I'm not in a position to take the chance of a sudden attack which puts me at serious risk of injury or worse. I cannot run away from a bad situation, and I can no longer fight off a sudden attack like I may have been able to do 20 years ago. I have had two knee surgeries, one a total replacement and the other (just 8 1/2 weeks ago) a partial replacement) and a decompression and fusion surgery in my lower back. All three of these surgeries have been within the past year and a half. A sudden and violent attack is likely to knock me off my feet pretty easily and may cause more injury to those "repaired" areas. If such should occur, the chance of getting to my concealed sidearm is going to be reduced considerably I would think.
So I would rather a potential attacker see my visible arm and my situation awareness, and then just leave me alone. How hard is that to understand by people who can't seem to get the idea of concealed carry being a superior tactical advantage out of their heads?
Concealed carry is a good and viable mode of carrying a sidearm but it is not the end all method.... and neither is open carry. BOTH are tools at the carrier's disposal and should be treated as such, not to make some political statement and not to get in the face of the general population. BOTH of these carry methods are nothing more than personal decisions to be taken by the carrier at such time and place he deems it to be in his best interests.
And here's another thing. Attacks generally come in two forms: an approach from some menacing individual(s) who may have robbery or some other felony on their mind and you have been identified as their victim, or sudden and out of nowhere with an aim to disable you as quickly as possible in order for an attacker(s) to get what they want. In the approach method you stand a better chance of getting to a concealed gun but what if by the time you identify those approaching you as a serious threat, one or more of them already has a weapon in hand?
The sudden attack is going to be difficult to defend against if you are taken by complete surprise so whether your gun is concealed or not is not going to make a lot of difference, however if it is openly carried you MAY have a better chance to get to it.
It's kind of like a sign in your yard that warns that a vicious dog is inside and/or that the property is protected by cameras and alarms and is well lit versus a neighbor's home that has nothing of the sort and is totally dark at night. Which one is more apt to be the target of a burglar?
When people conceal their sidearm properly they look just like any other person which is to say, they look just like any other potential victim. The concealed carrier must bank on his ability to get his gun out nearly as quickly as an open carrier if an attack is imminent. In other words, their concealed handgun is only going to be "working" if an attack is developing or in progress like right now. An openly carrier handgun is working 100% of the time because of its visibility.
I conceal when I deem it to be in my better interests at a given time and/or place and that is my decision to take. And I OC for the same reasons. That is how it should be and that is our right as Virginians, though concealing our sidearm is at present not a right but a privilege.
