eardoc
Regular Member
imported post
Hey everyone. I have been reading this site nearly every day for the past 4 months or so, and have a been gun owner for a little over 6 months. I fully support the open carry movement and am inclined to do so myself but I have a few reservations that I'd like to get some feedback on before I go out oc'ing.
My primary concern is this: I am only 22 years old. While some people my age can pass for 26-28 years old, I can not. In nearly every OC encounter I read on this site and others, the carrier is asked "are you a LEO?" An understandable question, although silly for sure. Of course I can't be in the minds of others, but if I were working in a store and someone who looked like me walked in with a glock 23 in a serpa holster, I wouldn't assume they were law enforcement. It seems very likely to me that I would almost be guaranteed an increased level of suspicion and harassment because most of the general public would not shrug me off as a simple case of an off-duty leo but rather a gun-toting kid who is about to start something.
Now I'm sure some on here would press me to embrace my rights and carry openly. Yes, it would certainly provide me with ample opportunities to educate the public on the issue of open carry. But at what cost? Though all members on this forum encourage the advancement of the cause through education and calm conversation, we all have places to go and people to see! I am not going to open carry if it means a 5 minute stop turns into a 60 minute stop with any kind of regularity.
I would love to enjoy the freedom of OC but am concerned with theunfortunate likelihoodof public "panic" should they see a man of my age in their store with a sidearm. For now I'll stick to CC but I would love to get some of your thoughts on the issue. Thanks.
Hey everyone. I have been reading this site nearly every day for the past 4 months or so, and have a been gun owner for a little over 6 months. I fully support the open carry movement and am inclined to do so myself but I have a few reservations that I'd like to get some feedback on before I go out oc'ing.
My primary concern is this: I am only 22 years old. While some people my age can pass for 26-28 years old, I can not. In nearly every OC encounter I read on this site and others, the carrier is asked "are you a LEO?" An understandable question, although silly for sure. Of course I can't be in the minds of others, but if I were working in a store and someone who looked like me walked in with a glock 23 in a serpa holster, I wouldn't assume they were law enforcement. It seems very likely to me that I would almost be guaranteed an increased level of suspicion and harassment because most of the general public would not shrug me off as a simple case of an off-duty leo but rather a gun-toting kid who is about to start something.
Now I'm sure some on here would press me to embrace my rights and carry openly. Yes, it would certainly provide me with ample opportunities to educate the public on the issue of open carry. But at what cost? Though all members on this forum encourage the advancement of the cause through education and calm conversation, we all have places to go and people to see! I am not going to open carry if it means a 5 minute stop turns into a 60 minute stop with any kind of regularity.
I would love to enjoy the freedom of OC but am concerned with theunfortunate likelihoodof public "panic" should they see a man of my age in their store with a sidearm. For now I'll stick to CC but I would love to get some of your thoughts on the issue. Thanks.