imported post
I've found myself concealed carrying more these days so I thought I'd address your question from the concealed carry side. There are a few reasons I choose to conceal carry vs open carry:
1. I am currently studying for a professional exam. I don't study well in silence, so I usually study in a coffee shop. When I'm studying I am deeply concentrated on the material and not my situational awareness. Knowing that, Ifeel EXTREMELY vulnerable to a gun grab.Whenever I open carry while studying, I find myself constantly distracted by the need to be situationally aware and the whole study session becomes a mess (it's not always possible tosit ata table in the corner with my back to the wall... so I'm consantly, intermittently, and ineffectively stopping tolook around and check out the scene). So, now I conceal carry anytime I know I'll be doing anything that requires my full attention and will limit my situational awareness.
2. Sometimes I know I'll be going to someone's residence that is uncomfortable with firearms and where the exposure to safety risk is lower (my personal belief) than being out in the general public. In this instance, I choose to eliminate the potential for personal conflict with a friend and conceal carry.The rationaleI have isthateventhough there is a moredelayed draw time from conceal carry, I will be able to detect a threat more quickly in a personal residence than out in public... When I'm at home, I have my sidearmin the same room withme but not on my hip because I should (hopefully) hear or see something in advance of needing to fire in self-defense and presume the same to be true at someone else's house.
3. With the winter weather I am always wearing a jacket these days. My open carry holsters drop below my jacket line and since the issue of whether or not a partially visible concealed holster is brandishing or not, I prefer not to "poke the bear" and be the test case.
Outside of these 3 conditions/circumstances, I prefer to open carry for faster draw time, the deterrent effect, and in also I'm in total agreement with Kildars... it's WAY more comfortable (except when trying to put on a damned seatbelt
).