just occurred to me on my morning walk -

If a criminal targets a citizen because the citizen is openly carrying a means of defense, then does it follow that the criminal wasn't intent on the idea of crime until the mere sight of a gun motivated him to commit a crime?
That doesn't seem to square with what I've observed, the military sees guns on a daily basis and they don't seem to be mugging each other, same with law enforcement; no cop-on-cop muggings seem to ever make the news.

I think then, we are left with someone with larceny in his heart, who decides "he has a gun, but that gun isn't going to stop me!" and goes ahead with his crime. For someone with a larcenous heart, I can't see how appearing to be helpless and unarmed would deter him and make him think, "he doesn't have a gun, I guess I'll look for another easy target."

Having a gun may make you a target, but the lack of one isn't going to make you Less of a target.

Fallschirmjäger said:

Having a gun may make you a target, but the lack of one isn't going to make you Less of a target.

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Bingo!

Originally Posted by Fallschirmjäger


Having a gun may make you a target, but the lack of one isn't going to make you Less of a target.

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Plus will make you a preferred target of opportunity.

I think this could be argued a million different ways. However, there are literally billions of situations where open carrying a firearm could be a good, or a bad thing. The same can be said for a concealed firearm.

In my opinion the reality of carrying for protection is for it to be effective, you need to be ready to act immediately. If your in a bank that is being robbed, you can't be lying on the floor waiting for the gunmen to turn their back. Quick, decisive action without hesitation.

The truth is that no sane person, law abiding citizen or law breaking citizen wants to get in a gun fight. Openly displaying a firearm tells anyone who notices it, that if guns come out, they will have to use them. If the individual is insane, there isn't really a rulebook you can use.

I'm a target no matter what I do. If a criminal is determined enough or just does not care then he's going to target me anyways.


But if I was ever in a gun battle on the streets of America! I will be running for a Glock!




Or just flat out running.

Wolfstanus said:

I'm a target no matter what I do. If a criminal is determined enough or just does not care then he's going to target me anyways.


But if I was ever in a gun battle on the streets of America! I will be running for a Glock!

Or just flat out running.

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Howdy Pardner!
No offense but I sincerely hope that ain't your actual photograph!

Blessings,
M-Taliesin

No it's not. I wish it was though. People tell me I look like a terrorist