ColtPistols
Regular Member
imported post
I would like to know the readers opinions on Mexican carry (i.e., no holster) for open carry in legal places like in PA. First I will state some of my ideas, although I don't know if I will continue to carry Mexican style any more do to a previous nasty conversation with a weird lady down south last year, and I'm considering abandoning open carry in general. This mostly pertains to PA, but anywhere else that is similar in laws and community personality.
First it is my impression that the open carry community contains large number of permit holders who choose to open carry, not because of it's deterrent to threats, or of any tactical advantage to fast draw type stuff, but based on many personal ideas and primarily a desire to educate the neighborhood on gun rights, or even possibly to condition them to have enough experiences around firearms that don't result in death, than hopefully they will figure out that firearms are not in and of themselves scary and it only depends on what others are doing with them.
That being said, if one major point of exercising our 2nd ammendment rights is too educate the public as well as just because we can, than where do things that draw attention to ourselves fit in? I will give you at least one point in that carry a handgun in a secure holster does appease many people, maybe because they think I'm a cop, or something. Mexican carry can sometimes make others think automatically that I'm a felon because I might want to ditch my handgun immediately with no trace that I used to havve it one me like a holster would indicate. Granted the public accepts this much more easily in a holster than in a waistband. But I still have a few questions. Do we have a moral obligation to appease them and to calm their nerves? It's not brandished or threatening anyone. It's responsibly tucke in a waistband. Second, if we really want everyone, even the liberals to feel comfortable we would limit ourselves to concealed carry. I firmly denounce the blanket statement that Mexican carry is dangerous. This is ridiculous. While some models like 1911's are more suited to being carried in a holster, they will not discharge if dropped. Carrying my S&W 629 5" barrel Mexican, it will not go off in my pants. It has a very heavy trigger pull that makes it safge like this. Maybe one could argue that it will "frighten the horses," but is not dangerous like this. One has to assess his personal lifestyle. I'm a runner, but I don't run or make ridiculous movements while carrying mexican. Second is retention. While my primary defense for retention is not a thumb strap or even a holster, I can see how it might help...a little. If someone is really going to jump me by surprise, they may get my weaspon regardless of the new fangled retention devices they have come out with. I will not feel guilty about the harem some psycho commits after overpowering me with my own handgun when I made an effort to retain it. My primary defense in retaining my weapon is mindset. I look for problems before they arise. If the unforseen happens and I am surprised by a supposedly non-threatening person, then my secondary retention technique is my wrestling or possibly go for my back-up. Mexican carry is also very comfortable and with it in the front it is very unreasonable to think that anyone could have an uncontested snatch at it. I think that carrying in this style may "frighten the horses" to some extent, but so doesn't all open carry every once in a while. Even in a holster an exotic grip on my 1911 with anything morbid, might be considered threatening to an ignorant gun hater. I try not to be an intimidating person, but I think that any open carying of a handgun not pointing at some one or threatning someone verbally is morally acceptable, legal in many places, and may produce some good in our community. Now there are many of you, perhaps the majority, that want to see every one carrying in holsters to invoke the image you see of "responsible" gun handling. I would say that suit and tie, or well-dressed what-not ain't for everybody. I may be a little bit hillbilly, but hopefully not too pushy with my views. I wish that a non-threatening person carry in whatever manner, whatever exotic grips, whatever style dress was not intimidating to people. Criminals hardly open carry anyway, that don't want to be noticed except when their committing their crimes, so if my weapon isn't pointing at them, they should be able to tell be my ugly Copenhagen smile that this kid don't wanna hurt nobody.
Anyway this has been a long post, but let me know what you think and why most of you really push for the holster carry. Try to leave out the safety idea, because you'll never convince me that it's always necessary to use a holster, even though I do most of the time.
I would like to know the readers opinions on Mexican carry (i.e., no holster) for open carry in legal places like in PA. First I will state some of my ideas, although I don't know if I will continue to carry Mexican style any more do to a previous nasty conversation with a weird lady down south last year, and I'm considering abandoning open carry in general. This mostly pertains to PA, but anywhere else that is similar in laws and community personality.
First it is my impression that the open carry community contains large number of permit holders who choose to open carry, not because of it's deterrent to threats, or of any tactical advantage to fast draw type stuff, but based on many personal ideas and primarily a desire to educate the neighborhood on gun rights, or even possibly to condition them to have enough experiences around firearms that don't result in death, than hopefully they will figure out that firearms are not in and of themselves scary and it only depends on what others are doing with them.
That being said, if one major point of exercising our 2nd ammendment rights is too educate the public as well as just because we can, than where do things that draw attention to ourselves fit in? I will give you at least one point in that carry a handgun in a secure holster does appease many people, maybe because they think I'm a cop, or something. Mexican carry can sometimes make others think automatically that I'm a felon because I might want to ditch my handgun immediately with no trace that I used to havve it one me like a holster would indicate. Granted the public accepts this much more easily in a holster than in a waistband. But I still have a few questions. Do we have a moral obligation to appease them and to calm their nerves? It's not brandished or threatening anyone. It's responsibly tucke in a waistband. Second, if we really want everyone, even the liberals to feel comfortable we would limit ourselves to concealed carry. I firmly denounce the blanket statement that Mexican carry is dangerous. This is ridiculous. While some models like 1911's are more suited to being carried in a holster, they will not discharge if dropped. Carrying my S&W 629 5" barrel Mexican, it will not go off in my pants. It has a very heavy trigger pull that makes it safge like this. Maybe one could argue that it will "frighten the horses," but is not dangerous like this. One has to assess his personal lifestyle. I'm a runner, but I don't run or make ridiculous movements while carrying mexican. Second is retention. While my primary defense for retention is not a thumb strap or even a holster, I can see how it might help...a little. If someone is really going to jump me by surprise, they may get my weaspon regardless of the new fangled retention devices they have come out with. I will not feel guilty about the harem some psycho commits after overpowering me with my own handgun when I made an effort to retain it. My primary defense in retaining my weapon is mindset. I look for problems before they arise. If the unforseen happens and I am surprised by a supposedly non-threatening person, then my secondary retention technique is my wrestling or possibly go for my back-up. Mexican carry is also very comfortable and with it in the front it is very unreasonable to think that anyone could have an uncontested snatch at it. I think that carrying in this style may "frighten the horses" to some extent, but so doesn't all open carry every once in a while. Even in a holster an exotic grip on my 1911 with anything morbid, might be considered threatening to an ignorant gun hater. I try not to be an intimidating person, but I think that any open carying of a handgun not pointing at some one or threatning someone verbally is morally acceptable, legal in many places, and may produce some good in our community. Now there are many of you, perhaps the majority, that want to see every one carrying in holsters to invoke the image you see of "responsible" gun handling. I would say that suit and tie, or well-dressed what-not ain't for everybody. I may be a little bit hillbilly, but hopefully not too pushy with my views. I wish that a non-threatening person carry in whatever manner, whatever exotic grips, whatever style dress was not intimidating to people. Criminals hardly open carry anyway, that don't want to be noticed except when their committing their crimes, so if my weapon isn't pointing at them, they should be able to tell be my ugly Copenhagen smile that this kid don't wanna hurt nobody.
Anyway this has been a long post, but let me know what you think and why most of you really push for the holster carry. Try to leave out the safety idea, because you'll never convince me that it's always necessary to use a holster, even though I do most of the time.
